Ephesians 1:13 – The Evangel of your salvation

…In Whom you also – on hearing the word of truth, the evangel of your salvation – in Whom on believing also, you are sealed with the holy spirit of promise…

To the ones having “an earlier expectation” Paul also includes his readers. They were once sealed “with the holy spirit of promise”. When? Answer: when they believed. What did they believe? Answer: the word of truth. Which truth? Answer: the evangel of their salvation.

To the ‘Ephesians’ Paul did not preach the good news of their possible salvation. No, he told them that GOD is their Saviour (1 Tim. 4:10). That saving grace of GOD has appeared to all people (Tit. 2:11). Salvation is not an offer or option. It is a fact. That was “the word of truth” which they heard from Paul. That was the evangel and they believed that!

It is this word of truth which GOD seals with the holy spirit of promise. GOD does not seal a religious message. Not even under the Christian banner of ‘God becomes your saviour when you…’. In the word of truth every one’s own work is excluded. It knows no conditions or limits. That is why it is such a good message!

Delen: