Ephesians Devotional Part 3

Ephesians Part 3 – The Forgiveness of Sin

Verses 7-9 The Forgiveness of Sin

We have just been reminded of the blessings that have been bestowed upon Christians, but lest we forget, here is how we have inherited them. Having the forgiveness of sin needs to remind us that we are sinners. A person who owes no debt needs no forgiveness. We should never dwell on our sins, they should be confessed and forgotten. However, we should never forget that we are sinners and that it was God’s own blood that redeemed us. 

It may seem striking that I said God’s blood and not Jesus blood and that is because Jesus is God—God the Son. If we carefully notice we can see the Trinity throughout this section blended as one. Verse one says the “God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Then in verses five through nine it shifts focus on Jesus, but then in verse ten we see “he might gather together in Christ” which goes naturally back to the Father. This blending of the work of salvation by God the Father and Jesus Christ should leave no doubt about the Trinity. Trinity! Where is the Trinity? In verse thirteen we see that all of this work in our lives is seal by the Holy Spirit.

According to 1st Peter chapter one verses eight through twelve the prophets and the angels searched to understand how men would be redeemed and what was their end. It was a mystery to men of old. Now at this time, God allowed us, abounded towards us, all wisdom and prudence (understanding/logic) about this matter. We now understand the mystery of His will. What is that will? We have just learned much about it, but now we shall learn even more!

Verses 10-11 The gathering

 “The dispensation of the fullness of time” means when God has put things into place. His intent is to gather all things that are good both in this world and in the Heavenly realm. Each of us has an idea of what our perfect world will be like. The one who has the best idea, of course, is God. He not only has all wisdom to think of it but He has all power to make it happen. Strife and wars happen when there are competing ideas. Right now Satan has some competing ideas with God and each man as well and we see very little peace in this world. Being a Christian and having repented means you now understand it is best for God to work things “after the counsel of His own will.” The great promise here is that we get to have an inheritance in the future kingdom.

I’m a child of the King,
A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior,
I’m a child of the King

Verses 12-14 Trusting in Christ Seals Our Destiny 

We mentioned this previously, but let’s look at it again. We are not chosen to be saved, rather we choose to be saved. God has done so much to make salvation obtainable for everyone but each person trust in Jesus Christ The Lord. This trust or faith is not some nice feeling it is a rational and logical response to the gospel that God had planned out before the world had even begun.

While it is our choice to either accept or reject Jesus Christ as Savior it is not our choice as to what becomes of us in the life to come. As we previously saw in verses four and five there is a predetermined outcome and the most comprehensive of these promises is Romans eight twenty-nine.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Romans 8:29

The way in which God predestined believers is by sealing them with the Holy Spirit. Think about all the things that we just read being placed in an envelope and sealed up for you. This envelope of promises is your earnest or guarantee that eternal life with God is yours.

Action: Take an envelope and a piece of paper. Write this down.

Thank you, God, for making me blameless and adopting me into your family. Thank you for accepting me fully and paying my sin debt. Thank you for giving me the light to understand all of this. Thank you for giving me the Bible so I could accept your offer of salvation.

Then write on the envelope in big bold letters “Jesus Christ my LORD”. After this place, the paper into the envelope and say it is sealed by the Holy Spirit and then lick it shut.