EPHESIANS
1
[1] Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ
by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the
faithful in Christ Jesus:
[2] Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
[2] Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Here
we have one of the great distinctions between the Church which is the
Body of Christ and Israel. The Body is blessed
with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.
The only
guaranteed blessings of the saved believer today are #1 spiritual, #2
in heaven, #3 in Christ. This is unique to the Body (church), for
Israel did not have those blessings.
Here is Israel's
plan of blessing:
“And it shall
come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the
LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I
command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high
above all nations of the earth:”
“And all these
blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt
hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.”
“Blessed shalt
thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.”
“Blessed shall
be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit
of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy
sheep.”
“Blessed shall
be thy basket and thy store.”
“Blessed shalt
thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou
goest out.”
(Deuteronomy
28:1-6)
Israel's
blessings were PHYSICAL/EARTHLY blessings that were not in heaven nor
spiritual. Israel's blessings were dependent on keeping the Law, “if
thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to
observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day”
(Deut. 28:1). The Body's blessings in heaven are dependent on being
saved. All believers are “joined unto the Lord”, “crucified
with Christ”, “buried with him”, “risen with him”,
“complete in him”, and we “sit together” in “heavenly
places” (Eph. 2:6, Col. 2:10-13, Gal. 2:16-21). How is this
possible? How can we be crucified with Christ? How can we be
“complete” in Christ? Well it is certainly not by any works that
we can do that we can obtain this position and blessing, for
Galatians 3:1-3 states “O
foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey
the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set
forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received
ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Are ye so foolish? having
begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”
No! We cannot be “made perfect by the flesh”, it is by the Holy
Spirit.
All believers were
“sealed with” and “baptized” by the the Holy Spirit when the
trusted Christ as their Saviour believing on the gospel of the grace
of God.
Ephesians
1:12-14 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first
trusted in Christ. 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.
1
Corinthians 12:12-14 For as the body is one, and hath many members,
and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body:
so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one
body, whether we
be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all
made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but
many.
None
of us have been “made perfect by the flesh”, it was all by the
Holy Spirit. We have been sealed with and baptized by the Holy Spirit
and now, we are spiritually “joined to the Lord”. 1 Corinthians
6:15-17 says “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of
Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the
members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is
joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one
flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.”
That is how you can be “crucified”, “buried”, and “risen”
with Christ. Because the Holy Spirit joined you to Him. There is no
way that a lost sinner dead in his sins could join himself to the
Lord by his own works! I am sorry to bust your bubble, but your water
baptism, confessing your sins, joining a church, and communion will
not put you in Christ. Only the Holy Spirit can do that (Eph. 1:13, 1
Cor. 12:12-14).
Look at what
spiritual blessings you have in Christ as given in Colossians
2:10-14.
“And
ye are complete in him,
which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are
circumcised with the circumcision made without
hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the
circumcision of Christ:
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him
through the faith of the operation of God,
who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins
and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he
quickened together with
him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting
out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us,
which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to
his cross;”
As believers we
are “complete” in Christ. There is nothing that we can do to make
us better candidates for heaven. Our standing is “complete”. Not
because we are perfect, but because Christ is and our completion is
“in Him”.
As
believers we are “circumcised
with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of
the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ”.
The sins of our flesh were put off from us by “the circumcision of
Christ”. That is when Christ was “cut off” (Dan. 9:26), His
death. The blood of Jesus Christ cleansed us, putting away our sins.
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness
of sins” (Col. 1:14). “the church of God, which he hath purchased
with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28). “And from Jesus Christ, who is
the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the
prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed
us from our sins in his own blood,” (Rev. 1:5) That is the “gospel
of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). Christ died for our sins and was
buried and rose again three days later (1 Cor. 15:1-4), anyone who
believes that will be “justified from all things” (Acts
13:38-39).
As
believers we have been “Buried
with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the
faith of the operation of God”.
We have been baptized “by one Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:13) and “joined
unto the Lord” (1 Cor. 6:15-17). His death became our death, His
burial became our burial, and His resurrection became our
resurrection.
As
believers we have been forgiven ALL trespasses. “and
you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh,
hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all
trespasses” You know
the worst sin you have ever committed? The really bad one that you do
not want anyone to find out about? You know all the others sins you
have committed, are committing, and will commit? THEY ARE GONE. You
have been “forgiven ALL trespasses”. You have been “justified
from ALL things” (Acts 13:38-39). God “hath forgiven you” (Eph.
4:32).
