God's Glory Revealed in Jesus Christ

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,  even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love  he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,  to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,  which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight  making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ   as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him.    In 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,  so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.  In 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,  who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,  to the praise of his glory."

Ephesians 1:3-14

Paul hits the ground running in the opening chapter of his letter to the Ephesians. This passage is rich in theological concepts, pertaining primariliy to soteriology - the study of salvation. Paul lays out three main points for us to break down as we work through this passage.

1. God's plan has always been to offer a way for man to return to Him. (v.3-5)

2. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of God's plan of redemption. (v.6-12)

3. The Holy Spirit is the seal of salvation for believers. (v.13-14)

What we see from the beginning of this passage is that salvation is God's doing. There is nothing man can do to attain salvation by his own merit. Salvation is a gift from God that cost Him His only begotten Son. Believers in Jesus Christ are rich with "ever spiritual blessing" because it is by grace through faith in Him that we are saved. What more could we ever desire than to be reunited with God for eternity because of His grace? Paul says that it was always God's plan, choosing us before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. Obvioulsy, things took a turn in Genesis 3, but God's desire was always that no man may perish, but come to Him in faith. Not only are we pardoned for our sin, but we are now viewed as adopted children of God because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

How can we be deserving of such a gift? We aren't. We are simply loved that much by our Creator. When man sinned, blood had to be shed. The only blood that would ever atone for man's sin is that of a man, not that of animals under the old covenant sacrificial system. But since no man was perfect, no man's blood would be able to atone for the sin against God. Jesus Christ came as God in flesh to pay that penalty and be our everlasting atonement. This is why working your way into heaven is impossible. The only way into eternal life with God is by accepting the free gift of atonement offered by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. But not only are our sins washed away, we now receive an eternal inheritance as children of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ. Praise God for His unending love and amazing grace!

The great mystery of God's will was revealed to us in Jesus Christ. From the moment man sinned against God, He began working His redepmtive plan for our souls. But the plan is not finished. Yes, we now have access to the Father through Christ the Son, but God is also working to bring all things together under the headship of Christ. Christ will reign over everything and everyone for eternity. We will either be with Him in paradise, or apart from Him in hell. We have a choice to make now that will determine where we spend eternity. We either recognize Christ as God's Son and our Savior and Lord, or we don't. But upon belief in Him, we must respond to Him. We must repent, which means turn from our old ways and begin to walk in faith with Christ. We musy be crucified with Him and raised into our new life with Him. When we do this, not only are we saved from God's wrath against sin and unbelief, but God Himself is glorified in us.

Paul tells us that those who hear the gospel and respond in faith are "sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit is not merely a divine, mystical force, but the third person of the Holy Trinity. Believers in Jesus Christ are sealed by the Spirit, also called the Helper, when we place our faith in Him. When our faith is genuine, when our heart responds to the Gospel of Jesus Christ with full repentance and belief, we receive the Holy Spirit. There are interpretations of Scripture that say that we must act on our faith through baptism, prayer, or other means to attain the Holy Spirit. I would argue that our action would negate the doctrine of salvation evident throughout the entirety of Scripture. Man is justified (saved) by his faith. If that faith is genuine, it produces obedience to Christ because we no longer walk by our flesh but by the Holy Spirit, who indwells us upon our belief in the glorious grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ. It is the Holy Spirit who allows us to persevere and endure to the end, so that we will be saved because of the imputed righteousness of Christ. To God be the glory!

This passage shows the interworkings of the Holy Trinity as it pertains to salvation. God is three persons, yet one God. Each person or member of the Trinity is equal but plays a different role in the triune Godhead. God the Father predestined the plan of salvation for men. Jesus Christ the Son took on flesh to be the atonement for sin and offer a way for man to be reconciled to God. The Holy Spirit comes powerfully upon a believer to enable us to endure the hardships in this life faithfully that we may persevere in faith and receive the crown of eternal life.