Eph 1:10-14 | KingComments | STEP | . In the verses we have now before us Paul is telling what the mystery of the previous verse means. clarifies that God will sum up all things in Christ as the one Head. In we learn that we are predestined to be heirs in Christ. God will fulfill this purpose in “the administration [or: dispensation] of the fullness of the times”. The word ‘administration’ or ‘dispensation’ here means: the way God reigns and leads something in a particular period of time. You might have heard of the ‘doctrine of dispensation’. This is about the classification of the history of humanity in different ‘dispensations’ or periods. The first dispensation is ‘the dispensation of innocence’, this is the period of time from the creation till the fall of man in sin. Then God ruled over the creation through Adam before the fall. A following dispensation is that without law. That is the period from Adam after the fall till Moses. Then the period of the law follows, that is the dispensation from Moses to Christ ( ). Every dispensation has its own characteristics. They all lasted a certain time. During that time God ruled over man and creation in a way that was adjusted to that time. In all dispensations man had become disobedient to God over and over again. In this way man also lost again and again the blessings that God promised if he would be obedient. But here God presents a dispensation which is mentioned ‘the fullness of the times’. That is the period in which all previous dispensations will find their fullness and fulfillment. By the way, this is not the same as what is mentioned in Galatians 4 “the fullness of the time” ( ). There ‘fullness’ means the passing (become full; ripen) of a particular time after which the big event, the birth of the Lord Jesus, happens. There it is just about the length or the duration of time. Here in it is not about the duration of the time, but about the characteristics, the content of this dispensation that will dawn. It is about what is characterizing the coming period. In the previous dispensations man has spoiled everything again and again. That will not happen in the coming dispensation. This assurance lies in Him to Whom God has entrusted the government in that dispensation: Christ. As said, the government of Christ was of itself not a mystery. But the mystery that will be revealed will show that the government is in the hands of Christ and the church. Then Christ and the church will rule over “all things … things in the heavens and things on the earth”. This will be seen in the millennial reign of Christ; then Christ will be the Head. In Genesis 1 and 2 you can already see a picture of God’s purpose. There we see how God in the beginning entrusts to Adam, as the head of creation, the rule and reign over creation. After that He gave Eve as his wife to support him. Together they form the man ( ). Adam became unfaithful, but Christ will remain faithful. He will reign in a way that will be fully to the glory and pleasure of God and a blessing to creation. The government of Christ will therefore embrace more than that of Adam. Adam ruled over the earth; Christ will rule over the heaven and the earth. In Hebrews 1 you read that God “appointed” the Lord Jesus as “heir of all things” ( ). He has received the right for the inheritance through His work on the cross at Calvary. In Revelation 5, where you see Him as the Lamb standing as slain ( ), the time has come that He will indeed demand the right to the inheritance. He is worthy! . But what do we see here to our surprise in Ephesians 1? That we “in Him we also have obtained an inheritance”! That exceeds our highest expectations! How amazing! We have not ‘ become an inheritance’. That would mean that we are a part of the inheritance, but that doesn’t meet with God’s plan. What we have received is much more wonderful. We will not be objects of blessing, but givers of blessing, together with the Lord Jesus. We have not become an inheritance; we have received an inheritance together with the Lord Jesus. We are “heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” ( ). We even read of “having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will”. We have already come across the expression ‘predestined’ in . There it was about the adoption as sons. This shows how much according to God’s purpose ‘heirs’ and ‘sonship’ belong together. This relation you also find in Hebrews 1 ( ), where it is about the Son, and in Galatians 4 ( ), where it is about us. You can also read that in Luke 15 ( ). In the ‘adoption as sons’ here you especially see the relation to God, you can say the private side. After all it was for Himself. In ‘heirs’ you especially see the relation to the inheritance, you can say the public side. After all, soon the world will be publicly ruled by the Lord Jesus, together with us. Then He “comes to be glorified in His saints …, and to be marveled at among all who have believed” ( ). This is included in “the counsel of His will”. In Paul writes about ‘ the kind intention or the pleasure of His will’ in relation to the ‘adoption as sons’, and in about ‘ the mystery of His will’ in relation to the government of Christ and the church. Now you see that there is also ‘ the counsel of His will’. These three expressions show together that God in His pleasure ( ) works out the mystery ( ) according to His counsel ( ). His counsel is fixed; nothing or no one can stop Him in carrying it out. You can firmly count on it that it will happen just as He wants it. We need to have this assurance because it is about something that is yet to come. You already share the adoption as son and the mystery has already been revealed to you, but the inheritance still has to come. . And when we have taken possession of the inheritance, together with Christ, we will be “to the praise of His glory”. In that time we will be one great song of praise on His glory. We will reflect God’s glory. God’s glory indicates all His excellent features. They will be exposed in us, in all that are sons and heirs. In every person from that countless group something will be visible of God’s glory and His excellencies. How great He must be to have such a glory! How great must be the praise to be given to Him. Now there is yet the question who are being meant by “we who were the first to hope in Christ”. Here Paul means the Jews who believe in Christ and who trust in Him before He will appear publicly. In this ‘we’ Paul includes himself, because he was also a Jew from his birth. In the following part I will give more attention to this. Now read Ephesians 1:10-12 again. Reflection: So the mystery is made known. Put in your own words what this mystery means.

