Ephesians: His Glorious RichesSample

Everything that the Father planned for us (vv. 3–6), and that the Son purchased for us (vv. 7–12), has been applied to us by the Holy Spirit (vv. 13–14). The work of the Holy Spirit is one of the main features of this letter; He is mentioned in every chapter. Begin to make a list of the way in which the Spirit works in our lives (1:13–14, 17; 2:18, 22; 3:5, 16–17; 4:3–4, 30; 5:18; 6:17–18). 

Paul treats the Spirit as a real Person who is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son. Athanasius, one of the early theologians of the church, defended the deity of Christ by affirming, ‘If Christ is not God, we are not saved.’ The same is true of the Spirit. 

To help us to understand His work, Paul uses two metaphors. He first describes the Spirit as a seal (v. 13). The Ephesians’ salvation began when they heard the Word: ‘the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation’ (v. 13; also see Rom. 1:16). Having heard the truth, they believed it, trusting Christ as their Saviour. The moment they believed, they were sealed with the Holy Spirit. This gift is given by God to all believers without exception (Acts 2:38–39). 

The Spirit was promised by the prophets (Joel 2:28–29) and Jesus (John 14:15–21; 15:26–27; 16:12–15; Luke 24:49). His presence proves that we are genuine believers, like the hallmark on a piece of jewellery proves that it is genuine gold. The Spirit’s presence also reminds us that we belong to God (2 Cor. 1:22), like a seal used to brand livestock, possessions or slaves. To illustrate this truth, General Booth of the Salvation Army once drew a circle on the ground in chalk. He stood inside the circle and proclaimed, ‘Consecration means that everything in the circle belongs to God.’ Are you holding anything back from God? 

The Spirit is also a pledge (v. 14). Paul uses a Greek word which means the payment of part of a purchase price in advance. The Spirit is a first instalment, deposit or down payment (2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5). When we begin to experience the Spirit’s work in our lives, it is a foretaste of Heaven itself. God is our inheritance (1 Pet. 1:3–5) and we are His inheritance (Is. 43:1–5). The Spirit makes us homesick for Heaven as we long to enter into this inheritance.

Reflection

All the blessings we experience now are a mere foretaste of the blessings to come. How should this affect the way we live now (see Phil. 3:12–14, 20–21)?