CLOUDED
by
EMOTION

The apostle Paul begins his letter to the Ephesians by praising God for all of the blessings He has provided in Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Ephesians 1:3

The apostle goes on to elaborate what some of those blessings are. One of them is “the Holy Spirit of promise.”

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:13–14

Paul is not giving us two distinct subjects when introducing the book with reference to the blessings found “in Christ,” and then mentioning “the Holy Spirit of promise” a few verses later. Instead, he is connecting the two with the eternal purpose of God.

Between these two passages, Paul mentions being chosen “in Him before the foundation of the world” (v. 4); the “redemption through His blood,” which is “in Him” (v. 7); and the inheritance “in Him” (vv. 10–11), just to name a few.

Did you notice how verse 13 begins? The text claims that the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given to believers as a pledge of inheritance, is also provided “in Him.”

The apostle Paul uses “in Him,” “in Christ,” or similar phrases in the New Testament over one hundred times. Here, he highlights how the work of the Holy Spirit and His indwelling were in view before the foundation of the world when God planned out His redemptive work through the death of Jesus Christ.

Though many, including me, find some aspects of this blessing a bit mysterious, it should comfort us knowing that God understands it fully. Not only does He understand it, but it is also part of His eternal plan for us.

Discussion Question: How should Christians live, knowing that God’s Holy Spirit of promise has been deposited within them?

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Scripture quotations are taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation