Ephesians 1:7-14
A Wonderful Lord
Introduction
In the last message, it was said that there are three facts about believers that must be understood. Believers are saints, they have been chosen by God, and God chooses them for a purpose. A clear understanding of the beauty of these truths is fundamental if the believer is to experience life to the full. Jesus wants His people to experience an abundant life in the here and now, and this can be done with a proper perspective of one’s standing with God. Having examined some things to be true of believers, some things can be understood about God as well.
Much is heard today about self-esteem, about feeling good and about loving and accepting self. While there is a need for people to have a healthy view of themselves and a right estimation of who they are, it is even more important for them to have a right estimation of who God is.
This can be clearly seen in Paul’s writing here in the book of Ephesians. In chapter one a great and majestic God is portrayed, who graciously chose to accept mankind on the basis of the shed blood of His Son. After giving a grand view of the Lord, Paul does not try to tell man how wonderful and majestic he is, but rather, moves into chapter two telling man just how utterly hopeless he was before Christ. Man is spiritually dead, a child of the devil, lost and undone. This is not exactly what the world’s leading professors might view as healthy for building one’s self-esteem.
All people want a better life, and all people should realize that a better life is found in Christ. Believers can frequently be heard stating this truth intellectually, that is, they know that a better life is found in Christ. However, the way one lives his or her life reveals how he or she really thinks they will secure a better life. For instance, the way one spends his time is a good indicator. Is it spent on the job, seeking better income? Is it spent recreationally, in pursuit of fun and leisure, or is it spent trying to fulfill God’s purposes? The way one spends his money is another good indicator of what he really believes, regardless of what he says.
Everyone can have a better life, but it is found in Christ. In Ephesians 1:7-14 at least three important facts are given about God which, properly understood, can lead one on the journey to "A Better Life in Christ."
He is the Source of Redemption (7-8)
Many words are used to speak of Christ’s work on man’s behalf: atonement, sacrifice, and propitiation are a few. Redemption is another, and it means, "a price paid to redeem, or purchase something from bondage or captivity; ransom." Jesus said, "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many." In Bible times a man could buy slaves out of the slave market for the purpose of setting them free. After he had redeemed these slaves, they belonged to him and were his to treat as he pleased. The slave could not pay his own ransom, for he had no means of doing so. He needed a redeemer, one who could pay the price in full.
This is a beautiful picture of what every man has in Christ. Mankind’s sin terribly offended God, and He could not accept man in his sinful condition. Man could do nothing to change his position with God. He was a slave to his sin, unable to change, and as a result, was at enmity with God. God the Father demanded payment for man’s sin, a ransom, but who would pay the demanded price? No man could possibly pay for his own sin, and there was no earthly substitute that could pay the price. The author of Hebrews stated clearly that the blood of bulls and goats could not pay the way.
When man seemed to be in a hopeless position, God the Son stepped up and chose to pay the demanded price. He would come to this world as a man and live as a man. Though fully God, Jesus would live fully man. He would be perfectly obedient to all the commands of the Father, "becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." This is why Paul could so triumphantly declare that "[God] hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son."
Consider the words of one of the great hymns,
Redeemed how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the lamb Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child and forever I am I think of my blessed redeemer, I think of Him all the day long. I sing for I cannot be silent, His love is the theme of my song.
I know I shall see in His beauty, the King in whose law I delight, Who lovingly guardeth m footsteps, and giveth me songs in the night. Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, Redeemed, redeemed, His child and forever I am!
Every child of God ought to have wonderful praise in his or her heart for the wonderful redemptive work of Christ. There is no salvation in any other – Jesus is the way!
He is the Savior of All (9-10)
Not only is Jesus the Savior of all who trust in Him, the Bible clearly teaches that Jesus is the Savior of all men. Clearly all men must accept Jesus as Savior in order to appropriate what is offered to their lives, but the way has been made for the salvation of all.
One might ask, "How can this be?" Consider the fall. When Adam sinned, man in effect turned his back on God, thumbed his nose at God and declared that he didn’t need Him. Man wanted to be his own God. God is perfect and holy, and man was not. Man’s sinful nature and behavior was so offensive to God that He in effect turned His back on man, declaring, "the wages of what you have done is death, separation from me." All of God’s creation was cursed in the fall. However, knowing that man would never return to Him, God provided a means by which man could be made acceptable to Him. He provided a ransom which would buy back everything Adam sold out in the fall. So, in effect, God turned back to face man with an offer of reconciliation.
Verse 10 states, "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." It is not just man that God has redeemed. God has redeemed the earth as well, and just as man awaits future perfection, so does the creation (Romans 8:19-21).
Now, getting back to man’s salvation, consider 1 Timothy 4:10, which says, "For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe." What does this mean? It means that when man’s back was turned to God and God’s was turned to man, God turned around and said, "I have made the way for you to come back to me, but you must choose."
If a person goes to hell it is because they have refused the Savior. There is no person in hell whose sin debt was not paid. Every individual in hell had a Savior. The way had been made for them, the ransom had been paid, but God will not force any person to turn around and accept what He has done for them through Christ. It is a personal choice that must be made. Jesus is the Savior of all men, even those who are suffering in hell today.
He is the Security of Man’s Salvation (11-14)
Paul couldn’t have made it simpler. When a person places his or her faith in Christ, he or she is sealed with the Holy Spirit. This might be thought of like preserves. The individual is the preserve, the Holy Spirit is the seal, and Christ is the one applying the seal. No man can break that seal, just as no preserve can unscrew the lid on its jar.
The believer is the purchased possession of God, paid for with the rich, red, royal blood of Jesus. If God has paid for man by sacrificing His Son, has sealed man with His own Spirit, and has promised to keep man until the day of redemption, and man could then loose any or all of that, then God is the most pathetic God known to man. How wonderful it is to know that man is completely secure in Christ. Nothing can separate the believer from the love of God, and nothing can separate the believer from the Spirit of God – he is saved for all eternity!
A better life is only going to be found in Jesus. When man recognizes Jesus for all He is, he can only be moved in one direction, and that is toward God. If man is not moved in that direction, he has not really seen God for who He is. Every individual must realize that God is the Savior of all men, that He is the source of man’s salvation, and that He is the only security man will really ever know.
