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SERIES: EPHESIANS: THE CALL AND CONDUCT OF THE CHURCH, WEEK 7

TITLE: GOD’S MASTER PLAN FOR SALVATION, PART VI

TEXT: EPHESIANS 1:13-14

INTRODUCTION: (1) BECAUSE PROMISES BY SOME PEOPLE AND EVEN SOME BUSINESSES ARE NOT RELIABLE, WE WANT ASSURANCES OR GUARANTEES.

* NOW THESE ASSURANCES AND GUARANTEES TAKE MANY FORMS. IN A COURT OF LAW WE DEMAND OATHS, SWORN AFFIDAVITS AND SWORN TESTIMONIES.

** IN BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS WE MAY WANT SOMETHING IN WRITING, A CONTRACT THAT IS NOTARIZED. SOMETIMES SURETY BONDS ARE USED AND IN OTHER CASES A GUARANTEE, A DOWN PAYMENT OR A PLEDGE OR A WARRANTY IS ENOUGH.

*** NOW WE HAVE THESE ASSURANCES IN PLACE IN OUR SOCIETY BECAUSE PEOPLE LIE, BECAUSE PEOPLE DON’T FOLLOW THRU WITH WHAT THEY HAVE PROMISED AND BECAUSE SOME BUSINESSES ARE NOT VERY CREDIBLE.

**** THERE ARE PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES THAT DO NOT MAINTAIN A HIGH STANDARD OF INTEGRITY AND THEIR WORD IS NOT THEIR BOND.

(2) WELL, IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM WHEN IT COMES TO OUR GREAT GOD OF TRUTH, HIS SIMPLE WORD SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT FOR US, FOR WHEN GOD SAYS HE WILL DO SOMETHING, HE ALWAYS DOES IT.

* YET GOD IN HIS GRACIOUSNESS MAKES SOME OF HIS PROMISES EVEN MORE CERTAIN – IF THAT IS POSSIBLE – BY GIVING US HIS OWN GUARANTEES.

** FOR IN OUR TEXT TODAY OUR GREAT GOD OF TRUTH GUARANTEES HIS PROMISE OF FUTURE INHERITANCE, OF THE CHRISTIAN’S ULTIMATE REDEMPTION OR GLORIFICATION WITH HIS SEAL OR PLEDGE.

*** FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO WAS PROMISED BY JESUS TO COME AND INDWELL EVERY BELIEVER, IS GIVEN TO CHRISTIANS AS A PLEDGE, A DOWN-PAYMENT, AS AN EARNEST, AS A GUARANTEE OF OUR INHERITANCE AND THAT WE WILL EXPERIENCE FUTURE GLORIFICATION.

**** NOW THAT IS QUITE A PROMISE. FOR GOD’S PROMISES IN HIS WORD ARE SUFFICIENT FOR US WITHOUT ANY GUARANTEES OR PLEDGES, BUT GOD IN HIS GRACIOUSNESS GIVES US A GUARANTEE OF OUR FUTURE INHERITANCE SO THAT WE SHOULD NOT DOUBT IT.

(3) FOR YOU SEE GOD’S MASTER PLAN FOR SALVATION WILL NOT BE DERAILED, FOR HE HAS ORDAINED THAT HIS ELECT WILL ULTIMATELY AND SURELY BE SAVED AND WITH HIM.

* AND WE’VE LEARNED IN VV. 3-12 OF EPHESIANS 1 THAT THE FATHER’S PLAN TO ADOPT PEOPLE IN HIS FAMILY WAS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.

** AND WE WILL LEARN TODAY THAT THIS PLAN IS MADE A REALITY BY THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AS THE GODHEAD, THE TRINITY ALL HAVE A PART IN THIS ETERNAL PLAN.

*** GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE GREAT THREE IN ONE, THE ONE GOD WHO IS THREE PERSONS WORK TOGETHER TO BRING OUR INHERITANCE TO A REALITY, OUR FUTURE GLORIFICATION IS SURE.

**** SO GOD’S PLAN STARTED IN ETERNITY PAST WITH GOD THE FATHER CHOOSING HIS PEOPLE IN CHRIST.

(4) AND BECAUSE OF THAT, IN TIME GOD THE SON WOULD COME TO PURCHASE REDEMPTION FOR THOSE PEOPLE ON AN OLD RUGGED CROSS.

