His Word Today

¹⁶ “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him.” (Ephesians 1:16–17 (ESV)

From today’s text, the Apostle Paul engaged in prayer for the Ephesian believers. What God prompted the apostle to pray on behalf of them, also applies to believers today. What was the content of Paul’s prayer and how does it apply to believers today? For the next several days, we are going to examine the content of this prayer.

The purpose of Paul’s prayer is indicated by the conjunction that which introduces what is called a purpose clause. The purpose of this prayer involves each member of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Paul prayed that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, would give each believer the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Take notice that the definite article the is used immediately before the proper noun Spirit. Also notice that the noun Spirit is capitalized indicating the translators identification that this is a reference to the Holy Spirit.  

Paul prays that God the Father would give, or provide, each believer in Christ the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Wisdom (σοφία; Sophia) refers to the practical application of God’s Word by the believer into their life and living. Revelation (ἀποκάλυψις; apokalypsis) means to disclose or reveal for the purpose of greater understanding or illumination.

Paul was not praying that the believers in Ephesus, and by implication believers today, needed to still be indwelt, sealed, baptized, gifted or even filled by the Holy Spirit. With the exception of being repeatedly filled (Ephesians 5:18), all of these benefits of and by the Spirit occur in the believer’s life at the point of conversion.

Rather, Paul was praying for the Spirit’s illumination in the individual Christian. Illumination is the work of the Holy Spirit to help believers in Christ to not only hear and receive God’s Word, but also to properly understand the intended message and meaning of God’s Word. The goal of this understanding is obedient application of the God’s truth in the believer’s life.

I Corinthians 2:9-11 says, “⁹ But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— ¹⁰ these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. ¹¹ For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”

Dr. R. C. Sproul comments that, “Illumination is not to be confused with revelation. It is commonplace today to hear people speak about private revelations they claim to have received from the Holy Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit in illumination is not the supplying of new information or fresh revelation beyond those found in sacred Scripture.”   

Spirit wrought illumination is intended to convict and convince believers of the truth of God’s Word, and then to apply that truth into their lives. In other words, the Holy Spirit works through the Word of God, and with the Word of God, but never against the Word of God. Remember, the Word of God is the Holy Spirit’s book (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ give each of us today the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁵ “For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, ¹⁶ I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” (Ephesians 1:15–16 (ESV)

In my library is a book by Arthur W. Pink entitled Gleanings from Paul. In his book, Arthur W. Pink presents a detailed study of Paul and his God honoring prayers. Throughout his letters, Paul offers prayer to God that are among the richest sources in all of Scripture the how, why and power of prayer. Ephesians 1:15-16 begins Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian believers.

Today’s text begins with the phrase for this reason. The phrase for this reason  (dia touto; δια τουτο) may be translated “Wherefore” or “on this account.” What Paul means is that what he going to pray is because of all that is true of the saints which in general is stated in Ephesians 1:3–14. It is also because of what is said of these believers in verse 13, that the apostle thanks God for the Ephesian Christians and prays for them.

Paul has actively received news of the Ephesian believer’s trust, commitment, dependence and worship of the Lord Jesus Christ. Their faith in the Lord Jesus is evidenced by their good works, especially their self-sacrificial love toward all their fellow Christians (I Corinthians 13:1-8).

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “Paul had ministered in Ephesus for more than two years (Acts 18-20), but the time of writing (this epistle) may be as much as five years. The church had grown considerably since then. It may also be that Paul mentions people who live in the cities where the epistle circulated whose faith and love he knows only by report.”

It is for this particular reason that Paul feels provoked to pray. His prayer is one of ongoing thanks for the Ephesian church. We will begin examining the particulars of Paul’s prayer when next we meet. I would encourage you to begin reading Ephesians 1:17-23.

Who do you personally know for which you can thank God, not only for their faith in the Lord Jesus but also for their love for all the saints? Have a blessed day.

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 3.

7. Christ, in the work of mediation, acteth according to both natures; by each nature doing that which is proper to itself;^a yet, by reason of the unity of the person, that which is proper to one nature is sometimes, in Scripture, attributed to the person denominated by the other nature.^b

a. Heb 9:14; 1 Pet 3:18. • b. John 3:13; Acts 20:28; 1 John 3:16.

8. To all those for whom Christ hath purchased redemption he doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same;^a making intercession for them,^b and revealing unto them, in and by the Word, the mysteries of salvation;^c effectually persuading them by his Spirit to believe and obey; and governing their hearts by his Word and Spirit;^d overcoming all their enemies by his almighty power and wisdom, in such manner and ways as are most consonant to his wonderful and unsearchable dispensation.^e

a. John 6:37, 39; 10:15-16. • b. Rom 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2. • c. John 15:13, 15; 17:6; Eph 1:7-9. • d. John 14:16; 17:17; Rom 8:9, 14; 15:18-19; 2 Cor 4:13; Heb 12:2. • e. Psa 110:1; Mal 4:2-3; 1 Cor 15:25-26; Col 2:15.

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

Have a blessed Lord’s Day.

\Soli deo Gloria!

^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!