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Chapter 1, our focus will be 
verses 13 and 14 this evening, but I'll read the chapter. Ephesians 
1, beginning in verse 1, Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by 
the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and faithful 
in Christ Jesus, grace to you and peace from God our Father 
and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father 
of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual 
blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as he chose us 
in him before the foundation of the world, that we should 
be holy and without blame before him. in love having predestined 
us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according 
to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of 
His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him 
we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, 
according to the riches of His grace, which He made to abound 
toward us in all wisdom and prudence. having made known to us the mystery 
of His will, according to His good pleasure, which He purposed 
in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times 
He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which 
are in heaven and which are on earth in Him. In Him also we 
have obtained an inheritance, being predestined, according 
to the purpose of Him who works all things, according to the 
counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should 
be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after 
you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, 
in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy 
Spirit, a promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance 
until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of 
His glory. Therefore, I also, after I heard 
of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 
do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in 
my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father 
of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation 
in the knowledge of Him. the eyes of your understanding 
being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his 
calling, what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance 
in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power 
toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty 
power, which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead 
and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above 
all principality and power and might and dominion and every 
name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that 
which is to come. And He put all things under His 
feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 
which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. 
Amen. Well, let us pray. Our Father, 
we thank You for Your Word. We thank You for this beautiful 
section of Holy Scripture and what it teaches. concerning our 
blessed God. We give praise to you and thanksgiving 
for the salvation that you have freely given unto us. We know 
it's according to your pleasure. It's according to your sovereignty. 
And God, help us to marvel at these things and to never lose 
sight of how wonderful the gospel of our salvation is. Again, forgive 
us for all sin and unrighteousness. Guide us now by the Holy Spirit. 
And we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Well, remember 
that verses 3 to 14 is one long sentence in Greek and basically 
Paul praises God. He gives a general statement 
in verse 3, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus 
Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the 
heavenly places in Christ. Now he pursues those blessings. He moves from a general statement 
in verse 3 to particular application in verses 4 and 5. to 14, he 
praises the work of the Father. The Father chose, the Father 
predestines to adoption. The Son is the Redeemer. It's 
in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of 
sins according to the riches of His grace. And here in verses 
13 and 14, he deals with the application of redemptive benefit 
by the power of the Spirit generally. Specifically, he speaks of the 
Spirit as being the seal and the guarantee of our purchased 
possession. So we'll look at verses 13 and 
14 under those two considerations. First, the Holy Spirit is the 
seal for believers. And then secondly, the Holy Spirit 
guarantees the believer's inheritance. Now last week we dealt with the 
person of the Holy Spirit. We often speak of the Father 
and the deity of the Father and the fact that the Father is Almighty 
God. We think of the Son as being 
Almighty God. We don't always give as much 
attention to the Holy Spirit, but He is Almighty God. Yet not 
three gods, one true and living God, and in this divine and infinite 
being, there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the 
Holy Spirit. So we looked at that last week 
in terms of the Holy Spirit, and I think the Nicene Creed 
summarizes well the biblical doctrine concerning the Spirit. 
It says, and I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver 
of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with 
the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who 
spoke by the prophets. So we distinguish the persons 
of our blessed God through their eternal relations of origin. 
The Father is unbegotten. The Son is begotten of the Father, 
and the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. We have 
distinction among the persons, and we have consubstantiality 
among the persons as well. So let's dive into the work of 
the Spirit as given here in verses 13 and 14. Notice the Holy Spirit 
is the seal. for believers. Verse 13 says, 
in him you also. Now the also needs to be understood 
in light of what Paul has said in verse 12. Notice, so that 
or that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise 
of his glory. Likely a reference to the Jews. 
Remember in Romans chapter one, Paul says, I'm not ashamed of 
the gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone 
who believes. To the Jew first and also to 
the Greek. So Paul indicates the first-ness 
of the Jews that believe the gospel concerning our Lord Jesus 
Christ in verse 12. But he wants to make sure that 
these Gentile believers understand they're not second-tier citizens. 
