Ephesians 1:7-23

Election: the work of the Father

Paul goes out of his way to state as clearly as possible that God is the one who saves sinners according to His own desire.

Redemption: the work of the Son

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,

Christ died to pay a ransom for those whom the Father has elected by grace. Clearly, Christ said that He came to do the work of the Father (John 5:20-35), and that he would save only those called by the Father (John 6:44).

9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,

10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth-- in Him.

The work of Christ was completely consistent with the revealed plan in the Old Testament and we can see that the final goal of God is to bring all things together under Christ.

11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

We have been predestined to be conformed to the image of His son and as sons we have been given an inheritance of future glory. All of this has been done according to the glorious purposes and will of God.

Assurance of Redemption and Enlightenment: the work of the Spirit

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

The Spirit is like an earnest money deposit which is meant to demonstrate one's intent to purchase something.

15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,

18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

Paul's prayer is not that they would be saved, he already knows that God has saved them (vs. 13) but that God would give them insight and understanding with regards to their salvation by grace.

19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

The same power by which Christ was raised from the dead is the power by which you are elected, redeemed and sanctified.

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,

23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (NKJ)