* AND THIS SALVATION PLAN IS APPLIED BY GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT WHEN GOD’S ELECT HEAR THE MESSAGE OF TRUTH, THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION, THEY BELIEVE AND ARE SAVED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE.

** AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A PLEDGE, A DOWN-PAYMENT, A GUARANTEE OF OUR INHERITANCE, OUR FUTURE GLORIFICATION WHICH IS DONE FOR THE PRAISE OF GOD’S GLORY.

*** THE PLAN OF GOD WILL SURELY COME TO PASS. AND TODAY WE WILL SEE THE GUARANTEE OF THAT, THE PROMISE OF THAT, AS WE FINISH THIS ONE SENTENCE IN THE GREEK LANGUAGE FOUND IN VV. 3-14, WHICH I’VE TITLED GOD’S MASTER PLAN FOR SALVATION.

**** AND TODAY WE COME TO PART VI OF OUR STUDY AND WE’LL LOOK AT 4 THINGS IN VV. 13&14 TO FINISH THIS GREAT SENTENCE.

(5) NO. 1 THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, V. 13; NO. 2 THE PLEDGE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AS OUR GUARANTEE, V. 14A; NO. 3 THE POSSESSION OF GOD, US AS BELIEVERS, V. 14B; AND NO. 4 THE PRAISE OF GOD’S GLORY, V. 14C.

* AND THAT WILL BE OUR OUTLINE THAT WE’LL FOLLOW TODAY IN OUR STUDY. AND WE’LL MOVE TO POINT NO. 1 IN THIS OUTLINE, THE PROMISE, LOOK AT EPHESIANS 1:13 PLEASE.

I. THE PROMISE, (READ V. 13)

A. NOW THE FIRST TWO WORDS IN V. 13 “IN HIM” OR “IN WHOM” IN THE NAS, KJV AND NKJV REFERS TO CHRIST AND CHRIST IS ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED IN THE NIV IN V. 13, “AND YOU ALSO WERE INCLUDED IN CHRIST”.

* SO WE START WITH CHRIST IN V. 13 FOR HE IS THE ONE WHO NEEDS TO BE BELIEVED ON AND IS THE ONE IN WHOM THE GOSPEL CENTERS ON AS SAVIOR.

** NOW THE NEXT TWO WORDS, YOU ALSO, REFER TO BELIEVERS AT EPHESUS, THOSE TO WHOM PAUL IS WRITING.

*** AND FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN CHRIST, THEY LISTENED TO THE MESSAGE OF TRUTH TO BEGIN WITH.

**** AND HEARING THE MESSAGE OF TRUTH, THE WORD OF TRUTH WHICH IS GOD’S WORD, WAS NECESSARY IN ORDER THAT BY FAITH THEY MIGHT BE SAVED.

1. FOR ACCORDING TO ROMANS 10:17 IT SAYS: (READ IT)

* AND THEN IT SAYS IN I PETER 1:23&25: (READ THEM)

** SO THE MESSAGE OF TRUTH IS THE WORD OF GOD WHICH COMMUNICATES THE GOSPEL, THE GOOD NEWS OF SALVATION IN CHRIST FOR SINNERS. (WONDERFUL NEWS)

*** FOR THE WORD SALVATION IN V. 13 INDICATES RESCUE OR DELIVERANCE AND THE TRUTH OF THE MESSAGE IS THE GOOD NEWS OF DELIVERANCE OF PEOPLE FROM THEIR BONDAGE TO SIN.

**** AND MANY DIFFERENT MESSAGES PROCLAIMED BY THE WORLD IN EPHESUS IN THAT DAY AND IN OUR DAY ARE FALSE AND BRING PEOPLE INTO GREATER BONDAGE.

2. AND THOSE MESSAGES CONTAIN FALSEHOOD AND DECEPTION, WHEREAS HERE PAUL IS SHOWING THE MESSAGE OF TRUTH – THE GOOD NEWS OF DELIVERANCE.

* AND I LOVE THAT PHRASE IN V. 13, “THE MESSAGE OF TRUTH” OR “THE WORD OF TRUTH”.

** TRUTH IN CONTRAST TO THE LIES THE EPHESIANS WERE HEARING AND THAT WE HEAR TODAY.

*** FOR THE GOSPEL IS THE WORD OF TRUTH AND THIS IDEA IS REPEATED IN SCRIPTURE.

**** FOR EXAMPLE, IN COLOSSIANS 1:5 IT SAYS: “BECAUSE OF THE HOPE LAID UP FOR YOU IN HEAVEN, OF WHICH YOU PREVIOUSLY HEARD IN THE WORD OF TRUTH, THE GOSPEL.”

3. IN II TIMOTHY 2:15 IT SAYS: (READ IT)

* IN JAMES 1:18 IT SAYS: “IN THE EXERCISE OF HIS WILL HE BROUGHT US FORTH BY THE WORD OF TRUTH, SO THAT WE MIGHT BE AS IT WERE THE FIRST FRUITS AMONG HIS CREATURES.”

** AND THEN IN I THESSALONIANS 2:13 THE SCRIPTURES SAYS THIS: (READ IT).

*** NOW CLEARLY THE WORD OF TRUTH IS THE WORD OF GOD AND THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL, AND AS WE GO BACK TO EPHESIANS 1:13, WHEN A PERSON BELIEVES THAT, WHEN A PERSON HAS FAITH IN THE ONE WHO IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, AT THAT MOMENT THAT PERSON IS SEALED IN CHRIST WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE.

**** BELOVED, THE MOMENT ONE HEARS AND BELIEVES THE GOSPEL, HE OR SHE IS SEALED AND HAVING BELIEVED HERE IS THE PROPER TRANSLATION OF THE VERB BELIEVED, TRANSLATED THAT WAY IN THE NAS, THE NIV AND THE NKJV CORRECTING THE TRANSLATION OF THE KJV, “AFTER THAT YE BELIEVED”.

4. SO HAVING BELIEVED, YOU WERE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE.

* NOW THE QUESTION COMES UP AT THIS POINT, WHAT DOES THE WORD SEALED MEAN?

** WELL, THE SEALING OF WHICH PAUL SPEAKS HERE REFERS TO AN OFFICIAL MARK OF IDENTIFICATION THAT WAS PLACED ON A LETTER, CONTRACT, OR OTHER IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS IN THAT DAY.

*** AND THE SEAL USUALLY WAS MADE FROM HOT WAX, WHICH WAS PLACED ON THE DOCUMENT AND THEN IMPRESSED WITH A SIGNET RING.

**** THE DOCUMENT WAS THEREBY OFFICIALLY IDENTIFIED WITH AND UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE PERSON TO WHOM THE SIGNET BELONGED.

5. WELL, THAT IS THE IDEA BEHIND OUR BEING SEALED IN CHRIST, IN HIM, WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE.

* AND THE SEAL OF GOD’S SPIRIT IN THE BELIEVER SIGNIFIES FOUR PRIMARY THINGS: SECURITY, AUTHENTICITY, OWNERSHIP AND AUTHORITY.

** AND THE SEALING MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TO IDENTIFY BELIEVERS AS GOD’S OWN AND THUS GIVE US THE SECURITY THAT WE BELONG TO GOD.

*** FOR EPHESIANS 4:30 SAYS: (READ IT).

**** AND GOD HAS GIVEN AS A GUARANTEE THAT OUR REDEMPTION WILL BE COMPLETE, THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD’S OWN MARK ON US THAT HE WILL KEEP HIS WORD, THE GIVING TO US OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE.

6. AND JESUS PROMISED HIS FOLLOWERS THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WOULD BE GIVEN TO THEM ONE DAY, AFTER HIS ASCENSION, WHICH WAS THE DAY OF PENTECOST, READ JOHN 7:38&39 AND JOHN 14:16.

* SO THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS PROMISED FOR ALL WHO BELIEVE, HE IS THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE, THE PROMISED HOLY SPIRIT, THE SPIRIT WHICH WAS PROMISED BY CHRIST.

** AND NOW ALL BELIEVERS HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO WAS PROMISED, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A BELIEVER WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT INDWELLING THEM, READ ROMANS 8:8&9 AND I CORINTHIANS 6:19&20.

*** SO ALL TRUE BELIEVERS HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT. THAT WAS THE PROMISE OF CHRIST FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE ON HIM.

**** BUT NOT ONLY ARE WE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT, HE HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US AS A PLEDGE. LOOK AT V. 14 A, OUR 2’D POINT TODAY.