As
believers you are dead to the Law.“Blotting
out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us,
which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to
his cross” This is one
of the great blessings of being in the church which is the Body of
Christ. According to Galatians 2-6 and Romans 3-8, you are “not
under the law but under grace” (Rom. 6:14). Circumcision means
nothing, being a Jew means nothing, it is all “dung” (Phil.
3:1-9). While there us to not be salvation outside of the covenants
that God made with Israel (Eph. 2:12), “in Christ” none of those
things matter (Gal. 6:15, Phil. 3:9).
Those
are the types of “spiritual blessings” that you have in “heavenly
places in Christ”. We have not been guaranteed any type of physical
blessings. The theory that if you live right and serve God the way
you shoud, then God will bless you, is completely FALSE. The apostle
Paul was the greatest missionary that ever lived, yet he was always
in danger and suffering need (2 Cor. 11:23-27). Philippians 4:11-13
says, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have
learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know
both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in
all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to
abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me.” There have
been a lot of good christians that suffered and were killed for
believing the Bible and preaching the gospel. There have been a lot
of Catholic priests that lived luxioursly with a lot of money and
nice possessions. Therefore how much nice stuff you have is not a
sign of spirituality. Those who are truly spiritual are content with
the grace of God and can be happy in any condition. God has
guaranteed you spiritual blessings, not that you would always have a
nice car, nice house, or anything like that. The apostle Paul is
living proof of that!
By
the way, anyone who says that you must tithe of your income or else
God will curse you is wrong. Tithing was an Old Testament practice
that most people do not know very much about.
What
does the Bible say about the "tithe"?
Here are twenty points on "tithing" from Pastor David O'Steen of Landmark Baptist Church:
Here are twenty points on "tithing" from Pastor David O'Steen of Landmark Baptist Church:
"1.
The English word "tithe" means a tenth (compare Gen. 14:20
with Heb. 7:4). Most churches preach tithing as a means of supporting
their ministry. There are variations in how they teach this is to be
done. Some pay the local church one tenth of their income after taxes
and bills are paid; some pay before. Others demand tithing on
unemployment, inheritance, gifts, tax refunds, social security and
even gambling winnings. The tithing issue has caused a great deal of
strife and division in our churches over the years.
2.
Perhaps the most well known passage on tithing is Malachi 3:8-12.
This passage is the proof text for "Storehouse Tithing."
Simply stated, the congregation is exhorted to channel all of their
giving through the local church (storehouse). If they want to give to
a Christian organization, radio or television broadcast, etc., it
must go through their denominational machinery in order for the local
church to get "credit." Also the pastor and elders often
must make the determination if the cause supported by the giver is
"worthy."
3.
This use of the Malachi passage is a good example of Scripture being
taken out of its historical and dispensational context. "This
whole nation" in verse 9 is the backslidden nation of Israel,
NOT the present day church (Mal. 1:1; 3:6). They were under the law
of Moses as a system of conditional blessing (obey=blessed;
disobey=cursed). The blessings of keeping the law had to do with
Israel's LAND (3:11-12). Believers today are not under the law but
under grace (Rom. 6:14; 7:4-6). As such we have already been blessed
by God with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ
(Eph.1:3).
4.
This should put an end to the common charge that believers who don't
tithe are "robbing God" and will be "cursed with a
curse." God did not command us to tithe so how could we be
robbing Him by not doing what He never told us to do? We cannot be
cursed by the law for not tithing (Mal. 3:9) as members of the body
of Christ (Gal. 3:13). The storehouse mentioned in verse 10 is not a
local church but a storage bin or silo in the Jewish temple where the
grain from the Hebrew's tithes was stored (2 Chron. 31:4-12).
5.
Under the law only agricultural products were tithed. They included
grain, fruit, and livestock. Only products produced within the
boundaries of the land of Israel were to be tithed (Lev. 27:30-34).
6.
Others exempt from the tithing law included the hired hands,
fishermen, miners, lumber workers, construction workers, soldiers,
weavers, potters, manufacturers, merchants, government workers, and
priests. In short, all who were not farmers were exempt.
7.
A farmer with only 9 cattle did not tithe because the law specified
the "tenth which passeth under the rod." Likewise a farmer
with 19 sheep paid only 1 sheep to the Lord's tithe.
8.
The Jewish farmers in the land could redeem (buy back) the tithes of
their crops with a penalty of one fifth. In other words, if a farmer
wanted to keep his tithe of grain worth $1,000, he could pay the cash
equivalent of $1,200 (Lev. 27:31).
