Let’s walk through this and discover Truth about that very question. As you study this, look at all the references to “in Christ”, “in Him”, “he”, “him”, “ through Jesus Christ”, “ his will”, and so on. Where does it say anything about what we do? Nowhere. It does say what we receive. Just look at this powerful set of scriptures in Ephesians 1:3-14.
3 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,
Wow! That’s a good start. Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. That’s where we are. In the heavenly places. According to Eph 2:6. It says we were raised up with Him and were seated with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Isn’t that curious how that particular phrase would be used exactly the same in two places? Not really. That’s just how God shows us emphasis on truths that we are to grab onto.
4 even as He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
So God who knew me before I was formed in my mother’s womb. The God who has been to the end of my life and then backed up to the beginning. The God who is all knowing regarding everything I would be, do, or even think. Saw my whole life before I was even born and knew all the stuff and junk that was there. That God chose me before the foundation of the world. Come on. We don’t even like people we don’t know and have never met. Proof? You say you want proof. How about that person that cut you off in traffic? How did you feel about that person? Come on, be honest. But the God of the universe who knows everything about us, chose us before he even created the world. Go figure.
5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
He chose us according to the purpose of His will. Here again, it’s all Him doing all the work. By the way, He did this “In love”. You see the end of verse 4? That “In love” should have started verse 5. Why it didn’t is peculiar. But I guess if you read verse 4 and put “in love” at the end of it, that makes sense. Then if you start verse 5 with the words “In love” that makes sense. Just an observation.
6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
It’s in Him, Him, Him we have redemption through His blood. Not through our works or performance. Not by keeping all the rules. Not by submitting to legalistic bondage. You can do all those things and all you’ll gain is the title of being the best sinner who ever went to hell. You see it’s just Him and the blood that we have forgiveness of our trespasses or sins, and it’s all according to the riches of His grace.
8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
He LAVISHED upon us. He didn’t just give us a little, but He lavished upon us the riches of His grace. It was done with all wisdom and insight. I’m really getting happy here.
9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
See? He makes known to us the mystery of His will which again is hidden for us and not from us. According to His purpose. Wait. He purposed to make known to us the mystery of His will? Think about that.
10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
God’s plan is not just for the moment, but it’s for the fullness of time. Once again, that’s why God’s perfect will is almost never done, but His perfect plan will always be done. That’s because it is a plan for the fullness of time, to unite ALL things in Him.
11 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,
Look, look, look. There it is again. We have obtained. It’s a done deal. It’s past tense. We’ve got it. Got what? An inheritance according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will. Are you getting the idea that God’s repetition is so we’ll get ahold of the dynamic truths laid out in this set of scriptures? Study the repetition.
Verse 5, 9, and 11 have the phrase “according to the purpose of his will”. Chapter 1:3 and Chapter 2:6 have the phrase “in the heavenly places”. These are important treasures to find. When we simply read our bible we miss these great nuggets of powerful truth. It’s through study that we discover the hidden treasures just waiting for us.
12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
13 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,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Oh Oh. Here we go again. In verse 11 it says In Him we have obtained an inheritance. Now we see in verses 13 and 14 God’s intentional confirmation of that truth by saying we were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is our guarantee of our inheritance. Now don’t stop there. Look what verse 14 says right after that. “Until we acquire possession of it."
So, first He says we have obtained our inheritance. Then He shows us the guarantee of that truth, which is the Holy Spirit that we are sealed with. Those truths together will keep us focused UNTIL WE acquire possession of it. How do we do that? Simply believe and receive this truth we’ve just uncovered.
I looked up the word acquire in the dictionary. Look what it says. “To come into possession or ownership of; get as one’s own: To gain for one’s self through one’s actions.” What would that action be? Well, I already told you. Believe and receive. Another is to simply step into this promise and declare it as yours. God said it was, now you say it. Grace and Peace
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