“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.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of HIS inheritance in the saints (true followers of Jesus) Ephesians 1:18
All along, Paul has been filled with wonder at God’s rich blessings. He chose us.
He redeemed and forgave us. He adopted us into His family.
…All because it please Him to do so.
…All on the basis of His favor not our merit.
The emphasis here is how God feels about it all. He blessed us by bringing us into His family.
He considers us His special people. He felt that way about Israel in the Old Testament. Many passages indicate God’s sense of connection to His people. He considered them a rich heritage.
For the LORD'S portion is His people; Jacob is the allotment of His inheritance. Deuteronomy 32:9
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance. Psalms 33:12
The portion of Jacob is not like these; for the Maker of all is He, and Israel is the tribe of His inheritance; the LORD of hosts is His name. Jeremiah 10:16
By the use of carefully chosen pronouns, Paul seems to first make reference to Jews (we) as God’s chosen inheritance and then later to the fact that Gentiles are also included (you also).
The feelings God had toward chosen Israel is the same He has toward the chosen Gentiles.
Paul will expand on this striking theme of uniting both groups (Jew/Gentile) later in his letter.
The substance of God’s action
“He made us His inheritance.” The word translated “inheritance” has to do with a proportion or lot divided up. It may even refer so someone’s share of something. Paul used a passive point-time verb. This is something God made us.
The basis of God’s action
“in Him”
God brought us into His community by reason of our connection to Jesus and His redemptive work.
having been predestined according to His purpose
He did it because He wanted to. It was His desire to invite His creatures into intimate relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He not only wanted to, but He predetermined to bring it about. We were made His inheritance because God predetermined to do so. Paul then reminded them that EVERYTHING turns out the way God determines it to turn out.
continually working all things after the counsel of His will,
He brought us into His family because of Jesus.
He brought us into His family because He wanted to and determined to.
The purpose of God’s action
to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:12
Paul may be referring again to the Jews who trusted Christ first. In the next verse he adds Gentiles to the family. This is the second of three references in this doxology to God’s ultimate objective and desire. Paul continually reinforces a God-centered perspective of our salvation.
The ultimate purpose for all God’s action is to draw attention to the wonder of who He is.
He did it to inspire heartfelt praise of His glorious nature.
He chose us and adopted us to the praise of the glory of His grace (6)
He made us His inheritance to the praise of His glory. (12)
He seals us with the Holy Spirit guaranteeing our full redemption to the praise of His glory. (14)
Notice that all of these provocations to praise revolve around the manifestation of His grace and mercy toward sinful rebellious and hopeless sinners by inviting them to be members of His perfect eternal community. Any time someone starts focusing more on what we get out of this relationship than what God gets out of it, beware! It is not “what about me?” It is “what about Him?” What does God get out of it? The Bible is clear that God does also promise us an inheritance but here, the focus is on the fact He considers US His treasured inheritance.
Paul prays later that we would be spiritually enlightened as to understand the “the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”
He wants us to realize what a big deal our redemption and adoption are to God.
He intentionally makes us His special people.
But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. 1 Peter 2:9-10
He made us who were dead, alive in Christ. (Eph 2)
He brought us who were far off without hope, near. (Eph 2)
HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. Ephesians 2:17-22
God is constructing a place where He interacts with His people and manifests His character to the world.
Jesus gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. Titus 2:14
Paul calls us “his own possession” later in verse 14.
The concept of God intimately connecting with His creatures runs all through the Scriptures.
We are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:16-18
He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:6
And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth." Revelation 5:9-10
Jesus referred to us as valued gifts from His Father.
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." John 6:35-40
We were on His mind before the worlds were made. We were on His mind and heart just before His most critical period of suffering and sacrifice. He interceded for us in His passionate prayer to the Father.
Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life.” John 17:1-2
I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.” John 17:6
“I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours; and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them. I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.” 17:9-11
“While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.” John 17:12
The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” John 17:22-24
Do you catch the love both the Father and the Son have for us? Jesus sacrificed Himself for our sake.
Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:25-27
We are a treasured gift to Jesus. Do get the sense of His delight in us? God considers His church a glorious inheritance. Not denominations, or institutions or buildings but those individual followers of Christ who make up His body. It is through the church that God will bring about His master plan. God no longer manifests His presence in a temple made with hands. We are His temple.
We are growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. Ephesians 2:17-22
The whole creation groans in anticipation of the revealing of the sons of God.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. Romans 8:18-19
Paul urged the Colossians to focus their thinking on their true heritage.
Therefore since you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4
Jesus reminded the disciples that they were no longer of this world system even though they had to continue to live in it. Paul gave his life to proclaim the truth of God’s treasured inheritance in the church.
Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:25-27
APPLICATION
What difference should the understanding of this blessing make on our everyday lives?
It should affect how we feel toward God.
It should affect how we view ourselves.
It should affect how we view others.
It should affect how we live.
• Inspire intense gratitude for the privilege of being a child of God
• Generate great security in how deeply God feels about us.
• Elevate our sense of worth as we see ourselves as the treasured people that God views us
• Arouse a new appreciation for the members of the family; the church
Paul, in another letter, affirms that we are heirs and joint-heirs with Jesus. That means that whatever Christ inherits, so do we. According to this passage, we inherit the “saints”. What, or should I say whoever, was given as a gift to Jesus belongs to us as well. Do we treat one another as precious gifts or as annoying problems?
• Motivate a life style that reflects our elevated status
Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:11-12
Therefore, having these promises, (related to sonship) beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Colossians 3:5-17
• Promote greater involvement in ministry
We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. Colossians 1:28-29
Next week we will discuss God’s guarantee of His and our inheritance.
