When does a person believe according to Ephesians 1:13?
According to Ephesians 1:13, a person believes after hearing the Word of Truth—the Gospel that Christ died, was buried, and rose from the dead—and after considering it, being old enough to understand both their sin and Christ as the remedy.
Les teaches that Ephesians 1:12-13 is written to believers, not to a lost person. Paul says, '...in whom you also believed, after...' The order is: after you heard the Word of Truth, which is the Gospel—that Christ died, was buried, and rose from the dead—and after you have considered it and are old enough to understand that you are a sinner and that Christ is the remedy. Les emphasizes that this verse says nothing about church membership, though he is not against the local church.
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
More Questions
What is the order of events in Ephesians 1:13?
In Ephesians 1:13, the sequence is that after hearing the word of truth a person believes, and after believing that person is sealed.
Does Ephesians 1:13 list anything other than believing as required for salvation?
In Ephesians 1:13 the only thing attached to salvation after hearing is believing; all the other things people attach to salvation today are not in the verse at all, so salvation is faith plus nothing.