‏ Ephesians 1:10-14

Summing Up of All Things in Christ

Eph 1:10. In the verses we have now before us Paul is telling what the mystery of the previous verse means. Eph 1:10 clarifies that God will sum up all things in Christ as the one Head. In Eph 1:11 we learn that we are predestined to be heirs in Christ.

God will fulfill this purpose in “the administration [or: dispensation] of the fullness of the times”. The word ‘administration’ or ‘dispensation’ here means: the way God reigns and leads something in a particular period of time. You might have heard of the ‘doctrine of dispensation’. This is about the classification of the history of humanity in different ‘dispensations’ or periods.

The first dispensation is ‘the dispensation of innocence’, this is the period of time from the creation till the fall of man in sin. Then God ruled over the creation through Adam before the fall. A following dispensation is that without law. That is the period from Adam after the fall till Moses. Then the period of the law follows, that is the dispensation from Moses to Christ (Rom 5:13-14).

Every dispensation has its own characteristics. They all lasted a certain time. During that time God ruled over man and creation in a way that was adjusted to that time. In all dispensations man had become disobedient to God over and over again. In this way man also lost again and again the blessings that God promised if he would be obedient.

But here God presents a dispensation which is mentioned ‘the fullness of the times’. That is the period in which all previous dispensations will find their fullness and fulfillment. By the way, this is not the same as what is mentioned in Galatians 4 “the fullness of the time” (Gal 4:4). There ‘fullness’ means the passing (become full; ripen) of a particular time after which the big event, the birth of the Lord Jesus, happens. There it is just about the length or the duration of time.

Here in Eph 1:10 it is not about the duration of the time, but about the characteristics, the content of this dispensation that will dawn. It is about what is characterizing the coming period. In the previous dispensations man has spoiled everything again and again. That will not happen in the coming dispensation. This assurance lies in Him to Whom God has entrusted the government in that dispensation: Christ.

As said, the government of Christ was of itself not a mystery. But the mystery that will be revealed will show that the government is in the hands of Christ and the church. Then Christ and the church will rule over “all things … things in the heavens and things on the earth”. This will be seen in the millennial reign of Christ; then Christ will be the Head.

In Genesis 1 and 2 you can already see a picture of God’s purpose. There we see how God in the beginning entrusts to Adam, as the head of creation, the rule and reign over creation. After that He gave Eve as his wife to support him. Together they form the man (Gen 1:27). Adam became unfaithful, but Christ will remain faithful. He will reign in a way that will be fully to the glory and pleasure of God and a blessing to creation.

The government of Christ will therefore embrace more than that of Adam. Adam ruled over the earth; Christ will rule over the heaven and the earth. In Hebrews 1 you read that God “appointed” the Lord Jesus as “heir of all things” (Heb 1:2). He has received the right for the inheritance through His work on the cross at Calvary. In Revelation 5, where you see Him as the Lamb standing as slain (Rev 5:6), the time has come that He will indeed demand the right to the inheritance. He is worthy!

