Ephesians.1

Trinitarian Redemption: The Divine Symphony of Grace

Bible Passage: Ephesians 1:1–14

Summary: Paul articulates the multifaceted nature of salvation that encompasses 1. the Father’s eternal purpose, 2. the Son’s sacrificial work, and 3. the Spirit’s empowering presence, revealing how each Person of the Trinity actively participates in our redemption and ongoing transformation.

The flow of Ephesians moves from doctrinal content of chapters 1-3 to practical ethical instructions in chapters 4-6. Paul lays the foundation before his application.

Watchman Nee’s book titled Sit, Walk, Stand: Sit (Ep 2:6), Walk (Ep 4:1), Stand (Ep 6:11) describes a spiritual outline of Ephesians. Sit: our position in Christ. Walk: our life in the world. Stand: our attitude toward the Enemy. We will try to incorporate some of this to our study.

1. To the Saints

Ephesians 1:1–2 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Salutation

We begin the study of the Epistle to the Ephesians this week. In verse one Paul identifies himself as an apostle commissioned by God’s will. He establishes his authority to represent God and in this case to write an inspired letter. Inspiration, Paul tells Timothy (2 Ti 3:16-17), means the letter is θεόπνευστος theopneustos, “God-breathed” in a literal translation, it is God’s Word. He addresses the saints at Ephesus who are faithful in Christ Jesus, offering them grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. This opening establishes Paul’s authority in the church and frames the letter’s recipients as those already established in relationship with Christ as believers.

‘The saints’ - is in Greek, ἅγιος hagios also translated ‘holy’ in verse 4. This is a positional term describing us as “set apart ones”. No longer secular or for common use, we are now redeemed and ready for the Master’s use.

Paul writes to the ‘faithful in Christ Jesus’. While every born-again believer is a saint, set apart; not all are faithful in the execution of their new identity. Paul is distinguishing those who will enter the kingdom through salvation from those who inherit reward in that kingdom through fidelity and showing themselves reliable servants. This is an important distinction and challenge for all believers. Are you a faithful saint, or simply a believer?

Paul begins to highlight the positional identity of all believers as blessed in Christ by God the Father with grace and peace. The passage invites reflection on how the Father's eternal purpose includes believers in His divine plan.

2. Chosen in Christ by the Father's Love

Ephesians 1:3–6 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”

The Father’s Initiative in Redemption

In the Greek verses 3-14 is one very, very long sentence. In it Paul discusses the work of the Trinity in our redemption.

Paul begins with the role of the Father. God the Father is blessed for blessing believers with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places through Christ, having chosen them before creation’s foundation to be holy and blameless, predestining them for adoption as God’s children according to His will’s pleasure. Sovereignty is God’s choosing a world in which we would live and become His children in Christ.

Paul praises God for what He has done through Christ and reminds believers of their status and privileges in Christ. Paul’s blessing form the outline for Eph 1:23:14. It highlights the roles of the Father (Eph 1:3–4), Christ (Eph 1:5–7), and the Spirit (Eph 1:13–14).

The Father takes the initiative in planning redemption as the ultimate bestower of every spiritual blessing, being especially active in choosing believers and predestining their adoption according to His foreknowledge (πρόγνωσις prognosis only two occurrences in the NT, in Acts 2:23 for Jesus and 1 Pe 1:2 for us in Christ).

Choosing - We are chosen or elect here to be holy and without blame before Him.

Romans 8:29–30 discusses the divine order of His knowledge of you, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”

It is comforting to know that before the foundation of the world, before sin, before the fall that God had a plan and in it we were foreknown, loved, and called. The key to the discussion of calling is that God knew us before any other actions were taken.

3. Christ's Redemption and Unity

Ephesians 1:7–10 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.”

The Son’s Work of Redemption

After looking at the Father’s plan we now turn to the work of the Son on our behalf. Through Christ’s blood, believers receive redemption and forgiveness of sins according to God’s rich grace, which abundantly demonstrates wisdom and prudence by revealing the mystery of God’s will; that all things in heaven and earth will be gathered together under Christ’s headship in the fullness of times. The Son effects redemption through His blood so believers receive the Father’s planned blessings, accomplishes God’s purpose for administering the universe, and secures believers’ inheritance through our position in Him.

This sacrificial love exemplifies the core of our faith; being forgiven and united in Christ's purpose. It is the mystery of His will that Jews and Gentiles would form one body through faith - the church. This was not an Old Testament known truth. It was alluded to in many places but the Jews of the Old Testament were blind to the ramifications of God mystery, that Jesus, the Messiah, would draw all peoples together in Himself.

4. Inheritance in Christ's Purpose

Ephesians 1:11–12 “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.”

The Believer’s Inheritance and Praise

Part of our blessings in Christ is an inheritance in the kingdom.

In God’s plan we exist to bring Him glory by faith.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” The counsel of His will = the pre-time Trinitarian Counsel

Ephesians 1:3-14 establishes the foundational framework. God “chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” This passage emphasizes divine election and predestination occurring before creation itself, with all three persons of the Trinity involved in the plan.

2 Timothy 1:9 speaks of grace “which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,” and Titus 1:2 mentions eternal life “promised before time began.” These texts establish that God’s redemptive purposes predate creation.

John 17 contains Christ’s high priestly prayer, where Jesus speaks of the Father giving Him “authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him,” reflecting the Father-Son covenant arrangement. John 6:37-39 reinforces this: “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me,” and “of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.”

Isaiah 53:10-12 and Psalm 40:6-8 depict the Son’s willing submission to the Father’s redemptive plan. Isaiah 53:10-11 states, “It pleased the LORD to bruise Him” and “When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed.” Psalm 40:7-8 records the Son’s declaration: “Behold, I come...I delight to do Your will, O my God.”

1 Peter 1:20 affirms that Christ “was foreordained before the foundation of the world,” while Hebrews 13:20 references “the blood of the everlasting covenant,” pointing to a covenant established in eternity. Zechariah 6:13 speaks of “the counsel of peace” between the Lord of hosts and the priest-king, a passage historically cited by Reformed theologians as evidence of the Father-Son covenant arrangement.

In Christ, believers obtain an inheritance, having been predestined according to God’s purpose and counsel, existing to bring praise to His glory. This section emphasizes that redemption’s ultimate goal transcends personal benefit; it directs all things toward God’s glory.

5. Sealed by the Spirit's Assurance

Ephesians 1:13–14 “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”

The Holy Spirit’s Sealing and Guarantee

We now come to the work of the Holy Spirit in salvation. After hearing the gospel of salvation and believing in Christ for eternal life, believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who serves as the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s purchased possession, all to the praise of His glory (Eph 1:1–14). The Holy Spirit applies redemption’s blessings to believers, functioning as the seal of God’s promises and the pledge of the inheritance yet to come. According to the acronym RIBS, the Holy Spirit Regenerates (Titus 3:5; John 3:5-8), Indwells (Ro 8:9-11; Gal 3:2-3), Baptizes in Body (1 Cor 12:13), and Seals (Ep 1:13-14) the believer at the moment of salvation.

The Holy Spirit’s role in sealing and securing our salvation provides the assurance that believers are eternally secure. The Spirit's presence empowers Christians to live boldly and faithfully, acting as a deposit guaranteeing future glory. This assurance encourages a lifestyle of trust and dedication, urging us to recognize our distinct role in God’s plan and to live out the Spirit's transformative influence in or daily practices of faith and service.