Made And Inheritance Series

“Made an Inheritance”

Eph 1:11-12

I. Our Wealth and Worth In Christ 1-4

A. Paul blessed God for blessing us with every spiritual blessing 1:3-14

1. Specially Chosen 1:4

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him in love

2. Purposefully Adopted 1:5-6

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

3. Freely Redeemed and Forgiven 1:7-8a

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.

4. Spiritually Enlightened 1:8b-10

In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.

This would be enough but Paul is not finished because God was not finished. In fact, part of the Holy Spirit’s job is to help us understand all that has been freely given us.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,

1 Corinthians 2:12 (grace granted)

Here is a song that will help us remember the content of this part of Ephesians.

“Blessed Be the God and Father”

Chorus

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

Who has blessed us with every blessing in the heavenlies in Christ, in the heavenlies in Christ.

Verse 1

He chose us before creation and set our destiny

That we would be His blessed children through all eternity.

Verse 2

In Him we have a full redemption, forgiveness of our sin,

Through the riches of His grace bestowed on us through Him.

Verse 3

He shared the myst’ry of His will Christ the sum of all things.

He gave to us His rich inheritance and sealed us with no strings.

Bridge

All of these things are for those who believe after listening to His word.

That we should ever show forth His glorious praise and continually bless the Lord.

(David Welch)

INTRODUCTION

Part of the cycle of life and death includes passing on an inheritance when someone dies.

Much of the cause of lifelong struggles with anger and bitterness relates to inheritance issues.

Some tried to drag Jesus into a dispute over inheritance.

Someone in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." But He said to him, "Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?" Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." Luke 12:13-15

Jesus kept the focus on what was of eternal significance. Many times a significant financial inheritance has been the catalyst of moral ruin. A grand windfall of free money many times results in a greedy whirlwind of frivolous spending. All of us would like to leave a legacy of some sort to our children. It feels important enough to the giver and receiver to spend time doing it right. The Bible is not silent about inheritance. It addresses inheritance and leaving a legacy to our children. It has addresses both God’s inheritance in us and ours in Him.

5. Surely Deemed God’s Inheritance 1:11-12

In Him also we have been made an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:10-12

Many translations give the impression that this refers to our inheritance.

“We have obtained and inheritance”

This is a Biblical truth taught elsewhere but not here. I used to believe it was taught here but, on further examination of the text, I favor the idea that Paul actually refers to God’s inheritance in us not ours. He made US HIS inheritance. Paul employed a passive verb relating to us. This is something done to us rather than for us. We were made (by God) an inheritance.

God considers us a valuable gift. As His special kids, we also “have obtained” an inheritance.

Paul refers to our inheritance later and in several other passages, but I think here, he wants us to see how valuable we are to God. This interpretation fits the context of the passage and also corresponds to Paul’s prayer for enlightenment at the end of the chapter.