Ephesians 1:11-14: “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
Starting with verse 11, we see that our inheritance is predestinated, so it can not be undone. “Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will”, is the text of the sovereignty of God. It is saying, “anything that happens in life, don’t worry, God is in control” which gives great peace to a Christian.
However, Calvinists can take that to the extremity. They will say that even the murder of a little girl is God’s will. Well, we agree that God is in control of everything. If a Christian does what is right and holy, one will get blessed. When sin happened in the world, there must be consequences. So, when murder and rape and bad things happen, it is the consequence of sin. It is not God’s evil. We shouldn’t blame God for all the hardship in life. It is the result of the free choice of man. In your free choice in sin, there must be pain and consequence.
We increase the sovereignty of God that no matter what choice you make, God will make sure it is done according to His will and purpose. God is still sovereign and in control, no matter what free choice you make.
In verse 12, we read, “that we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.” Looking at earlier verses, all the riches of His glory are done to praise and honor God at the end. That is why in Revelation chapter 4-5, those who are washed by the blood of the Lamb, will give Him glory. Christians will praise and glorify God when we get to heaven. Ephesians 1:12 is a prophecy to Christians that we will be praising God in Revelation 4-5. Christians will be thanking Him for His blood and casting crowns at His feet.
What is the condition in verse 12?
“Who first trusted in Christ”. When you first trusted in Christ, that is when you received all these spiritual blessings.
In verse 13, when one hears the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), they believe/trust it, and when they believe, they receive the Holy Spirit. That is a great blessing!
Many people believe that if they sin, they will lose the Holy Ghost. No! Christians are sealed. The Holy Spirit in a believer is evidence to the devil that a Christian is a child of God.
“Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” A Christian is the purchased possession, so Christ bought a believer by His blood. The inheritance includes salvation, a mansion in heaven, spiritual blessings, etc.
“until the redemption of the purchased possession” indicates that the purchasing process is not done yet because Jesus saved one’s soul, but what about the flesh? The flesh will be changed during the rapture of the church. So, the Holy Spirit is in a Christian’s body, and the devil can not touch it. The flesh is still not fully purchased but will be during the rapture. How do we know that it happens during the rapture?
Romans 8:18-19: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.”
“the earnest,” in verse 19 matches with Ephesians 1:14. These are about the same context (we will be transformed).
Romans 8:20-21: “For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”
All human beings are stuck in this bondage of corruption (our sinful bodies). But Christians will be delivered from the bondage of corruption (we will be delivered from our sinful bodies) and become freed from it.
Romans 8:23: “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”
“Groan within ourselves”- Yes, because we are stuck in our sinful bodies. “Waiting for the redemption of our body”- The purchasing process is not complete yet.