Ephesians 1:3-14

Blessed Assurance

INTRODUCTION

Doxology = Praise, Worship, Prayer

A lot of Pauls letters have a doxology, this is his longest by far.

Paul revels in what God has done, one long sentence in Greek, phrase upon phrase, doctrine upon doctrine, blessing upon blessing, gift upon gift.

Assurance in The Father

Asurance in The Son

Assurance in The Spirit

ASSURANCE IN THE FATHER

Ephesians 1:3-6 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”

Material Blessing Vs. Spiritual Blessing, empahsis on ‘Heavenly realms’ indicates Paul is talking about spiritual blessings. This does not mean that God does not provide material blessings.

Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

When compared though, there is no comparrison spiritual wins hands down.

Story: Elon Musk decided to give you all of his fortune, would you complain about your choice or freewill being violated

a. Chosen to be a Holy People

Denial of personal election. Christ is the only one elected, therefore no election for us, we choose freely. Problem with this is that our wills were corrupted by Sin & directed against God, so our choosing will always be wrong.

Foreknew looking down to see who would choose him (some good in them) and then electing those who choose him.

Problem with personal depravity - how far did humanity fall in sin? Bible points to a depravity that makes election neccessary

Caution is needed, as this may contridict God’s immutability (unchangeness) and sovereignty. Foreknowledge = acknowledgement or recognition (as a member of parliment is recognized). Problem is that we have some say and that can give the enemy a foothold to shake our assurance.

Pauline election which is just as it is written, that God out of his untainted free will and love chose us in eternity pass. This is the plain reading and most sound understanding here in Ephesians.

Paul has none of this debate in mind - for him chosen = assurance which is beautiful.

Beauty in being chosen

No boasting

Unity and Empathy for fellow believers

Assurance of salvation

Leads to Holiness

Fuels evangelism

Election teaches that salvation comes from the Lord

Jonah 2:9 “But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’ ”

Story: Imagine being adopted by the royal family and all the inheritnce and legacy that leaves. Imagine being a notorious criminal that is adopted in.

b. Adopted before time began

What is adoption

Who does the adopting

How does adoption = assurance

Story: of Royal family adopting a mudereous anarchist as one of their own with full rights and inheritance.

ASSURANCE IN THE SON

Ephesians 1:7-10 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.”

a. Redemption

Purchased from slavery of sin, paying for the release of a slave was a practice known in biblical times, paying out their debt, was a common one. Please note that God did not pay the enemy but we have been ransomed from God’s wrath, and the debt we occured under sin.

Famous story of redemption is the Exodus.

1 Peter 1:18-19 “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”

b. Forgiveness

If redemption is the paying of the ransom, then forgiveness is wiping the slate/ledger clean for sins past, present and future

c. Unity through Salvation Plan

Mystery revealed

ASSURANCE IN THE SPIRIT

Ephesians 1:11-14 “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”

The Holy Spirit illuminates Christ and all his glory. He also opens our eyes (the elected, predestined called out ones) to what Christ has done for us, grants faith to believe in him, and gives us power to embrace Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour and via the Holy Spirit, God works out his purpose in the believer.

The Holy Spirit also unites his believers from every tongue tribe and nation into one spiritual people group known as the Church, his children. This unity brings about harmony. He also illuminates the truth in God’s word to our core and that truth works out in the believers life in every aspect.

Seal/Downpayment

Seal to confirm an object as beig true or genuine

To mark as one persons property

Seal is used to make something secure

All point to assurance

Romans 8:16 “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”

We are adopted into God’s family, by his love through his unadulterated free will he chose to set us free from sin, through Christ’s blood and seal us by his Holy Spirit who assures us of our eternal life and that he is coming back for us.

For what cause? to bring glory to God as joyus vessels of praise and worship, to encourage each other in love and good works, and to present God’s salvation plan to others. The more doors I knock on the more elect I find.