Ephesians 1:7-14

Introduction:

Ephesians is often described by three key positions of the Christian life: sit, walk, and stand.

We first sit—resting in Christ’s finished work and our secure position in Him.

From there we walk—living in a manner worthy of our calling.

And finally, we stand—resisting the enemy with the strength God supplies.

Ephesians 1 lifts our eyes to the greatness of what God has already done for us in Christ. In Him we are redeemed—set free by the price of His blood.

In Him we have an inheritance—brought into God’s eternal plan. And in Him we are sealed—marked by the Holy Spirit as God’s own.

These truths—redeemed, heirs, and sealed—form the foundation of our identity and the confidence with which we live.

Today we’ll look at each and see the richness of God’s work on our behalf.

1. (V7) In Him we have redemption through His blood

The work of the Son (V7-12)

a) No other way, only in Him

Redemption and forgiveness of sin is only possible in Christ

One of the biggest lie the enemy wants people to believe is…

I am a good and moral person

I have given to the homeless, I hold the door open for people at the grocery store

Isaiah 64:6 “But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;

I’ve never murdered anyone, nor had an affair, I give to the poor, I do good deeds

The problem with that thinking is that is based on the standard of society, thats not God’s standard

Jesus said, if you have ever looked at a women with lust you have commited the act of adultery in your heart

If you ever hated someone or wished harm upon them, well you have commited the act of murder in your heart

Lying, stealing, gossip, slander, speaking corrupt words, being a drunkard, just to name a few, its all sin

Romans 3:23 “for all have fall short of the glory of God”

Its only in Him that we can be redeemed and be forgiven, there’s no other way

b) What is redemption

To redeem means to purchase and set free by paying a price

The debt has been paid in full

Imagine you have been charged and convicted of a crime.

The judge hands down the guilty verdict

At sentencing the Judge orders prison time, plus a fine.

Someone steps forward and says, I will pay the penalty of his crime

The judge clears you of any wrong doing, nothing is owed on your account.

Your completely clear and free of all charges.

c) Jesus paid our penalty with His blood

Hebrews 9:22 “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.”

Its through His blood that we can be forgiven

This demonstrates the seriousness of sin in the eyes of God

Jesus was without sin, yet He dies a sinners death

He knew the suffering He would face…

Jesus petitioned the Father three times, if there is any other way…

But never the less, not my will but thy will be done

Matthew 20:28 “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.””

He redeemed us through His blood and sacrifice

We are bought and paid for

c) No longer a slave to sin

Because of His sacrifice, we’re no longer in bondage to sin, we have freedom from it

Romans 6:14 “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”

We have power over sin, we don’t live the way we once did

1.1 The forgiveness of sins

a) Completely forgiven

Your’e forgiven and accepted, no longer an enemy

Sin separates us from the presence of God

Colossians 1:21 “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled”

b) God takes sin seriously

So should we

Application: Don’t take THE grace of God lightly

Be the new creation God has called you to

Don’t go back into the bondage of sin

Proverbs 26:11 “As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.”

Remember, sin has no hold on you, those chains have been broken

1.2 According to the riches of His grace

a) Riches of His grace

Redemption and forgiveness is only possible through the riches of His grace

His grace is rich, it never runs out, you can never surpass a limit

Warren Weirsby said this,

“You don’t earn grace, and you don’t deserve grace you simply receive it as God’s loving gift and then share it with others”

1.3 (V8-9) He made it abound to us in all wisdom

a) Wisdom abounds to us

Wisdom to understand His true nature through the scriptures

Wisdom to enable the believer to understand the mystery of His will (His plan and purpose was hidden, but now its clearly revealed to us in Jesus)

He gives us understanding to believe

He gives us wisdom to understand His purpose for our life

b) According to His good pleasure

He delight to give us wisdom to know Him, according to His good pleasure

Application: As a parent of four children, I delight when my kids want to spend time with me or show me affection

Our Heavenly Father loves when we take time to get to know Him

Reading the Word systematically helps us to know and love Him

There is real practical benefit from spending time daily reading your Bible…

The institute for biblical research conducted a study

On the effect of reading scriptures on someone’s life

1 day a week equals almost no effect at all.

