Ephesians 1:7-11

Eph 1:7

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Parallel verse - Colossians 1:14

In whom - the Lord Jesus Christ

Redemption through his blood - Only through Christ can one become saved.  These 4 words completely repudiate any idea of salvation outside Christ. 

The Forgiveness of sins - Actually means the remission of our offenses.

Remission -”aphesis” an important word in the NT as it speaks of deliverance or release from sin’s eternal penalty. 

Offenses -  The word is “paraptoma” which denotes a falling beside something where we should have stood firm.

Our sins have been totally forgiven, not one shall be left to accuse us or agree with the adversary which is the law.  Let us look at some pertinent Scriptures:

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. (Isaiah 43:25)

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 8:12)

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; (Hebrews 10:16)

And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:17)

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. (Romans 8:33)

Riches of his grace - Wealth or abundance of the grace of God which can never be depleted – (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Eph 1:8

Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

When we speak of the riches of His grace and the other spiritual benefits he has given us, we see this was all done in the wisdom of God with purposeful intent.

Abounded – Beyond what is needed

Us – The great abundance of grace which God granted the believer is only toward those who have become saved and not for those who are unsaved.  Notice when Paul uses the word “us” throughout all his writings he is referring only to a select group of people, namely the believers

Wisdom – It is the best usage of the knowledge and the means to accomplish what is needed.  Salvation was needed by the Elect of God and so the Lord Jesus Christ became the substitute atonement for the entire body of believers throughout time.  Remember how the world views the wisdom of God?  Foolishness!  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.  (1 Corinthians 1:18) 

Prudence=intention or frame of mind.  God gave salvation by the greatest means he could and that was by the death of His Son.  It was God’s intentional plan to shower the believers with all the spiritual benefits. Psalm 103:2 - benefits = deeds or rewards - Remember 1:3 “ALL” spiritual blessings

Eph 1:9

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

Having made known - “reveal or declare” Aorist active verb

Mystery - something which is kept hidden until the appointed time of revealing

Will - Purpose

The gospel is sent to those whom God declares it to be revealed to.  It is totally God’s decision concerning who He will reveal the gospel to.  God’s purposes are wrapped up in the determinate counsels of heaven.  Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:  (Acts 2:23)   Determinate meaning something that has fixed boundaries and inflexible.  Salvation is limited to the Elect alone and no one can cross the boundaries which God set up.

Eph 1:10

That in the dispensation of the fulness 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:

Dispensation - management or stewardship - The word dispensation is never used in Scripture as being a period or length of time as dispensationalists believe.  It is always used in the context of stewardship.  For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.  (1 Corinthians 9:17) 

Fulness- totality or completion - Gal. 4:4; Gen 15:16 - God deals in fulness

The first gathering or uniting together was done at the cross when the Lord Jesus died for His elect and broke down all the walls of social separation as all Christians are on an equal footing. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.  (Galatians 3:28) 

The second gathering will be on the last day when all the believers, both in heaven and on earth will be united in the great gathering of believers and ushered into the presence of God where our faith will become sight.  {16} For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  {17} Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) 

Eph 1:11

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:

Obtained an inheritance - it is in the verb form Aorist Passive Indicative.  This means we were passive in receiving the inheritance and did nothing to earn it.

Another great tenet of predestination is that we have obtained an inheritance.  In the Last Will and Testament of Christ found in Hebrews 9:15-17 we find the term “eternal inheritance” which is what all true believers will receive.  A last will and testament is a legal document which goes into effect after the testator has died.  Christ had died and sealed all the Elect of God within the legal document.

{15} And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.  {16} For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.  {17} For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.  Hebrews 9:15-17

Remember in a will the beneficiaries receive an inheritance and that is exactly the language which God uses in describing what the believers receive.

And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)

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: (Ephesians 1:11)

Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:14)

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (Ephesians 1:18)

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:15)

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (1 Peter 1:4)

The word “inheritance” is used 203 times in the Bible and the word “inherit” is used 61 times. These are legal terms with only specifically named people in view, just as the six verses above show us.

Counsel = design or plan

His own will - Here we have a passage which reveals that salvation is all of the Lord and that not one iota of God’s salvation plan can be attributed to anything man can do.  It was God’s own will that salvation be totally passive for man since man cannot do anything to either inherit it or design it.  This is why God predestined salvation because of the inability of man to achieve it.   God’s counsel will always stand and will never fall because it is perfect in structure and execution.

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)

4 stuffed shalls

1. shall my word - the basic structure of salvation - Romans 10:17

2. Shall not return unto me void - “empty” - 2 basic fruits of God’s word: salvation

     and damnation as everything stems from these two antithetical conditions.

3. shall accomplish - “it will do” what God determines it to do - it will either soften

     or harden a heart

4. shall prosper - shall succeed - it will save the elect and guide them in life.