COMMENTARY ON EPHESIANS
LESSON NUMBER 12
Eph 1:13 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory." (Eph 1:13-14)
WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU HEARD THE WORD
RODUCTION
Paul is recapping the cause of our salvation. He traces it back to what the Lord has purposed, and what He has done in Christ Jesus. Only when this has been firmly established does he refer to the response of the Ephesians. In so doing he is providing a proper context for evaluating and comprehending the salvation of God. If our thoughts about our own salvation begin with our response to the Gospel, they will not be deep enough or extensive enough to give glory to God. Then, having accented the wrong thing, we will also be lulled into a false sense of security, which will rest upon what we ourselves have done. While human response to the Gospel is essential, it is not foundational. It is not the subject of preaching, but is always delivered as a secondary matter after a proper declaration of the Gospel of Christ in which Deity is the sole emphasis. Wherever "evangelism" and "making disciples" are considered the primary activities of the church, a different approach is taken to preaching. First an emphasis is adopted that is not set forth to any church of Scriptural record. Second, such priorities are an environment in which human creativity flourishes, and exploitation becomes common. Third, even though the mentioned emphases are based upon what Jesus said, neither of them make very mich of the Person of Christ or living unto Him (2 Cor 5:15). However, both of them are fully addressed when the accent is placed upon God and Christ. Further, response is viewed from the standpoint of how heaven reacts to it, and what comes from it in those who rendered the correct response. These all may seem like nothing more than needless technicalities, but they are what is being stressed in this text. One additional thing will be seen in this text which highlights the necessity of a proper emphasis in preaching and teaching. A proper response to the Gospel results in an initial experience. The fulness of what the Gospel promises is something for which we must wait.
IN WHO M YE TRUSTED
Eph 1:13a "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation . . ."
IN WHOM. The last clause of the preceding verse is, "who first trusted in Christ." Now Paul continues developing that thought. The meaning of that last clause is that the whole process of salvation is begins by trusting in Christ. That is how the experience of salvation is initiated. Everything prior to that, like conviction, resolution, etc., is but a prelude to the experience, and not the experience of salvation itself. Unless a person gets to the point where Christ is trusted, and dependency upon self and self-strength is terminated, nothing sure is even started. This means that there is a point where Christ is seen as having no competitors. The person then refuses to put trust, or confidence, in anyone or anything else. It is a "to whom shall we go" attitude that compels the person to refuse to seek salvation elsewhere. I will tell you that what I hear being preached these days is not leaving people with this kind of resoluteness. Professing Christians are finding it too easy to trust in other things because they are hearing a flawed message.
YE ALSO TRUSTED. Here is where the doctrine is personalized. It is one thing to hear what is to be done, but it is quite another thing to do it. The original nucleus of disciples in Ephesus learned to trust Christ in the midst of a contentious synagogue (Acts 19:8). Perceiving the non-productive environment, Paul "departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus" (Acts 19:9).
Other versions read, "you also," NASB "you also were included in Christ," NIV "all you others too." LIVING The idea here is that the Ephesians came in the same way others did. There was not a special entrance designed for them. They too participated in obtaining "the inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will: that we should be to the praise of His glory." That is the foundational reason why they "trusted" in Christ (1:11-12). Paul will now establish that this entire process was initiated by the preaching of the Gospel, which is God's exclusive power "unto salvation" (Rom 1:16). It is a power that is evidenced in the convection of those who heart it, the ability to trust in Jesus, and believing the message wholeheartedly. It is a power that works repentance, and moves the individual to confess Jesus before men, works obedience in those who receive the record God has given of His Son, so that they gladly receive the message, being baptized (Acts 2:41).
To increase the faith and confidence of the Ephesian brethren, Paul does not step them through a plan - a series of sequential steps that they have taken. He rather shows them where they are, and reasons back to the cause of their situation. He now tells them why they trusted in the Lord Jesus - something that God Himself ordained as the means of carrying out His own predestination of the people to adoption, and to obtain the inheritance.
AFTER THAT YE HEARD. Other versions read, "listening to the message," NASB "having been given," BBE "when you heard," ESV and "listened to the proclamation." MONTGOMERY
The experience of salivation necessarily comes after hearing the appointed message. Faith "comes by hearing," and there can be no salvation that is independent of hearing, discerning, and receiving a specific message. From one standpoint, the hearing is the result of God sending a preacher (Rom 10:14). From another standpoint, God Himself has sent a word (Acts 10:35). From the standpoint of the one who delivered the Word, he is a minister, "even as the Lord gave to every man" (1 Cor 3:5).
THE WORD OF TRUTH. Other versions read, "the true word," BBE "the message of the truth," CJB "the true message," IE and "the proclamation of the truth." MONTGOMERY What is heard is a message of reality - specifically, "the record God has given of His Son" (1 John 5:10). It is the proclamation of what God has done through Christ that has successfully addressed the matter of sin. It is "the truth" as it relates to God, and to the accomplishment of the will of God in the provision of salvation. It is referred to as preaching "the Gospel of peace" and bringing "glad tidings of good things" (Rom. 10:15). It relates to turning men from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, in order that they may receive the forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith in Christ (Acts 26:18).