II. THE PLEDGE, (READ V. 14A)

A. NOW THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GIVEN TO BELIEVERS AS A PLEDGE OF OUR FUTURE INHERITANCE.

* AND THE WORD PLEDGE LIT. MEANS A DEPOSIT, A GUARANTEE, A PLEDGE, A DOWN PAYMENT, LIKE EARNEST MONEY THAT IS GIVEN AS A DOWN PAYMENT TO GUARANTEE A TRANSACTION.

** AND IF YOU GO OUT TO BUY A HOME TODAY AND MAKE AN OFFER ON A HOUSE, WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU MAKE THAT OFFER?

*** YOU PUT DOWN SOME EARNEST MONEY, A DEPOSIT TO GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE DEAL IF YOUR OFFER IS ACCEPTED AND THEY TAKE THE HOME OFF THE MARKET.

**** WELL, AS BELIEVERS, WE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT AS OUR DIVINE PLEDGE, THE DOWN PAYMENT, THE DEPOSIT OF OUR INHERITANCE.

1. THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVEN TO US IS GOD’S FIRST INSTALLMENT OF HIS GUARANTEE THAT THE FULLNESS OF THE PROMISED SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST, GOING BACK TO V. 3, WILL ONE DAY BE COMPLETELY FULFILLED.

* IT IS A SIGNED, SEALED, GUARANTEED DEAL.

** AND BELOVED THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE CHURCH’S IRREVOCABLE PLEDGE, HER DIVINE ENGAGEMENT RING AS IT WERE, THAT, AS CHRIST’S BRIDE, SHE WILL NEVER BE LEFT AT THE ALTAR.

*** GOD WILL FOLLOW THRU WITH THE MARRIAGE BECAUSE OF THE PLEDGE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

**** FOR IN II CORINTHIANS 1:22 IT SAYS: “WHO ALSO SEALED US AND GAVE US THE SPIRIT IN OUR HEARTS AS A PLEDGE.”

2. AND THEN II CORINTHIANS 5:5 SAYS: “NOW HE WHO PREPARED US FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE IS GOD, WHO GAVE TO US THE SPIRIT AS A PLEDGE.”

* SO THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR PLEDGE, GOD WILL COMPLETE AND FULFIL WHAT HE HAS ORDAINED, AGAIN MORE SECURITY FOR THE BELIEVER THAT GOD WILL FULFILL HIS MASTER PLAN OF SALVATION.

** FOR GOD’S PEOPLE BY ELECTION ARE GOD’S POSSESSION, LOOK BACK TO V. 14 WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR 3’D POINT TODAY, THE POSSESSION.

III. THE POSSESSION, (READ V. 14A&B)

A. NOW THE NAS AND THE NIV HIT THE TRUTH HERE THAT WE AS BELIEVERS ARE GOD’S OWN POSSESSION.

* FOR ALTHOUGH OUR DIVINE INHERITANCE IN CHRIST IS A MARVELOUS, AWESOME AND GUARANTEED PROMISE TO US FROM OUR LORD, IT IS NOT THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF OUR SALVATION.

** OUR SALVATION AND ALL OF THE PROMISES, BLESSINGS AND PRIVILEGES WE GAIN THROUGH SALVATION ARE FIRST OF ALL BESTOWED WITH “A VIEW TO THE REDEMPTION OF GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY.”

*** SO THE GREAT, OVERRIDING PURPOSE OF GOD’S REDEMPTION OF MEN AND WOMEN IS THE RESCUING OF WHAT IS HIS OWN POSSESSION.

**** BELIEVERS ARE GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, GOD’S PROPERTY, FOR THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS GOD HAS CHOSEN, REDEEMED AND ADOPTED US BY HIS SON PURCHASING OUR SALVATION.

1. WE BELONG TO CHRIST, WE’VE BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE, EPHESIANS 1:7, READ IT. (ALSO AGAIN I CORINTHIANS 6:19&20).

* AND A RANSOM WAS PAID FOR US AND THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE PLEDGE FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE REDEMPTION OF THE POSSESSION.

** AND I PETER 2:9 SAYS: “BUT YOU ARE A CHOSEN RACE, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, THAT YOU MAY PROCLAIM THE EXCELLENCIES OF HIM WHO HAS CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT.”

*** AND BELOVED WE ARE GOD’S PECULIAR TREASURE, WE ARE TROPHIES OF HIS GRACE, AND GOD WILL REDEEM HIS POSSESSION ONE DAY.

