God’s Eternal Purpose
Introduction:
Ephesians 1:3-14 is all one sentence in the
original Greek language. As a result, these verses contain a
uniformity of thought, a central message. That message is
that it was God’s eternal purpose to offer salvation to
fallen humanity in Jesus Christ and to bless mankind
spiritually in Christ also.
Body:
I.
It was God’s eternal purpose to make known
the mystery of His will.
(Luke 1:8-9)
Verse 8: “Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.”
·
The subject of this statement is the grace of
God, which was introduced at the end of verse seven. God has
caused His grace to abound toward us in wisdom and prudence.
“lavish on us”
·
It is in the gospel that this wisdom and
prudence are given. Verse nine ties this wisdom to the will
of God, which is His revealed word. Everything that pertains
to life and godliness is provided in the word of God; His
word furnishes us with everything we need in order to reach
spiritual maturity. “insight and discretion”
·
Paul affirms that God’s grace abounded,
exceeding what might have been anticipated. “In that grace
He provided that the apostles and spiritually endowed
teachers should have wisdom and prudence abundantly in
carrying forward the provisions of His grace.” [Lipscomb, p.
21]
·
“The meaning here is, that, so to speak, God
had evinced great intelligence in the plan of
salvation. There was ample proof of mind and of
thought. It was adapted to the end in view. It was
far-seeing; skillfully arranged; and carefully formed. The
sense of the whole is, that there was a wise design running
through the whole plan, and abounding in it in an eminent
degree.” [Barnes, p.24]
·
The gospel displays the infinite wisdom of
God, both in the manner by which it was originally delivered
and dispensed, and in its contents. (Romans 11:33)
1.
God used the best
possible wisdom in causing the gospel to be delivered and
spread among the race. The apostles were given the
revelation by inspiration, and miraculous powers were
provided them by which they confirmed the revelation. Even
their avowed enemies could not deny the reality of the
supernatural works they accomplished.
2.
One who learns God’s
word, understands it, and lives by it, has a measure of
God’s wisdom. Prudence refers to practical wisdom; it
speaks of wisdom in practical application.
Verse 9 “Having made known unto us the
mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He
hath purposed in Himself.”
·
“The apostle declares the God has made known
unto us (the apostles and prophets: Ephesians 3:5) the
mystery of His will.
1.
“The word mystery
means literally something into which one must be
initiated before it is fully known and then anything
which is concealed or hidden. We commonly use the word to
denote that which is above our comprehension or
unintelligible. But this is never the meaning of the word in
the New Testament. It means there some doctrine or fact
which has been concealed, or which has not before been fully
revealed, or which has been set forth only by figures and
symbols. When the doctrine is made known, it may be
as clear and plain as any other. Such was the doctrine that
God meant to call the Gentiles, which was long concealed and
which was not fully made known until the Saviour came, and
which had been till that time a mystery – a
concealed truth – though when it was revealed there was
nothing incomprehensible in it.” [Barnes, p.24]
2.
The Greek word
mystery (musterion) is a military term; it was used in
reference to a secret military plan drawn up by the
commanders of an army and which was hidden from view until
it was put into operation. The mystery of the passage is not
information that is beyond human comprehension, but was
information that could not be known by man without God
revealing it.
·
God’s great plan had its inception before the
foundation of the world. (Romans 16:25-26) [Vine, Vol. 1, p.
320]
God has made fully known His will for man’s salvation – the gospel, in our age –
the gospel age. (Ephesians 6:19) This revealing was “according to His good
pleasure, which He purposed in Himself.” It was God’s kind intention, His good
will, to save mankind, His creation. We are saved because God wanted to save us.
The plan He chose to do this was entirely His choice alone; since He is the
sovereign God we have no right to question it – ever! Why is salvation only in
Christ? Because God chose to put it there!
II.
It was God’s eternal purpose to gather
together in one all things in Christ.
(Luke 1:10)
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.”
·
The word translated “dispensation” (oikonomia):
“Primarily signifies the management of a household or of
household affairs (oikos, a house, nomos, a law); then the
management or administration of the property of others, and
so a stewardship. . .In Ephesians 1:10 and 3:9, it is used
of the arrangement or administration by God, by which in
‘the fullness of the times’ (or seasons) God will sum up all
things in the heavens and on earth in Christ.” [Vine, Vol.
1, p. 320]
A passage in Colossians is very helpful. (Colossians 1:19-23) It was God’s plan
or arrangement to bring Christ into the world to offer up His body on the cross
and to shed His blood for mankind. “fullness of the times” (Galatians 4:4) God
established His own time-table for sending Christ to earth. There are many
things involved. Man had to learn that he could not save himself and that sin
deserved punishment while obedience will bring blessings. This plan, the gospel,
will continue until Christ returns. Then the redeemed of all ages will be taken
to heaven by Christ and enjoy the bliss of being in God’s presence. (I
Thessalonians 4:15-18)
III.
It was God’s eternal purpose to grant an
inheritance to those who trust in Christ.
(Luke 1:11-12)
Verse 11 “In Him” – in Christ This inheritance includes those spiritual blessing
Paul has just discussed as well as the promise of eternal life in heaven. (I
Peter 1:3-4) We are God’s inheritance “in Christ” because He predestinated us
according to His purpose. This predestination was not arbitrary. God did not
arbitrarily choose certain individuals to be saved and others lost. Rather, He
chose to save all those who believed and obeyed the gospel message, which act
placed them “in Christ.” (Galatians 3:27) This was God’s plan or purpose from
the beginning. To reject it is to reject God! (Luke 7:30)
Verse 12 The purpose [the aim] of our being saved, of receiving this
inheritance, is that God might be glorified. (Romans 11:36)
IV.
It was God’s eternal purpose to seal with the
Holy Spirit those who were to receive the inheritance.
(Luke 1:13-14)
Verse 13 Notice the order. Trust can come only after the word of truth is heard
and accepted. The word of truth is the gospel, which is the instrument to the
means of salvation. (Romans 1-16) Then having exercised their obedient faith
which put them into “Him whom they had trusted,” they were sealed with the Holy
Spirit of promise. A seal in the 1st century was placed on letters
and important documents to identify the document with the owner. Christians,
those in Christ, are identified by the Spirit as belonging to God because they
have believed and obeyed the gospel. We are stamped with God’s ownership.
Verse 14 The Spirit is a down payment of our inheritance, a pledge that the rest
will follow. The Spirit, through the Word, promises that if we remain faithful,
we will receive the full inheritance in heaven. Even the apostles longed for
this. (Romans 8:23)
Invitation:
All
those “in Christ”, His body, the church, who remain faithful can look forward to
that glorious day when they are ushered into heaven with their new, glorified
bodies. Why are you waiting?
Bobby Stafford
April
6, 2014
The
church of Christ
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