The Book of Ephesians Pt. 8 Praising God for His Grace, Redemption and Forgiveness!

Ephesians 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 

I remind us that Ephesians 1:3-12 is one long sentence in the Greek and I will keep the texts in front of us while we study through them. The subject matter is "all spiritual blessings" God has given to each believer in Christ. 

There are two kinds of spiritual blessings. We have been given practical blessings needed to live out our faith in this life. We have been given  the positional eternal blessings that belong to us, but will not be fully possessed until we are home in heaven. 

So far, we have looked at God choosing us to be in Christ before He created anything and this includes predestination and election. Next we looked at what it means to be adopted into the family of God. In this post we will see the glory of our salvation, the outcome of it and the basis for salvation by grace.

God is worthy of all glory and praise!

Ephesians 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

It is the pleasure and goodness of God's will to save all who believe on Jesus Christ and to shower rich and undeserved blessings upon all who are "in Christ."  Paul turns the focus to the glory of God's grace. 

Each of the preceding spiritual blessings we have studied are for the praise and glory of His grace. The idea is that each blessing points toward praising the glory of God's grace. The word "praise" means to commend something very highly. The word "commend" means to speak favorably of by pointing out that the grace of God is worthy of taking notice of. 

The word "glory" is from the Greek word "doxa" and is the root of the word "doxology." This word refers to God as full of splendor, light, majesty and excellence because He is preeminent in all things. "Glory" refers to the kingly majesty of God as sovereign and supreme ruler and His absolute perfection as deity. 

The phrase "to the praise of the glory of His grace" means that all He does for us is a reflection of His perfect excellence, glory, majesty, love, compassion and grace toward mankind. 

The word "grace" usually is said to mean unmerited favor of God toward man. One very good definition of "grace" is from Thayer's Greek lexicon: "It is God's goodwill and lovingkindness; the merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues."

We are to give all commendation, glory, honor and praise to God who has done such great things for each believer. Thus, it is the height of insolence by rebellious man toward his Creator when man rejects the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Accepted before God!

Ephesians 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Now we come to the next significant blessing of all spiritual blessings for those who are in Christ. It is the phrase "hath made us accepted in the beloved." The word "wherein" points us to the overwhelming grace of God that is worthy of glory and praise from each believer. It reminds us that salvation is all of God. The Lord Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and the captain of our salvation (Hebrews 2:10). 

What does it mean that we are made accepted in the beloved? The words "made accepted" mean that God made us subjects of His grace and embraced us in the arms of His grace. However, this wonderful status of acceptance with Holy God is only for the born again believer who is "in Christ." 

Accepted before God only when we are "in Christ." 

Matthew 3:17  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 

Who is "the beloved?" Scripture answers that for us. First, Matthew recorded the Father speaking from heaven at the baptism of His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Father's beloved Son. He is well pleased with all that Jesus Christ did on earth, from the cradle to the cross and resurrection. His sacrifice for us as the perfect Lamb of God took away our sins and made salvation possible.  

When we are born again and "in Christ" we are well pleasing to God because we are in His son, covered with Christ's righteousness. 

Matthew 17:5  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6) And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 

The disciples of Jesus saw a brief glimpse of Christ's pre-incarnate glory when He was transfigured before them, speaking with Moses and Elijah on the mount. The Father spoke from heaven again, declaring that Jesus was His beloved Son who was well pleasing to Him. Then, the Father commanded "Hear ye Him." 

When we are born again and "in Christ" we are to hear what Jesus says, teaches and commands. 

John 3:35  The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand. 

Our heavenly Father loves His Son, Jesus Christ fully and completely. Therefore, He has placed all things into the hands of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus' blood redeems us and brings forgiveness of all our sins!

Ephesians 1:7  In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace; 

The words "in whom" refer to Jesus Christ and each believer being accepted by God "in the beloved."  The words "we have" mean that redemption is a present possession of all born again believers in Christ. When God saves us, we have redemption. 

Redemption is a vast and glorious subject in the Bible. In the Greek it is literally "the redemption" which is the focus of all revelation, especially in the New testament. Believers have been redeemed from the power, guilt and punishment for our sins. 

The word "redemption" means to be delivered and liberated from the condemnation of our sins because Christ has paid the ransom. 

Hebrews 2:14-15  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15) And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 

This text is one of many that tell us why Jesus was born into a human body. It fulfills the law of Moses concerning the kinsman redeemer (Leviticus 25:48). 

Matthew 1:21  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins. 

Jesus came to save us from our sins. Remember that the blessed name "Jesus" means "Jehovah saves" and connects Christ to Old Testament Jehovah. 

Romans 3:24-26  Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26) To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of Him which believeth in Jesus. 

Under the law of Moses if a man was a bond servant and could not pay off his debt in order to be a free man, his near kinsman could pay the money and redeem him. This is a picture of sinners being enslaved to sin but set free by Christ (See Romans 6). This is why Jesus was born with a human body so that He could be our near kinsman and redeem us for Himself. 

Acts 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with his own blood. 

Romans 3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 

Redemption is through the blood of Jesus Christ. The wages of sin is death and all sin must be paid for. Jesus did pay for all sins by shedding His blood on the cross, but those who reject His offer of salvation will stand before God condemned by their sins and sentenced to eternity in Hell. (See also Colossians 1:20; 1 Peter 1:18-19).

Ephesians 1:7  In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace; 

Redemption also brings full forgiveness and pardon from our Father in heaven. As unsaved sinners, we had the wrath and condemnation of God resting over our heads and were like a murderer on death row awaiting execution. The soul that sins will die and all men are sinners worthy of death (See Romans 3). 

The word "forgiveness" means to be released from the bondage of sin. It means to receive the remission of our sins which is literally, letting them go as if they never existed. Forgiveness ties into the "blotting out" of our sins that we looked at before. 

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word translated "forgiveness" was "nasa" and it means to lift up and carry away the burden of our sins. This is also pictured in the "scapegoat offering" of the Old Testament (See Leviticus 16:8-10).

All of this undeserved spiritual blessings come to us through the limitless grace of God flowing like a mighty stream from the cross of Calvary and Christ's empty tomb. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

This lesson teaches us that God is worthy of all praise, the highest praise, the greatest glory, the most abundant honor that we can offer Him. He is worthy and deserving of lavish worship and  unrestrained praise from each believer.

God's beloved Son makes us acceptable to the Father. 

God's beloved Son redeemed us from the ravages of our sins and transgressions. He purchased our redemption by His own blood. 

God's beloved Son brings full pardon and forgiveness to each born again believer. 

Because of the perfect work of Jesus Christ we stand before God with no sin debt, no condemnation, and no guilt. Christ's righteousness makes us acceptable to the Father and our sins are gone, as though they never existed!

Hallelujah and Amen to the Lamb of God. May we praise and love our Lord more and more each day.

Bob