Ephesians 1:11-14
11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Intro
Boice describes the salvation story as God’s three movement symphony.
The first movement is the sovereign election of God
- He chose to bless a specific people with every spiritual blessing in Christ
The second movement is the redeeming death of God’s Son
- This fulfilled our election
The final movement is the Holy Spirit applying Christ’s redemption to our lives (which is what we are going to discuss today)
- For those who are elected and redeemed
Interesting Fact:
- v.3-v.14 is all one sentence
- For clarity’s sake, translations make v.11 a new paragraph
- contains pretty much the entire foundation of Christian doctrine in this sentence
- deals with:
- Doctrines of God
- Trinity
- Election
- Work of Christ
- Forgiveness
- Gospel
- Grace
- Creation
- Millennial kingdom
Chief doctrines of the Holy Spirit and His work
Passage mentions 5 specific works (attributes) of the Holy Spirit
- Effectual Call
- Glorification of Christ
- Creation of Church from Diverse People
- Word of God & the Holy Spirit
- Sealed by the Spirit
Effectual Call
Christ is the source of our divine inheritance, and here it is spoken in the present tense to signify that it will certainly be received.
“In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined”
Seems to refer back to v.4’s topic of election, but Paul takes this concept further here.
God “chooses those who have been chosen” to work out his purpose in their lives
God uses the Holy Spirit to:
- “open our eyes to understand what Christ has done for us”
- “grants faith to believe on him”
- “moves our wills to embrace him as our personal Savior”
Without the Holy Spirit, no one would turn from sin to Christ.
“Apart from the Holy Spirit the world crucifies Christ.”
Read John 16:1-11
Glorification of Christ
“for the praise of his glory”
This phrase is directed at Paul and his companions, but this same idea is relayed to all believers.
See also in v.14 – “to the praise of his glory”
The Holy Spirit’s work is to glorify Christ
26"But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
When the church focuses on the evidence of the Spirit the church becomes divided.
- Speaking in tongues
- Had a second experience of the Spirit
- Etc.
When the church focuses on what the Spirit works to do, which is to glorify Christ, than the actions of the Spirit are seen within the proper context and the church is drawn to together around Jesus
- Actions of the Spirit:
- Sanctification
- Inspiration
- Giving of Gifts
- Work in Creation
In summary we have two main points:
- “Since the work of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Christ, we may conclude that any emphasis upon the person and work of the Holy Spirit that detracts from the person and work of Christ is not of the Spirit” (29)
- Wherever Christ is exalted, in any way, the Holy Spirit is at work
- Praise Him!
Creation of Church from Diverse People
promise of unification – “to unite all things in him”
God’s blessings are given equally to both Jews and Gentiles
Paul speaks about himself and other Jewish believers and the blessings they have in being chosen
Paul writes about Gentile believers and says “also were included” – “our inheritance”
Topic is “To be continued…” in Eph. 2:14-18
As in today’s society there were divisions among different groups of people in the NT era:
- Jews vs. Gentiles
- Roman vs. Greek
- Rich vs. Poor
- Free vs. Slave
“But into this divided world came a new breed of people, people whose lives were transformed by the Holy Spirit and who were united in Christ in spite of their differences” (30).
11Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 he himself is our peace,For who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
What do you think about the idea that some church growth specialists believe that a good way to grow a church is to have the congregation made up of one group of people?
Word of God & the Holy Spirit
“the word of truth, the gospel”
The Holy Spirit never speaks or works apart from Scripture
Holy Spirit brings people to faith, leads them and preserves them
Although we cannot see the Holy Spirit (like the wind) we can see evidence of His work
John is writing about the testimony of God through the Holy Spirit, which must be true
Holy Spirit allows us to discern divine truth in His Word
The gospel must be heard and believed to bring salvation
“The Bible is the means God uses to call and bless people, as the Holy Spirit, who is God reveals the Lord Jesus Christ and his work through its pages (31).
Sealed by the Spirit
“you were marked in him with a seal”
Four uses of a seal in the real world
- Confirms a document is true/genuine (
- Marks one’s property (nameplate on book)
- Used to secure something (seal on a letter to close it)
- Sign of authority (King’s signet ring)
Holy Spirit’s seal
- Romans 8:16 – we are God’s children
- Ephesians 1:14 – God’s possession
- Ephesians 1:14 – deposit/down payment guaranteeing our inheritance
- Esther 8:8-12 – Authority of God
Sealed by the spirit - “The spiritual act in which the Spirit of God, at the time of conversion, indwells a new believer and secures and preserves his or her salvation” (MacArthur 7).
The Holy Spirit is proof of God’s promise of what is to come (inheritance)
“Sealing with the Holy Spirit answers to all our needs. It assures us of God’s favor. It shows that we belong to him. It renders our salvation certain” (32)
Closing
As Paul beings this section (v.3) with “Blessed be the God…”, he ends it (v.14) with “…to the praise of His glory.”
- Praise God for His blessings
- Explains the blessings
- Praises God for the blessings which are for His glory
“In other words, everything we have in Christ comes from God and returns to God, beginning in his will and ending in his glory. It is God-centered from beginning to end” (32).
Application:
Boice described this message as “the greatest news story there has ever been.” (27) It began in God’s mind before the foundations of the world.
- Do you pay attention to this news story more than the world’s news story (Palin, Obama, Sports, Bail Out Plan, etc.)
Are you glorifying Jesus in what you say and by the way you live?
If not, you have no part in the Spirit, since that is what he is sent to do in Christians.
“Before the earth was formed, God sovereignly determined that every elect sinner – however vile, useless, and deserving of death – by trusting Christ would be made righteous” - MacArthur
Why is it important to understand the work of the Holy Spirit?
Why is it important to understand the sealing of the Holy Spirit?
“to the praise of His glory”
References:
Ephesians - John MacArthur
Ephesians - James Boice
The Letter to the Ephesians - Peter O'Brien
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