God’s Sovereign Plan in Redemption

We live in a time in our history affected by uncertainty, self-glorification, and identity confusion. Every new day seems to bring new reasons for anxiety — rising costs, shifting values, political division, and personal instability leave many people wondering who is really in control. In the age of social media, people constantly strive to prove their worth through success, appearance, or influence, curating images of perfection while hiding deep insecurity. At the same time, our culture urges everyone to “find” or “define” their own identity, yet the more we search within ourselves, the more lost and dissatisfied we become. Into this restless, dark, and disturbing world, Paul begins his letter by lifting our eyes to something unshakable: the sovereign plan of God.

Ephesians 1:3–14 speaks an encouraging word of truth: our lives are not random, and our value is not self-made. God, in His sovereign grace, has already chosen us, redeemed us, and sealed us through the Holy Spirit in Christ. Our identity and purpose are secure in His eternal plan. We don’t have to prove ourselves to Him, control every outcome, or be who the world or anyone else defines us as — because every spiritual blessing we could ever need is already ours in Jesus Christ.

From eternity past to eternity future, God’s purposes have not wavered. This text is one long sentence in Greek — a 200-word doxology — bursting with praise for a God who, in His sovereignty, is in control of salvation from beginning to end. In fact, this may be the longest sentence in Greek in the entire New Testament. In this doxology, Paul repeats the phrase “in Christ” (11 times), showing that every blessing of salvation is ours ONLY because in God’s sovereignty, He has united us to His Son.

READ EPHESIANS 1:3–14

I. GOD’S SOVEREIGN CHOICE

Paul begins by demonstrating that God had a plan from the beginning and that there is nothing out of His control. God’s sovereign plan is eternal. Before creation, before we existed, before sin entered the world — God chose His people in Christ. This wasn’t a reaction to our goodness or faith; it was the working of His eternal purpose. This is hopeful because you were chosen not because you have done anything special, or that you earned it, or that you even deserve to be chosen. You are chosen because God loves you. It says in 2 Peter 3:8–9, “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” God’s will for His people is that we spend eternity with Him. He knows everything that is necessary to bring you to a saving faith because He loves us. In His love He reaches out to us. He is there to provide for us in all circumstances, but ultimately, we must allow Him to be our Father. In His love, He predestined us for adoption.

In verse 5 we can see God’s sovereignty isn’t emotionless or mechanical — it’s motivated by love. God, who rules over all things, also loves His people with an everlasting love. God loves you! That may be difficult for some people to understand because we often see God in human terms. There are times in my life when I feel unworthy of God’s mercy and love. However, my feelings about myself and my worthiness have nothing to do with the objective reality of His love. God loves me and you because He created us, and there is nothing that we can do about it. God loves us because that is His character, and He cannot help Himself but love us. God has a very specific plan and purpose for your life based on His love. He is not going to steer us in the wrong direction, and He is not going to lead us to a place of despair — that is what we do in our fallen state. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

As we study the theology of this text, we can see one of the most beautiful, comforting, and Christ-centered statements of predestination in all of Scripture. It is not a callous declaration that leaves people guessing whether they are “in or out.” Instead, it is the gospel itself: God has already chosen you, forgiven you, adopted you, and sealed you — all in Christ — before you ever did a thing. This is the “predestination to salvation,” and it is a reminder of the goodness and faithfulness of God.

In verse 6 we see the reason for God’s sovereign plan to save us; it is because of His grace. Paul writes, “According to the purpose of His will… to the praise of His glorious grace with which He blessed us in the Beloved.” Being chosen by God is a spiritual blessing. It is God’s reminder that He is in control, and in His grace, He will help us, encourage us, and save us. God’s choosing us is meant to lead to worship; it does not lead to self-righteousness, pride, or debate. The right response for us to God’s divine election is humble adoration: “Thank You for saving a wretch like me.” God planned our salvation in Christ before the world began, and in His perfect timing, He carried it out through Jesus Christ’s redeeming work.

II. GOD’S SOVEREIGN REDEMPTION

When we look at God’s sovereignty and His promises, I think sometimes it is very easy for us to judge God as not doing enough. Where were You, God, when the storm hit Jamaica and decimated that country? Where were You on 9/11? How can You allow that to happen? Why do You let innocent and good people die? Where were You during the Holocaust? There are many other countless examples of pain and suffering that cause many to doubt God. These questions have left many people with the conclusion that God is either not powerful enough to stop tragic events or that God is unloving and uncaring. But the truth is that pain and suffering are the direct results of separation from God’s life-giving power. Sin is the reason for pain, suffering, death, and destruction. If God were to remedy this problem with sin on an individual basis, no one would be able to stand. We would all die because none of us are sinless. That is the price that God paid for our salvation — the torture and death of Himself at the hands of His creation. In verses 7–10 we can see the price of this redemption, the richness of His grace, and the purpose of our redemption.

Our redemption was purchased at a great price. Jesus Christ’s body and blood were that price. Romans 8:31–33 says, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.” It is God who justifies us in Christ. In Christ you are redeemed, which means you have been set free from bondage. Picture yourself as a slave — which is true of all of us because we are slaves to sin. As a slave, you are on the market, and God comes and redeems you from that slave market and sets you free. You were purchased at the highest price imaginable to be set free. We were slaves to sin — unable to save ourselves — but God sovereignly acted to redeem us through the blood of Christ. I think that, in most people, this act of such extreme redemption would evoke praise and worship and a commitment to serve for the rest of their lives. That is the result of grace.

