His Word Today

^13 “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13–14 (ESV)

What does the Bible mean when in Ephesians 1:14 the Apostle Paul speaks of believers in Christ acquiring possession of their inheritance? Let examine the word possession today.

The word possession (περιποίησις; peripoiesis) literally means gaining a personal piece of property. The Bible speaks of believers in Christ being God’s own possession (I Peter 2:9), and believers possessing salvation in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Greek language scholar Kenneth Wuest writes, “The words “purchased possession” are peripoiēsis (περιποιησις), which “expresses the general idea of preserving, acquiring, gaining for one’s self, without specific reference to a price” (Expositors). It refers to the saints as God’s heritage which He preserves for Himself. The final redemption of this possession is glorification, when the physical body will be the recipient of the work of salvation. The soul and spirit are now the recipients of God’s saving grace. The body will experience that work at the Rapture when the first resurrection takes place. This will result to the praise of God’s glory.”

Dr. R. C. Sproul explains, “The goal of the Spirit’s work is that it be unto the praise of His glory. This is the main point of Ephesians 1:3-14. This phrase is repeated as the goal and main point of the Father’s work (vv.3-6; cf. v.12), and of the Son’s work (vv.7-12; cf. v.12). Thus, the overriding main point of all of vv.3-14 is that the work of the Trinity in electing, redeeming, and sealing is to the glory of God. That is why election and predestination are repeated (vv.3, 4, 11), since God can receive glory for the work of redemption only if that work is all of God. If believers contribute anything independently to their salvation, then Paul could say that they get to share the glory, but instead, all the glory belongs to God.”

This is why the 16^th century Protestant Reformers used the phase Soli deo Gloria! In the Latin language, it means to God alone, be the glory. Amen!     

^13 “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13–14 (ESV)

What does it mean when the Scriptures say that the Holy Spirit is the believer’s seal? The word seal (σφραγίζω; sphragizo) means to be marked for possession or identity, to be made secure, and to be safely delivered to one’s intended destination. For the believer in Christ, God marks each one with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). This identifies the individual as God’s purchased possession and also indicates that their destiny for heaven is safe and secure.

Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit was the promise from God the Father (Luke 24:49). God’s promise of the Holy Spirit extends to all who trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior: Jews as well as Gentiles (Ezekiel 36:26-27; Joel 2:28; John 14-16; Acts 1:1-5; 2:33-39; Galatians 3:14; 4:6).

As the believer’s seal, the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance in Christ (Ephesians 1:11-12). The word guarantee (ἀρραβών; arrabon) means a first installment, a down payment or pledge. As a down payment of the believer’s complete redemption in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:1-5), the Holy Spirit provides each believer with a foretaste of the glory of the heavenly age to come (Romans 8:18-23).

The Holy Spirit indwells each and every believer (Romans 8:9). His presence assures each of us that we will acquire possession of our inheritance. When next we meet, we will conduct an in depth examination of the word possession and what this means for the believer in Christ.

Take the time today to thank the Holy Spirit for being your guarantee from God. Heaven is truly your home.

Soli deo Gloria!

“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” (Ephesians 1:13 (ESV)

God’s spiritual blessings for believers are based not only on the sovereign election of the Father (vv. 3–6) and the redemptive work of the Son (vv. 7–12), but also upon the seal of the Holy Spirit.

The phrase “In him you also… introduces the third series of spiritual blessings from the Triune God. The phrase directs our attention to God the Father. Along with all the previously mentioned blessings discussed in Ephesians 1:3-12, there are still more blessings from God to the believer in Christ.

This third category of blessing occurred in the believer’s life “when you heard the word of truth.” The phrase when you heard (ἀκούω; akouo) means to actively understand and receive as truth what was heard and understood. The Apostle Paul indicated that what was heard by the believing sinner was “the word of truth.” In other words, it was a message of reality. It was not a fairy tale or fiction.

What was this word of truth? It was “the gospel of your salvation.” It was the good news that God the Father exists, that sin exists, that deliverance from sin’s penalty, power and eventual presence exits, and the deliverer is none other than Jesus Christ.

When the converted sinner has believed in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, God sealed them “with the promised Holy Spirit.” It is solely a work of God upon the individual believer.

To be sealed (σφραγίζω; sphragizo) means to be marked for possession or identity, to be made secure, and to be safely delivered to one’s intended destination. For the believer in Christ, God marks each one with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). This identifies the individual as God’s purchased possession and also indicates that their destiny for heaven is safe and secure.