Eph 1:11. But what do we see here to our surprise in Ephesians 1? That we “in Him we also have obtained an inheritance”! That exceeds our highest expectations! How amazing! We have not ‘become an inheritance’. That would mean that we are a part of the inheritance, but that doesn’t meet with God’s plan. What we have received is much more wonderful. We will not be objects of blessing, but givers of blessing, together with the Lord Jesus.

We have not become an inheritance; we have received an inheritance together with the Lord Jesus. We are “heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” (Rom 8:17). We even read of “having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will”.

We have already come across the expression ‘predestined’ in Eph 1:5. There it was about the adoption as sons. This shows how much according to God’s purpose ‘heirs’ and ‘sonship’ belong together. This relation you also find in Hebrews 1 (Heb 1:2), where it is about the Son, and in Galatians 4 (Gal 4:7), where it is about us. You can also read that in Luke 15 (Lk 15:11-12).

In the ‘adoption as sons’ here you especially see the relation to God, you can say the private side. After all it was for Himself. In ‘heirs’ you especially see the relation to the inheritance, you can say the public side. After all, soon the world will be publicly ruled by the Lord Jesus, together with us. Then He “comes to be glorified in His saints …, and to be marveled at among all who have believed” (2Thes 1:10).

This is included in “the counsel of His will”. In Eph 1:5 Paul writes about ‘the kind intention or the pleasure of His will’ in relation to the ‘adoption as sons’, and in Eph 1:9 about ‘the mystery of His will’ in relation to the government of Christ and the church. Now you see that there is also ‘the counsel of His will’. These three expressions show together that God in His pleasure (Eph 1:5) works out the mystery (Eph 1:9) according to His counsel (Eph 1:11).

His counsel is fixed; nothing or no one can stop Him in carrying it out. You can firmly count on it that it will happen just as He wants it. We need to have this assurance because it is about something that is yet to come. You already share the adoption as son and the mystery has already been revealed to you, but the inheritance still has to come.

Eph 1:12. And when we have taken possession of the inheritance, together with Christ, we will be “to the praise of His glory”. In that time we will be one great song of praise on His glory. We will reflect God’s glory. God’s glory indicates all His excellent features. They will be exposed in us, in all that are sons and heirs. In every person from that countless group something will be visible of God’s glory and His excellencies. How great He must be to have such a glory! How great must be the praise to be given to Him.

Now there is yet the question who are being meant by “we who were the first to hope in Christ”. Here Paul means the Jews who believe in Christ and who trust in Him before He will appear publicly. In this ‘we’ Paul includes himself, because he was also a Jew from his birth. In the following part I will give more attention to this.

Now read Ephesians 1:10-12 again.

Reflection: So the mystery is made known. Put in your own words what this mystery means.

Sealed With the Holy Spirit

Eph 1:13. As I said at the end of the last chapter, I will clarify the change from “we” in Eph 1:12 to “you” in Eph 1:13. I have already said that in Eph 1:12 Paul speaks especially about the Jews who are now already related to the Lord Jesus by faith. They have already received what is meant for the people of Israel in the future. The people of Israel still have to repent and be converted. That will happen when the Lord Jesus returns to reign on earth. Then they will look on Him Whom they have pierced and they shall acknowledge their Christ under the confession of their sins (Zec 12:10-13). Therefore the word “first” in Eph 1:12 means the present time: the time that precedes the period when Christ visibly resides on earth. In the present time He is only seen by faith.

In Eph 1:13 the Gentiles are indicated with ‘you’. They are also in Christ, but the difference is that you cannot say of them that they have ‘first’ believed in Christ. Just read that in chapter 2 (Eph 2:12). There you read that before their conversion they were outsiders in every way. Only after their conversion they have become partakers of the inheritance of Christ, together with the Jewish believers: together they have become heirs in Him (Eph 1:11).

So it is not true that the pagan who has been converted is a partaker in the blessings that are promised to Israel. He is partaker, together with the Jewish believer, of much higher spiritual blessings that have to do with adoption as sons and being heirs. We have seen this before. In Eph 1:13 the sealing with the Holy Spirit is an additional blessing, with Whom the Jewish believer as well as the non-Jewish believer is sealed.

