Blessed by the Spirit of Promise

Introduction:

Paul is praising God for the work of the Godhead in Salvation.

Heard and Believed

You may have heard the gospel many times, but there was a day that when you heard in faith Rom10.14-17

Romans 10:14–17 KJV 1900

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

While the gospel most succinctly can be summed up as the good news of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:1-5), the gospel is what Paul has been thanking God for since verse 3.

The Father started this plan from before time began by choosing all who believe Jesus will be adopted and accepted.

Jesus continued the work by paying the price of sin for all mankind. His death bought forgiveness of sin for you and me.

The day you chose to believe the work of God you were chosen, adopted, accepted, redeemed, forgiven,

The Spirit then indwells all who have believed and He also does a work in salvation.

The Promised Spirit Seals

Promise - John 14:16-17, John 15:26-16:15, Joel 2:28-29,

4 definitions of sealed:

Hoehner, Harold W. Ephesians, An Exegetical Commentary pg 238

to close with a seal to denote security, 2. to mark with a seal to authenticate, 3. to certify genuineness, 4. to denote identification, especially the identification of ownership.

The primary definition is ownership.

God’s heritage (adoption and inheritance)

Eph 1:14 We are God’s purchased possession

This should not be confused with the indwelling of the Spirit (His residence in every believer Rom 8:9, 1 John 2:27) or the filling by the Spirit (His control over believers’ lives Eph 5:18)

The Down Payment and Final Possession

Earnest in a down payment or first installment. 2 Corinthians 1:22, 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 (We are here in our earthly bodies but the spirit is the promise of a heavenly home.)

Hoehner, Harold W. Ephesians, An Exegetical Commentary pg 243

Because we have been adopted into God’s family with all the privileges, we have an inheritance from God. This inheritance qualifies believers to live eternally in heaven in the presence of God. We have a little bit of heaven in us, namely, the Holy Spirit’s presence, and a guarantee of a lot more to come in the future.

Until the redemption of the purchased possession

Redemption - Release or set free on the basis of the ransom paid by Christ’s death

Purchased possession - having been acquired, obtained

What Jesus purchased, those who are adopted by the Father and sealed by the Spirit, will one day be fully freed (redemption). In Eph1.7 we are freed from sin and its obligation; we have a new life in Christ. In Eph1.14 we are redeemed by Christ’s return to gather us in one (Eph1.10) which will set us free from the presence of sin.

We have been redeemed - through faith in Jesus Christ

We are being redeemed - as the Spirit works in our lies to make us more like Christ

We shall be redeemed 0 when Christ returns an we become like Him.

“Already” freed from sin’s penalty and power but “not yet” from it’s presence and temptations

In the meantime, we have the Holy Spirit that does the work of convicting and guiding.

Conclusion:

For the third time in this sentence Paul breaks out in praise. This is probably the correct response for you and me.