They're not less than believing Jews. That's one of the great 
emphases in this book of Ephesians. There are those out there today 
that distinguish between the Jews and the Gentiles. Those 
persons are called dispensational. I think they make a great mistake 
separating the two peoples of God in light of the redemptive 
mission of the Savior to make, out of the two, one new man. If you look at chapter 2, that's 
the emphasis in terms of Jew and Gentile solidarity in the 
gospel. Notice in 2.14, for he himself 
is our peace, who has made both one, that's Jew and Gentile, 
and has broken down the middle wall of separation. having abolished 
in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained 
in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the 
two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both 
to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death 
the enmity. And He came and preached peace 
to you who were far off and to those who were near. For through 
Him, we both, Jews and Gentiles, have access by one Spirit to 
the Father. There's not less status for believing 
Gentiles. They are prone and benefactors 
of the same benefit wrought out by our Lord Jesus Christ. Notice 
in chapter 3, verse 1, For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner 
of Christ Jesus, for you Gentiles, if indeed you have heard of the 
dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for 
you, how that by revelation he made known to me the mystery, 
as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you 
may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, which 
in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has 
now been revealed by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets." 
Notice in verse 6, that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs. Fellow 
heirs, same footing, same status, same covenant, same promises, 
same blessing, same blood, same spirit, everything is consistent. That the Gentiles should be fellow 
heirs of the same body and partakers of His promise in Christ through 
the gospel. of which I became a minister 
according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the 
effective working of His power." Separating Jews from Gentiles 
is a strategy that the Apostle Paul never engages in. He does 
not distinguish between the Jews and the Gentiles as if they're 
separate peoples of God with separate purposes in terms of 
who God is. They are on equal footing. Same 
promises, same blessing, same gospel, same blood of Jesus, 
same Holy Spirit. So that's the reference in verse 
13. So he mentions that he is along 
with those Jews who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise 
of his glory, verse 12, and then him you also trusted, the also 
being Gentile believers in Ephesus. Now notice, the elect believed 
in him, Christ, after hearing the word of truth. In him you 
also, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your 
salvation. Why is the word, or the gospel 
rather, referred to as the word of truth? Well, it comes from 
the Lord God of truth. That's what David says of God 
in Psalm 31 and verse 5. In Titus chapter 1 and verse 
2, we learn that God cannot lie. It's one of those divine cannots. 
God cannot deny himself. God cannot lie. There is no falsehood 
or error in him. He is only ever truthful. So 
the gospel comes from the hand of God, and the gospel concerns 
the Son of God, who is, according to John 14, 6, the way, the truth, 
and the life. No one can come to me except 
by the grace of the Father who sent me. So we have this gospel 
of truth, or word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. So 
the reason it is called the word of truth is because it comes 
from the Lord God of truth and it concerns the one who is truth. John Eady refers to it as this 
clause describes the revealed system of mercy. This clause 
describes the revealed system of mercy. I forgot how good a 
commentator the Scottish Presbyterian John Eady is. It's been a blessing 
going back through Ephesians and getting reacquainted with 
that brother who spoke so well concerning our blessed Savior 
and his gospel. But notice the instrumentality 
of the word there. In him you also trusted after 
you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. 
What can we infer or imply? If you don't hear the word of 
truth, if you don't hear the gospel of salvation, you'll never 
know of Christ and Him crucified. You'll never know of the Lamb 
of God who takes away the sin of the world. You'll never learn 
of blood atonement. The heavens declare the majesty 
and glory of God. The general revelation of God 
teaches us true things concerning God, His eternal power, His Godhead, 
His glory, the fact that it's righteous with God to punish 
sinners. Paul tells us that general revelation functions in a very 
positive way according to Romans 1. But with reference to special 
revelation, we must have that so that we can learn of the Savior. 
Looking at Mount Shem on a beautiful afternoon does not lead us to 
the cross. Looking at a beluga whale does 
not lead us to a knowledge of the cross. We must have written 
revelation. We must have the gospel of our 
salvation. So notice, in him you also trusted 
after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. 
It underscores the absolute necessity of hearing the word of God, the 
absolute instrumentality of that word of God. And there are several 
passages that underscore this. You can turn back to Romans chapter 
10. Romans chapter 10, just to see the instrument, instrumentality 
of the word, the necessity of the word to reveal unto us our 
Lord Jesus Christ. Romans chapter 10, specifically 
at verse 14, how then shall they call on him in whom they have 
not believed? And how shall they believe him 
whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without 
a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? 
See the apostles argument here? In order for us to be able to 
believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, we have to hear from the Lord 
Jesus Christ. And the way that I read it is 
the way it should be read. And how shall they believe Him 
whom they have not heard? If you can kind of keep your 
finger there and turn back to Ephesians 2, you'll see something 
unique in these passages. Ephesians 2, we're gonna go back 
to Romans 10, we're not done there. But look at Ephesians 
2 again. Verse 14, for he himself is our peace. And then we read 
that he himself makes peace. But then we also see in verse 
17, that he came and preached peace to you who were afar off 
and to those who were near. Now Jesus' geographical ministry 
was confined to Israel. He never went to Ephesus in his 
earthly ministry. But Paul the Apostle went to 
Ephesus in his earthly ministry. And when Paul the Apostle preaches 
accurately the word of truth, it is the case that the Lord 
God Most High is speaking to sinners. That's the emphasis 
here in Romans chapter 10. How shall they believe him whom 
they have not heard? And how shall they hear without 
a preacher? And how shall they preach unless 
they are sent? So a whole world of good theology 
in there concerning the ministry of the word. There must be servants 
of the gospel who go and proclaim that truth. But those servants 
of the gospel don't appoint themselves. They don't install themselves. 
They don't ordain themselves. Rather, they are sent. If we 
ask the question, how does this occur? The book of Acts helps 
us. When the Spirit comes to the church in Antioch in Acts 
chapter 13, He says to separate Paul and Barnabas for the work 
that I have called them. So the Spirit works in and through 
the church to identify qualified men and then to send those men 
out so they can preach the gospel. Notice, as it is written, in 
the middle of verse 15, how beautiful are the feet of those who preach 
the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things. 
But they have not all obeyed the gospel, for Isaiah says, 
Lord who has believed, I report. So then faith comes by hearing, 
and hearing by the word of God. See, this is why we pray that 
God blesses preaching as it goes forth. This is why we often chastise 
or criticize those churches that engage in do-goodery or feel-goodery 
or departures from their calling to proclaim the doctrine of Christ 
and Him crucified. Brethren, that is everything 
that has been entrusted to the church. We are supposed to proclaim 
Christ and Him crucified. Why? Because sinners desperately 
need to hear that. They don't need chatty preachers 
with their hands in their pockets, clutching a latte, talking about 
stories. They need the gospel of our blessed 
Savior. Faith comes by hearing and hearing 
by the Word of God. Turn over to James 1. James 1, 
same emphasis on the necessity of the Word of God. If we don't 
hear the truth as it is in Jesus, we will not believe the truth 
as it is in Jesus. Notice in verse 16, do not be 
deceived my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect 
gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights 
with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. What a 
blessed statement that is. God is not capricious. God is 
not arbitrary. God does not change. It isn't 
the case that God loves us one day and he doesn't love us the 
next day. No, you can take this to the 
bank. This is the place for soul comfort. Every good gift and 
every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father 
of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Manton says, but God doth not 
change. There is no wrinkle upon the 
brow of eternity. The arm of mercy is not dried 
up, nor do his bowels of love waste and spend themselves. Praise 
God Almighty for that reality, the immutability and the impassibility 
of our blessed God. Now, as an expression or evidence 
of that statement. So notice in verse 17, every 
good gift and every perfect gift is from above. Look at verse 
18 as an illustration of a good gift, a perfect gift that is 
from above. Of his own will, he brought us 
forth. It's God's sovereignty. So there's 
no antipathy between Paul and James in the matter of salvation. 
They both preach sovereign grace. They both preach faith in our 
Lord Jesus Christ. They both emphasize the plan 
and purpose of God in the salvation of sinners. So of His own will, 
He brought us forth. Now notice, by the word of truth, 
that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures. It is 
absolutely crucial that sinners hear the gospel of salvation. And then one final passage over 
in 1 Peter 1. 1 Peter 1 at verse 22. Notice, since you have purified 
your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere 
love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure 
heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but 
incorruptible. through the word of God, which 
lives and abides forever, because all flesh is as grass and all 
the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers 
and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures 
forever. Now this is the word which by 
the gospel was preached to you." So going back to Ephesians, he 
reminds them that in him, you also, after you heard the word 
of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also having 
believed, Now we know from the context, they didn't just wake 
up one day and said, I'm going to decide to follow Jesus. No, 
it's because He chose us in Him. It's because in love, He predestined 
us to adoption. It is in His grace and in time, 
He calls us out of darkness into marvelous light. He changes our 
hearts. He causes us to be born again. 
He removes the old stony heart and puts in a new fleshly heart. 
And he does that and gives us the graces of faith and repentance 
so that we can believe. Remember, faith is a gift given 
by God. Turn over to Ephesians 2, verses 
8 to 10. Ephesians 2, verses 8 to 10. 
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of 
yourselves, It is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone 
should boast. For we are His workmanship, created 
in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand 
that we should walk in them." Notice the conspicuous order. 
