8. Eternal Life Assurance (Eph. 1:13-14)

ETERNAL LIFE ASSURANCE

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January 14, 2018

Dr. David S. Steele

Intro

A. is one sentence in the original Greek. These verses summarize the work of God both past, present, and future and present God’s marvelous and miraculous purposes for the church.

B. Here’s a summary of what we’ve learned thus far:

1. The preeminent blessing (v. 3).

The fountainhead of each of these blessings come from God the Father and are linked to the person and work of Jesus Christ.

The fountainhead of each of these blessings come from God the Father and

We do not deserve these blessings.

are linked to the person and work of Jesus Christ.

We could never earn these blessings.

§ We do not deserve these blessings.

Each of these blessings comes as a result of God’s grace.

§ We could never earn these blessings.

§Each of these blessings comes as a result of God’s grace.

2. The priority of election (v. 4).

We have learned that the doctrine of election is a biblical reality that we must not only wrestle with; we must rejoice over it!

§ We have learned that the doctrine of election is a biblical reality that we must not only wrestle with; we must rejoice over it!

3. The plan of election (v. 4).

God the Father chose us in eternity past, in Christ, according to his good pleasure (v. 5).

§ God the Father chose us in eternity past, in Christ, according to his good pleasure (v. 5).

4. The purpose of election (v. 4).

God has chosen us to be “holy and blameless in his sight” (v. 4).

§ God has chosen us to be “holy and blameless in his sight” (v. 4).

5. The motivation for election (v. 4b).

We were predestined because he loved us.

§ We were predestined because he loved us.

We were predestined for adoption as son (v. 5).

§ We were predestined for adoption as son (v. 5).

As sons and daughters, we may appraoch the Father (; ).

§ As sons and daughters, we may appraoch the Father (; ).

As sons and daughters, we share in Christ’s suffferings as well as his glory ().

§ As sons and daughters, we share in Christ’s suffferings as well as his glory ().

6. We have delighted in the freedom that is ours in Christ and rejoice in the forgivenss that we have received in Christ (vv. 7-10).

7. We have meditated upon the inheritance from God, which is according to his purpose, and ultimately for his glory.

8. Salvation belongs to the LORD! (Notice the personal pronouns in vv. 3-12).[1]

ü See Notes up through v. 12.

B. This morning, we continue to learn about our inheritance as we turn our attention to Eph. 1:13-14.

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1. The title of the message is Eternal Life Assurance

2. Text –

C. Purchasing life insurance story – tell the story.

1. I believe that it is wise to purchase life insurance for one primary reason –

security. If something ever happened to me, I want to know that my family will

be adequately provided for.

D. Raising Need

1. But financial security is not our only concern. Where do we turn for security in a world where things rot and corrode, where human relationships go sour, where jobs are scare and

where insecurity seems to rule the day?

2. But there are more pressing questions that emerge, namely, – Can I be secure in my relationship Christ? If I have been justified by grace through faith alone is my position secure

eternally? How can I be certain of my future with God? Where do I get eternal life assurance?

E. A Pressing Concern

1. One of the most pressing concerns that I see among the followers of Christ is the assurance of salvation.

F. In light of this concern, we must return to this rock-solid reality: Everyone “in Christ” been given an inheritance by God.

1. In the OT, the inheritance had a physical dimension and was expressed in the promised land. “In the NT it is a spiritual inheritance which comes through the kingdom of God and

the promises of eternal life . . . It expresses a fundamental relationship between God and man. It depicts God’s desire to give his people a secure abode.”[2]

G. This morning, I want to explore the contours of our inhertance in Christ.

1. (Everyone in Christ has been given an inheritance that is grounded in the work of God, guaranteed by God and is ultimately for the glory of God) – Truth Point

I. OUR INHERITANCE IS GROUNDED IN THE WORK OF GOD ()

A. Salvation is the Work of God - Salvation is completely of God from beginning to end.

1. The sovereign work of God in election ().

a. We have been predestined according to his purpose ().

