Ephesians 1:7-14

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Ephesians 1:7-14

Verse 7 onward explains what God's grace is.

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of God's grace."

The blood of Christ is the ransom (aphrothrosin). Redemption (redemption) means to buy back with a price (ransom). However, we still have sin.

Forgiveness of sin (apeshin) means first purchasing us and then forgiving our sins.

Just as in the Book of Hosea, Hosea purchased Gomer with a ransom and then forgave her.

Therefore, salvation must involve both redemption and forgiveness of sins.

Redemption is Christ's purchase with His own blood as a ransom, and then He sets us free in the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. He completely eliminate sin.

This is what it means to transfer our sins from east to west (Psalm 103:12).

This refers to the sinner entering the eastern gate of the tabernacle, passing through the altar of burnt offering and the Holy Place, and then entering the Most Holy Place on the west, where he receives complete forgiveness of sins. Sinners enter the east and are processed in the west.

Redemption is not the entirety of salvation.

Just because South Korea has been liberated from Japanese colonial rule doesn't mean we should simply revel in the joy of liberation.

A new government must be established.

We must also experience the abundance of his grace in Christ.

Today, it's all too common to see people claiming to receive forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus, yet failing to reach the main orbit of faith.

Therefore, we must understand that through Christ, there is redemption, a second forgiveness of sins.

Verse 8: "Wherein he has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence."

"Wherein"—what is the richness of this grace? It is wisdom and prudence.

The grace of salvation is recognized with wisdom and grasped as our own with prudence (Romans 8:6, mind).

Just as when light shines, we see things, think about them, and make them our own, so too does the spiritual world.

Those who receive God's grace change their way of thinking.

In other words, their thoughts change.

However, if we are captivated by fleshly thoughts, our understanding becomes darkened and we are cut off from the life of God (Ephesians 4:18).

Verse 9: "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he has purposed in himself"

The mystery of his will is that according to his good pleasure, that is, according to what he deems right, he purposed in Christ. This is God's stubbornness.

Paul frequently uses the phrase “in Christ.” We too must become familiar with being in Christ through the baptism of being immersed in the Holy Spirit through the cross of Christ.

Many people are unfamiliar with keeping this commandment—“I am in Christ and Christ is in me”—yet they urge people to become intimate with God.

We must practice for a long time the godliness of being one with Christ in the anointing, that is, in the Holy Spirit.

If you put Christ outside of you and believe in him because of the evil and vices inherent in Adam, you will suffer for a long time.

Therefore, stubbornness that refuses to repent which follow the grace of Christ’s atonement only delays time.

God’s stubbornness is eternal, and God will not yield to His promises just because we persist for a few decades.

The sooner you surrender to his love, the better.

God gave us the bible because of his confidence.

He knew it would happen.

God's pride is contained within it.

It contains his determination not to be recognized as God unless his word is fulfilled.

God does not beg for our reverence.

He is God who has determined to accomplish this work according to the dispensation of the fullness of time in Christ.

In Christ, it also means reaching his own level.

And his dispensation, according to His intention, plan, and blueprint, is the fullness of time—the harvest.

It is the sixth day of Genesis chapter 1. And it is the these last days.

Verse 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."

"To gather together all things in Christ" (anakēsaraiosasdai) means to bind together under one head.

Now all things are being gathered into Christ.

Jews and Greeks alike, they all return from the ends of the earth.

Human sermons can only be heard inside church buildings, but God's voice can be heard in the mountains and fields.

Those who are born again can hear both the bible, God's special revelation, and the voice of the Holy Spirit.

However, the church is still necessary because it is a marriage counseling center that pairs people up with Jesus Christ.

The church is a place that mediates between people and Christ and brings them into reconciliation with him.

All things in heaven are all things of heaven. And all things on earth are all things of earth. 

This means that the will of heaven is being done on earth.

Verse 11: "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will."

We have obtained an inheritance in him, in Christ.

We have received a share, a portion, in him.

Therefore, we believe and acknowledge that we have been predestined according to God's decreed will.

That decreed will is accomplished according to the will of him who works in all things.

Where does He work? He works within us ( en the Holy Spirit).

1 Thessalonians 2:13: "The word of God also works in you who believe."

Those who have received predestination are inevitably influenced by God's internal work.

This is accomplished by God's will and driving force.

Those who have achieved this are Christians who have received an inheritance, a portion, from God.

When He works in us, we ultimately become heirs (Philippians 1:6).

In fact, for salvation, we must look more closely at Jesus' words, "The Father is in me," than at his ability to walk on water.