9.
Livestock could not be brought back nor could the farmer exchange a
good animal for a bad one or vice versa. Any attempt to substitute
any other animal other than the tenth which passed under the rod
would be penalized by the farmer forfeiting both the tenth and its
substitute (Lev. 27:33).
10.
God ordained the Levites to be the ones to whom the tithe was paid
(Num. 18:21). They were one of the 12 tribes of Israel to whom no
inheritance was given in the land. The Lord Himself and the tithes of
the children of Israel was their inheritance. It was used for the
service of the tabernacle (later the temple) (Num. 18:20-28).
11.
It was unlawful for anyone outside of the tribe of Levi to receive
the tithe, such as prophets, preachers, kings or evangelists.
12.
The Levites paid one tenth of their tithes to the high priest. Not
all Levites were priests but only the sons of Aaron. The priests did
not tithe.
13.
The Lord Jesus Christ did not ask for or receive a tithe for support
of His ministry. Being of the tribe of Judah (not Levi) He could not
without breaking the law (Heb. 7:14; Rev. 5:5).
14.
Neither Peter (not of the tribe of Levi) nor Paul (of the tribe of
Benjamin) could receive tithes for the support of their ministries.
15.
Even the Jews do not practice tithing today because there are no
Levites, priests, or temple worship in Jerusalem. Jewish rabbis know
biblical law well enough to know that tithing under the present
circumstances is unlawful. According to them, when the temple is
rebuilt in Jerusalem with a consecrated altar with priests and
Levites officiating, all Jews living within the biblical tithing
zones will tithe.
16.
Those that teach tithing is binding on believers today use the
argument that it predates Moses and the law. But this reasoning is
not valid, for the Sabbath also predates the giving of the law
(Ex.16:23-29) and yet it is not binding on God's people today (Rom.
14:5-6; Gal. 4:9-10; Col. 2:16-17).
17.
Abraham gave tithes to Melchisedec, king of Salem, but this was the
spoils of war, not the legalistic tithe of the land which Moses
commanded. Also, God did not command the tithe, Abraham chose to give
it of his own free will (Gen. 14:17-23; Heb. 7:1-10).
18.
The only other scriptural reference to tithing before Moses is Jacob.
Again there is no command to tithe. In fact Jacob puts up numerous
conditions to be met before he will pay the tithe to the Lord (Gen.
28:20-22).
19.
The biblical references which address the tithing issues are: Gen.
14:20; 28:22; Lev. 27:30-32; Num. 18:20-32; Deut. 12:6-7, 11-12, 17;
14:22-23,28-29; 26:12-15; 2 Chron. 31:1-12; Amos 4:4-5; Mal. 3:8-12;
Matt. 23:23; Lk. 11:42; 18:12; Heb. 7:5-10.
20.
Paul the apostle to the Gentiles for this present dispensation of
Grace does not mention tithing but says a great deal about grace
giving (Rom. 15:25,26; 1 Cor. 9:7-14; 16:1-3; 2 Cor. 8 & 9; Gal.
6:6-10; Phil. 4:10-19; 1 Tim. 5:9-18). " --Pastor David O'Steen
We
cannot be cursed by the Law anymore. Christ redeemed us from the
curse of the Law and we are now under grace.
Galatians
3:
[12]
And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live
in them.
[13] Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
[14] That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
[13] Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
[14] That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Romans
6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not
under the law, but under grace.
Some
people say that since Abraham tithed before the Law was given that we
should also tithe under grace. However, Abraham also circumcised and
offered animal sacrifices before the Law. To be consistent, our
tithing friends would also have to start performing those practices
as well. Here is the Bible method of giving under grace: “But
this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and
he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man
according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not
grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God
is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having
all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”
(2 Cor. 9:6-8)
[4] According as he hath chosen us
in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and
without blame before him in love:
[5] Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
[5] Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Those two verses
there are what are known as the Calvinist proof texts. The Calvinist
view is that all saved people are God's “elect” and are “in
Christ” before the world began and that man does not have a
freewill to accept the gospel of Christ. Calvinism teaches that God
pre-selected (before the foundation of the world) all the people that
go to hell and all the people that will go to heaven. Nobody can
decide anything on their own. If you were one of the ones that God
pre-selected, then He will send His Spirit into you and cause you to
be born again and then AFTER THAT you will believe the gospel. But
that is completely contrary to scripture.
The Calvinist
brethren read Ephesians 1:4 as “According as he hath chosen
us before the foundation of the world”. But that is not
what the Bible says....it actually says “chosen IN HIM”. That
means that the condition on being “chosen...before the foundation
of the world” is by being “in Christ”.
