From Ephesians 1:7-11, explore God's plan of redemption through the riches of His grace and how He lavished it on us through Christ. This post will give a video message and notes for this study.
SUMMARY FROM THE PREVIOUS MESSAGE - Ephesians 1:1-5
God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing!
In comes by way of being in Christ. Nothing can be added.
It is complete and done (blessed us, chose us, predestined us).
He formed this plan and purpose before the foundation of the world.
He purposed to adopt us into His family.
We are called to be holy and blameless.
This was God’s will to do.
Ephesians 1 Bible Study - God's Plan of Redemption
OPENING PASSAGE - Ephesians 1:7-11
VERSE 7 - Paul continues his summary of God’s plan for our redemption. A complete statement of what the gospel is all about: Jesus redeemed us and gave us forgiveness by His blood, according to the grace of God.
REDEMPTION
Redemption: to release something as a result of the payment of ransom.
To “redeem” someone means to buy someone’s freedom, especially someone who is a slave or has been taken captive by an enemy.
How is this relevant? We were captives or prisoners of Satan by means of our own sins.
Verses: Romans 6:17, 2 Timothy 2:25-26, Romans 6:22
FORGIVENESS
Forgiveness: release from bondage or imprisonment, forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty.
This word refers to a release or deliverance or the remission (cancellation) of the guilt and consequences of sin. The person who has incurred a debt is set free as though there was never any debt.
How does this apply to us? When we sin, we incur the debt of death or eternal punishment.
Verses: Isaiah 3:11, Romans 6:23
We could never pay this debt ourselves except by suffering the penalty. We would be guilty forever.
God, in His plan, made way for the forgiveness of our sins and to remove all guilt. This required someone else, who was innocent, to suffer for us. Jesus.
Both our redemption and the forgiveness of our sins come by way of Jesus making payment for them with His blood.
THE BLOOD
The price of our redemption (the ransom) and the means of our forgiveness is the blood of Jesus.
All this was symbolized in the Old Testament animal sacrifices, but it was only accomplished in the New Testament.
There was a penalty for sin. God did not want us to be lost. In His love, He sent His Son. So Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood for so that our sins could be forgiven.
Verses: 1 Corinthians 15:3, Romans 3:24
GRACE
Grace is unmerited favour. It is a kindness shown to someone who does not deserve kindness. It can’t be earned.
Clearly, we do not deserve God’s kindness. We deserve punishment. We don’t deserve the sacrifice of Jesus, coming to earth and dying as a sacrifice for us. We do not deserve the redemption and forgiveness described here.
Still, God determined (predetermined) to send Jesus to die and offer these blessings to us.
Verse 7-8 says - the “riches” of grace – not just some grace, but abundant treasures of grace.
It is an overflowing of His grace. It is an overflowing of God’s kindness and goodness and blessings.
DECLARATION - I AM REDEEMED, I AM FORGIVEN BECAUSE JESUS HAS BOUGHT ME AND PAID FOR ME WITH HIS BLOOD, AND TODAY I STAND IN GOD’S RICH GRACE.
Verse 9 - God made known His plan.
Part of God's pleasure is revealing His will to us.
This plan (in Christ) was purposed in Himself. This is a sovereign event. He established it. But He also backs it up. It cannot change.
It was necessary for God to reveal His will.
In order for humanity to see the need for redemption and forgiveness, we needed to see we are sinners.
God needed to reveal to us our need for a Savior.
In order for us to know how to receive these blessings.
We can know and understand God’s plan.
Another reason He has made it known is to form faith to receive.
Verse 10 - God planned from the very beginning that He would have in place an arrangement to meet all man’s needs, emphasizing the need for salvation.
He put it in place at the “fullness of times” meaning at the proper time. God works in the proper time.
This plan involved bringing all things together under Christ’s authority, including things in heaven and things on earth.
Predestined according to His purpose. The predestination of mankind works together with the purpose and plan of God now revealed in the gospel.
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