The Redemption of the Purchased Possession - Part 1

Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver

purposed in Himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him: in Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will: that we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:9-14)

PRELIMINARY THOUGHTS CONCERNING SALVATION

First, the work of salvation is progressive in nature and it is actively moving toward it’s ordained end. In other words, God has begun a good work through Christ and He fully intends on bringing it to completion. The fullness of God's intention in salvation has not yet been brought to pass but it will in the world to come. If the Lord has said it you can be certain that He will do it. If He has purchased it, you can be certain He will redeem it. 

Furthermore, the partaking of Divine benefit and blessing, as everything in the kingdom of God, is increasing. So, everyone engaged in it now will see further involvement then. Thus, as those in Christ are translated from this world to that which is to come, their experience will be in accord with their current experience but also enhanced, improved, increased, and perfected. What we have partaken of here in the first fruits sense will be abundantly enjoyed there in the full obtainment sense. It will be of the same source and of the same substance but it will be better; a sort of unfiltered and unabated experience of the provision of God and the work of God. Specific to the text before us we can say, “we have been given an earnest of our inheritance, but the redemption of the purchased possession is in order to a better work than the earnest of it.”

Lastly, salvation is a fellowship and as such it’s benefits are mutually enjoyed by both the Savior and the saved. In fact, what God is working in Christ is pleasing and beneficial to all involved in it. The Godhead is involved and blessed by men being saved. Men themselves are involved and benefit greatly from salvation. The heavenly angels are even involved in ministering to the heirs of salvation and they are blessed by beholding such a great work, also. All those involved in the work of salvation are benefitted by it. Therefore the completion of the work will be to the end that all are blessed for evermore and all readily praise the Savior saying, "it is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes." It will all be to the praise of His glory.

THINGS KEPT SECRET ARE NOW MADE MANIFEST

God is making known mysteries that have been in hidden from man since before the foundations of the earth were laid. And because the wisdom of man never comes to the knowledge of God, of His own will, God has revealed these mysteries to us by His Spirit. And both the revelation of the mystery of His will and the accomplishment of it are unto the praise of His glory.

“Hermeneutics” has been defined as the science of studying, interpreting, and understanding a text, primarily Scripture. When it comes to understanding the mysteries of heaven the only effective and true hermeneutic is Divine revelation. The mysteries of God must be revealed by God and if they are not, no amount of earthly expertise will find them out. Here is some good news: God is a revealer of mysteries.