20. The Initiative of the Father

In previous readings, we explored the wonderful truth that the Father has saved us by His grace. We are like the workers in the field who only worked one hour and yet received a full day’s wage. There is nothing within us that merits His mercy or forgiveness. We are saved by grace and grace alone.  

Ephesians chapter one highlights the Father’s initiative and action in our salvation.

Verse three summarises the key idea. 

Ephesians 1:3 (ESV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus  Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the  heavenly places,

Notice from this verse that it is the Father who has blessed us in Christ. Our salvation did not originate in our attempts to be right with Him. It was not our seeking after Him, but rather His seeking after us. And our salvation results from His purpose and will. 

To further understand the initiative of the Father, I have included the next few verses from Ephesians chapter one, and I have highlighted the mentions of the Father. Slowly read the passage below several times, noticing how central the Father is and noting what He has done for us in Christ. 

Ephesians 1:3–14 (ESV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,  6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8  which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Considering the highlighted words and phrases in this passage, we see that it is the Father doing all of the action. He planned and initiated our salvation.

v3 The Father has blessed us
v4 The Father chose us in him (Christ)
v5 The Father predestined us for adoption to himself 
v7, 8 The Father lavished his grace upon us 
v9 The Father made known to us the mystery of his will

Of course, the Father did not act alone in bringing about our salvation. This was a work of all three members of the Trinity, with each member playing their unique role.

Notice the references to Jesus in this passage.

v 3 we are blessed in Christ 
v 4 the Father chose us in Christ that we should be holy and blameless
v 5 the Father predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ
v 6 the Father has blessed us in the Beloved (Christ) 
v 7 in him (Christ) we have redemption through his (Christ’s) blood
v 9 the Father set forth his will in Christ 
v 10 the Father is uniting all things in him (Christ) 
v 11 in him (Christ) we have obtained an inheritance 
v 12 our hope is in Christ 
v 13 in him (Christ) we were sealed with the Holy Spirit

From these verses, we see that the Father initiated our salvation. It was His plan and His purpose. Also, we note that Jesus made our redemption possible through His death on the cross.

Finally, notice the repeated expressions, “in Him” or “in Christ”. Our salvation rests on Jesus and on Him alone. We are saved because we have put our trust and faith in Him!

This passage reveals that Jesus did not save us from an angry Father. Jesus became a man and died for us because this was the plan and the will of the  Father.  

Further reading: Eph 2:4-5; Tit 3:3-5 

Spend a moment reflecting on the truth that it was the Father's initiative to extend grace to you.

This is an extract from my free book Knowing God as Father, which is available for download at Knowing God as Father.