God’s Eternal Plan, pt. 1 Ephesians 1:3-14

In our last sermon we looked at Ephesians 1:3, which says: “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.”

I want to mention again that Ephesians 1:3-14 is one sentence in the original Greek that Paul wrote. Which is important because it helps us to understand the parts of this passage as they relate to the whole. In fact, verses 4-14 are an expansion and explanation of what Paul means when he says that God “has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.”

Our sermon last week made the point that Every spiritual blessing we enjoy comes to us through the Lord Jesus Christ, alone.

There is a difference between the general blessings of God on all humanity and the spiritual blessings for those who are “in Christ.”

Common grace is the doctrine that teaches us God blesses all people in a general way. Even the ungodly may enjoy good in this world, and even the good they experience is from God. But, the ungodly know nothing of the blessings Paul is writing about here in Ephesians. Paul is writing to Christians with the concern and intention that they would understand and grasp the special grace and blessings that they have in Christ.

The special grace and blessings that are connected to being “in Christ” are only for those who are saved by the grace of God by their faith in Christ. You cannot be a Christian without being “in Christ” and there are no spiritual blessings apart from him.

As Paul unpacks the blessings of God that are found in Christ he goes all the way to the time before creation began and forward to the time after creation has ended. Let’s read through this together and then we will unpack it together.

Ephesians 1:3–14 (ESV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 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 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. 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. 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.

You can see with a quick read that Paul references God’s plan and purpose to accomplish his will in Christ as it relates to the past, in verses 4-6; the present, in verses 5-8; and the future, in verses 9-10.

God’s purpose and plans are eternal and fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

God’s purpose and plans were before creation and extend beyond the end of creation.

The entire story of the world fits into and accomplishes God’s purposes and plans.

Creation begins with the end and a more glorious beginning in mind.

The world and everything in it is not something God has wound up and is then watching to see how it goes.

The world, including humanity, has a purpose and a plan with an intended ending.

God has revealed the mystery of His purpose and will, and it is to bring all things together in Christ.

One of the things God has revealed in His Word is His plan to have a people with Him for all eternity. These people are brought together in Christ. And, not only does God reveal his plan for a unified people under and in Christ for all time, He also reveals the plan to unite all things in heaven and on earth in Christ for eternity as well.

This doesn’t mean that everything trends toward universalism. What it does mean is that every person who receives all of God’s blessings in Christ is a part of that great family of faith that we see in the book of Revelation. Revelation 7:9–12 (ESV), “9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Let’s take our remaining time today and walk through the verses and we will see how far we can get…

Ephesians 1:4-6

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

God’s pre-creation purpose and plan includes Jesus and us.

The “us” in the passage is referring to believers. This means that God had a people for the new heaven and a new earth in mind in Christ before he every spoke the world into existence. When there was just God (Father, Son, and Spirit) the union of us and Christ was in his mind.

God’s pre-creation purpose and plan was to redeem lost sinners through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Now these verses are part of what is known as the doctrine of election. And, throughout Christian history there have been various degrees of interpretation when it comes to this doctrine, and there are even wide disagreements on it. And, I think regardless of your interpretation there are some things we need to remember. However, I do think that your interpretation can have an impact on the way you think and remember these three things.

Three things to remember about the doctrine of election:

Election and predestination are biblical truths that we should not avoid, and we should strive for unity in the truths of the Bible. God’s grace is an incentive for holiness, not an excuse for sin The saving work of Christ in your life is cause for humility, it’s never grounds for boasting.

Continuing with our passage…

Ephesians 1:4-6

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

God’s love is the source of our redemption and adoption

God’s grace is the basis for our adoption and redemption

Union with Christ is the means of our adoption and redemption

Look at the next passage, verses 7-10, to see this explained…

Ephesians 1:7-10

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 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.

God has redeemed us by paying the penalty of our sin for us through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.

Jesus- holy and blameless, has taken the punishment that our sin deserves in our place.

God’s plan before he created the world and Adam and Eve was to redeem sinners through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

God forgives our sins by the riches of his grace through Christ and his gospel

It was God’s plan before creation to make Christ known, and it is thought the gospel, or the making Christ known that God continues to lavish his saving grace upon those who believe.

According to His will and His grace God is making a holy and blameless people for Himself through the saving work of Christ.

In verse 4 it says that “he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.”

But, we cannot be holy on our own. Therefore, God planned before creation the we would be redeemed by the blood of Christ and receive grace for the forgiveness of our sins. As a result, Christians are “right with God” and also granted “right standing before God” in the present to be fulfilled in its entirety when we are with Christ in the end.

God’s eternal purpose and plan has never changed, but it’s no longer a mystery.

All of God’s purposes and plans for your life are found in Christ.

Past, present, future

Trusting and believing, receiving and being received.

Adoption as sons and daughters of God through Christ.

It is from the place of adoption and salvation that you will fully know God’s love and his purpose for your life. Until you surrender to the truth of the gospel you will not be able to live with the spiritual blessings that he gives to those who are in Christ. Which means no redemption, forgiveness, adoption, or future in heaven.

God’s love saves us and spurs us to live for Him.

Pursue holiness

And, as God’s holy ones it’s his plan that we live according to the grace we have been given.

1 Peter 2:9–12 (ESV)

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Cultivate gratitude and humility

Share the gospel

Romans 10:11–17 (ESV)

11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.