THE GOSPEL OF YOUR SALVATION. Other versions read, "the good news of your salvation," BBE "the Good News offering you deliverance," CJB "the Good News that he has saved you," GWN "the Good News about how to be saved." LIVING Although God has not divulged the particular identity of these people, this is a word delivered to those who were chosen in Christ (1:4), predestinated unto adoption (1:5), who have been appointed to receive an inheritance (1:11). It is their acceptance of the message of the Gospel by faith that reveals the identity of the chosen ones. The salvation of God belongs to them. That is why they are told it is "your salvation." This is the "after you have believed" view of the matter. When the Gospel is preached it is preached to everyone, not only to the ones who have been chosen. That is not something the preacher makes known. It is the work of the Spirit. That makes this a confirming word.
AFTER YOU BELIEVED, YOU WERE SEALED
1:13b " . . . in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise . . ."
Now Paul brings home to the conscience of the believers what has happened to them - a work that has been done by God. He identifies when the work was done, ands the objective that was met by it. I must say that this is a much neglected work in the modern church.
IN WHOM ALSO. The work of God is always tied to the Person and work of Jesus Christ. Ten times the Ephesian letter contains the words "in Christ" (1:1,3,10,12; 2:6,10,13; 3:6,11). Referring to Christ, the expressions "in Him" and "in whom" occur eight times (1:4,7,10,11,13, 2L22; 3:12). "In Jesus" occurs once (4:21). "By Jesus Christ" is found two times (1:5,9, and "by Christ Jesus" once (4:21). The "Lord Jesus Christ" is mentioned seven times, preceded by "from" (1:3(, "in the name of" (4:20), "them that love" (6:24), and "the God and Father of" (1:3,17; 3:14; 6:23). Jesus is referred to as "the Savior of the body" (5:23), and the One who "loved the church and gave Himself for it" (5:25). He is depicted as sanctifying and cleansing the church (5:25), and the One who will "present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle" (5:27).
This is the One in whom the believers are found. The expression "in Christ" is found 76 times from Romans through First Peter. And "in Him" 50 times. There can be no question about where the blessings of God are obtained and retained!
AFTER THAT YE BELIEVED. So far as spiritual life is concerned, it is precisely identified as "after that ye believed." Initially, that life was prenatal, or pre-birth, life. Eventually it had to be birthed by water (John 3:5), which took place when we were "baptized into Christ" (Rom 6:3; Gal 3:27). In the epistles the Spirit refers to believing eighty times (believe, belief, believing, etc.). In most of the cases, it is what resulted from believing, or what took place at that time, that is the point. Believing, then, is an transcendent epoch in the life of those who are saved. It goes without saying that what is said to take place "after that ye believed" could not possibly have taken place without believing taking place. Believing involves trust, reliance upon, receiving without equivocation, and conforming ones life to what has been believed. The teaching is corroborated by the record of those who believed in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews.
YE WERE SEALED. Other versions read, "you were marked in Him with a seal," NIV "were marked with the seal," NRSV "were given the sign," BBE "you were signed," DOUAY "stamped with the seal," NJB "He identified you as His own," NLT and "marked as belonging to Christ." LIVING
This seal was an official identifying mark - like the seal of a notary, of a government seal. In Scripture, official letters had a "seal" (1 Kgs 21:8); Neh 9:38; Esth 8:8). Circumcision was a seal in the covenant made with Abraham (Rom 4:11). Those who are in, and belong to, Jesus Christ are "sealed" - identified as belonging to Him.
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE. The seal itself is "the Holy Spirit of promise." Other versions read, "the promised Holy Spirit," NIV "the Holy Spirit of hope," BBE "the Holy Spirit, who was promised," MRD "the Holy Spirit, whom, He promised long ago," NLT and "the long-promised Holy Spirit." AMPLIFIED
Just as the Lord prophesied of the Messiah, enabling Him to be identified by the longing ones, and just as He prophesied of the people He would create, and the covenant in which they would be made accepted, so the Lord prophesied of the giving of His Spirit.
God would "pour out" His Spirit "upon all flesh," there being no discrimination among those receiving the Spirit. Both sons and daughters would prophesy, and insight would be granted to young and old men (Joel 2:28). Those upon whom the Spirit was poured would become "a fruitful field" (Isa 32:15). As a result of having the Spirit poured upon them, the people would "spring up," and say "I am the Lord's" (Isa 44:3-5). Jesus Himself said that "rivers of living water" would flow out from such people (John 7:38). This sealing would involve the creating of a new heart - a heart of flesh - and the removal of the stony heart (Ezek 36:26). By putting His Spirit "within" men, God would "cause" them to walk in His statutes, keeping His judgments and doing them (Ezek 36:27).