We will have more to say about God’s sealing blessing when next we meet. Until then, thank God that by His grace, He has signed, sealed and promises to deliver you to Himself.

Soli deo Gloria!    

^11” In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, ¹² so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:11–12 (ESV)

Why did God do all the things which the Apostle Paul chronicles in Ephesians 1:1-11? There must be some reason for Him choosing, predestinating, adopting, redeeming, gracing, forgiving, uniting and establishing an inheritance on behalf of sinners? If so, what was/is the reason?

The answer to that question is found Ephesians 1:12: “…so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.”

The words so that (εἰς; eis) is a preposition indicating a purpose clause. God’s purpose involves those who are delivered from the penalty, power and eventual presence of sin. This is indicated by the personal pronoun we.

God’s purpose in salvation is that those who were the first to hope, or have absolute confidence, in the person and work of Jesus Christ would eternally praise Him. This applies to believers today.

Believers are to praise God, not only for who He is, but also for what He has done. In other words, God alone is to be praised and honored because He not only delivered us from the ravages of sin, but also because He is personally worthy of such praise and honor.

Charles Hodge writes, “We (believers) should be the means of causing His divine majesty or excellence to be praised.”

Dr. John MacArthur writes, “God’s glory is the supreme purpose of redemption (cf. vv. 6, 14).”

Let us take every opportunity to praise the Lord today. Have a blessed one.

Soli deo Gloria!  

^“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,” (Ephesians 1:11 (ESV)

Recently, my family suffered a loss due to the death of a loved one. The death was not unexpected and the individual in question was a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The deceased left an inheritance, which was distributed to various members of the family.  This was in accordance with her wishes in her living trust.

An inheritance refers to the assets that an individual bequeaths to their loved ones after they die. An inheritance may contain cash, investments such as stocks or bonds, and other assets such as jewelry, automobiles, art, antiques, and real estate. The amount of inheritance receives, if any, is totally up to the wishes and discretion of the owner of said assets.

Today’s text concerns the believer in Christ and the subject of their inheritance. The word inheritance (κληρόω; kleroo) refers to what the believer has obtained in their salvation because of the sovereign will of God. The believer in Christ is a passive recipient, whereas God is the active benefactor. The believer’s inheritance is not based upon any merit of the individual believer, but solely based on God’s sovereign grace alone, through God given faith alone, and in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone. This is true for believing Jews and Gentiles.

The inheritance the believer possesses in Christ is because God the Father predestined them solely according to the sovereign purpose of His will (Ephesians 1:3-5). This is a sweeping statement of truth regarding God’s will and His sovereign power to carry out His purpose and plan of redemption. As Dr. R. C. Sproul says, “Believers have been predestined to receive an inheritance.”

Dr. Charles Hodge writes, “The inheritance of which the apostle speaks is that which believers enjoy. As the Israelites of old obtained an inheritance in the Promised Land, so those in Christ become partakers of that heavenly inheritance which He (Christ) has secured for them.”

The result of this truth is that God is glorified and His purposes are accomplished. Hallelujah!

Soli deo Gloria!   

⁸ “Which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight ⁹ making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ ¹⁰ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” (Ephesians 1:8–10 (ESV)

Thus far, the Apostle Paul has revealed that God not only chose believers in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3-5), but He also adopted and redeemed them through the substitutionary atonement by Jesus Christ on the cross (Ephesians 1:5, 7). The impetus, or motivation, by God to do this was His grace alone (Ephesians 1:6-7). The result of this was the forgiveness of our trespasses (Ephesians 1:7).

God’s grace was lavished upon us (Ephesians 1:8). This was God’s intended and sovereign purpose (Ephesians 1:9). Why would God do all of this, for those who were His enemies because of man’s fall into sin (Genesis 3; Romans 1:18-32; 5:1-21)?

Ephesians 1:10 says, “…as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”

The phrase as a plan (οἰκονομία; oikonomia) means to administrate, to manage a household, and/or to be a steward. It is a task, or a job, that is in need of a set of arrangements. The task God administrated was the salvation of sinners, such as you and me.

God’s managed plan of redemption was fulfilled in His perfecting timing. The phrase for the fullness of time indicates this truth. The phrase refers to the completeness of God’s plan at a particular point in time.

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “The idea appears to be that the household of the cosmos has become fragmented and in disarray because the household managers allowed this to happen (Adam and his progeny). Christ is a faithful household manager who has come to put the fragmented household back together, especially the splintered relationships in the family of that household.”  

