Ephesians 1:15-23

Order of Service

• Pastoral Prayer
• Sermon
• Closing Prayer

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Sermon Title: The Blessings and Scope of Election

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-14

I. Review of the Three Views on Election

A. Two non-biblical views rejected

1. Outright rejection of election — salvation by free will alone
2. Foreseen faith or merit as the basis of God's choice

B. The root problem: failure to appreciate the depravity of man

1. Romans 3:11 — no one is righteous, no one seeks God
2. Genesis 6:5 — every intention of man's heart was only evil continually
3. Ephesians 2:1-3 — man is dead, walking in sin, enslaved, and subject to wrath
4. John Gerstner: there is always room for "deprovement" — man is like a zombie, dead yet still walking in sin

C. Election is necessary because of depravity

1. John 6:44 — no one can come to Christ unless the Father draws him
2. The word "draw" implies being pulled all the way out — God does not stop halfway

II. Objections to Election Answered

A. Objection 1 — Election is arbitrary

1. From our perspective we cannot always know why God chooses one over another
2. But God states his reason in Ephesians 1:3-14: to the praise of his glorious grace
3. John Stott: the doctrine of election has baffled the best brains of Christendom for centuries
4. We may not know every reason, but we know it was purposeful and for his glory

B. Objection 2 — Election is unjust

1. Because of depravity, all deserve condemnation — justice would give no one salvation
2. The right response is gratitude that God was gracious enough to choose any

III. The Blessings of Election

A. Election eliminates boasting

1. God elects for the praise of his glory and grace, not ours
2. We are saved by grace, not by works or merit — Ephesians 2:8-9

B. Election gives assurance of salvation

1. If salvation rested on our works, we could never be certain
2. Calvin: if our salvation were not grounded in God's eternal election, Satan might pluck it from us every minute

C. Election leads to holiness

1. Matthew Henry: all who were chosen to happiness as the end are chosen to holiness as the means
2. Holiness is not merely moral rule-keeping but the loving direction of a heavenly Father
3. Caution: anyone who claims election gives license to sin either is not elect or has not yet been regenerated

D. Election promotes evangelism

1. 1 Corinthians 1:21 — it pleased God through the folly of preaching to save those who believe
2. God uses us as the means; he does the regenerating work
3. We may be one of many who chip away before the Spirit brings someone to faith — do not be intimidated

IV. The Present Blessing of Adoption — Ephesians 1:5-8

A. Adoption, redemption, and forgiveness are all consequences of election

1. John Stott: God destined us for a higher dignity than creation alone would give — adoption as sons and daughters
2. Adopted children in Roman law held the same rights as natural children

B. Redemption — drawn from the language of the slave market

1. Greek terms (exagorazō and apolutrōsis) picture a slave bought out of the market never to be enslaved again
2. We are freed from the bondage of sin and delivered from its judgment

C. These privileges come with the responsibility of holiness

1. He chose us to be holy and blameless before him — Ephesians 1:4
2. Being "before him" pictures children at their Father's knees — he watches, guards, and guides

V. The Future Blessing of Unification — Ephesians 1:9-10

A. The mystery revealed

1. Biblical "mystery" = something previously hidden that has now been disclosed
2. The mystery developed further in Ephesians 3: Gentiles brought into God's new society on equal terms with Jews

B. All things united again in Christ

1. Martin Lloyd Jones: a key Greek verb implies bringing all things together again — they were united before the Fall
2. This is not universalism — some will be subject to Christ willingly (the redeemed), some unwillingly (restrained evil forced to acknowledge his lordship)
3. Lloyd Jones: the perfect harmony restored will never be undone again — all united in Christ for all eternity

VI. The Scope of the Blessings: The Work of the Holy Spirit — Ephesians 1:11-14

A. The effectual call of the Holy Spirit (v. 11)

1. The Spirit enacts God's eternal plan in the lives of the chosen
2. John 16:8 — when the Spirit comes he will convict the world concerning sin

B. The Holy Spirit glorifies Christ (v. 12)

1. John 15:26 — the Spirit testifies about Christ
2. John 16:13-14 — the Spirit will glorify Christ, taking what is Christ's and declaring it
3. When the focus shifts to the Spirit himself rather than to Christ and his cross, that is not the Holy Spirit at work — true revival centers on what Christ accomplished on the cross
4. The Spirit's work is not independent of believers — 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 — we are the aroma of Christ to God

C. The Holy Spirit works through the Word (v. 13)

1. The gospel is called "the word of truth"
2. John 15:26; John 16:13 — the Spirit is the Spirit of Truth
3. The Holy Spirit never speaks or works apart from Scripture

D. Believers are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit (v. 13-14)

1. A seal authenticates, marks as property, and secures
2. Romans 8:16 — the Spirit bears witness that we are children of God and fellow heirs with Christ
3. Greek terms klēros and peripoiēsis (heritage and possession) carry strong Old Testament association with Israel as God's people — the church, composed of Jews and Gentiles in Christ, is now his possession and heritage

E. One new man out of two (vv. 11-14)

1. Paul shifts pronouns: "we" (v. 11-12, Jewish believers, first to hope in Christ) and "you also" (v. 13, Gentile believers in Ephesus)
2. Both are brought together under "our inheritance" (v. 14) — developed further in Ephesians 2:14-16
3. Everything began in him and ends in him — to the praise of his glorious grace