THE CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCES OF SALVATION

Ephesians 1:3-14

Morning Meditation 7/7/2014

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."

I won't be able to touch the surface of this great passage in this meditation. There are some great experiences in this passage that I will point out. It might help to reverse the order in verse thirteen:

YOU HEARD THE WORD OF TRUTH, THE GOSPEL OF YOUR SALVATION

This is what verse thirteen says. What is this gospel Paul speaks of? He tells us, "The gospel of your salvation." These Ephesians were saved by believing what was preached. The gospel is defined in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" The gospel of salvation is clearly defined here.

The first step in salvation is to "hear the word of truth." No one will be saved without hearing this word of truth. This is the reason missionaries are sent with this great gospel around the world. Next--

YOU TRUSTED AFTER THAT YOU HEARD

Verse 13 says, "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth. . ." It is not enough to hear the word of truth. There must be a commitment to the truth stated. The truth must be embraced and counted on. We must put our trust in the truth of this message. Gal. 3:26 says, "Ye are all the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ."

The believer can say, "I have absolute confidence that Jesus is the virgin born Son of God, that He was sent by His Father into the world as the only means of salvation, and I believe He is my personal Saviour and will come again to get me and all believers and take us with him to heaven to be with Him forever." Next--

YOU WERE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE

Verse 13 says, ". . . in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,"

The seal is God's guarantee that what He has begun in salvation He will finish, and to assure our hearts He has sealed us with the Holy Spirit of promise. I will assure you that no one can break or remove that seal. Next--

YOU HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD

Verse seven says, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"

We were not sealed that we might be redeemed. We were sealed to identify us as the redeemed. Titus 2:14, "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." Next--

WE HAVE THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS

Verse 7 says, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"

This forgiveness comes through the riches of His grace. God's grace can save and restore the chiefest of sinners. What God forgives He forgets. Satan can only accuse us before the throne for unconfessed sins.

WE ARE ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED

Verse 6 says, "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." We are accepted with Christ. This means that we are in Christ well pleasing to the Father.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White