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Last week we began exploring the spiritual blessing of redemption. Redemption requires a price to be paid – Jesus’ blood. Jesus paid the debt we could never have paid ourselves. In Him, we have forgiveness of all our sin. The blessing of redemption is infinitely more than we deserve, but Paul added that our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins is “according to the riches of his grace.” As we pick back up in verse 8 today, we read that Paul is not finished with his description of God’s grace and the purpose of redemption.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.[1]
Ephesians 3:3-14 (emphasis added)
Glorious grace (vs 6). Extravagant grace (vs 7). Lavish grace (vs 8). I struggle for words to follow those three descriptions of God’s grace. Read them again. God’s grace is lavished on you. We continue the struggle with sin this side of glory, but our sin can never come close to surpassing God’s grace. Out of that astounding truth flows hope, joy, comfort, and encouragement.
A friend’s dad was a sniper in the Vietnam War. He has resisted coming to saving faith because he believes his actions in war are beyond God’s forgiveness and grace. I’ve met others who believe their sin is more than God could forgive, more than His grace. This old hymn based on Scripture counters such thinking.
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount out-poured –
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!
Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
All who are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?[2]
Forgiveness was the first result of redemption (vs 7). The second result and also the manner of God’s glorious, extravagant, lavish grace is “in all wisdom and insight.” Wisdom relates to understanding the things of God (eternal issues, sin, righteousness, life, death, God, man, etc.). Insight pertains to a practical understanding for daily life. MacArthur clarifies: “He generously gives us the wherewithal both to understand His Word and to know how to obey it.”[3]
“Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God… For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:12, 16).
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).
Paul zeroes in on the wisdom and insight – “making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ” (vs 9). The phrase “making known” is used in connection to the unveiling of God’s revelation (Romans 16:26; Ephesians 3:3, 5, 10; Colossians 1:27). What has been made known to us is the “mystery of his will.”
I have loved puzzles and mysteries ever since I was little. Puzzles are my way of unwinding and putting things in order. Mysteries are similar – putting clues together to solve the mystery. I read every Nancy Drew book and watched every episode of the original Scooby Doo, but Paul is not referring to a puzzle that needs solving. Rather mystery is a secret kept concealed until God’s time to reveal it.[4] A puzzle or figuring out clues with those meddling kids and their dog is of my effort. Mystery is God’s revelation of an eternal truth hidden in times past but now displayed through the Gospel in His perfect timing.
This mystery is according to God’s purpose which was before time and creation. It was a purpose set forth in Christ. Jesus’ atoning work on the cross redeems us, but there is even more to God’s plan: “as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”
All that Paul is addressing is according to God’s divine purposes for “the fullness of time.” Plērōma means the utter saturation of something; to the point of bursting. R.C. Sproul explains: “God’s plan for redemption is worked out in history. Through centuries of time, God prepares the world for the climactic act of redemption in Christ… That is precisely the moment that God had planned from all eternity, time was ripe, at the bursting point. Now we are seeing, as Paul declares here, the unfolding of this mystery of redemption in the very fullness of time. History was pregnant for this moment, and now the birth of the redemption that is wrought by Christ takes place.”[5]
The ultimate purpose of redemption is “to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” This is the mystery God is revealing (vs 9) with Jesus as the focal point.
“All things” includes all of heaven and earth, all of creation.
“To unite” means “to sum up” (Romans 13:9; Colossians 1:16, 20). “Everything will be re-ordered in appropriate submission to God.” [6] All evil will be eternally conquered, and everything else that remains will be in “incomparable unity” (MacArthur) in Christ. It is difficult to fathom what that unity will be like. No sin. Nothing hindering perfect relationship with God. Eternally in His presence. Knowing fully even as we are fully known. What amazing, glorious, extravagant, lavish grace God has poured out on us!
Reflection
1. What thoughts, emotions, and responses come to mind as you meditate on God’s amazing, glorious, extravagant, lavish grace?
2. How are you encouraged that all things will be united in Christ? How does that alter how you live now?
3. Take time to listen to “Grace That is Greater Than All Our Sin” and “Amazing Grace.” Praise God for His amazing, glorious, extravagant, lavish grace. Thank Him for redemption in Jesus.
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eph 1:3–14.
[2] Johnston, Julia H. Grace Greater Than All Our Sin. 1910.
[3] John F. MacArthur Jr., Ephesians, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1986), 25.
[4] Mystery is used seven times in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians each time connecting to overall them of uniting all things in Christ.
[5] Sproul, R.C. Ephesians: An Expositional Commentary. (Sanford: Ligonier Ministries, 2023), 20.
[6] Coekin, Richard. Ephesians For You. (Charlotte: The Good Book Company, 2015).
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