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,

Ephesians 1:13

The result of our faith/trust/believing, (all three are synonymous) the gospel of grace (1 Corinthians 15:1-4); that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead three days later is our salvation. But our salvation is so much more than just a fire escape. Believers have a promise.

In Ephesians 1:13, we have the Promise from God of our salvation. As we examine this passage we will see how great our salvation is and we get just a glimpse of our glorious promised future. 

Also, make note of what isn’t mentioned in Ephesians 1:13. It’s always important to recognize what “isn’t” stated in a Bible verse. We can’t assume something is in a verse if it isn’t there.

Let’s take a closer look at Ephesians 1:13, using Scripture to interpret Scripture.

Ephesians 1:13a

 

In Him you also trusted…

Who is the “in Him that we trusted? The answer is in the verse verse 12…

‘that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.’

Ephesians 1:12

It is Christ who we trusted, have faith in, or believed in. All three word are synonymous. Our faith is in Christ alone for our salvation.

‘For “whoever (anyone) calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”’Romans 10:13 

Continuing on, now the next part of verse 13.

Ephesians 1:13b

 

…after you have heard the word of truth…

It is important to understand that the apostle Paul is writing to those who are already saved, as he does in all his epistles. Paul never writes to unbelievers. He is writing to grace age believers, he is writing to us.

And when were we saved? Was it before we heard the word of truth? No, of course not! It was AFTER!!! Not before but after we heard the gospel we were saved. 

“It’s impossible to believe something that you never heard”

And what is the “the word of truth”? The gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) That Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose from the dead three days later.

Sharing the Gospel is Crucial

That is why it is absolutely crucial that we share the gospel with everyone and anyone. The lost world around us while never know about the gospel of grace if they never hear it.

‘So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.’

Romans 10:17

 

And of course…2 Corinthians 5:20, we ALL are ambassadors for Christ and God is pleading through us.

‘Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.’

II Corinthians 5:20

What an powerful statement from the Lord, God is pleading through us to share with the lost world around us this amazing gospel of grace (Acts 20:24). Shouldn’t that be enough to get us all off our butts to share the gospel with everyone and anyone! Moving on to “the gospel of your salvation…”

Ephesians 1:13c

…the gospel of your salvation…

Well, what is the gospel that saves today?

The gospel by which all mankind will be judged (Romans 2:16) and the gospel that Paul’s congregant’s heard and were saved by, is the gospel of the grace of God and it is most clearly defined in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel (not one of many but THE GOSPEL) which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: 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,

I Corinthians 15:1-4

The gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24) was given to the apostle Paul by the ascended Lord eleven years after the cross and Pentecost. The gospel of grace was a new message of salvation unlike the gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 9:35). That salvation was a free gift for all mankind Jew or Gentile, based solely on faith apart from the law, circumcision and temple worship.

‘But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.’

Galatians 1:11-12

Paul’s gospel was a departure from what had been Jew only with just nine Gentile exceptions in over 2000 years.

‘Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, ‘

Romans 3:19-21

Ephesians 1:13d

…in Whom also, having believed…

This goes to the person showing true faith and what is faith? Believing what God says!

‘Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.’

Hebrews 11:1

And without faith it is impossible for anyone to appropriate the free gift of salvation. All God wants is for mankind to believe Him.

‘But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.’

Hebrews 11:6

 

 

‘But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, ‘

Romans 4:5

There is nothing we can do to gain favor with God. Our works are meaningless for salvation! It makes the work of the cross void (Galatians 2:21; Romans 4:4) and there is no salvation. It is by faith alone. Now lets look at the last part of Ephesians 1:13.

Ephesians 1:13e

…you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

The moment a person believes the gospel they were sealed. How? By the Holy Spirit indwelling us (2 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Romans 8:23).

Yes, God the Holy Spirit lives inside the believer and He is the Seal, identifying that person as God’s property. The Holy Spirit is not just a seal or mark that we are God’s but there is a guarantee, a future promise He will fulfill. And the next verse enlarges on promise/guarantee. Now Ephesians 1:14…

‘Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. ‘

Ephesians 1:14

God’s mark of ownership, is also the earnest money or down payment of our future inheritance. Comparing Scripture with Scripture we see that back up in verse eleven of this same chapter. Paul writes that the believers “inheritance” is something we already have. “Past-Tense”.

‘In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, ‘

Ephesians 1:11

So what’s the believers inheritance? These two verses give you an idea of what our inheritance already is and will be.

‘And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ‘

Romans 8:17-18

The Bible verses are clear, our inheritance is that we are joint heirs with Christ!

‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: ‘

Ephesians 1:3

God has appointed His Son “to be heir of all things” (Hebrews 1:2) and because we believed the gospel we are adopted children of God and “are” joint heirs of everything with Christ. Amazing!

Note: I will cover our inheritance in more detail when we examine Ephesians 1:14.

Our God is Great and He loved us before time as we know it began. He demonstrated His love for us by sending His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place, to pay for our sin debt, He was buried, and rose again three days later. “The Gospel”. And anyone that believes ‘the gospel’ by faith alone is saved and sealed by the Holy Spirit as the guaranteed promise that some day we will be with the Lord forever, reigning with Christ as co-heirs.

What a promise.

Thank you for reading. If this post was encouraging and or edifying in anyway please consider sharing.

Thank you,

Mesa Bible Study

Jamie Pantastico

Faith, Sine Qua Non