“You were sealed with the Holy Spirit of 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.” —Ephesians 1:14-16
IN VERSE 14 we read, “who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” The Holy Spirit is a deposit, a down payment, guaranteeing that we will receive the full inheritance that God promised. Just as an engagement ring is a pledge of marriage, or a deposit on a house is earnest money indicating that the fullness of the amount will eventually be paid to the owner, so also the Holy Spirit is given to the redeemed of Christ as a down payment by God assuring us of “our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Believers have been chosen by God as His special treasure in Jesus Christ to live for His glory and so our whole life should show forth the mark that we are God’s holy possession. In so doing, we manifest that we are truly trusting in Christ.
IN VERSE 15, the Apostle Paul highlights two qualities in the lives of the believers at Ephesus, which caused his heart to rejoice in thanksgiving to God: their faith and love. “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.” These two virtues are always the test of a genuine believer. John wrote in 1 John 3:14, “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.” And we read in Galatians 3:26, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
THE APOSTLE PAUL was in prison in Rome when he wrote this letter to the Ephesians. He was about 1,200 miles from Ephesus, yet he heard from others that true faith and love were being displayed in the lives of the believers at Ephesus, and this caused Paul’s heart to overflow with thanksgiving to God. You see, Paul knew the only way others could know about the faith and love of the Ephesians was if it was being manifested in their daily lives.
WHEN PAUL SPEAKS of their faith, he is referring to their believing the truth of God’s word and trusting in the person and work of Jesus Christ for salvation. These two things always go together. Saving faith always involves believing the truth of God’s Word and trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ. As we read in Ephesians 1:13, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.” And if you believe God’s Word and trust in Jesus Christ then you will live differently from the world. Those who trust in Christ are new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) who are continually being transformed by the renewing of their mind (Rom 12:2).
NO, BELIEVERS ARE not practically perfect; believers have many struggles, failures, and doubts, but one thing believers know is that Christ has satisfied the justice of God for their sins, and they are no longer in a state of condemnation, but in a state of grace. They are the redeemed of Christ, and, as a result of Christ’s work, they will never be separated from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus! This blessed truth causes the redeemed of Christ to “Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!”
Friday Devotional: April 26, 2024
In Christ,
Pastor S. Henry
