Ephesians 1:7-10

Chosen to be Rescued by and for Christ

“We are living in a time when there has been a wholesale attempt to reconstruct Christianity apart from its central focus on personal salvation. That is to say, it seems as if people today want a Christianity without redemption. But we cannot avoid the fact that at the heart of the teaching of Jesus and of the apostolic message is a God who redeems his people.” - R.C Sproul

We need to be rescued from Sin

Ephesians 1:7–8 NASB95

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 on us. In all wisdom and insight

ἀπολύτρωσις (apolytrōsis). redemption, release, deliverance. The act of freeing or the state of being freed from bondage, such as that of a prisoner or slave, by payment of a ransom.

Its primary usage in the Bible is to buy back from slavery. In the agricultural marketplace there were those who were sold as slaves. To redeem such persons meant to pay the purchase-price in order to release them from their bondage.

All people are slaved or prisoners of sin and the blood of Christ is the payment for our release.

Only Jesus has the power to Rescue us!

Ephesians 1:9 NASB95

9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him

μυστήριον (mystērion). mystery.

A sacred secret.

This term refers to a secret revealed by God.

Matthew 13:11 NASB95

11 Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.

Special revelation reached its climax with the appearance of the Son of God on earth.

on another occasion when Paul refers to mystery, he is referring to the inclusion of the Gentiles in the NT church.

The Purpose of God: Ephesians Redemption

On another occasion when Paul refers to mystery, he is referring to the inclusion of the Gentiles in the New Testament church

Another mystery, is you becoming a Christian. You and I are not worthy...

you come to understand the gospel because God, by His grace, revealed the gospel to you!

God’s plan is to put everything under Jesus Christ

Ephesians 1:10 NASB95

10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him

Philippians 2:9–10 NASB95

9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

Colossians 1:16 NASB95

16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.