2-3 days you can see it but the difference is not significant

4 or more: you are 228% more likely to share your faith

407% more likely to memorize scripture

59% less likely to view pornography

And at least 30% less likely to struggle with loneliness, depression or anxiety.

“When the word, and not the world becomes the majority, your life will start to change”

1.4 (V10) In the dispensation of the fullness of time

a) Dispensation

In the Greek means an arrangement or administration

The idea behind the word dispensation also reflects a plan or a strategy.

This dispensation refers to the millennial Kingdom when the times in God’s purpose will be fulfilled and everything is under the reign of Christ

Christ will reign for a 1000 years, after the tribulation and before Great white throne Judgement

Peace on earth

Satan will be bound

Covenants will be fulfilled

On Wednesday evenings, were going through Genesis.

Noah warned the unbelieving generation for many years

When the warning was not recieved, the time period was complete and judgement followed

God wiped everyone out with a world wide flood, everyone but Noah and his family

b) That he might gather together in one all things in Christ

In the millennial everything will be restored and brought together under Christ the head

2. (V11) In Him also we have obtained an inheritance

a) Also we (Jew & Gentile)

God’s great plan has a place for both Jew and Gentile, and it brings them both together in Jesus.

The Jews are God’s chosen children, who according to the law, lived set apart from the rest of the world

The Gentiles were adopted into the family and now share the inheritance in Christ

b) According to His Counsel

The word counsel stands for deliberate planning and arranging

The unfolding of the plan is not an accident or a surprise

God’s plan was always to include the Gentiles into His plan for salvation

2.1 (V12) Who have trusted in Christ

a) Trusted in Christ

For salvation

For God given purpose

He is the authority over your life

The result is a changed life as you trust in Christ

Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

3. (V13) After you believed and trusted in Christ you were sealed with the Holy Spirit

The work of the Holy Spirit (V13-14)

Heard

Believed

Sealed

a) You are sealed

His presence in our lives acts as a seal which indicates ownership, and which is a guarantee of our inheritance.

I believe verses 13 and 14 point to the fact you cannot loose your salvation

You believe and place your trust in Christ and you are sealed with Holy Spirit and you forever belong to Christ

Iv’e meet people who were an a panic over something they have said or done and they question weather they can loose their salvation or not

3.1 (V14) He is the guarantee of our inheritance

a) The Holy Spirit is our down payment

We have the Spirit as a guarantee until we are “completely purchased” by God through resurrection and glorification

In Conclusion:

As Paul reminds us, everything we are and everything we have is found in Christ

 In Him we are redeemed—bought with the precious blood of Christ, forgiven, and no longer slaves to sin. 

In Him we have an inheritance—Jew and Gentile brought together in God’s eternal plan, called to trust Him and walk in His purpose.

And in Him we are sealed—the Holy Spirit marking us as God’s own and guaranteeing our future with Him.

So let us live as a redeemed people, confident in our inheritance, and secure in the Spirit—walking each day for the praise of His glory.

Close with Communion:

Especially for believers

But if your here today and you have not made the commitment to follow Jesus but you would like to

I would like to encourage you to take communion but after the service, please let our prayer group know so they can pray with you

Please get your elements, hold them and we will partake together

The Bible teaches that we should take communion in remembrance of Christ, as we wait for His return

2. Eating of the bread is acknowledging His sacrifice on the cross.

He was perfect in all His ways, yet He was mocked, beaten, and left to hang on the cross for our sin

Matthew 26:26 “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.””

3. (The cup) In the same way he took the cup, it was the life that was poured out, he gave his life for you and me

It was an act of love, that He gave himself for the remission of sin, for you and me

Matthew 26:28 “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

Outline:

1. In Him We Are Redeemed (vv. 7–10)

Through His blood we receive forgiveness, and God lavishes His grace upon us.

God reveals the mystery of His will, uniting all things in Christ.

2. In Him We Have an Inheritance (vv. 11–12)

We are chosen and predestined according to His purpose.

Our lives exist for the praise of His glory.

3. In Him We Are Sealed (vv. 13–14)

Hearing and believing the gospel brings salvation.

The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee of our future inheritance.