He speaks specifically concerning the gift character of the grace 
through faith salvation, underscores that it's not of works in verse 
9, lest anyone should boast, and then shows us the proper 
order with reference to good works. We're not saved because 
of our good works. We're saved unto good works. Notice, for we are His workmanship 
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand 
that we should walk in them. Same emphasis in chapter 1, verse 
4, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the 
world, that we should be holy and without blame. He doesn't 
choose us because we are holy and without blame. He chooses 
us to be holy and without blame. And then as well, Philippians 
1 verse 29 underscores the faith character, or rather the gift 
character of faith. And this is an incidental statement 
by the Apostle. He's not using Philippians 1.29 
to argue that faith is a gift. That's not the main point in 
the passage. That simply illustrates the main point in the passage. 
The gift is suffering for the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice in 
1.29, for to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, 
not only to believe in Him, It has been granted on behalf of 
Christ for you to believe in Him. Granted, grace, God's gift, 
it is bestowed upon you. But also to suffer for His sake, 
having the same conflict which you saw in me and now here is 
in me. So back to Ephesians chapter 
one. So in Him you also, after you 
heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in 
whom also having believed, notice, you were sealed with the Holy 
Spirit of promise. You were sealed with the Holy 
Spirit of promise. So what does this mean? What 
is this sealing with the Holy Spirit of promise? The word means 
to mark with a seal as a means of identification. Mark, seal. That's the basic definition. 
Hodge and Gill flesh it out a bit. Hodge says there are several 
purposes for which a seal is used. One, to authenticate or 
confirm as genuine and true. Two, to mark as one's property. That's why we wear wedding rings, 
isn't it? It's a mark, an identifying token 
that we belong to another. Third, to render secure. He says, 
in all these senses, believers are sealed. John Gill explains, 
but it is to be understood of the confirming, certifying, and 
assuring the saints as to their interest in the favor of God, 
and in the blessings of grace of every kind, and their right 
and title to the heavenly glory. And the seal of these things 
is not circumcision, nor baptism, nor the Lord's supper, nor even 
the graces of the Spirit, but the Spirit himself. That's the 
emphasis in verse 13. Notice, in whom also, having 
believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Turn 
back to 2 Corinthians 1. 2 Corinthians 1, where you see 
the same sort of emphasis in short compass. Notice in chapter 
1, verse 21. Well, let's just go to verse 
20. I can't not be there and not read verse 20. Come on. For 
all the promises of God in him are yes, and in him, amen, to 
the glory of God through us. Now he who establishes us with 
you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed 
us and given us the spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. Again, 
notice how simply, I think the word is cursory. He just moves 
through the persons of the Trinity without spending a long time 
defending that in this one divine and infinite being there are 
three subsistences or persons. the Father, the Word, or Son, 
and the Holy Spirit. He assumes that. He presupposes 
that. Notice the reference. Verse 20, 
all the promises of God, that's probably a reference to the Father, 
in Him, Christ, are yes, and in Him, amen, to the glory of 
God through us. Now, He who establishes us with 
you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed 
us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. See, 
it's not just Matthew 28 and that Trinitarian formula for 
the baptism of new believers, but the Trinity is throughout 
the Scripture, and the Apostle underscores that. Turn over to 
Ephesians 4. We'll have cause to look at this 
a bit later on, but right now it serves double duty. Notice 
in Ephesians 4 at verse 30. and do not grieve the Holy Spirit 
of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." So, 
there are several purposes for which a seal is used. To authenticate 
or confirm as genuine and true, to mark as one's property, to 
render secure. In all these senses, believers 
are sealed. Brethren, this is great cause 
for celebration and rejoicing. I've often said that if a saved 
sinner is ultimately lost, that reflects poorly on the Savior, 
right? Jesus comes to save his people 
from their sins. If a saved sinner loses his salvation, 
it not only reflects poorly on the second person of the Trinity, 
but also the third person of the Trinity, because he sealed 
us. What happens to that seal if 
we sent our way out of it? shows that it wasn't very binding, 
wasn't very strong, wasn't full of integrity, but the reality 
is that we're safe, we're secure. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit 
has us or have us in His hand, and He will not let us go. And 
then notice how He refers to the Spirit. He calls Him the 
Holy Spirit of promise. This harkens back to the Old 
Testament. I think of Ezekiel 36, the promise of the giving 
of the Holy Spirit and new covenant blessing. Ezekiel 37, the Spirit 
comes upon those dry bones such that they live. Or the prophet 
Joel, Joel chapter 2, verses 28 to 32. We see fruition or 
fulfillment of that on the day of Pentecost. Peter says, this 
is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel. So the spirit would 
come from the ascended Christ upon the church to empower and 
enable her to take up her mission as given in Acts chapter one, 
verse eight, to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, 
and to the uttermost parts of the earth. So the Holy Spirit 
is the Holy Spirit of promise. He spoke through the prophets. Now notice, secondly, the Holy 
Spirit guarantees the believer's inheritance. He's still speaking 
of the Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the 
redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of His glory. Now, 
this idea of guarantee, the definition says payment of part of a purchase 
price in advance. First installment, deposit, down 
payment, pledge. We all know something about that. 