God’s ultimate goal is the unification of all things in Christ, both in heaven and on earth. The Beatles sang for people to Come Together. Jesus Christ actually accomplished this task of bringing people together into one: the elect of God. They become the church of God and are in union with God through the work and in the person of Jesus Christ.

Soli deo Gloria!

We will devote each Lord’s Day in 2021 at hiswordtoday.org to present a portion of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF). For those unfamiliar with the WCF, a brief explanation is appropriate. 

The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith. Drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly as part of the Westminster Standards to be a confession of the Church of England, it became and remains the “subordinate standard” of doctrine (to Scripture) in the Church of Scotland and has been influential within Presbyterian churches worldwide.

It is to that “most precise and accurate summary of the content of biblical Christianity” that we will give our time and attention to each Lord’s Day in the year of our Lord, 2021. I trust you will be edified and encouraged each week by The Westminster Confession of Faith.

Chapter Eight: Of Christ the Mediator. Part 2.

4. This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake,^a which, that he might discharge, he was made under the law,^b and did perfectly fulfill it;^c endured most grievous torments immediately in his soul,^d and most painful sufferings in his body;^e was crucified, and died;^f was buried, and remained under the power of death, yet saw no corruption.^g On the third day he arose from the dead,^h with the same body in which he suffered;ⁱ with which also he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth at the right hand of his Father,^k making intercession;^l and shall return to judge men and angels at the end of the world.^m

a. Psa 40:7-8 with Heb 10:5-10; John 10:18; Phil 2:8. • b. Gal 4:4. • c. Mat 3:15; 5:17. • d. Mat 26:37-38; 27:46; Luke 22:44. • e. Matthew 26-27 throughout. • f. Phil 2:8. • g. Acts 2:23-24, 27; 13:37; Rom 6:9. • h. 1 Cor 15:3-4. • i. John 20:25, 27. • k. Mark 16:19. • l. Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25; 9:24. • m. Mat 13:40-42; Acts 1:11; 10:42; Rom 14:9-10; 2 Pet 2:4; Jude 1:6.

5. The Lord Jesus, by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself, which he through the eternal Spirit once offered up unto God, hath fully satisfied the justice of his Father,^a and purchased not only reconciliation, but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom the Father hath given unto him.^b

a. Rom 3:25-26; 5:19; Eph 5:2; Heb 9:14, 16; 10:14. • b. Dan 9:24, 26; John 17:2; Eph 1:11, 14; Col 1:19-20; Heb 9:12, 15.

6. Although the work of redemption was not actually wrought by Christ till after his incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefits thereof were communicated unto the elect, in all ages successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices, wherein he was revealed, and signified to be the seed of the woman which should bruise the serpent’s head, and the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world, being yesterday and today the same, and forever.^a

a. Gen 3:15; Gal 4:4-5; Heb 13:8; Rev 13:8.

I encourage you to read the portions of Scripture listed in this post.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day.

\Soli deo Gloria!

⁸ “Which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight ⁹ making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ ¹⁰ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” (Ephesians 1:8–10 (ESV)

The Apostle Paul reinserts God the Father’s ministry in the salvation of sinners in Ephesians 1:8-10. We previously studied Ephesians 1:8 in our last lesson. Today, we examine Ephesians 1:9.

God the Father has made known to believers in Christ the mystery of His will. The phrase making known (γνωρίζω; gnorizo) means to reveal or to cause information to be known by someone. The wisdom and insight believers have concerning their salvation in Christ is due to the Father’s initiative in making such revelation known to the individual believer.

This information God has revealed concerns the mystery of His will, according to His purpose. Let’s unpack these two phrases.

The word mystery (μυστήριον; myserion) refers to a secret. The secret, within this particular context, concerns God the Father’s will. The word will (θέλημα; thelema) means a desire or a purpose and intention. The word purpose (εὐδοκία; eudokia) indicates that which is pleasing. Therefore, God has chosen to reveal to the church what His pleasing purpose is with respect to our salvation in Christ.

Dr. R. C. Sproul comments that, “For Paul, ‘mystery’ was not a conundrum impenetrable for finite human reason, but a truth previously and partially hidden that is now fully revealed through the coming of Christ.”

The final phrase in Ephesians 1:9 is which he set forth in Christ. Once again the subject is God the Father. He set forth (προτίθημι; protithemi) or planned beforehand his pleasing purpose to justify sinners solely by grace alone, through faith alone, in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone. As already noted, this occurred before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).

