“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 1:13).
Have you ever heard the expression, “He’s a marked man”? That usually means that someone has done some deed that has earned a reputation in the community. No matter what he or she does, they are marked in people’s eyes. Some of us have been marked for something we did or didn’t do. That perception has given us a reputation. We are marked.
When God judged Cain for the murder of his brother, Abel, he ordered that he would be a wanderer. Cain protested that people would attempt to kill him, so God placed a mark upon him to warn others to leave him alone (Genesis 4:14). In the Book of Revelation God’s faithful have a mark on their foreheads.
The mark God has placed upon each of us is the Holy Spirit Himself. The Holy Spirit should make us known as different in this world. Everyone should be seeing something unique in us. You are marked!
“In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:11-12).
In this case, the word “chosen” in verse 11 may not be the best translation. The original Greek word here is κληρονομεω, and means to obtain, and by implication, to obtain by inheritance into the family of God. The spiritual blessings we have come by virtue of the fact we have entered into covenant with Jesus Christ. However, He chose me before I chose Him.
Note also that it was God’s plan all along (predestination) to work everything out according to His will. Everything that happens has the divine purpose of working God’s will out in us, which is to glorify God in our lives. Although Paul and the early church were the first to hope in Christ, we follow in agreement. And there will be many more who follow after us. I’m praying for them right now.
Who are you praying for today?
Ephesians 1:9-10 says, “And He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment – to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.”
It is the action of the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) to reveal God’s truth to us who believe. And this spiritual blessing is that he has revealed this truth to us: “the mystery of His will…which He purposed in Christ”. In other words, the mystery of God’s will was that we be redeemed and have life in Christ. When Jesus prayed in the Garden “Father, if there’s any other way, let this cup pass from me”, there was no “other way” but God’s purpose. Yet Christ was resolved to submit to that purpose.
Note, also, that it was God’s “good pleasure” to see His Son go to the cross so that you and I could be redeemed. That’s how much He loves us. The revealing of that love comes day by day.
How has God revealed His love for you lately?
“That [redemption and forgiveness according to grace] He lavished upon us with all wisdom and understanding” (Ephesians 1:8). ‘Lavish’ is an uncommon word, but one that best describes the abundant measure of God’s blessings. Webster defines it: “expending or bestowing profusely”. It comes from the French word ‘lavasse’ which means a downpour of rain. There shall indeed be showers of blessing.
But notice that Paul writes that God has already done this, and is continuing to do this. Its not what our faith will provide someday, it is what is already at work in our lives. God chooses to partner with us. He’s done His part, now He’s waiting for us to do ours. When our obedient action lines up with what God has already lavishly provided in our lives, there will be breakthroughs of overcoming power.
Paul also reminds us that God lavishly provides these things in His wisdom and understanding, which are way above our ways. This is why we need the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us each step of the way or we’ll miss those profusely provided blessings hidden along the way.
Happy Easter!
“To the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves” (Ephesians 1:6). God the Father is the topic here, so “the One He loves” is His Son, Jesus. The King James Version is a little clearer here when it says, “which he hath made us accepted in the Beloved“.
When Jesus paid the price for our sin by dying on the cross in our place, our sin was atoned for and we entered into peace with God. We, who are sinners, were made acceptable to God by Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death. No, we’re not perfect, but God covered our sins when Jesus absorbed the just penalty on the cross. That’s redemption.
You and I don’t deserve it, but thank God we receive it. You are accepted!
“For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight” (Ephesians 1:4).
We are chosen! We are chosen in Him. On election day we go to the voting poles to chose our elected representatives in government. Unfortunately, some don’t get chosen. But God had an election day and voted for you! Satan also voted and voted against you. Your vote breaks the tie. If you chose God, then your vote and His vote wins and you are chosen.
Note the scripture says that He chose us before the creation of the world. This is where the predestination comes in. In His divine knowledge, He made a choice, and we are it.
Note also what He chose us to be: Holy and blameless in His sight. How can God, who is all-knowing, see people like us holy and blameless? Answer: He chooses to only see the blood of His Son, Who died for us. He chooses not to see the worldly side of us. That doesn’t mean we’re not sinners in reality. It means that we are sinners saved by grace and have a continual need for His grace in our lives.
What does it mean to you that you are chosen by a Holy God?
“In Him (Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding” (Ephesians 1:7). Think about this today.
Our redemption doesn’t come because we were baptized or turned over a new leaf, but through His blood who died for us. It is not by works, lest anyone should boast. The reason the crucifixion of our Lord is so prominent in the Christian faith is that the Son of God was paying the price for the sin that separates us from God when he died. No other religion has a provision for sin, only ways to improve your life down here. But if sin separates from God, and we are all sinners by nature, what good does an improved life down here do after we die and enter eternity? This is crucial!
Paul goes on to explain that redemption equals the forgiveness of sins. When we accepted what Christ did for us on the cross, the barrier sin creates is removed. The doors to God’s throne swing open and we have immediate access in prayer. So, when we sing, “I am Redeemed”, it ought to be electric with excitement. Redemption is more than a religious term, it is the hope we have in Christ and opens the door to the spiritual blessings God gives.
What does redemption mean to you?