You put a first installment down, you put a down payment down. 
It secures that you will actually receive that possession later. Well, the Spirit functions in 
that manner. He not only seals us, but he 
is also the guarantee of our inheritance. Remember back in 
chapter, or in the previous section, he has spoken of this inheritance. Notice in verse 9, having made 
known to us the mystery, I'm sorry, verse 8, which he made 
to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known 
to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, 
which he purposed in himself, that in the dispensation of the 
fullness of the times, he might gather together in one all things 
in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, 
in him. In Him also we have obtained 
an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him 
who works all things according to the counsel of His will. There 
we saw that it's probably reminiscent of Old Covenant Israel. Remember, 
God gives a promise to Abraham that there would be blessing 
in Abraham and that Abraham would be given a land. And so when 
the children of Israel go and vanquish the foes, when they 
dispossess the land of the Canaanites, what do they do? They carve up 
the land. It becomes their tribal inheritance. It becomes their allotment, their 
portion as given by a gracious God in terms of the gift that 
he had promised to give to them. Well, the Christian in the New 
Covenant has an inheritance as well. It's heaven. We have something 
that far surpasses what we have in this present evil world. Certainly 
we have communion with our triune God. Certainly we have the fellowship 
of the saints. Certainly we have the joy that 
is connected to salvation by grace through faith in Christ 
Jesus. We have already received that, 
but it's not yet been fully realized. We have an inheritance where 
moth and rust do not destroy. We have that land of blessing 
and joy. We have what Newton sang of when 
we've been there 10,000 years, bright shining as the sun. We've 
no less days to sing God's praise than when we first begun. So 
the Spirit guarantees that inheritance. Again, brethren, the concept 
of the notion that a genuine believer, somebody who's actually 
safe, could fall away, could apostatize, could defect and 
end up in hell, that reflects poorly not on the sinner. Everything 
reflects poorly on the sinner because he's the sinner. It reflects 
poorly on the God who chose, the God who predestines, the 
Son who redeems, the Spirit who seals, and the Spirit who guarantees. He has guaranteed this inheritance 
that is in our future. It is most blessed, it is most 
glorious, it is most wonderful. Notice, who is the guarantee 
of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession. Redemption in the context is 
doing double duty. Notice in verse 7, in him we 
have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according 
to the riches of his grace. There it's speaking to individual 
salvation. There it's speaking to those 
who have heard the word of truth, who have believed that word of 
truth, who receive the forgiveness of sins and the imputed righteousness 
of Christ received by faith alone. Verse 7 speaks to the individual's 
redemption. His salvation is being purchased 
with a price out of the slave market of sin for God's possession. But here, the word redemption 
is in a larger sort of a context. It's similar to what he said 
in verse 10. that in the dispensation of the 
fullness of the times, He might gather together in one all things 
in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth 
in Him." There is a recapitulation, also seen here as redemption. Turn back to the book of Romans, 
in Romans chapter 8, Paul sheds light on this whole situation 
there. It's redemption, individual sinners 
coming to faith in Christ, verse 7. Redemption of the purchased 
possession in verse 14 is this recapitulation of all things. 
It is the consummation of the age. It is that time when God 
brings us all collectively into his heavenly kingdom. Notice 
in Romans 8 at verse 22, for we know that the whole creation 
groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not 
only that, but we also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, 
even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for 
the adoption, the redemption of our body. You see, there is 
something coming. We have been redeemed, brethren, 
but there is the redemption of the body. It's another thing, 
the creeds confess, I believe in the resurrection of the dead. 