Theologian Charles Hodge concludes our study with these words. “The wisdom and understanding which God has so abundantly communicated, includes both the objective revelation and the subjective apprehension of it. This is the third great blessing of which the context treats. The first is election; the second is redemption; the third is this revelation both outward and inward. The first is the work of God, the everlasting Father; the second the work of the Son; the third is the work of the Holy Spirit, who thus applies to believers the redemption purchased by Christ.”

Soli deo Gloria!

^7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, ⁸ which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.” (Ephesians 1:7–8 (ESV)

What is the most extravagant gift you have ever received from someone? Was it a trip? A car, truck or SUV? A house? Perhaps it was a piece of jewelry. The redemption we have in Jesus Christ is an extravagant gift which exceeds all others.

The word lavished (περισσεύω; perisseuo) to provide something in abundance or to give more than was expected. What the Apostle Paul has in view is the redemption found solely in Jesus Christ. The price Jesus paid on the cost for our redemption and justification is truly rich and costly. While salvation is often spoken of as free, it is in reality quietly costly.

This redemption was lavished upon us sinners who were rightly deserving of God’s righteous wrath (Romans 1:18-32; Ephesians 2:1-3). Instead of wrath, we received redemption. Instead of earning such a gift, it was graciously provided and given.

This act by Jesus Christ was done in all the wisdom and knowledge of God Almighty.  Wisdom (σοφία; Sophia) refers to God’s insight and knowledge. Insight (φρόνησις; phronesis) means capacity for understanding.

It is this wisdom and knowledge which God has given to each redeemed sinner. They are given for the redeemed to not only understanding and grasp the depth of God’s love in providing salvation from the penalty of their sins, but also to understand the depth of God’s love in delivering the sinner from the power and eventual presence of their sin.

Dr. John Walvoord writes, “God’s grace is given to enable believers to understand His will. God gives them wisdom (sophia; cf. v. 17; 3:10; Col. 1:9, 28; 2:3, 23; 3:16; 4:5), objective insight into the true nature of God’s revelation, and understanding (phronēsei), the subjective apprehension of it. So believers are able to grasp something of the divine purpose of the ages and to see its relevance in the present time.”

May each of us pray today for God to continue to give us wisdom and insight for all He has done for us and the expensive gift of redemption He has given to us in Christ. Have a blessed day.

Soli deo Gloria!

^“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,” (Ephesians 1:7 (ESV)

The Apostle Paul’s focus shifts from God the Father and His work in the salvation of sinners (Ephesians 1:3-6) to the work of God the Son, Jesus Christ, and His work of the same. What blessings do believers have in Christ? To begin with, there is redemption through the substitutionary and vicarious atonement accomplished by Jesus Christ on the cross.

Paul begins Ephesians 1:7 with the words in him. Within the context, the personal pronoun Him refers the reader to the immediately preceding noun found in the latter portion of Ephesians 1:6. That noun phrase is the Beloved. In the context, Beloved is another name for Jesus Christ.

It is in Jesus Christ alone that the elect presently and actively possess redemption. Redemption (ἀπολύτρωσις; apolytrosis) means to be set free or delivered. It is another word for salvation, which also means deliverance. A price has been paid on the sinner’s behalf resulting in a release from the penalty, power and eventual presence of sin.

Redemption is accomplished solely through the blood atonement of Jesus Christ. Paul uses the word blood to refer to the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross. It is this substitutionary sacrifice which not only satisfied the righteous wrath and justice of God the Father, but also provides the sinner’s only salvation (Romans 3:23-24; Ephesians 2:13; I Peter 1:17-19).

Romans 5:6-9 says, “⁶ For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— ⁸ but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.”

It is because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross on the sinner’s behalf that God can forgive the sinner of the debt, guilt and enmity caused by their sin before God. Forgiveness (ἄφεσις; aphesis) means a pardon (Matthew 26:28; Acts 2:38; 10:43; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:22; 10:18) and liberty or release (Luke 4:16-19).

Trespasses (παράπτωμα; paraptoma) literally means to throw one’s self aside and upon an enemy. It is a conscious violation of that which is right, resulting in objective guilt before God. The basis for God’s forgiveness of our trespasses is once again the riches and abundance of His grace alone.

Dr. John Walvoord writes, “The cost of Christ’s blood is the measure of the wealth of God’s unmerited favor to every believer. It was accomplished not “out of” but “according to” (kata) the wealth of His grace (cf. Phil. 4:19). Six times in Ephesians Paul referred to God’s riches (1:7, 18; 2:4, 7; 3:8, 16).”

Thank you Lord for the riches of your grace. Have a blessed day.

Soli deo Gloria!