A Brief Commentary on Ephesians 1:11-14
Verse 11: “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:”
In whom also we have obtained and inheritance... A child of God is not born physically, but is reborn spiritually. The first century Jews believed that they were children of God because they were born into Judaism and, as such, were entitled to the divine inheritance. When one is spiritually reborn through baptism into Christ and adopted as children of God they are entitled to the divine inheritance of eternal life. This inheritance is not based on the nationality of one’s physical descent.
Being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will... Again, this word “predestination” refers to the fact that the conditions of salvation have been foreordained from the beginning. This was according to the purpose of God. God works all things according to His wisdom and will. He does not have to answer to man. His matchless wisdom, strength and power are all the counsel He needs as the supreme creator of the universe.
Verse 12: “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.”
That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ... As a condition of inheritance, we must live our lives in such a way that we praise God’s glory. We must be the light of the world. Our example must be such that it leads others to God through Christ. One must first place his trust in Christ and be obedient to Him in order to glorify God.
Verse 13: “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,”
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation… Trust here equals belief plus obedience. In this part of verse 13, we see that the Ephesians first heard the Gospel and then had believed and trusted in it to the point of obedience. Paul, in 2 Timothy 1:12, gives his motivation for trusting in Christ. “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” Paul placed his trust in Christ because he believed and was persuaded, to the point that he changed the course of his entire life, that God would keep His promise on the day of judgment.
In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise... When they had believed, trusted and obeyed the Gospel of Christ, their belief was sealed by the promise of the Holy Spirit. This promise of the Holy Spirit that sealed them may have been the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit bestowed upon some of the members there at Ephesus to enhance their knowledge and faith in God. On the other hand, this could be referring to the Word of God, which they had received and were sealed in the faith by keeping its precepts. Most likely, it referred to both the word and the miraculous gifts.
Verse 14: “Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of His glory… The Holy Spirit is the earnest or the pledge of our inheritance. He dwells in us through the Word of God. The Word of God is our guide and our keeper until that great day of judgment when we will receive the bulk of our inheritance in heaven. Again, we see God’s motivation – the praise of His glory!
