THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS, Chapter 1 – The Blessings of Redemption

 

THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS, Chapter 1

The Blessings of Redemption

Please let me say ahead of time that I know that I cannot and do not “hold a candle” in light of the brilliant Bible scholars and teaching pastors who can, with great wisdom, understanding and articulation, write exacting commentaries. Commentaries that encompass faithful exegesis, historical and cultural context, canonical and cultural integration, clarity and structure, engagement with original languages, awareness of interpretive views, theological soundness, application, humility and restraint, and devotional depth.

Nonetheless, my commentary on various scriptures, some have said, is a gift. A gift and an ability to simply explain and apply scriptures and their meaning so they become practical for daily use. Simple but powerful and powerfully effective.

There are both minor and major doctrinal differences found in most of the major protestant and evangelical denominations which becomes evident, first in doctrinal statements, then within the Body of Christ. Differences that have led to disagreements, divisions, church splits, hostilities and schisms – all of which is discouraged in scriptures for the “Bible believing, Bible adhering” Church.

Therefore, my efforts are to ask “What do the scriptures – verse, chapter, and book of both the Old and the New Testaments say?”, “What do they mean?”, “What do they mean to me?”, and “How can and should I respond?”.

The foundation of all of this is based on faith. A believing and knowing faith that God Is, and that His Word is without error, and is complete. I believe that His Word is supremely instructional, prophetic and causative by its nature, and creative in all it says, and that His Word is meant for my ultimate good.

By it I can find forgiveness of my sins – the errors of my ways – both of thought and actions in life. I find the salvation of my soul and spirit, and I will inherit the Kingdom of God and to exists eternally in the presence of God and all the children of God.

So, with this in mind, let’s study the Book of Ephesians – The Word of God.

Ephesians 1:1, Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus: verse 2, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, verse 4, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love, verse 5, He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, verse 6, to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved. Verse 7. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace, verse 8, which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight,

(Commentary Break): The Apostle Paul begins by expressing his position in Christ, which by inference is to be our position as believers and the grace and peace that brings to all who believe.

Next, Paul reminds and instructs that God has chosen His elect before the foundation of the world – predestined you as a believer, as holy and blameless ‘according to the good pleasure of His will.

The two major differences in how these words as viewed in Evangelicalism and Protestant Christianity were expressed by John Calvin (1509-1564), and Jacob Arminian (1560-1609). At the risk of oversimplifying, Calvinism and Arminianism aren’t just two labels—they’re two different ways of explaining how God’s sovereignty and human responsibility work together in salvation.

 Important Clarifications

• • • Both sides affirm:
      • The authority of Scripture
      • Salvation by grace
      • The necessity of faith in Christ
    • The debate is really about how grace and faith interact, not whether they matter.
    • There are also variations within each camp:
      • “4-point Calvinists,” “Provisionists,” “Wesleyan Arminians,” etc. So it’s not just two rigid boxes.

A Simple Comparison

Issue	Calvinism	Arminianism
Who initiates salvation?	God alone	God initiates, humans respond
Free will	Bound by sin	Enabled by grace
Election	Unconditional	Conditional (based on foreknowledge)
Atonement	Limited to elect	Universal provision
Grace	Irresistible	Resistible
Security	Cannot lose salvation	Can fall away (in many views)

Bottom Line

• • • Calvinism emphasizes God’s sovereignty in salvation
    • Arminianism emphasizes human responsibility in responding to grace

(Most Christians land somewhere along that spectrum, even if they don’t use the labels.)

However, and in either case, we have been lavished with redemption and forgiveness of our sins. And we are called to be unified as the Body of Christ. (Later we will study, in Ephesians 4:3, which urges believers to “make every effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”) (End Commentary Break).

verse 9, He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him, verse 10, regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.

(Commentary Break): And just what is the ‘mystery of His Will”? Let’s step back to Daniel chapters 10 through 12.

 Reading in Daniel 10:1, In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar; and the message was true and it concerned great conflict, but he understood the message and had an understanding of the vision.

 Daniel 12:1, “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. And, those who have insight will shine like the glow of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. But as for you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal up the book until the end of time; many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.”

Daniel 12:8, But as for me, I heard but did not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?” And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words will be kept secret and sealed up until the end time.

These prophetic words and verses are repeated by and announced by Jesus in Matthew chapter 24 and Revelation chapters six, seven and eight and beyond.

This mystery is revealed by the coming and by the birth of Jesus. That event marked those words having been kept secret and sealed up until the end time. Jesus birth marks the beginning of the Last Days, the End of Time and the initiation of the breaking of the Seals of the Birth Pains of the tribulation – which is to be followed by the Sixth Seal and the Great Tribulation, the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the Wrath of the Lamb. (Please see  “Did Jesus and the Apostles Really Say These are the End of Days?” and “When are the final Seven Years”.)

This is describing the breaking of the Birth Pain tribulation seals, and the rapture.  (End Commentary Break).

Verse 11. In Him we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will, verse 12, to the end that we who were the first to hope in the Christ would be to the praise of His glory.

(Commentary Break): “Having bee predestined according to the purpose of Him Who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will”. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 13. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, verse 14, Who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

(Commentary Break): The Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee that He will fully redeem His people in the future, completing their salvation—so that His glory is eternally praised.

Just for our information: This is one of those passages where theological systems don’t disagree on the words, but on what those words guarantee.

We’re working from Ephesians 1:13–14, especially:

• • • “Sealed with the Holy Spirit”
    • “The guarantee (pledge) of our inheritance”
    • “Until the redemption of God’s own possession”

 1. Calvinism interpretation, Core idea:

The guarantee is absolute and cannot fail.