God’s grace invokes praise. In verses 7–8 we see, “According to the riches of His grace which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.” God does not give grace sparingly — He pours it out abundantly. The truth is that salvation is not God giving us a second chance; it’s God giving us a new life. That is the purpose of our redemption. We can see that purpose in verse 9, “making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ.” God’s sovereign plan is not random; it’s heading toward a grand conclusion: all things — in heaven and on earth — will one day be brought under Christ’s authority. Verse 10 tells us, “As a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in Him.” This world is not our home. We are just camping here. One day we are going to break camp and go home, and that is the inheritance secured for us in Christ. This inheritance is just another example of God’s sovereign grace.

III. GOD’S SOVEREIGN INHERITANCE

In verse 11 we see, “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.”Our inheritance — eternal life with God — is certain because it is grounded in God’s eternal decree, not our performance. Jesus Christ secured this through His perfect life, horrific death, and hopeful resurrection.

God has ordained or predestined every step that leads to our salvation, and He did it because “He works all things according to the counsel of His will.” There are no accidents in the life of a believer — every event is woven into His purpose. Everything that you have been through is designed to bring about God’s glory. Last week we discussed the problem of injustice throughout history. I often think of the patriarch Joseph, who experienced injustice. He was innocent, yet he was falsely accused and sent to rot in prison for many years. Joseph did not know how this whole situation was going to play out, but he still trusted God. Eventually, through God’s sovereign providence, he was elevated to the second-highest position in all of Egypt. Not only that, but God saved Joseph’s family from starvation, eventually moving all 70 members of the family. This, at the time, was the entirety of the Jewish people who would eventually form the nation of Israel.

The goal of our inheritance is to praise God when we see His glory on display. We see His glory all over creation, but we can see it especially when God provides in ways we never thought were possible — when we receive His nearness during the most difficult times, when we find peace in chaos, joy in tragedy, or an act of love in the darkness of this world. God’s ultimate plan for our redemption is not to make us more comfortable and secure in this world and this life. When we are sick, in pain, maimed, struggling with chronic illness, or just experiencing the pain of getting older, these are reminders that this world is not our home and that someday we will be face to face with our Creator. The goal of our inheritance is to give us a guarantee of salvation from God’s wrath to come. So how do we know this inheritance is secure? Because God has given us a seal — His own Spirit. That is our final truth from our Scripture text today: “You were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance.”

IV. GOD’S SOVEREIGN SEAL

One thing that I did at Abiding Savior, my former church, was to meet with each of the confirmation students and their families to see what they had learned from the year. My question to them was always the same: “If you were to die today, where would you go?” The right answer to this question is, of course, Heaven — hopefully. However, what I was really looking for was where their confidence rested. If I got a response like, “I hope I go to Heaven,” then that would lead to a deeper conversation about assurance of salvation. You see, as believers, we don’t have to live with uncertainty about our eternal destiny. We have a guarantee of eternal life because God ordained it in His sovereignty before the foundation of the world. There is no gray area when it comes to salvation — you are either in Christ or you are not.

If you have come to a place in your life where you recognize that you are a sinner, that you are not perfect, that you do not have all the answers, and in humility you have called on God to save you from your sin and from yourself — then you belong to Him. If you have confessed Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit. To “seal” means to mark with ownership and authenticity. The Holy Spirit is God’s mark that we belong to Him — His sovereign claim over our lives. The Holy Spirit also guarantees our future. He is the down payment, the pledge of our eternal inheritance yet to come. You have been adopted into God’s family, and that adoption is permanent. You cannot be kicked out of God’s family.

Jesus Himself said in John 10:28–30, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”

You are secure in Christ’s hands because you are sealed by the Holy Spirit. God’s sovereignty ensures that what He began, He will complete.

He has given the gift of the Holy Spirit — His eternal presence and power. In fact, the Spirit’s presence in our lives today is the proof of glory tomorrow. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God will not abandon us or forsake us when we need Him most. The Holy Spirit is the one who assures that you will not do anything foolish to lose your inheritance. That is why it is a guarantee. The purpose of all of this is to give God the glory He deserves. Again, Paul ends with the same refrain: “to the praise of His glory.” The whole plan of salvation — from election to redemption to sealing — exists to magnify GOD’S SOVEREIGN GRACE. Our salvation story is ultimately His story, written to display His mercy, power, and faithfulness to His people for all eternity.

CONCLUSION:

I want to encourage you here today. If you know with confidence that your sins have been atoned for and you have been redeemed, then Praise God for His goodness and grace.   Paul began this enormous doxology with, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” — because this passage isn’t a debate about doctrine, but a song of praise. God’s sovereignty is not meant to confuse us but to comfort us. When life feels uncertain, painful, and out of control, when sin seems strong, when our faith feels weak — remember this: you were chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. And all of it was God’s plan since before the beginning of time. It is as Paul wrote in Philippians 1:6, “And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Redeemer, let the truth of God’s sovereignty move you to worship: “To the praise of His glorious grace!”