Salvation doctrine in Ephesians

Ephesians 1:
[13] In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
[14] Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:13 is my favorite verse in the Bible and I believe it would be good if every saved person had it memorized because it completely explains receiving salvation by grace through faith and not of works. It plainly states that all you have to do after you hear the gospel (which is Christ's sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection--1 Cor. 15:1-4)  is "trust" Christ and believe that gospel, then you are SAVED and "SEALED" with the Holy Spirit. That eliminates all works, ordinances, sacraments, etc. from the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24).

Ephesians 1:13 is especially an outstanding verse when you compare it with Ephesians 1:7, 1:14, 2:8-9, 3:17, 4:30, and 4:32. Those are what I call the "Ephesians Road"...admittedly not as catchy as the "Romans Road" :)

These few verses in Ephesians will ground you in the doctrines of justification by faith and eternal security.

Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Our redemption is in Christ through His blood, our redemption is not in anything else such as water baptism, a "Christian walk", nor any other good works. Through Christ's blood atonement we have the "forgiveness of sins" and it is "according to the riches of his grace"--which excludes works according to Romans 11:6..."And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work."

Ephesians 1:13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (As stated above, verse 13 plainly states that all you have to do after you hear the gospel (which is Christ's sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection--1 Cor. 15:1-4)  is "trust" Christ and believe that gospel, then you are SAVED and "SEALED" with the Holy Spirit. That eliminates all works, ordinances, sacraments, etc. from the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24). Then verse 14 shows that the sealing of the Holy Spirit is the down payment ("earnest") on us until the rapture ("redemption of the purchased possession"). Our body is the "purchased possession" (1 Cor. 6:20) and it does not get saved until the rapture of the Body of Christ, when it is changed like unto His glorious body (1 Cor. 15:51-58, Rom. 8:23-24, Phil. 3:20-21, 1 Thes. 4:13-18). )

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Again, salvation is stated to be by grace through faith without works on our part. Salvation is a "gift" ("free gift"--Rom. 5:15-18) and not something you have to work to obtain, you just receive it. )

Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, (This eliminates the "sinners prayer", "repent and be baptized", "join the Church", false gospels of the Baptists, Church of Christ, and Roman Catholics. Christ dwells in your heart by faith, not by prayer or works. And since this verse has to do with the continual dwelling of Christ in the believer, then the "faith" is referring to Christ's faith of verse 12...."In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him". After you put your faith in Christ and His finished work, you are baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit and are then kept saved by Christ's faith--whether you continue to believe or not! 2 Timothy 2:11-13 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. )

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (The sealing of the Holy Spirit that you got when you trusted Christ believing the gospel (1:13) was a permanent sealing, it is until the day of redemption as we saw in 1:14. You can grieve the Holy Spirit when you walk after the lusts of your flesh, but He won't leave you!

Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (You have already been forgiven of all you sins once you get saved (Acts 13:38-39, Colossians 2:13, 3:13). You do not have to continually ask for forgiveness--because God hath forgiven you! )

--Eli Caldwell