“And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as His own.” Eph 1:13
Ephesians chapter 1 is a revelation of God’s covenant love and commitment to His future bride. Verses 6-8 is full off beautiful language depicting the love that any bridegroom should have for his bride. The NLT reads, “So we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son.” v6. God the Father pours out His grace, His underserved favour, on the bride His Son has chosen. Imagine having a father-in-law who just wants to bring blessings to you!
“He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins.” v7. We have been purchased by the Blood of the Lamb. We’ve been betrothed to the Son, the bride price has been paid. This verse echoes Psalm 103, which King David wrote, acknowledging the great, great love that God has for us: “[He] forgives all your iniquities…heals all your diseases…redeems your life from the pit..crowns you with steadfast love and mercy…satisfies you with good…”
“He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding” v8. The word “showered” has the meaning of lavishness, abundance, unstinted and unmeasured profusion! God the Father has lavished His kindness upon us, and will lavish His wisdom and understanding upon us too, so that we may know how to live as the Bride of Christ. This wisdom and understanding comes through knowing what the Bible teaches and then applying it to our own lives.
“And when you believed in Christ, He identified you as His own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom He promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that He will give us the inheritance He promised and that He has purchased us to be His own people.” V13-14. This is such beautiful imagery of a betrothal. The bride price has been paid, and now a gift has been given. A gift that is the guarantee that we are His and that He will return for us on that triumphal wedding day, when we become His forever. The Holy Spirit is like a picture of the engagement rings we give and receive today. He is the guaranteed promise that Christ will return for His bride. When we accept Christ as our Lord and saviour, His Holy Spirit comes and resides inside of us. We are now identified as His future bride, just like an engagement ring identifies a girl as the future wife of the man who gave it to her.
Today, let’s reflect again on the lavish love of our Saviour. As a newly engaged woman can’t help but stare at her ring and show it off to everyone, let us ponder the great, great love of our Heavenly Bridegroom and tell others of His wonderful love that is extended to them too.