There is no
scripture that says you were in Christ before the foundation of the
world. You have to get into Christ by believing the gospel before you
can be sealed and baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ. You must
be born again by believing on Christ trusting His death, burial, and
resurrection.
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,
John 1:11-13 He came unto his own, and
his own received him not. But as many as received him, to
them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that
believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the
will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Until you believe on Christ you are “of
your father the devil”, “in Adam”, “dead in trespasses and
sins”, “ye walked according to the course of this world”, “we
all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh,
fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by
nature the children of wrath”, and “we were dead in sins” (Eph.
2:1-5, 1 Cor. 15:22, John 8:44). You were not a son of God before you
believed the gospel. You were not in Christ before you believed the
gospel. Those things are conditioned on whether you believe the
gospel of not (Eph. 1:13, John 1:11-13).
Our Calvinist friends will reply to
this and say “If you have to believe the gospel before you get
saved, then salvation is by works because believing is something that
you have to do yourself.” That sounds good at first, but the Bible
says that believing is not a work. Romans 4:5 “But to him that
worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly,
his faith is counted for righteousness.” Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us
that salvation is by faith, not of works. Therefore believing/faith
is not a work.
Predestination is according to God's
foreknowledge. Because God knew that you would trust Christ and
believe the gospel, He pre-determined that your destiny would be for
you “to be conformed to the image of his Son”.
Romans 8:29-30 For whom he did
foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image
of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he
called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also
glorified.
God pre-destinated people based on the
foreknowledge of their belief or rejection of the gospel. 2
Thessalonians 2:13-14 says “But we are bound to give thanks alway
to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from
the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the
Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our
gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
You were “chosen to salvation” “through belief of the truth”
when “he called you by our gospel”. God foreknew that you would
believe the gospel, He did not make you believe it and you were not
in Christ until you believed it.
The fact that you had to be “ADOPTED”
(Rom. 8:15, Gal. 4:1-9, Eph. 1:5) shows that you were not always in
Christ and that you were not always a son of God.
One more thing that the Calvinist
brethren do not know: there are different types of knowledge in the
Bible. You can “know” what someone will do without actually
knowing the person and being related to them. You can KNOW someone's
action without knowing the person themself. God did foreknow that you
would believe the gospel, but He did not know you as one of His sons.
Galatians 4:
[1] Now I say, That the heir, as
long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be
lord of all;
[2] But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
[3] Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
[4] But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
[5] To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
[6] And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
[7] Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
[8] Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
[9] But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
[2] But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
[3] Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
[4] But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
[5] To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
[6] And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
[7] Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
[8] Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
[9] But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Before you got saved, you were not
known of God. The Calvinist teaching is in error.
[6] To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
[7] In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Those
two verses prove that salvation can only be without our works (2 Tim.
1:9, Titus 3:5, Rom. 8:8, Eph. 2:8-9, Gal. 2:16-21, Gal. 3:1-3). If
we are saved by works then we cannot be saved by grace, but if we are
saved by grace we cannot be saved by works: “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.” (Rom. 11:6).
Ephesians 1:6-7 prove this very well.
If we
are (in God's “grace”) “accepted in the beloved”, then we
cannot be accepted by ANY works, else that would nullify grace. We
cannot be accepted by water baptism, public confession, the sinners
prayer, or any other deeds. Believing the gospel is the only way to
have access to God's grace, and that is not a work (Rom. 4:5). We
have redemption and forgiveness through Christ's blood, not by water
baptism.
[8] Wherein he hath abounded toward
us in all wisdom and prudence;
[9] Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
[10] That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
[11] In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
[9] Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
[10] That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
[11] In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
The
mystery of Christ's will is defined as “That in the dispensation of
the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in
Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in
him”. The Body of Christ will be caught up to meet the Lord in the
air (Phil. 3:20-21, 1 Thes. 1:10, 4:13-18), Israel will go through
the “time of Jacob's trouble” (Matt. 3:7, Jer. 30:1-24, 32:37) ,
Christ will come and rule the earth for 1,000 years (Jer. 31:31-34,
32:36-42, 33:4-18, Isa. 11:1-12, etc.), and then God burns up the
heavens and earth (2 Pet. 3:10-12) and will create a new heaven and a
new earth (2 Pet. 3:13, Rev. 21:1, Isa. 65:17, 66:22). Christ's
Kingdom will be gathered together serving Him and expanding forever.