2. The redemptive work of the Son ().

a. We have been adopted into his family ().

3. The sealing work of the Holy Spirit ().

a. Before we look at this sealing ministry, notice what precedes it.

“Heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.”

§ “Heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.”

ἀκούω (Aor Act Part) – “to hear; to pay attention.”

ἀκούω (Aor Act Part) – “to hear; to pay attention.”

“Believed in him.”

“Believed in him.”

πιστεύω (Aor Act Part) – “think to be true; to trust.”

πιστεύω (Aor Act Part) – “think to be true; to trust.”

It is Christ (him) who we place our faith in. He is the object of our faith!

It is Christ (him) who we place our faith in. He is the object of our faith!

B. The Sealing Ministry of the Holy Spirit

1. The sealing of the Holy Spirit occurs when we believe – bank all our hope exclusively in Christ for salvation.

“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit (, ESV).[3]

slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit (, ESV).[3]

2. God is the one who does the sealing.[4] God promised the ministry of the Holy Spirit (; ), has acted on his promise. Therefore, the sealing ministry is

trustworthy and reliable (; ).

“. . . for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began” ().

4 Facts about the Sealing Ministry of the Holy Spirit

1. Authencity

a. To be sealed means to confirm, authenticate and place beyond doubt.

When the Holy Spirit seals us, it authenticates the fact that we are God’s

children.

b. Whenever I get a new book, I mark it with my seal. When I put the seal in my book, it confirms the already establish fact – The book is mine! So a seal not only points to

authenticity, it establishes ownership.

2. Ownership

a. In ancient days as well as today an owner puts his mark on possessions to protect against theft. When used with documents like a will or deed of

sale, the purpose of the seal was to authorize what was written there.

“[Christ] gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for

purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for

good works” ().

3. Authority

a. Since we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit, we have the ability to minister in his name with his authority.

minister in his name with his authority.

4. Security

“[God] has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee” ().

guarantee” ().

C. Application

Since our inheritance is grounded in the work of God --

1. We can be confident in our relationship with him.

2. We can trust him.

3. We can rest assured. We find assurance when our emotions play games with us and we don’t “feel like Christians” that our inheritance is secure with God.

II. OUR INHERITANCE IS GUARANTEED BY GOD ()

A. A Divine Guarantee

1. The Holy Spirit is literally a pledge or guarantee (ἀρραβών) of what is to come. The Greek term describes earnest money by which a purchase is given as a pledge or down

payment. The Holy Spirit is the first installment of what is to come.

2. We have an inheritance guaranteed by God but have yet to enjoy the fullness of that inheritance. Our inheritance is already, but not-yet.

a. “We are heirs now (; ; ; ), but we have not yet obtained the inheritance laid up for us. Inheritance focuses on the not-yet dimension of salvation,

yet obtained the inheritance laid up for us. Inheritance focuses on the not-yet dimension of salvation, on what still awaits us. We are the children of God now, but we have not yet obtained the inheritance promised to us.”[5]

on what still awaits us. We are the children of God now, but we have not yet obtained the inheritance promised to us.”[5]

3. The guarantee of the inheritance is seen in the Golden Chain of Salvation.

“And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified” ().

he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified” ().

B. What Are the Qualities of the Inheritance?

I Peter 1:4-5

1. Imperishable [ἄφθαρτος] – uncorrupted, not liable to corruption and decay.

2. Undefiled [ἀμίαντος] – unsoiled.

3. Unfading [ἀμάραντος] – A synonym for imperishable. Unaffected by withering which is common in the case of flowers.

4. Reserved/kept [τηρέω] in heaven for you – to attend carefully or guard.

a. Perfect tense indicates past action with continual results.

