EPHESIANS 1:13-14 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 of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
As my autistic son has gotten older he has started to be able to comprehend deeper and deeper concepts just in normal everyday teaching as we converse on different topics daily. In this chapter Paul starts out with very broad ideas and concepts then over the course of this letter to the Ephesians he starts to break down these things with a precision that is extremely powerful and starts to clarify things even further for us so that there is no confusion and division. Unfortunately, that kind of thing started right when the church did. The enemy was already getting into the heads of the faithful trying to push them towards things that were not being taught.
Because of this, we should not be shocked that the church is so infected today, but take heart and continue to seek the meaning God is conveying in the scriptures. Do not bend to the ways of the world or the popularism of the day. Our Father in Heaven has not changed. He will be returning to judge the world, you want to be prepared for that, not prepared to suck up to every wind of doctrine that comes along. The first time Jesus was here he made it clear that he was not here so that everyone would come together and everyone would just be one big giant happy family. Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. We need to "expect" resistance.
Because if you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior it has the idea that you trust in Him. Getting to Ephesians chapter 1 verse 13. That "trust" is directed at Jesus Christ Himself from whom all trust comes forth. For more on that look here under the section "First Trusted".
After you heard; In this text Paul seems to be using a thankful attitude towards those who had received the Word of God. (1 Thes 2:13) For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
In Greek heard here is ἀκούω akouo, a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):--give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand. So with that understanding, it means something more than just hearing.
Word of Truth; (John 1:17) For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Word here is λόγος logos . something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ):--account, cause, communication, × concerning, doctrine, fame, × have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say(-ing), shew, × speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.
The world itself began through the origination and instrumentality of the Word, in the Godhead, the Son functions as the revealer of God and is God.
It should also be noted that there is no such thing as "your truth" or "my truth". There is only 1 truth. ie, a thing is either "true" or it's not.
Your salvation; "your" means those that had received Christ. *The Greek word is σωτηρία soteria in this text. as (properly, abstract) noun; rescue or safety (physically or morally):--deliver, health, salvation, save, saving.
Spiritual and eternal deliverance is granted immediately by God to those who accept His conditions of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom alone it is obtained.
Sealed with the Holy Spirit; The seal or mark of ownership in believers' lives is the Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 1:22) who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. The Greek word for sealed in this text is σφραγίζω sphragizo. It is defined as ownership and security, together with destination; The aorist participle marks the definitiveness and completeness of the act of faith.
Moving to verse Ephesians 1:14,
Guarantee; can also be used to indicate an engagement ring. An engagement ring is a down payment, like the "earnest" money in the long-awaited marriage. Marriage is symbolized in Christ's relationship with the Church. The King James version of the bible actually uses the word "earnest" here.
Redemption; (the act) ransom in full, i.e. (figuratively) riddance, or (specially) Christian salvation:--deliverance, redemption.
The deliverance of the believer from the presence and power of sin, and of his body from bondage and corruption, at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:23 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.
1 Cor 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—
Eph 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
To the praise of His glory; (1 Peter 2:9) 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;
God will be glorified when His people are redeemed.
Takeaways -
1. Belief in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior (the gospel of our salvation) results in being sealed in the Holy Spirit.
2. Being sealed in the Holy Spirit has the idea of "ownership".
3. Because we are sealed in Christ we have the guarantee of inheritance.
*σωτηρία soteria - Strongs does not seem to conclude that this is the word for salvation used here. I am basing my finding on the fact that Paul uses this word for salvation in other instances with the same ideas presented.
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