Charles Spurgeon Commentary Ephesians 1:11-14

"in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will; to the end that we should be unto the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ: in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation,-- in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of [God`s] own possession, unto the praise of his glory." — Ephesians 1:11-14 (ASV)

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will: that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after you believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

I cannot help remarking how continually the apostle uses such expressions as "in Christ," "in whom," "in him." He will not have a doctrine apart from Christ; he will not mention a single blessing, or a single mercy, without Christ. I believe there is no way of preaching gospel doctrines truly apart from the Master.

In Christ's own days, if you had asked one of his followers what he believed, he would not have been long in telling you; he would not have pointed to fifty doctrines, but he would have pointed to Christ, and said, "I believe in him." You might have asked him, fifty times, "But what do you believe?" and he would have replied, "I believe in him; he is in himself the great embodiment of my faith; his person carries within it all the great doctrines which I receive from him; he is the Truth; I believe him, and I believe in him."

Let us learn, then, always to trace our mercies to Christ Jesus, to look upon every blessing as being the purchase of his blood, and never to ask for any mercy, nor endeavor to obtain any blessing, except entirely in connection with him. Let us say to him:

You are the Way, the Truth, the Life:
Grant us that Way to know,
That Truth to keep, that Life to win,
Whose joys eternal flow.