5. Protected [φρουρέω] by the power of God – guard, keep watch, locked up as a prisoner – Present participle.

Hebrews 9:15

6. Eternal

6. Eternal

Illus – It is difficult to comprehend something that does not rot or decay. In fact, the Second Law of Thermodynamics suggests that everything deteriorates

fact, the Second Law of Thermodynamics suggests that everything deteriorates

– all by itself.[6] But there is an exception to this scientific law, namely our inheritance – the inheritance which is guaranteed by God.

inheritance – the inheritance which is guaranteed by God.

III. OUR INHERITANCE IS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD ()

A. Grounded in God

1. Every spiritual blessing is grounded in:

a. The kind intention of His will (v. 5).

b. The riches of his grace (v. 7).

c. His wisdom and insight (v. 8).

d. The kind intention which He purposed in Him (v. 9).

e. His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will (v. 11).

2. The purpose of these blessings is for His glory:

a. To the praise of the glory of His grace (v. 6).

b. According to His purpose (v. 9).

c. To the praise of His glory (v. 12, 14).

Conclusion

A. The Scriptures are clear: if you are in Christ, you have security in Christ!

1. Everyone in Christ has been given an inheritance that is grounded in the work of God, guaranteed by God and is ultimately for the glory of God – CT.

B. PRACTICAL AFFECTS OF THIS DOCTRINE – FOR THOSE WHO STRUGGLE WITH ASSURANCE.

WITH ASSURANCE.

1. Leads to consecration

a. When we realize the reason why God chose us (), namely, to be holy and blameless in his sight, that he has forgiven us, adopted us and sealed us with the promised

Holy Spirit, it causes us to become who he created us to be – holy people![7]

2. Brings confirmation

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and

if children, then heirs – heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” ().

a. “All the benefits and blessings that the believer receives are sourced in Christ, are supplied by Christ, and are conveyed to us by the ministry of the Holy Spirit.”[8]

3. Brings confidence ()

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” ().

a. “It is when we understand what certainly lies in our future that we are able to face the future that we are able to face the uncertain present with Christian confidence.”[9]

4. Brings comfort

“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” ().

5. Points us to the consummation

“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” ().

a. “It is by grace and grace alone that Christians persevere. God finishes what He begins. He insures that His purposes in election are not frustrated.”[10]

C. Do you have eternal life assurance? The only way to have it is to be “in Christ.”

1. The premium has already been paid. Your application will never be rejected. You will never be cancelled.

2. Are you struggling with knowing whether or not you are secure in Christ? It is time to embrace the truth that believers in Christ have been given an inheritance that is grounded in the work of God, guaranteed by God and is ultimately for the glory of God – Truth Point

time to embrace the truth that believers in Christ have been given an inheritance that is grounded in the work of God, guaranteed by God and is ultimately for the glory of God – Truth Point

[1] Remember Pam Demmer’s request for assistance with the personal pronouns in .

[2] Colin Brown, Ed. Dictionary of New Testament Theology Vol. 2 (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1967), 295.

[3] All subsequent references will be from the English Standard Version unless otherwise noted.

[4] The verb σφραγίζω is aorist passive indicative which indicates a point in time action done exclusively by God.

[5] Thomas Schreiner and Ardel Caneday, The Race Set Before Us: A Biblical Theology of Perseverance and Assurance (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2001), 70.

[6] Henry M. Morris, The Biblical Basis For Modern Science (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1984), 188.

[7] R.C. Sproul adds, “ . . . The doctrine [of perseverance] teaches that if you have saving faith you will never lose it, and if you lose it, you never had it.” Essential Truths of the Christian Faith (Wheaton: Tyndale House, 1998), 197.

[8] Guy Prentiss Waters, The Life and Theology of Paul (Orlando: Reformation Trust, 2018), loc. 1710.

[9] Guy Prentiss Waters, The Life and Theology of Paul (Orlando: Reformation Trust, 2018), loc. 1839.

[10] R.C. Sproul, Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, 1989.