No church splits, rebelling against the King, no more of any of that
stuff. It will be perfectly gathered together in Him with no more
division. Or as John puts it in Revelation 21:4, “God shall wipe
away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for
the former things are passed away.”
[12] That we should be to the
praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
[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.
[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.
Verses
12-14 are some of the greatest verses in the Bible on salvation. In
fact, Ephesians 1:13 is my favorite verse in the entire Bible. These
verses prove that salvation is not by water baptism, praying the
sinners prayer, or any works of righteousness which we have done
(Titus 3:5).
“In whom ye also trusted”
: Trust Christ as your Saviour, believe not only “in Him” but “ON
Him” (Acts 16:31)
“after that ye heard the word of
truth, the gospel of your salvation”
: What is the gospel? 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 “Moreover, brethren,
I declare unto you the gospel
which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein
ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I
preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered
unto you first of all that which I also received, how
that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that
he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the
scriptures:”
“in whom also after that ye
believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise”
: At the moment you trusted Christ, believing the gospel, you were
SEALED with the Holy Spirit. No water baptism, no prayer, just simply
believing on Christ!
This
is a perfect explanation of 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.”
This
best part is, the SEAL of the Holy Spirit is permanent! The Holy
Spirit will not leave you, even if you grieve Him by walking after
the flesh. This seal is “the earnest of our inheritance
until the redemption of the purchased possession”.
The purchased possession being your body. Your body gets redeemed at
the rapture when it is changed and fashioned like unto the body of
Jesus Christ. After that you will not sin ever again. Your soul and
spirit have been saved/redeemed already, but your body has only been
purchased and is awaiting its redemption and salvation....
Romans
8:22-24 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth
in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also,
which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan
within ourselves, waiting
for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
For we are saved by hope:
but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he
yet hope for?
1
Corinthians 15:51-55 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all
sleep, but we shall all
be changed, In a moment,
in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall
sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed. For this
corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption,
and this mortal shall have put on immortality,
then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is
swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where
is thy victory?
Philippians
3:20-21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look
for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who
shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his
glorious body, according
to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto
himself.
Titus
2:13-14 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of
the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us,
that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a
peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Until
that day, we have the earnest of the Holy Spirit “until the
redemption” of our body. Ephesians 4:30 says this in plainer words:
“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye
are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
[15] Wherefore I also, after I
heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the
saints,
[16] Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
[17] That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
[18] The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
[19] And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
[20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
[21] Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
[22] And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
[23] Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
[16] Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
[17] That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
[18] The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
[19] And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
[20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
[21] Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
[22] And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
[23] Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
There
is a lot of truth in those last few verses of Ephesians 1. Here we
see that we should pray for the spiritual growth of fellow brothers
in Christ (vs15-18). We should pray about “every thing” (Phil
3:4-7)
but
surely the spiritual growth of fellow saints should be on our
priority list.
It is
also important to notice that Paul said that we should know what is
the hope of Christ's calling and what the riches of Christ's
inheritance is (vs 18). Did you notice that it does not say “our
inheritance” and “our calling”? That is because we are “heirs
of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” according to Romans 8:17. We
earn fellow inheritance with Christ!
Verse
21 reminds us that we are now in a “present evil world” (Gal.
1:4) that is not our home and that we are looking for the world
“that..is to come”. That is why we are instructed not to “mind
earthly things” because our conversation is in heaven (Phil.
3:17-21).
Verses
22-23 prove that the Body of Christ is the universal organism of all
believers that are “joined to the Lord” “seated in heavenly
places in Christ” (1 Cor. 6:15-17, Eph. 2:6). Our Baptist Brider
friends teach that the Body of Christ is each individual local church
itself rather than the members. In other words, they teach that when
the members are not assembled locally then there is no Body of
Christ. That is not true, the “Body” is defined as “the
fulness of him that filleth all in all”.
It does not say “the fulness of him that filleth the local
building”. The Body is defined as Christ in INDIVIDUALS, not in a
building/assembly. In the Body there is “there is neither Greek nor
Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor
free: but Christ is all,
and in all.” (Col.
3:11) The Body is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col.
1:24-28). Therefore you get into this Body when Christ comes into you
by His Spirit joining you to the Lord (Eph. 1:13, 3:17, 4:30, Gal.
3:1-3, 4:1-9, Rom. 8:1-15, 1 Cor. 6:15-17), not when you assemble
with other believers. The Body is assembled in heaven and in Christ
(Eph. 2:6).
--Eli Caldwell
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