Before Paul speaks about this issue, he first clarifies in a very striking way how the Gentile has become partaker of the Holy Spirit. The sequence is remarkable: first hear, then believe and finally the sealing with the Holy Spirit. First hear and then believe is in accordance with Romans 10: “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed?” (Rom 10:14). And Romans 10 also says: “So faith [comes] by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17). That what is “the word of Christ” in the letter to the Romans, is here called “the message of truth”, with the addition “the gospel of your salvation”. The Bible is ‘the Word of truth’ in which God has revealed His truth, the truth about all things.

This Word of truth means ‘the gospel of your salvation’ to everyone who accepts this Word. Gospel means ‘good news’ and it surely is to a person who realizes that God should judge him as a sinner. The gospel offers him salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus. The content of the gospel is written in 1 Corinthians 15: “Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, … For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1Cor 15:1-4). So the gospel is about the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

In Romans 4 is added “those who believe in Him [i.e. God] who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, [He] who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification” (Rom 4:24-25). So a man is saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Who was delivered up in death by God and has also been raised from the dead.

God puts His seal on every man who believes that, as a proof that such a person is His property. This seal is the Holy Spirit. God the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in that person. The Lord Jesus says in John 14 of the Holy Spirit: “That He may abide with you forever” (Jn 14:16). This makes clear that the seal of God’s ownership is unbreakable.

God’s Spirit is called here “the Holy Spirit of promise”. This is not so much about the fact that the Holy Spirit is promised, but it is more about what is related to the sealing with the Holy Spirit. To be sealed with Him includes a promise.

Eph 1:14. That promise is being expressed in what follows. The Holy Spirit is the “pledge of our inheritance”. The fact that He is the pledge or guarantee means that we do not own the inheritance yet. A pledge is a kind of assurance that you will receive something in the future that you do not have yet. In everyday language the pledge is always less than the property itself. That, of course, is not the case here. That the Holy Spirit is called ‘pledge’ here has to do with the assurance that the rest is yet to come.

Because He has been given to us, we can already enjoy the inheritance now, although we cannot practically take possession of it yet. The inheritance lies in the future. Also the Lord Jesus Himself has not yet received the inheritance. You read in Hebrews 2 that the world to come will be subjected to Him (Heb 2:5-8). Only then He shall reign and we with Him.

Before that will happen, something else must happen first with that inheritance. We read about “the redemption of [God’s own] possession”. You understand that by ”possession” is meant the inheritance. This inheritance is already our possession now, but it still is under the curse of sin. That curse must first be taken away. The Lord Jesus has accomplished on the cross what was necessary for that. There He became ‘a curse’ and paid the price so He could take away the curse of creation. Through the sin of the first man, Adam, a curse came on creation. Through the obedience of the second man, Christ, this curse will be taken away.

The purchased inheritance will be redeemed by Him Who has every right to that inheritance. Also Revelation 5 makes clear Who has the right, that is described in the scroll, to that inheritance: the Lord Jesus. He is both the Lion from the tribe of Judah (Rev 5:5) and the Lamb standing, as if slain (Rev 5:6). The Lion has triumphed by giving Himself to be slaughtered as Lamb.

He will take possession of the inheritance when ‘the dispensation of the fullness of the times’ has dawned (Eph 1:10). That will happen in a way at the beginning of the millennial kingdom of peace. Then satan will be bound and sin restrained. But in the millennium there will still be sin and that’s why a perfect situation is not the case yet. However, at the end of the millennium, sin will be completely banned out of creation. Then the word of John will entirely be fulfilled: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29).

When the purchased inheritance has been redeemed and when the church together with Christ has received the rule over it, then the counsel of God has been completed. Then God’s glory will glimmer with a radiance that will never fade. He then shall receive all praise of everything there is. The new creation will reflect His glory: all will breathe His praise. All people, in heaven as well as on earth, will reflect His glory and all will praise Him. To Him be all glory forever and ever!

Now read Ephesians 1:13-14 again.

Reflection: Thank God in your own words for what you have learnt in these verses about His plans with and for you.