GOD’S THREEFOLD CORD!
Ephesians 1:2-14
INTRODUCTION: It is wonderful to know that God saved us through our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. But it is doubly wonderful to know that we can never lose our salvation! We are truly saved and kept by God’s threefold cord! Ecclesiastes 4:12. The longest sentence in the Bible is Ephesians 1:2-14: Paul got so excited he just couldn’t stop talking! This is a hymn of praise to the Trinity; Ephesians 1:6; Ephesians 1:12; Ephesians 1:14.
I. OUR SALVATION HAS BEEN PLANNED BY THE FATHER!
Our heavenly Father truly planned our salvation. The heavenly Father chose us in Christ before the creation of the world: Ephesians 1:3-4. We were predestinated to salvation: Ephesians 1:5. Jesus Christ was sent by the Father to die for sinners! 1 John 2:2; 1 Timothy 2:3-4; 2 Peter 3:9. God the Father sent the Holy Spirit to convict every man, not just a few elect men: John 16:8-11; John 1:9; Revelation 22:17. Why did God chose us? Ephesians 1:4. This is the first cord in God’s threefold cord!
II. WE ARE SAVED BY THE SON!
God chose us before the foundation of the world. Now why did He chose us? So that we should be holy and blameless in His sight. Ephesians 1:5: This is saying that those who trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior will be like Jesus. We are spiritually born into the family of God and that deals with our position in Christ, but we are also adopted into the family of God and that deals with our privileges in Christ. This is all to the praise of God’s glorious grace: Ephesians 1:6; Matthew 3:17. Therefore God the Father loves us as much as He loves His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus: John 17:23. Does that move you to praise the Lord for His glorious grace? Ephesians 1:6. But our salvation was purchased by God the Son: Ephesians 1:7. Jesus Christ shed His life’s blood so that we might have redemption. Ephesians 1:8-14. We have been set free from slavery to Satan through the blood of Jesus Christ: Ephesians 1:7. The word “forgive means “to carry away. But God is not done yet: He also gives us His wisdom in Christ: Ephesians 1:8. Here then is what God is up to today: Ephesians 1:10. One day both heaven and earth will be in tune with Jesus Christ and God lets us in on His secret!
III. WE ARE SEALED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT!
One day, the riches of God’s grace which we enjoy now will be turned into the riches of His glory! Ephesians 1:11. We are wealthy people because it is predestined for us in Christ Jesus! The first cord is that God the Father planned our salvation. The second cord is that God the Son purchased our salvation. The third cord is the Holy Spirit Who is the deposit guaranteeing our salvation: Ephesians 1:14. Now Paul moves us into the praise of the Trinity: Ephesians 1:12-13. The third cord is that the Holy Spirit seals us forever in Christ according to the plan of the Father! An earnest means a pledge or down payment. The word “sealed” means that there is a finished legal transaction; that ownership had been transferred and the document is secure and cannot be changed! Esther 8:7-8; Esther 8:9-10. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit which guarantees our salvation for all eternity. The Holy Spirit is also our deposit or earnest: Ephesians 1:14. The Holy Spirit is the deposit of our inheritance until, not if Jesus returns but until Jesus returns! This is our God’s threefold cord!