I can think back to my younger years where I was reckless and put myself and others in harm’s way. There were several times where I or someone else could have been severely injured or worse, yet we weren’t. What if I had married a girl who I thought was right, but really wasn’t? What if certain doors were allowed to remain open so that I made terrible financial investments? I can think of many times when, “no” or “nothing” ended up being a real positive in my life. How about you?
By Evangelist Eric Smith Do you remember the panic over the potential computer shut-down when Y2K happened, (the start of the new millennia)? There was great fear of chaos in the world economy, air travel, national defense and with many other vital systems that we rely on. The results could have been devastating, yet thankfully the computers worked and nothing happened. Nothing was good. Have you ever considered how your life has been affected as a result of what didn’t happen? The negative consequences of what could have been?
I can think back to my younger years where I was reckless and put myself and others in harm’s way. There were several times where I or someone else could have been severely injured or worse, yet we weren’t. What if I had married a girl who I thought was right, but really wasn’t? What if certain doors were allowed to remain open so that I made terrible financial investments? I can think of many times when, “no” or “nothing” ended up being a real positive in my life. How about you? By Evangelist Eric Smith “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers”, Ephesians 1:15-16. Paul has ended his in depth sentence full of descriptions of the Christian and of their relationship to Jesus Christ. At first, you might think Paul is going into the theology of Christianity, but no, he focused on the practicality of Christianity.
The phrase “ever since I heard about your faith” has created a lot of controversy. Some approach this by saying Paul was never at Ephesus because he wrote “I heard.” They forget Paul often wrote about other places he had been this way. Also, Acts records Paul’s ministry in Ephesus for three years. In this case there are two possible reasons why Paul wrote the way he did. First, there was a period of time between when Paul was there and when he wrote the letter. Second, this letter is often consider a circular letter going to several congregations, therefore, Paul may not have been at their congregations, but had heard about their faith. Tradition says the Ephesian letter was one circulated among other congregations and would be the reason for Paul writing, “I heard”. By Evangelist Eric Smith “Who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:14. The last portion of the sentence we are pursuing is verse 14. The whole sentence is verse 3 through verse 14 of Ephesians chapter 1. This has been a very thought provoking sentence, but has revealed the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit and their part in each individual’s salvation.
This is a verse you can not take out of contexts and still have the true meaning. For you to know whom the word “who” refers to examine the prior verse and you will find it is the Holy Spirit. In our text the Holy Spirit is the “deposit guaranteeing our inheritance.” The word “deposit” can also be translated “earnest” as some translations do. When you see the word “deposit” you most likely think of making a deposit into your checking account. This is not the meaning in this passage. By Evangelist Eric Smith “Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,” Ephesians 1:13b. The next portion of the sentence we are pursuing is the last part of verse 13. We examined the first part last time. The whole sentence is verse 3 through verse 14 of Ephesians chapter 1. Remember, the English translations often have several sentences compared to the original language of only one. Through examining this sentence we have been encouraged by how the Father and the Son, Jesus, have work together to bring about salvation for those who will accept Jesus Christ for their Lord and Savior by obeying His commands. Now, we will see how the Holy Spirit also is involved in our salvation.
By Evangelist Eric Smith “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,” Ephesians 1:13. This is the next portion of the sentence we are pursuing. The whole sentence is verse 3 through verse 14 of Ephesians chapter 1. Paul has written some powerful statements in this sentence and the verse we are examining now has another.
“You also were included in Christ when” is a statement with a condition. Remember, this congregation at Ephesus was mostly Gentiles. Earlier in this sentence Paul used the “we” to refer to himself and the Jews. Paul is simply saying the Gentiles are now included in the Kingdom of God, the Church, when they become Christians. To be a Christian is to be “in Christ.” If you are not “in Christ,” you are not a Christian. The condition is “when.” This requires action on your part. You must response as the Ephesians did. By Evangelist Eric Smith “In order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory,” Ephesians 1:12, the next portion of the sentence we are pursuing. The whole sentence is verse 3 through verse 14 of Ephesians chapter 1. Paul continues to show us the way God worked out His plan in these last few verses of the sentence.