Christianity is not gnostic. Christianity does not disparage 
the physical. Christianity disparages sin. Christianity disparages the distortion 
of the natural. But the natural, the bodily, 
the physical, God made that, and it's good. And He will gather 
us all out of the grave and redeem us, bodily, soul, and bring us 
into His heavenly glory. So verse 23, even we ourselves 
grown within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the 
redemption of our body, for we were saved in this hope, but 
hope that is seen is not hope. For why does one still hope for 
what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly 
wait for it with perseverance. And then again, Ephesians 4.30. 
Ephesians 4.30, I mentioned that one earlier. Do not grieve the 
Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Okay, so there's this redemption 
at the individual level, verse 7. But there is this guarantee 
by the Spirit of this inheritance in heaven until the redemption 
of the purchased possession. The purchased possession is not 
heaven. The purchased possession is the 
blessings of God for His elect. Notice this concept of the purchased 
possession. Turn over to 1 Peter chapter 
2. It refers actually to the people of God. 1 Peter chapter 
2. Another passage that really does, 
you know, set this idea of two peoples of God on its head. This 
is a passage that is taken from the Old Testament with reference 
to Old Covenant Israel and applied to the church of the Lord Jesus 
Christ. Why do you think Peter's doing that? Because the church 
of the Lord Jesus Christ is the fulfillment or the fruition or 
the anti-type of typical Old Covenant Israel. There is continuity 
between the covenants. There is fruition. There is fulfillment. There is blessing. Notice in 
chapter 2 at verse 4, coming to him as to a living stone, 
rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious. You also 
as living stones are being built up a spiritual house. a holy 
priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God 
through Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is also contained 
in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, 
elect precious, and he who believes on him will by no means be put 
to shame. Therefore, to you who believe 
he is precious, but to those who are disobedient, the stone 
which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone 
and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. They stumble 
being disobedient to the word to which they also were appointed. 
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, 
His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises 
of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, 
who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who 
had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy." And again, 
this is where the Old Testament was always drifting. It's not 
some afterthought in the mind of God that the Gentiles are 
going to come to faith. That's precisely what the Old 
Testament prophesied. All the way back to Noah's oracle 
in Genesis chapter 9. Gentile inclusion in the covenant 
of promise made by God with Israel. Israel's Messiah is the Savior 
of the world from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 
Not two peoples of God, one people of God because of what Christ 
has wrought on our behalf. So back to verse 14, who is the 
guarantee of our inheritance, heaven, until the redemption 
of the purchased possession. The blood-bought children of 
God, the special possession of the saints. And we see that the 
purchase price is evidenced in verse 7. In Him we have redemption 
through His blood. You have it in Acts chapter 20 
in verse 28. take heed to yourselves and to 
all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, 
to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own 
blood." So he does that. The Spirit guarantees that. So 
when we come to security, it's not tied up in our performance. 
It's not tied up in our sanctification. Listen to me. I'm not suggesting 
sanctification is unimportant. But our security is wound up 
in the triune God, the Father who chose, the Son who redeemed, 
and the Spirit who seals and who guarantees this inheritance 
of the purchased possession. And notice where Paul ends. It 
is what punctuates this hymn or this celebration of praise 
throughout. It is to the praise of His glory. That's what matters. It is the 
praise of God's glory. Look at verse 6, to the praise 
of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in 
the Beloved. Verse 12, that we who first trusted 
in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. Verse 14, to the 
praise of His glory. You see that emphasis all throughout 
Scripture. I think the psalmist captures 
it well in Psalm 115.1. He says, not unto us, O Lord, 
not unto us, but to your name give glory because of your mercy, 
because of your truth. In conclusion, what Ephesians 
1, 3-14 underscores for us is that there is one true and living 
God, and that the works that our one true and living God does 
are all Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We refer to this as inseparable 
operations. There's some technical verbiage 
that the church has used to protect the being of God as Scripture 
reveals Him. Inseparable operations teaches 
us that it pleased God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit 
to create the world in the space of six days and all very good. 
God Most High is over providence. God Most High is over redemption. John Owen defines inseparable 
operations this way. He says, The several persons 
are undivided in their operations, acting all by the same will, 
the same wisdom, the same power. See, if we posited separable 
operations, we'd have three wills or two wills in God. That flies 
against in this divine and infinite being. It flies against the doctrine 
of divine simplicity. The several persons are undivided 
in their operations, acting all by the same will, the same wisdom, 
the same power. Every person, therefore, is the 
author of every work of God, because each person is God, and 
the divine nature is the same undivided principle of all divine 
operations. And this arises from the unity 
of the persons in the same essence. Now, this doctrine is being bandied 
about on the Internet as if it's somehow not true. Brethren, again, 
the alternative is separable operations. to distinct or deposit 
separate centers of consciousness in the one infinite being. We're 
not supposed to do that. That de-gods God. That un-gods 
God. That attacks the doctrine of 
God that the Bible sets forth. But there is a corollary doctrine 
called appropriations. Sometimes the biblical authors 
ascribe particular works to one of the persons of the Godhead. 
