GOD’S ABSOLUTE GUARANTEE
Ephesians 1:13-14
A problem has arisen in the church at Ephesus:
The same problem was creeping into churches everywhere Paul went!
Divisions, revolving around tensions between Jews and Gentiles.
Attempting to correct the problem, Paul tells them about God's program for church in this age.
Hymn of praise because those who used to be kept out have been made members of God's family.
∴, We ought to act like members of the same family and live in a way that’s worthy of the family we belong to!
If God accepts all of us without distinction, we ought to accept one another.
Paul begins by telling us, what a great job God has done in all our lives.
PAUL’S PRAISE FOR GOD'S PLAN 1:3-14
Praises God for His marvelous plan through which He has made it possible for us to receive every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Ultimate purpose: that God might receive glory for what He has done.
Praise develops around role of each Person in providing every spiritual blessing. Each section concludes with praise to God!
WORK OF GOD THE FATHER 1:3-6
He praises the Father because of His plan in general
God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ
He has done it all-nothing is missing!
Specifically, he praises the Father because He chose us before the foundation of the world.-before we ever did a thing
This is all God's work--He gets all the glory.
We can't add anything to it!
[ Son and Spirit are agents through whom the Father accomplished His plan.
This doesn’t diminish their equality.
It merely recognizes that the Father is Head over the program. ]
GOD’S WORK THROUGH THE SON 1:7-12
Praise is presented to God because of His work through the Son.
IN HIM—
God provided redemption —He bought us with His blood and freed us, removing us from “marketplace” of people in bondage to sin.
God provided forgiveness of sin —not by works; but by grace.
God chose us to be His inheritance
GOD’S WORK THROUGH THE SPIRIT 1:13-14
Entire process of salvation presented—it’s all the work of the Holy Spirit:
1. He causes us to hear
You listened 13a And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. [NAS=>”after listening”]
2. He causes us to believe.
Hearing results in faith.
Faith produces salvation—those who trust Jesus receive life.
You believed 13b Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal,
3. Then He came to reside in us.
It’s His presence in us that seals us.
You were sealed 13c you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
FAITH is method of laying hold of it.
Main verb, "you were sealed," is God's work
“Having believed” gives logical order, we receive Spirit as result of trusting Jesus
The Holy Spirit is our seal you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
God placed His seal on us.
2 Cor 1:21-22 “Now it is God who make both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
Eph 4:30 “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
Because you’re sealed by Him, don’t grieve Him!
The seal indicates the transaction is complete. “It’s a done deal!”
Seal indicates who the owner is—ink mark made by the owner
Postal/shipping: Indicates who sent it, who owns it, and demonstrates that the package has arrived intact—it hasn’t been tampered with.
God put His seal on us because He purchased us.
Holy Spirit in us is our identification mark.
Seal proves validity of documents—mark of authenticity.
Signature on a letter attest to the genuineness of the document
Church’s official seal
Holy Spirit demonstrates WE belong to God—it’s the real thing!
Rom 8:9 “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.”
Rom 8:16 “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children”
Witness of the Spirit makes our profession authentic
Seal indicates the owner's protection
Seal at tomb indicated people had better keep their hands off!
God placed seal on us, saying to any enemy, “Keep your hands off! —He belongs to me!”
The Holy Spirit is our pledge 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance
He is a deposit that guarantees our inheritance
Found in many Greek commercial documents.
arrabon-the down payment-deposit obligates buyer to complete the purchase. It guarantees fulfillment of obligation.
He’s God’s “down payment” to guarantee He’ll finish what He started.
Gen. 38:17, 18, 20 “I’ll send you a young goat from my flock,” he said. Will you give me something as a pledge until you send it?” she asked. He said, “What pledge should I give you?” “Your seal and its cord, and the staff in your hand,” she answered. So he gave them to her and slept with her and she became pregnant by him.... 20 ... Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite in order to get his pledge back from the woman
In Greece for engagement ring.—assurance that man is committed to become her husband. He’ll finish what he started!
Illustrations have problem: people fail to fulfill their promise.
Banks fail. No bank or government can give you an absolute guarantee!
(FDIC can’t give an absolute guarantee!)
When king placed his seal on document—seal of signet ring—it was “as good as his word”
But he could fail. He might not be able to keep his promise!
God—Who made this promise—can NEVER fail!
He WILL fulfill His promise! It’s an ABSOLUTE GUARANTEE!
The presence of the Holy Spirit guarantees our inheritance
The presence of the Holy Spirit looks forward 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
The contract will be fulfilled 14a
The purchase will be completed 14b
We are sealed until the day of redemption.
—until the full purchase is completed and we are completely away from the marketplace.
His presence guarantees full purchase will be completed.
Though we haven’t yet experienced the total redemption —the end of the process God is taking us through—it is guaranteed.
God has given us His pledge—the seal of Holy Spirit living in us to assure us we are His; God will finish what He started.
God will be glorified 14c “to the praise of His glory”
3rd doxology— He does all this so that HE is glorified.
No passage of Scripture makes clearer how secure we are in Christ!
God has given us His Spirit so we are marked as His.
He thereby guarantees that HE will finish what He started!
Blessed assurance! Jesus is mine! O, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation
Purchase of God
Born of His Spirit; washed in His blood.
WHOLE PLAN DEPENDS ON GOD-NOT US!
Both work of salvation and the guarantee of permanence depend on God.
We have no basis for pride nor distinctions.
We should just be grateful for His mercy
Ultimate result: praise! —God gets the glory!
He does it all; therefore HE gets all the glory!
Paul considers all that God has done for us—in the Father, in the Son, and in the Holy Spirit—and it motivates him to worship.
How can we truly understand all God has done and not be driven to worship Him?
Kline Snodgrass paraphrase: “
When we heard about the truth from God
and believed the good news about His plan,
God marked us as His own by giving us His Spirit.
The Spirit’s dwelling in us is a pledge from God
that He will complete His plan
and that one day we will truly live with God.
For this we owe God praise.
Our God, we do worship you.”