When does a person trust in Christ according to Ephesians?
According to Ephesians, a person trusts in Christ after hearing the Word of Truth, which is the Gospel. Paul writes that believers trusted in Christ after they heard the Word of Truth, and that Word of Truth is the Gospel. So faith in Christ follows hearing the Gospel message.
Les teaches that Paul writes to the Ephesians, and to us today, that we trusted in Christ after we heard the Word of Truth. He identifies the Word of Truth as the Gospel. Les observes that many people are confused about the Gospel, even in the Bible Belt, and some have never heard it despite being in church all their lives. He directs them to I Corinthians 15:1-4 as the simplest presentation of the Gospel, saying that if you can believe that, you have it made. This Gospel is so simple a child can understand it, yet it is as much as you need. Paul says you are saved by this Gospel if you keep in memory what he preached, lest you believe in vain. In other words, you have to know what you believe. So trusting in Christ occurs after hearing the Word of Truth, the Gospel.
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,
Is salvation by faith alone according to Ephesians 1:13?
Yes. Ephesians 1:13 sets the sequence: a person hears the Word of Truth, the Gospel of salvation, believes in Christ, and is then sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. The passage attaches no other requirements to salvation, so it presents faith plus nothing, salvation by faith alone.
What happens to a person after they believe according to Ephesians 1:13?
According to Ephesians 1:13, after a person hears the Word of Truth—the Gospel of salvation—and believes, that person is sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. This sealing is God's mark of ownership, and Scripture presents it as faith plus nothing, with no other conditions added.
More Questions
Who is Paul writing to in Ephesians 1 when he says 'in whom you also trusted'?
In Ephesians 1:12-13 Paul writes 'in whom you also trusted' to believers, not to lost people.
What do the 'in Christ' phrases in Ephesians mean for believers?
The repeated 'in Christ' / 'in Him' prepositional phrases throughout Ephesians describe the believer's position in Christ, or in the body of Christ.
Do you trust in Christ before or after hearing the word of truth?
In Ephesians 1:13, a person trusts in Christ and places their faith after, not before, hearing the word of truth.