By Robert L. Olsen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
Rejoice
Ephesians 1:3–14
Chosen (3–6)
If there is any person in history who understood the need for grace it was the Apostle Paul. Having been a Pharisee of Pharisees, one who persecuted the Christian church, Paul was transformed by a meeting with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus.
This was not a meeting he initiated but one God initiated. God being the initiator is of vital importance because it shows our salvation depends on God not on anything we do or say.
If salvation depended on our own righteousness we would have no hope since we are all sinners. In fact we know from 2 Corinthians 5:21 that God made Christ sin for us so we may have His righteousness.
If we were to face a holy and just God on judgment day depending on our own righteousness we would all fail. Even the “best” person on earth by human standards falls crucially short of the holiness of our great God. But in spite of our own sinfulness God loved us so much He sent Christ, His only Son, to die on the cross for us. (John 3:16, Rom. 5:8).
This fact contains important implications for the Christian life. If God is the one who is choosing us there is no room for boasting or spiritual pride. If we are responsible for our own salvation then it means we have done something unbelievers have not, indicating we have reason to boast in ourselves and our choice.
If salvation depends on us then it is up to us to stay saved, meaning we could lose our salvation. Since we are innately sinful beings, depending on ourselves for continued eternal salvation is a terrifying proposition.
Redeemed (7–12)
Having been chosen by the Father we now have redemption through the blood of Christ. Redemption means our sins are paid for. Since sin is the reason we are separated from God it is a problem that needs to be reconciled in order to make us right with God. This is the purpose of Christ dying on the cross — His death paid the payment for our sins.
In many of our hymns mention is made of the blood of Jesus.
For those not familiar with the concept of propitiation — the idea that God’s wrath had to be satisfied — the importance of Jesus’ death is strange, even incomprehensible. But without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sin (Heb. 9:22). The purpose of the entire sacrificial system was to demonstrate that something had to die to pay for sin.
In the Old Testament animals were sacrificed to atone for sin. In Christ the final sacrifice was made so now the entire Old Testament sacrificial system has been fulfilled (Heb. 10:1–18). Christ was the ultimate sacrifical Lamb.
Sealed (13–14)
Our salvation is affected by the Holy Spirit making the Holy Spirit a necessary part of our salvation. People in the church often think they can somehow convince or cajole people into the kingdom of God — that if they could only present the perfect argument or simply pray long and hard enough for unbelievers God would then save that individual.
However, this undermines the role of the Holy Spirit. We certainly should try to convince people that Christianity is the only true way and we should pray continually for people to be saved. However, we must remember it is the role of the Holy Spirit to complete the work of salvation.
But we are not exempt from preaching the gospel for it is through hearing the gospel that the Holy Spirit works.
In this way God uses us in the salvation process — we are the bearers of the good news of the gospel (Rom. 10) — but we are not responsible for the salvation of others. Only God is and that is an encouraging thought.
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