Last time, we ended by looking at “the conformity with the purpose of his will.” Before creation God instituted a plan to bring mankind back into the right relationship with Him. In order to be with Jesus Christ, each individual must conform to the plan God has established. The plan is salvation to all who accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Paul has shown there is no other way to be reconciled to God accepted through Jesus Christ. Then, Paul wrote, “in order that we.” The “we” refers to Paul and the Jewish Christians. The focus is on the first Christians. Jesus was born a Jew as they were the ones God chose to be His people from the time of Abraham. Therefore, the good news of salvation was first preached to the Jews and then to rest of the world as is shown in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Salvation started with the Jews, but now includes all people who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. By Evangelist Eric Smith “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.” Ephesians 1:11. The next portion of the sentence we are pursuing is verse 11. The whole sentence is verse 3 through verse 14 of Ephesians chapter 1. Verse one through ten shows the plan and purpose of God has been revealed. From verse eleven through verse fourteen you will see the way God works out His plan. As you read different translations you will find a lot of variations for verse eleven. The most accurate translation is the American Standard Version which translates verse eleven this way: “in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will”. The two translations will show how the revealed plan and purpose will be accomplished.
By Evangelist Eric Smith Paul continues the sentence with “to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.” Ephesians 1:10. The next portion of the sentence we are pursuing is verse 10. The whole sentence is verse 3 through verse 14 of Ephesians chapter 1. This verse may well be considered the sentence theme. You can go further by saying it is the theme for Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and ultimately the whole Scriptures.
By Evangelist Eric Smith “And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,” Ephesians 1:9. The next portion of the sentence we are pursuing is verse 9. The whole sentence is verse 3 through verse 14 of Ephesians chapter 1. If you have been following these articles, you will realize how important it is to examine every phrase closely.
By Evangelist Eric Smith Summer is over as children are going back to school. Students have returned to college. As I write this most schools will be starting classes this week or have already begun. Some may not start class until after Labor Day. With this fact come changes in life’s pattern from summer to fall activities and different routines. So be aware of bus stops and children that may be hurrying to catch the bus and not paying attention to the other things around them. Let’s keep our children safe.
By Evangelist Eric Smith “ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding” Ephesians 1:7-8. The portion of the sentence we are pursuing is the end of verse 7 and verse 8. The whole sentence is verse 3 through verse 14 of Ephesians chapter 1. Last time we looked at the last phrase of verse seven. Since then, have you mediated on what Paul wrote? Verse seven is such a powerful verse you can not just give it a passing glance. It must be pondered over and over to grasp all God desires for you in this verse, especially as you mediate on the whole sentence. In fact, this is what you need to do for the whole sentence.
By Evangelist Eric Smith In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” Ephesians 1:7. The next portion of the sentence we are pursuing is the last half of verse 7. The whole sentence is verse 3 through verse 14 of Ephesians chapter 1. We have learned the shedding of blood was necessary for the redemption of mankind. But there is more to redemption then the shedding of blood. The blood represents life. Without blood there is no life.
The beginning of redemption is “the forgiveness of sins”. Sin has been and still is a real problem for mankind. Sin is what separates mankind from God. The required punishment for sinning is death, separation from God, both physically and spiritually. When Adam and Eve sinned, God began to teach the necessity of sacrificing. But all the animal sacrifices did not erase the mankind of their sins. It only rolled them ahead until the perfect sacrifice was given, Jesus Christ. By Evangelist Eric Smith “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” Ephesians 1:7. The next portion of the sentence we are pursuing is verse 7. The whole sentence is verse 3 through verse 14 of Ephesians chapter 1. This portion of the sentence we are looking at has a powerful message for us today. Paul continues to amazes us with his phraseology in portraying these great truths.
By Evangelist Eric Smith “In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” Ephesians 1:5-6. The next portion of the sentence we are pursuing is the end of verse 5 and verse 6. The whole sentence is verse 3 through verse 14 of Ephesians chapter 1. Having examined this sentence to the point, it is amazing what Paul has revealed to us concerning Jesus Christ. We will see even more as we continue to examine the sentence and strengthen our faith.
“In accordance with his pleasure and will” does not take away the individual’s opportunity to make their own choices and decisions. From the time God created mankind His desire was for mankind to be with Him. The problem, sin got in the way. God had to punish the sinner for disobeying and the punishment was death. By Evangelist Eric Smith For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight: in love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ in accordance with his pleasure and will”, Ephesians 1: 4-5. The next portion of the sentence we are pursuing is the end of verse 4 and verse 5. The whole sentence is verse 3 through verse 14 of Ephesians chapter 1. Nelson defines “predestination” as “God’s plan for the eternal salvation of those who choose Him”.
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