Ephesians 1:7-12 - Saved by the Son

Verse 7 – In Him we have redemption through His blood…

Redemption – Release and deliverance from a state of slavery. There are three distinct ideas conveyed by the
Greek words that describe redemption. 1 – to purchase in the market, 2 – to purchase out of the market, and 3 –
to ransom, pay the release price.

(see pdf file for chart)

“Redemption is an act of God by which He Himself pays as a ransom the price of human sin which the outraged holiness and government of God require.” (Lewis Sperry Chafer)

There is an objective aspect – the historical death of Christ as a payment for all sin, and a subjective aspect – liberation to all who believe in Christ.

“Christ’s ransom price was sufficient for all mankind and provisionally available to all, but the liberation has been effectual only for those who believe.” (C. Gordon Olson)

“Redeemed how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child and forever I am!” Fanny J. Crosby

Through His blood – The death of Christ is the only means of redemption.

Our trespasses – “To fall or deviate from the truth”

According to the riches of His grace – The grace of God surpasses anything we could ever imagine.

Verse 8

Which He lavished upon us – “To furnish one richly so that he has abundance.”

In all wisdom and insight – God is omnisapient - all wise. God’s power and knowledge combine with His perfect wisdom to bring about His goals in the ways that are best.

Verse 9

The mystery of His will – A mystery (musterion) means a truth that was previously hidden, but now has been made known by divine revelation.

According to His kind intention which He purposed in Him – It is now God’s good pleasure to reveal to us our future blessings in Christ. The musterion of the church is revealed in chapter 3.

Verse 10

An administration suitable to the fullness of the times – Administration = oikonomia, which is translated administration, arrangement, or dispensation. It is used of managing the affairs of a household. It is used here of the millennial reign of Christ (summing up of all things up in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth).

Verse 11

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance – The “we” of verses 11-12 refers to Jewish believers. It is contrasted with “you” in verse 13 which refers to Gentile believers.

Inheritance – An appointment or determination which affects men in their being. It is the goal assigned to them in their calling.

Having been predestined according to His purpose – Jewish believers have been appointed by God to also be members of the church.

Who works all things after counsel of His will – God, in His Sovereignty, determined that there would be a remnant of Jews (Romans 11:5) who would be included in the church.

Verse 12

*To the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ *– Jewish believers. The church began on the day of Pentecost and was initially composed of Jews.

Should be to the praise of His glory – God’s ultimate end in calling and saving us through His Son is that we would recognize His glory and serve Him.