I. Union With Christ: the emphasis on being in Christ is repeated over and over again throughout the NT. All things are summed up in Christ. II. The necessity of the gospel: Though the Ephesian Christians were predestined to adoption as sons and chosen before the foundation of the world, that did not eliminate the need for them to hear the gospel. Every elect person must hear the gospel. No gospel, no salvation.
III. The necessity of faith: You must believe the gospel, not just hear it. Where God appoints the end of salvation, He appoints the means of gospel preaching and hearing and believing. Of course, it must be the true gospel, not a false one.
IV. Sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise: this comes after believing in Christ. It is not baptism. Baptism is nowhere called sealing. Rather, we are marked with the Holy Spirit. We are the "property of God".
V. Who is given as a pledge of our inheritance: The Holy Spirit is a pledge or down payment of the full payment coming in the future. We are given the Spirit in part as a promise that God will give us the entire inheritance in heaven. You received the blessing of God's indwelling now, but in heaven, and especially at the resurrection, you will receive a fullness that will greatly exceed what you have now.
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