And they do that to reveal something about who God is in himself. And here we see that in Ephesians 
chapter 1. Who is responsible for your and 
my salvation? The true and living God in separable 
operations. Can we appropriate to the persons 
of the Godhead certain things to learn more about them? Sure 
we can. The Father, as being unbegotten, 
does the choosing and the predestinating. The Son, as begotten of the Father, 
is sent into the world, takes on our humanity, lives for us, 
dies for us, and is raised again. And then the Spirit who proceeds 
from the Father and the Son takes that work and He seals or He 
functions as the seal and as the guarantee of our inheritance. When we think of the three, we 
ought to think of the one. When we think of the one, we 
ought to think of the three. There's a very helpful quote 
by a man named Gregory of Nazianzen in his oration on holy baptism. We may differ with him on holy 
baptism, but we shouldn't differ with him on his theology proper. 
He says, no sooner do I conceive of the one than I am illumined 
by the splendor of the three. He says, no sooner do I distinguish 
them than I am carried back to the one. When I think of any 
one of the three, I think of him as the whole. and my eyes 
are filled and the greater part of what I am thinking escapes 
me. I cannot grasp the greatness of that one so as to attribute 
a greater greatness to the rest. When I contemplate the three 
together, I see but one torch and cannot divide or measure 
out the undivided light. In this divine and infinite being, 
there are three persons. Inseparable operations is absolutely 
crucial for us to maintain divine simplicity and the oneness of 
God. But this idea of appropriations 
shows us something of the Trinitarian relations among the persons of 
the Godhead. It shines light on us. It reveals 
something to us about the eternal relations of origin. The Father 
unbegotten, the Son begotten, the Spirit proceeds from the 
Father and the Son. So let Paul teach you, let Paul 
tutor you, let Paul instruct you on how to praise God Almighty. Blessed be the God and Father 
of our Lord Jesus Christ for what He has done, for what the 
Son has done, and for what the Spirit has done as well. Secondly, 
and we've already hit this nail on the head, I don't want to 
say three times, but I think we should say three times, the 
security of the believer. How do we read in Ephesians 1, 
3 to 14 and ever conclude that somebody for whom Jesus died 
could lose their salvation? Brethren, that is absolutely 
abhorrent to contemplate even for a moment that Jesus could 
actually save somebody and then lose them. That reflects on the 
father who chose, the son who redeems, and the spirit who seals 
and who guarantees. If it is the case that somebody 
ends up lost, they were never saved to begin with. I realize 
we don't like this conclusion. I realize we don't like to think 
of little Junior who made his, you know, baptism at age 15 and 
then went the way of the world. And we say, oh, well, he's in 
a backslidden state. We never conclude that he may 
not have ever been saved to begin with. Look at 1 John 2. He explains 
this phenomena to us. 1 John 2. Verse 18. Little children, it 
is the last hour, and as you have heard that the Antichrist 
is coming, even now many Antichrists have come, by which we know that 
it is the last hour. Now, brethren, Antichrist is 
only used by John in 1 John and 2 John. Antichrist is not some 
political leader in our present situation. They are Antichrist, 
characteristically, they are Antichrist in terms of their 
operation, but to be this one malevolent, you know, bad eschatological 
meaning at the end times, that's not what John is talking about 
in 1 and 2 John. Antichrist was a heresy. Antichrist 
denied the physicality of our Lord Jesus Christ. Antichrist 
denied that the Son was sent by the Father. Notice in verse 
19, they went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they 
had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went 
out that they might be made manifest that none of them were of us. 
