Written by Warren Ballard
Ephesians 1:3-14 (NASB)
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved. 7In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace 8which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him, 10regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. 11In Him we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will, 12to the end that we who were the first to hope in the Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 13In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, 14who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
https://biblehub.com/nasb_/ephesians/1.htm
In Ephesians 1:3-14, the Scripture acknowledges the works of God through the three persons of the Trinity. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Although the Bible never uses the word Trinity, the doctrine is plainly evident throughout the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation, and Ephesians is another important passage that declares this truth.
In verses 3-6 we see where God the Father PLANNED our CREATION (verses 3-6). He chose us in Him before the foundations of the world. We also understand how God planned that we would have a COMMISION, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. This is only accomplished through the work of Christ. That is why God planned that He would send CHRIST to provide a way for lost man to be saved, and through Christ we can be adopted back to God. I’m so glad God created us, and gave us a purpose, when we accept God’s offer of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary.
Then in verses 7-12, we find that God the Son PROVIDED the CROSS, where we are redeemed back to God through the blood sacrifice that Jesus provided on the cross. We further see that God the Son PROVIDED a COLLECTION of all things in heaven and on earth in Jesus Christ. And we can be assured that God the Son PROVIDED for us a CLAIM, a celestial inheritance, if you will. Jesus provided for us to claim our place to reside in the presence of God for all eternity.
Finally in verses 13-14, we understand that God the Holy Spirit PROTECTS the CUSTODY of our lives. In the first part of verse 13, the verse explains when we are saved, we receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit of God, not just a part, but we must allow the Spirit to work in our lives to be fruitful (cf. Galatians 5:22-25), if we resist the Spirit, we may not see the fruits of the Spirit in our lives. By God the Holy Spirit we have a COVENANT with God. The latter part of verse 13 says we are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit!
In ancient times a seal or signet was an instrument, often metal or stone, with an engraved pattern or design on it. It would be pressed into a softer material, usually wax or clay leaving an imprint like a stamp.
A seal affixed to a document (usually on a scroll) would have to be broken in order to unroll the document and read it. This meant it was in one way like today’s “tamper-resistent seals” on packages. But it also was used to verify the authenticity of who sent a letter, especially a king’s decree, because it would have the King’s special stamp on it, similar to what we might use a signature for today. Handing over a signet ring would be symbolic way of allowing someone else to act on your behalf with your authority. However, sealing has both literal and figurative uses in the bible. Things besides just documents could be sealed. The door to the lion’s den was “sealed” to prevent unauthorized entrance after it was shut. Jeremiah sealed the deeds of the field which he bought from Hanamel as a symbol of formal radification of his transaction. In the more figurative sense, it could also be used “for the act or token of authentication, confirmation, proof, security or possession.” (ISBE)
https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/123/in-eph-113-what-does-the-word-sealed-ἐσφραγίσθητε-mean/128#128/
And in verse 14, the conclusion of this passage shows that God the Holy Spirit PROTECTS the COMPLETION of our salvation. Just like a down payment on a house guarantees you to purchase the said house, the Holy Spirit is our down payment for heaven and the privilege to reside in the presence of God.
In conclusion, God has a vested interest in our lives as His children. He not only created us, but even before the fall in the Garden of Eden, God had already planned to send Christ to provide salvation, and bring us back into God’s family. And the Holy Spirit is God’s protection to carry us to heaven to be with Him for all eternity.
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