Where these promised benefits are not found, the Holy Spirit is not resident, for He always produces fruit in those in whom, He dwells (Gal 5:22-23). It is also written in that same passage, "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts" (Gal 5:24) This is precisely why it is written, "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His" (Rom 8:9). I hardly see how anything can be said on the matter with greater clarity.
It is what God has promised concerning the Spirit that enables those who have received Him to identify their true state. Those who teach men to assume they have the Holy Spirit have thrown confusion into the arena of thought. Those who take for granted that they have received the Holy Spirit of promise, having only the word of men to buttress that supposition, must learn to reason after the manner of this text, starting with them believing, and examining the outcome of it.
THE EARNEST OF YOUR IN HERITANCE UNTIL . . .
1:14 "Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
Now Paul further identifies the Holy Spirit by more precisely defining why those in Christ have received Him.
WHICH IS THE EARNEST. Other versions read, "which is the guarantee," NKJV "whois given as a pledge, " NASB "who is a deposit guaranteeing," NIV "the pledge," NRSV "the first-fruit" BBE "the down payment," CSB "the guarantee that we will receive," GWN "the first installment," NAB "God's guarantee," LIVING "a pledge and foretaste," WEYMOUTH "the firstfruits, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment." AMPLIFIED
Among other things, this language substantiates that we have not yet enjoyed salvation in its fulness. What we have is a prelude to what we will eventually possess. This puts the lie to those who affirm a salvation that is simplistic and is easily obtained. Being within reach, and being easy to obtain is by no means the same. In this world, the very best that we can receive is only the beginning - an earnest, pledge, down payment, or guarantee of what is to come. As long as we have the earnest, the fulness is guaranteed. However, if we resist (Acts 7:51), grieve (Eph 4:30), or quench (1 Thess 5L:19) the Holy Spirit - well, that is quite another story.
OF OUR INHERITANCE. Other versions read, "our heritage," BBE "all that He promised." LIVING "our common heritage,"
MONTGOMERY "what God has stored up for his people," CEV and "All that God has for us." ERV This is now the second time the inheritance has been mentioned. The first affirmed, "we have obtained an inheritance" (1:11). The next time it is mentioned we will l earn who will not receive that inheritance (Eph 5:5). The book of Acts declares the inheritance is for those who are "sanctified" (Acts 20:32; 26:18). Colossians announces that the inheritance is enjoyed by "the saints in light" (Col 1:12). Hebrews 9:15 identifies it as an "eternal inheritance." Peter states that it is "incorruptible and undefiled," does not fade away, and is "reserved in heaven for us" (1 Pet 1:4). Obviously "our inheritance" is an important and indispensable facet of our salvation.
The gift of the Holy Spirit is a portion of that inheritance. It is not the major part of the inheritance, but is a pledge or down payment of it. That gives us some idea of enormity of "the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him" (1 Cor 2:9). The Scriptures speak of inheriting "the earth" (Matt 5:5), "everlasting life" (Matt 19:29), "the kingdom of God" (1 Cor 6:10), and "all things" (Rev 21:7). Our inheritance is nowhere represented as something associated with this world-i.e., healing, wealth, possessions, etc. Such things are often given to the saints, but they do not constitute their inheritance, either in part or in the whole. Our inheritance - the whole of it - is eternal, and constituted of things that cannot pass away.
UNTIL THE REDEMPTION. Other versions read, "redemption of God's own possession," NASB "redemption of those who are God's possession," NIV "the redemption of God's own people," NRSV "till God gets back that which is his," BBE "the redemption of that liberty," GENEVA "until we are set free to belong to him," GWN "in anticipation of its full redemption and our acquiring [complete] possession of it." AMPLIFIED In these texts there is a misrepresentation of the coming redemption. Some versions represent the redemption as applying to the people themselves. While God's own inheritance is His people, that is not the matter that is being addressed in this text.
The "purchased possession" is our bodies - the part that is not yet redeemed. Romans categorically identifies the body as yet to be redeemed: "ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body" (Rom 8:23). This precisely parallels the Ephesian text. Further, the fact that our bodies have been purchased is accented in Paul's letter to the Corinthians. "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Cor 6:19-20). It is in this sense that our bodies are said to be "members of Christ" (1 Cor 6:15). That is, they are "members" by reason of purchase now, and their redempti9on at the resurrection of the dead.
Until the time these "vile bodies" Phil 3:21) are redeemed, they are used by God as a temple for the indwelling Spirit. As it is written, "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?" NKJV (1 Cor 6:19). They can be used in this manner because they have been purchased, and will be redeemed at the time when this mortal shall put on immortality (1 Cor 15:53-54).
UNTO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY. When our bodies are redeemed, with nothing left that is not redeemed, we shall be "a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God" (Isa 62:3) - a marvelous exhibit of what the grace of God can do. An understanding of this inheritance will compel a life that cannot be produced by a law - even a holy, spiritual, and good law! God be praised for the greatness of His salvation!