How they read the passage:

1. 1. 1. 1. The “seal” = irreversible ownership

• • • God marks believers as His permanently
    • The sealing is an act of God alone, not dependent on human continuation

1. 1. 2. The “guarantee” (Greek: arrabōn) = binding down payment

• • • Like a legal contract that must be completed
    • If God gives the Spirit, He is obligated (by His own nature) to finish salvation

1. 1. 3. “Until redemption” = certainty of perseverance

• • • All who are truly saved will reach final glorification
    • This supports the doctrine often called:
      • “Perseverance of the saints”

Supporting cross-texts they emphasize:

• • • John 10:28 — no one can snatch them out of His hand
    • Romans 8:30 — those justified will be glorified

Bottom line (Calvinism):

The Spirit guarantees that every true believer will certainly reach final redemption. Falling away proves someone was never truly saved.

2. Arminianism interpretation

Core idea:

The guarantee is real—but conditionally applied to those who continue in faith.

How they read the passage:

1. 1. 1. The “seal” = relational, not coercive

• • • God truly marks believers as His
    • But the relationship can be abandoned through unbelief

1. 1. 2. The “guarantee” = genuine provision, not unconditional inevitability

• • • God fully intends to complete salvation
    • But He does not override human free will

1. 1. 3. “Until redemption” = God’s intention, not forced outcome

• • • The Spirit leads believers toward final redemption
    • But believers can:
      • resist
      • grieve
      • ultimately reject

Supporting cross-texts they emphasize:

• • • Hebrews 6:4–6 — warning about falling away
    • 2 Peter 2:20–22 — returning to corruption

Bottom line (Arminianism):

The Spirit is a true guarantee—but only for those who continue in faith. Apostasy is possible.

 3. Provisionism interpretation

(This view is similar to Arminianism in outcome but differs in emphasis.)

Core idea:

The guarantee is fully sufficient, but not irresistibly applied.

How they read the passage:

1. 1. 1. The “seal” = covenantal identification

• • • Believers are genuinely placed “in Christ”
    • The Spirit marks them as belonging to God

1. 1. 2. The “guarantee” = God’s faithfulness, not human inevitability

• • • God will absolutely keep His promise
    • But the promise applies to those who remain “in Christ”

1. 1. 3. “Until redemption” = corporate and conditional

• • • The inheritance belongs to the people of God as a whole
    • Individuals participate by continuing in faith

Key distinction from Arminianism:

• • • Stronger emphasis on:
      • human responsibility
      • resistible grace
      • corporate identity “in Christ”

Bottom line (Provisionism):

The Spirit guarantees that all who remain in Christ will be redeemed—but individuals can forfeit that position through unbelief.

Key Differences at a Glance:

Phrase	Calvinism	Arminianism	Provisionism
Seal	Permanent, unconditional	Real but resistible	Covenantal, relational
Guarantee	Cannot fail	Conditional on faith	Certain in Christ, not forced
Redemption	Guaranteed for all true believers	Guaranteed if one continues	Guaranteed for those remaining in Christ
Apostasy	Not possible (if truly saved)	Possible	Possible

The Real Point of Tension – Everything turns on one question:

Does “guarantee” mean inevitable outcome, or assured provision that must be received and retained by faith?

Calvinism: inevitable outcome

Arminianism: assured provision, conditionally experienced.

(Additionally, people cannot respond to God unless God first enables them).

• • • Humanity is deeply fallen and unable to believe on its own,
    • God gives prevenient grace (enabling grace to all),
    • This grace restores the ability to respond—but can still be resisted.

Provisionism: assured provision, conditionally experienced.

(Additionally, People are able to respond to God through revelation itself.

• • • Humanity is fallen, but not morally incapable of responding,
    • The gospel itself is sufficient to enable a response,
    • No separate “prevenient grace” is required).

A final observation:

They differ on whether the Spirit’s presence guarantees arrival regardless of human response.

All three views agree on something crucial:

• • • The inheritance is real,
    • The Spirit is truly given,
    • Final redemption is the goal,

(End Commentary Break).

Verse 15. For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, verse 16, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; verse 17, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.

Verse 18, I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, verse 19, and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might, verse 20, which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, verse 21, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

(Commentary Break): Paul prays that we

1. 1. 1. know the hope of His calling and the riches of the glory of this inheritance, and
      2. the boundless greatness (Megethos – great, without limit) of His power (Dunimas – (dynamite), unmatched miraculous power) toward us who believe.

Please note: This ‘Hope and the Greatness of His Power’ toward us who believe, are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might – which He brought about in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at the right Hand of God the Father in the heavenly places. Also know that we are seated with Christ in the heavenlies! (see Ephesians 2:6). And the implications of being seated with Christ include:

• • • Spiritual Authority: Believers are granted authority through their connection with Christ.
    • Access to Blessings: This position allows believers to access spiritual blessings and grace.
    • Eternal Perspective: It encourages believers to live with a heavenly perspective, influencing their actions and decisions on earth.

Biblical Foundation

The idea of being seated with Christ is rooted in several key biblical passages:

Verse	Key Message
Ephesians 2:6	God raised us up with Christ and seated us in heavenly realms.
Colossians3:1	Believers are raised with Christ and should seek things above.
Romans 8:30	Those predestined by God are also glorified with Christ.

This spiritual seating is not merely symbolic; it reflects your identity as a believer and position in relation to Christ, affirming your place in God’s eternal plan. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 22. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him head over all things to the church, verse 23, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (End Ephesians chapter 1).

These final verses are among the most spiritually profound in all the Bible. Dwell on them and make them part of your experience with Christ.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young.

Next: (coming soon) – THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS, Chapter 2, Made Alive in Christ.

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