In short, my promise to you, I say this on the authority of 
God's holy word, that if you believe the gospel, If you believe 
the word of truth, by grace you will be saved. That means your 
sins will be forgiven. That means you'll receive a righteousness 
by which you can one day enter into heaven. And there is no 
one, there is no thing, there is nothing that can separate 
you from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
Go back to Romans 8. Paul has great consistency as 
he writes his epistles to the various churches. Romans chapter 
8 and verse 37. Yet in all these things, we are 
more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded 
that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, 
nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height 
nor depth, nor any other created thing, You need to see yourself 
there in verse 39, nor any other created thing. If you're actually 
saved, even you yourself can't stop that. Yes, there's backsliding. Yes, there's proneness to wander, 
proneness to leave the God that we love. But if we believe the 
gospel, if we are sealed by the Spirit, if we have the guarantee 
of that inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, 
there is nothing And Paul is very, very powerful here. Notice, 
again, verse 38, neither death nor life, angels nor principalities 
nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height 
nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate 
us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. And then finally, notice what 
Paul says in terms of the identification of that word of truth, the gospel 
of your salvation. It is the word of truth, the 
gospel of your salvation. That's what we preach, that's 
what we hold to, that's what by grace we believe. The necessity 
is seen in whom, as revealed in the gospel, having believed. 
If sinners don't hear the gospel, they're not going to learn of 
Christ. If sinners don't learn of Christ, they're not going 
to believe on Christ. If sinners do not believe on 
Christ, then they're going to be cast out by Christ into that 
lake of fire. And then the power of the gospel, 
obviously here in Ephesians 1, but in Romans 1. I am not ashamed 
of the gospel of Christ for it, and I think Paul would mean, 
it alone is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who 
believes. Whether you're a Jew or you're 
a Greek, if you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be 
saved. And then he goes on to answer 
why that is according to verse 17 in Romans 1. For in it, that 
gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed." Now brethren, 
in Paul's usage there, he's not speaking of the perfection of 
God or the attribute of God. We think of many things that 
are true of God. He's infinite, eternal, and unchangeable 
in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, 
and truth. Those are attributes or perfections. And that's not 
what Paul's speaking about. Verse 17 in Romans 1 is the righteousness 
that God demands and that God supplies. For in it, for in the 
gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to 
faith, that as it is written, the just shall live by faith. 
It's always been that way. Another death knell to this idea 
of separating the peoples of God. How were they saved in the 
Old Covenant? By the same grace, through the 
same faith, in the same Savior that you and I are. Old Covenant 
Jews believed on a coming Jesus. New Covenant Gentiles believed 
on a Jesus who came, who lived, who died, was raised again, and 
who is going to come again in glory to judge the living and 
the dead. This is clear in Philippians chapter 3 as well, last text, 
and then we transition into the table. But notice this idea, 
it's the righteousness that God demands and that God supplies. Philippians 3, 7, But what things 
were gained to me, these I have counted lost for Christ. And 
he's speaking about everything he said previously, all of the 
religious accomplishments that he had mustered up. I mean, he's 
saying, he basically says in the preceding section, if ever 
there was a guy, if ever there was a man who could earn his 
salvation, it would have been Paul. I mean, Paul was everything. Look at his religious resume. 
He ticked off every single box as far as everything was concerned. 
He was a 10 on paper. But as far as he's concerned, 
that doesn't mean anything. What things were gained to me, 
these I have counted lost for Christ. Yet indeed, I also count 
all things lost for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus 
my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count 
them as rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not 
having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that 
which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from 
God by faith. Brethren, believe the gospel 
of your salvation and you have everlasting life. There is no 
one that can separate us from the love of God, which is in 
Christ Jesus our Lord. If you're not a believer here 
tonight, may I encourage you, may I implore you to look onto 
the Lord Jesus Christ, to believe the gospel. When you believe, 
as I said, you're forgiven of all your sins. Verse seven is 
amazing, in him we have redemption. Through his blood, the forgiveness 
of sins. No real show of hands, brethren, 
but if I ask, what's one of the chief boons of our religion? 
Is it the forgiveness of sins? Amen, it's the forgiveness of 
sins. Having a conscience cleansed in the blood of Jesus, being 
able to pillow one's head at night, knowing that we have peace 
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. That's Paul's point in 
Romans 5.1. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have 
peace with God. It is a most blessed provision. but we also receive that righteousness 
of Christ that we see in Philippians 3, 9, by which we enter in to 
the presence of our blessed God. We receive the inheritance that 
Jesus has secured for us, and we dwell forever in the presence 
of our God. Well, let us pray. Our Father 
in heaven, we thank you so very much for Ephesians 1 and what 
it teaches us concerning our blessed God. You are most high, 
most glorious, and most wondrous. You are from everlasting to everlasting. You are Father, Son, and Holy 
Spirit. And we pray that you would help 
us to think clearly concerning these things and help us to praise 
and worship and adore you, our great God. May it be commonplace 
for each of us to be acquainted with this particular passage, 
to rehearse it in our own prayer closets, to bless you for the 
many redemptive privileges that you have bestowed upon us. And 
we ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, amen.