Because the Spirit of God dwells in us, not in the flesh but in the Spirit, and because the Spirit of Christ dwells in us, we become Christians (Romans 8:9).

The Christ who dwells in us is our Savior, who rose from the grave and lives and works among those who died in Adam as the Lord of salvation and life.

Verse 12: "That we should be to the praise of his glory , who first trusted in Christ ."

God wants to make us into a praise of his glory in Christ.

We are products that display his achievements.

We are these special products, hymns that proclaim God.

Therefore, when we testify to the Word, we must do so with a heart of praise.

Who would buy a product if we just sang a commercial song with a frown?

"First trusted" (previously desired) - God began with a plan and conviction that it must be made this way.

This is God's vision and blueprint (Genesis 1).

As we listen to his Word, we gradually begin to follow God's plan.

That's why people say that God's Word is a holy drug.

Verse 13: "In whom you also trusted, after that you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,"

The word of truth is heard in him, in Christ.

After Abraham received Melchizedek's bread and wine and was blessed, he heard the word of God and believed in it, and was justified.

The word of salvation is heard only in Christ.

And in him, by believing, we receive the seal of the Holy Spirit.

By hearing and believing, we receive the seal, and the seal is a confirmation of ownership.

It is God confirm‎ing that it is mine.

It is his testimony in John 3:32, the word of truth.

And in verse 33, God acknowledges and seals the one who receives the word as true.

A seal placed on the flesh of a slave in ancient times is indelible.

However, the effect is the same, just as a post office postmark can be clear or faint.

In this way, there can be some differences between those who are certain of salvation and those who are not.

The difference between those who have been sealed and those who have not is found in Matthew 7:21.

It's the difference between those who hear the Word and put it into practice and those who do not.

Those who have been sealed hear the Word and it works within them (John 14:21).

But those who have not been sealed hear the Word and it flows away.

Just as snow piles up on bare ground but melts on water, so too, if only Bible verses linger in memory, it remains bare ground.

However, for those who are born again and immersed in the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the word of Christ becomes spirit and life, permeating them, embodying them, and becoming their lives.

Therefore, the seal is evidence that God's Word lives within us.

We cannot shake off God's Word.

It is engraved on our hearts.

Or, He even appears in our dreams to nudge us.

That Word continually brings about changes in our thoughts and ideas.

The Holy Spirit of promise is the Spirit of the Word, and the work of this Holy Spirit is a clear and tangible fact. It is a substantial truth.

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

An earnest (Hebrew, alabon) is like a voucher for a product that can be exchanged for something real.

This is similar to the promise Judah gave to Tamar in Genesis 38:18-20, promising to exchange her for a goat, along with a seal with a cord and a staff.

The staff is a genealogy and a seal with a cord, so the giver has no choice but to acknowledge its authenticity.

It's like a department store gift certificate, where you can instantly exchange it for a product.

We now hold this voucher by faith. It is the seal of the Holy Spirit.

We continue to grow within it, just as cabbage is pickled in salt...

However, if we continue to grow, great and we will accomplish wonderful things one day.

Our inheritance is our inheritance from God.

Our Father God created and fills the universe. What can he hold back from us?

We first know Jesus Christ as the Redeemer who forgives sins, then as the Giver of life, and then as the One who gives glory and unites us with God. Ultimately, we come to understand that Christ is the Lord of all and is all.

God, together with Christ, gives us the blessings of fruitfulness, multiplication, fulfillment, conquest, and dominion (the kingship of service).

Therefore, the most offensive thing to God is to say, "Something insignificant like me"

That is an insult to our parents and to God Himself.

However, this amazing work is not accomplished by me, but by God's work.

Therefore, we must allow God to accomplish His great work through me.

Therefore, God tells us not to grieve the Holy Spirit, the guarantee (Ephesians 4:30).

The Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation can print money as it pleases, but the Bank of Korea's governor must affix his seal to the money for it to be valid.

Therefore, we must always treasure the seal and guarantee of the Holy Spirit.

The phrase "what you have obtained" refers to the list in Christ's hand (John 17).

That list is the Book of Eternal Life. It is the Book of Life.

The redemption of these people is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee.

This means that the voucher guarantees and takes responsibility for the product.

"unto praise his glory." Praise for his glory comes only after everything has been accomplished.

Ultimately, this means that God is responsible for the final stage of perfection, when we become nothing but praise.

Written by Ptr. Yohan Kim.

Translated by  Nancy Chung

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