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God’s Eternal Plan II  (Ephesians 1:11-23)  Jesus & the Holy Ghost

In the previous study, we saw that before the creation of the world, God drew an Eternal Plan for us characterized by blessing, grace and peace.  This Plan operates in, by and through Jesus and applies to believers, those who have “redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” 

The Apostle Paul further explains in the rest of Ephesians 1 some other aspects of this Plan and how it applies to us.  He begins by once again focusing on Jesus, through Whom all God’s blessings and grace flow: 

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: [12] That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Once again, we are assured that we have a guaranteed future.  That word “predestinated” used to sound ominous to me, as I interpreted it to mean I had no choices, no free will, no freedom of action.  Thank God I have learned over the years that what it means is that God loves me, has chosen me and guarantees me eternal life.  Why this change of heart?  I believe it has to do with trusting Jesus.  St. Paul goes on to speak of this in the next two verses:

[13] 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, [14] Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

The Apostle tells us here that our receptive hearing of the Gospel enables us to trust in Jesus and that when we believe the Holy Ghost enables us further to appreciate and accept our inheritance of glory.  Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!  

In the Ephesian believers Paul saw that their active believing produced great faith in Jesus and love to other Christians and enabled qualified them to receive more blessings still:

[17] That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: [18] 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, 

Once we believe and ask, God will fill us with His Spirit so that the eyes of our mind and heart will be opened and we will see the riches of hope and blessing in His Word and indeed in the whole Christian walk.  Not only will our hearts and minds be quickened (come to life) but God’s power will work in us:

[19] And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,  

Lest we forget, the Apostle once again shows us that it is in Jesus that all of this greatness and power abides, and that its earthy “real time” manifestation was in Jesus death and resurrection: 

[20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,[21] Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

God’s wonderful Plan looked like it had failed when Jesus was crucified, but, of course, God’s Plan can never fail.  The very defeat that Satan thought he had inflicted on the Savior of the world turned out to be the mechanism of eternal victory that God had planned before the world began.  We don’t know all the outcomes of God’s Plan yet, “the mystery of his will,” but we can experience His love and trust in Jesus, Whose Word shall never pass away! 

[22] And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
[23] Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.  

And now, today as we read, Jesus sits enthroned at the right hand of God with all things under His feet, and we, who are a part of His Body, His church, can look to Him for grace and power and eternal victory.

 I Know Whom I Have Believed

1.             I know not why God's wondrous grace 

               to me he hath made known, 

               nor why, unworthy, Christ in love 

               redeemed me for his own. 

Refrain:

               But I know whom I have believed, 

               and am persuaded that he is able 

               to keep that which I've committed

               unto him against that day. 

2.             I know not how this saving faith 

               to me he did impart, 

               nor how believing in his word 

               wrought peace within my heart. 

               (Refrain)

3.             I know not how the Spirit moves,

               convincing us of sin, 

               revealing Jesus through the word, 

               creating faith in him.

               (Refrain)

4.             I know not when my Lord may come, 

               at night or noonday fair, 

               nor if I walk the vale with him, 

               or meet him in the air. 

               (Refrain) 

Daniel W. Whittle

 Study by Kenneth J. Kalis, February 22, 2010     kkalis@aol.com