In whom we have the full redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of the trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He made abound unto us in all wisdom and prudence (Ephesians 1:7–8).
God chose before the foundation of the world that those who would be in Christ would hold a position as sons. Sons are not under laws because they have all they need to act in a proper manner (Galatians 3:24–25). We are marked off as sons to the praise of a proper opinion of His grace (Ephesians 1:6). Praise is the fruit of our lips confessing His name (Hebrews 13:15). Glory is to have or hold a proper opinion. And grace is a benefit without consideration of merit.
This marking off is through Jesus Christ and is to display a proper opinion of God’s grace. For even in the ages of the ages, through the Church God will continue to display His grace so that all of the spirit beings can understand it (Ephesians 2:7).
Those who are in Christ possess the forgiveness of trespasses (Ephesians 1:7). Sins are also forgiven (Colossians 1:14); however, Paul’s focus in Ephesians relates to the processes within the mind. Trespasses and sins are distinct (Ephesians 2:1). A trespass happens within the mind when a determination is made to violate God’s standard. This conception then gives birth to sin (James 1:15). In Christ, God deals not only with our acts of sin, but also with the trespasses within the mind that led to lawlessness. Therefore, the one in Christ is clean in both action and mind, for in Christ he has a new mind that can discern God’s desirous will (Romans 12:1–2).
Wisdom is the proper use of knowledge. Christ became the wisdom of God for us, our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30). This is not the wisdom of the world, which is foolishness to God (1 Corinthians 3:19). Since we have a wisdom that is from above, based on the knowledge of who we are in Christ, we can wisely apply this knowledge in life (Colossians 4:5). When we lack wisdom, we need simply to ask God (James 1:5).
Prudence relates to how we frame our minds. The frame of mind describes the boundaries we put on our minds. This is a natural part of everyone’s life, shaping how they perceive themselves and those around them. When we look at prudence in action, the Christian’s mind is to be framed on the things above, not on earthly matters (Colossians 3:1–2). A mature mind is framed on pursuing the goal of being found having righteousness out from faith, not out from law because of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:9–15).
In Christ, we are fully redeemed from our sin nature; our trespasses and sins are forgiven, and we are given wisdom and a proper frame of mind so that we may live a life that displays a proper opinion of God’s grace toward us.
