Faithful Understanding

For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

Romans 10:17

Romans 10:17 NKJV

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Believing Brings Redemption

Then it must be believed to bring salvation.

John 1:12

John 1:12 NKJV

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

Once a person hears and believes, their salvation is secured, and redemption begins.

Redemption happens in three stages:

We have been redeemed through faith in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”

We are being redeemed as the Spirit works in our lives to make us more like Christ. Romans 8:1-4 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

We shall be redeemed when Christ returns and we become like Him. Romans 8:22-23 “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 firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.”

Ephesians 1:7

Romans 8:1-4

Romans 8:22-23

The Ephesians heard the Gospel, they trusted it, and salvation was secured.

The Gospel Can Be Trusted Because It Is True

The Gospel is the truth, and we can trust it.

John 14:6

John 14:6 NKJV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Proverbs 30:5

Proverbs 30:5 NKJV

Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

The truthfulness of the Gospel is not dependent upon our belief. It is absolute truth, no matter what.

Romans 3:3-4

Romans 3:3–4 NKJV

For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.”

So, when we trust it, our salvation is secured.

It is guaranteed by God Himself, and the Holy Spirit is given as a seal.

He, the Holy Spirit, is the assurance of that promise.

The sealing of which Paul speaks refers to an official mark of identification placed on a letter, contract, or other document.

That document was thereby officially under the authority of the person whose stamp was on the seal.

Likewise, the person who is saved is under the authority of the Father.

We are the purchased possession!

vv. 15-16

Paul had heard about the faith of the Ephesians, and how they demonstrated their faith through their love for the saints.

Love For Other Believers Is Evidence Of True Saving Faith

John 13:34-35

John 13:34–35 NKJV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Paul recognized this and constantly lifted them up in prayer, and thanked the Lord for them.

vv. 17-20

Paul’s prayer for them was quite impressive. It was meant to encourage and equip them.

He wanted them to understand the riches they had in Christ.

First: Wisdom and knowledge in Christ, this is fundamental. There is no higher knowledge than knowing God.

Without Knowledge Of God, There Is No Understanding

Without knowledge of God, true understanding [of anything] is impossible.

Proverbs 9:10

Proverbs 9:10 NKJV

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Paul wanted them to have specific knowledge of:

The hope of His calling

The riches of the glory of His inheritance

The exceeding greatness of His power

God’s calling provides a sure hope. This hope carries with it an assurance, its something we can count on. A guarantee.

Our Hope Is The Assurance Of Eternity With Christ

This hope is our assurance of a glorified eternity with Christ, a living hope

1 John 3:2-3

1 John 3:2–3 NKJV

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

1 Peter 1:3

1 Peter 1:3 NKJV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

This living hope should be a driving force in our lives. Paul wanted the Ephesians to understand this, and so should we.

The riches and glory of His inheritance:

This speaks of His inheritance, not ours (as spoken of in Ephesians 1:11).

God looks at us as part of His great wealth, and indeed, we were bought at tremendous price.

The fact that He has He has bought us and made us an accepted part of his wealth, is to the praise of His Glory.

Our Redemption Is God’s Glory

Ephesians 1:6

Ephesians 1:6 NKJV

to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Its all about God!

The exceeding greatness of His power

He is the creator of the universe, His power is unequalled and unsurpassed.

This same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead, now works in us.

God’s Power In Our Lives Is Necessary

This is a good thing, because we are weak, we need this power.

Matthew 26:41

Matthew 26:41 NKJV

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

We also need this power to fight our true enemy.

Ephesians 6:11-12

Ephesians 6:11–12 NKJV

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

This is the same power by which Christ derives His authority.

vv. 21-23

He is over all, and we are under Him.

Believers are the church, which is His body.

As such the church is the fullness of Him.

That means that we are about His work, and we represent Him in all things.

It is a blessed calling for sure, but a calling is no good if it it not heard.

Therefore, it all begins with the hearing of the Gospel, and making it heard is our job.