EPHESIANS 1:7-14 - MYSTERY - CHRIST IN YOU! (Glorious Hope)

Ephesians 1:7-14

MYSTERY – CHRIST IN YOU!

(Glorious Hope)

Ephesians 1:7 (KJV) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Redemption is the act of paying the ransom to buy someone out of slavery, in this case the price paid to “redeem” us from slavery to sin. The price paid was Jesus’ life-blood as He was dying on the cross, spilled out as He served as our substitute, condemned to the death we deserved even though He Himself was completely without sin. Our freedom was made possible by the extravagant gift of the grace of God. Mercy is withholding the punishment deserved. Grace is more than that. It is giving us something we could never deserve or earn out of His love for us. God could not violate His holy nature by forgiving sin unless atonement was made. The only acceptable payment for our sin was the death of the sinless God-Man, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. He is our Lord and Savior, High Priest and King, the One who offered the sacrifice as He offered Himself on the cross.

Hebrews 7:27 (AMPC) He has no day by day necessity, as [do each of these other] high priests, to offer sacrifice first of all for his own [personal] sins and then for those of the people, because He [met all the requirements] once for all when He brought Himself [as a sacrifice] which He offered up.

Ephesians 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

The word translated “abounded” in the King James Version is often translated “lavished.” It means God has given us a superabundance of grace, more than enough. His grace toward believers is unlimited, ongoing, perpetual. He has not been stingy in blessing those who are adopted into His forever family. Through the instruction of His Holy Spirit in us, God gives us wisdom and understanding of His word. Prudence means “intellectual or moral insight.” God places the insight of how to live rightly with Him and our fellow human beings within us through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instruction found in His word.

Ephesians 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

What exactly is the “mystery of his will”? Paul explains this a bit more in his letter to the Colossians:

Colossians 1:27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

MacArthur Study Bible comment on Colossians 1:27

1:27 Gentiles…Christ in you. The OT predicted the coming of the Messiah and that the Gentiles would partake of salvation (cf. Is. 42:6; 45:21, 22; 49:6; 52:10; 60:1–3; Pss. 22:27; 65:5; 98:2, 3), but it did not reveal that the Messiah would actually live in each member of His redeemed church, made up mostly of Gentiles. That believers, both Jew and Gentile, now possess the surpassing riches of the indwelling Christ is the glorious revealed mystery (John 14:23; Rom. 8:9, 10; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 1:7, 17, 18; 3:8–10, 16–19). the hope of glory. The indwelling Spirit of Christ is the guarantee to each believer of future glory (Rom. 8:11; Eph. 1:13, 14; 1 Pet. 1:3, 4).

The Jews were expecting a Messiah, but had no understanding that the through the Holy Spirit, He would actually indwell believers and be with them at all times. Another part of the mystery was that the Gentiles would be partakers of this salvation gift as well for even though the promise was that through Abraham ALL nations would be blessed, many Jews neglected that point. Ultimately, the Messiah was promised to the Jews first, but we as Gentiles are grafted in to the family when we receive Jesus. Both Jewish and Gentile believers in Jesus receive the gift of the Holy Spirit living in them, illuminating the scripture for them, and empowering them to do all God has called them to do.

Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Jewish and Gentile Christians are to be unified. At the end of time, God will gather us all together as one family. There will be no cliques in Heaven, no prejudice, no alienation of person due to race, creed, gender, or socio-economic level. There will be no generation gap. True unity in Christ will finally be completely achieved. What a glorious day that will be!

Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Paul speaks of our inheritance through Christ, our being made to be like Him and live with Him forever as if it has already happened, because in God’s eyes it is a “done deal.”  God fashions everything to the design of His will. The word “worketh” comes from the word to energize. God energized, invigorates, revitalizes each believer to complete his or her purpose according to His will and for His glory.

Philippians 1:6 (AMPC) And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

Ephesians 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,14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Once we have trusted in Jesus for our salvation, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is God’s promise, His guarantee that we have received His gift of salvation and He has received our heart in trust. The Spirit is like a certification seal in indelible ink, marking us as God’s possession, the royal seal of the Father stamped into our hearts by the Holy Spirt because we are in Christ Jesus, the Son. We can never be snatched away from God’s grip.

John 10:27-30 (VOICE) My sheep respond as they hear My voice; I know them intimately, and they follow Me. 28 I give them a life that is unceasing, and death will not have the last word. Nothing or no one can steal them from My hand. 29 My Father has given the flock to Me, and He is superior to all beings and things. No one is powerful enough to snatch the flock from My Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.

His presence in our lives is like earnest money put down on a contract, the guarantee that He will fulfill His promise to receive us unto Himself that we may dwell with Him forever.

John 14:1-3 (ESV) “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Ponder This: The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a crucial ingredient of our salvation. It is the Spirit who illuminates the Scripture that we may understand it. It is the Spirit who enables us to obey God’s will. It is the Spirit who serves as our guarantee that our redemption will be completely manifest when the Lord returns and we dwell with Him for eternity. “Holy Spirit, you are welcome in this place” we sing sometimes on Sunday mornings. Is He welcome in your life? If you have surrendered your life to Jesus, He is there, living in you. Each day begin by being aware of His presence and welcoming Him to direct your steps.