**** AND THE BOTTOM LINE, THE REASON FOR THIS IS OUR LAST POINT TODAY, THE PRAISE. LOOK BACK AT V. 14 ONE LAST TIME PLEASE.

IV. THE PRAISE, (READ V. 14)

A. NOW WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF GOD’S REDEEMING HIS POSSESSION, “TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY”?

* NOW IS “HIS GLORY” A THEME OF THIS SENTENCE? YOU BET! IT SURE IS!

** WHAT AN APPROPRIATE END TO THIS SENTENCE WHICH IS “THEOCENTRIC”, GOD CENTERED IN EVERY WAY.

*** FOR IN V. 3, THE FIRST VERSE OF THIS SENTENCE, BEGINS WITH PRAISE OR BLESSING BE TO OUR GOD.

**** IN V. 6 IN TALKING ABOUT THE FATHER’S WORK IN HIS GREAT PLAN IT SAYS: “TO THE PRAISE OF THE GLORY OF HIS GRACE”.

1. AT THE END OF V. 12 WHERE THE WORK OF CHRIST IS BROUGHT FORTH, IT ENDS “TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY”.

* AND HERE IN V. 14 AS THIS SENTENCE CLOSES AND THE HOLY SPIRIT’S WORK HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT IT ENDS WITH “TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY”.

** WHAT A DOXOLOGY! PRAISE FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST!

*** AND BELOVED AGAIN, WE ARE NOT SAVED AND BLESSED FOR OUR OWN GLORY, BUT FOR GOD’S.

**** AND WHEN WE GLORIFY OURSELVES WE ROB GOD OF THAT WHICH IS WHOLLY HIS.

2. GOD SAVED US TO SERVE HIM AND TO PRAISE HIM. WE ARE SAVED TO BE RESTORED TO THE INTENDED DIVINE PURPOSE OF CREATION – TO BEAR THE IMAGE OF GOD AND BRING HIM GREATER GLORY.

* AND THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED AT THE BELIEVER’S GLORIFICATION, WHEN WE RECEIVE FULL GLORY AND REDEMPTION AND ARE MADE THE PERFECT POSSESSION OF GOD.

IN APPLICATION AS I WRAP UP THIS GREAT SENTENCE, (1) EVERYTHING WE HAVE IN CHRIST COMES FROM GOD AND RETURNS TO GOD, BEGINNING IN HIS WILL AND ENDING IN HIS GLORY.

* BELOVED, IT IS GOD CENTERED FROM BEGINNING TO END.

** AND THAT’S THE WAY OUR LIVES SHOULD BE LIVED NOW, ALL OF WHAT WE DO SHOULD BE CENTERED AROUND CHRIST. ALL THAT WE DO SHOULD BE CENTERED AROUND CHRIST.

*** FOR THE PRAISE OF THE GLORY OF HIS GRACE.

**** SO I ASK TODAY, IS OUR THEOLOGY THAT SHOULD LEAD TO DOXOLOGY, MAN CENTERED OR GOD-CENTERED?

(2) ARE THE GOALS OF OUR LIFE SELF-CENTERED OR CHRIST-CENTERED?

* DO WE LIVE FOR OUR PLEASURE OR GOD’S PLEASURE?

** ARE WE CONSUMED WITH GOLD OR GOD?

*** DO WE LOVE CHRIST FIRST, OR DO WE LOVE THINGS OR EVEN OUR FAMILIES FIRST?

(3) BELOVED, AS WE CONSIDER GOD’S MASTER PLAN FOR OUR SALVATION FROM BEGINNING TO END, WE SEE A CLEAR MANDATE AND PURPOSE FOR OUR EXISTENCE, THAT CHRIST WOULD BE OUR FIRST LOVE AND THAT WE WOULD SEEK HIS KINGDOM FIRST, REVELATION 2:4 AND MATTHEW 6:33.

* AND I CLOSE THIS GREAT SENTENCE TODAY ASKING YOU ABOUT YOUR PRIORITIES TODAY, WHAT IS YOUR PRIORITY? WHAT DO YOU LIVE FOR? IS YOUR LIFE CENTERED AROUND CHRIST AND HIS WILL OR YOURS?

** CHRIST SHOULD BE THE HUB OF OUR UNIVERSE, WE ORBIT AROUND HIM, MAY OUR LIVES BE THEOCENTRIC, LIVED FOR THE PRAISE OF THE GLORY OF HIS GRACE.