History is rife with stories of murder, extortion and robbery by siblings taking family possessions by force. They rationalize that they either deserve it or will eventually inherit it, so why not take it now? They imagine what they can do with the money and possessions to achieve their dreams.
That for which every person in one way or another yearns, the Christian already possesses or is one day assured of possessing. In Ephesians 1:11-14 Paul shows us the awesome and wonderful potential of Christian believers. The apostle gives us a glimpse of the glorious blessings God has planned for and promised to those who come to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.
For believers, our inheritance is the aspect of salvation which is primarily future. We were elected, or predestined, before the world or time existed (v.3-6a) ; we have been redeemed in this present age (v.6b-10); and we will receive our completed inheritance in the ages to come,
Foreshadowing the completion when we enter fully into the Father’s eternal heavenly kingdom, Ephesians 1:11-14 shows us 1) The Ground (Ephesians 1:11–13a), 2) The Guarantee (Ephesians 1:13b–14a), and 3) The Goal of our incomparable inheritance in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:14b).
1) The Ground of Our Inheritance (Ephesians 1:11–13a)
Ephesians 1:11-13a [11]In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, [12]so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. [13]In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, (were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit), (ESV)
"In Him", clearly refers to Jesus Christ (v. 10), who is the ground or source of our divine inheritance. Not only did we, in vital union with Christ, receive such blessings as redemption, forgiveness of sin, and spiritual illumination (wisdom, insight), favors which have already been mentioned (verses 7–10 above) but, in addition to these initial favors, which, though they have abiding significance, focus the attention upon the past (deliverance from that terrible power by which we were bound, pardon of past sins, banishment of former darkness), the right to future glory was bestowed upon us (Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953–2001). Exposition of Ephesians (Vol. 7, p. 87). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.)
Apart from Jesus Christ, the only ultimate and eternal thing a person can receive from God is condemnation. God bestows sunshine, rain, and many other good things generally, on the righteous and unrighteous alike (Matt. 5:45). But His spiritual blessings are bestowed only on those who are: in Him (cf. vv. 1, 3–4, 6–7, 10). “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given, by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Please turn to 2 Peter 1 (p.1018)
We have obtained an inheritance translates a single compound word in the Greek (eklçrôthçmen). When something in the future was so certain that it could not possibly fail to happen, the Greeks would often speak of it as if it had already occurred (as here, where Paul uses the aorist passive indicative). We, that is, believers, are Christ’s inheritance. Jesus repeatedly spoke of believers as gifts that the Father had given Him (John 6:37, 39; 10:29; 17:2, 24; etc.). Our inheritance with Christ is yet another of the amazing and magnificent blessings with which the Father has blessed us in the Son. As Paul makes clear in verse 3, our inheritance includes “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” In Jesus Christ, believers inherit every promise God has ever made. The passive implies that God gave the lot, that it is received by grace alone (Lenski, R. C. H. (1937). The interpretation of St. Paul’s Epistles to the Galatians, to the Ephesians and to the Philippians (p. 377). Columbus, O.: Lutheran Book )
As Simon Peter would explain about himself and every believer:
2 Peter 1:1-4 [1:1]Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: [2]May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. [3]His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, [4]by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (ESV)
• Our every conceivable need is met by God’s gracious provision in accordance with His divine promises. We are promised peace, love, grace, wisdom, eternal life, joy, victory, strength, guidance, power, mercy, forgiveness, righteousness, truth, fellowship with God, spiritual discernment, heaven, eternal riches, glory—those and every other good thing that comes from God. Paul says, “The world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God” (1 Cor. 3:22–23). Because we have been made joint heirs with Christ, we are guaranteed possession of everything He possesses. We are “heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” (cf. Rom. 8:17).
Israel was regarded as the Lord’s inheritance (naḥalâh) and portion (ḥeleq). Now through God's plan, having been predestined according to the purpose of him. the church as constituting the new Israel now enters into the same privilege (Rom 8:17; Gal 3:29; Col 1:12). This apportionment is said to stem from the divine foreordination (cf. vv. 4, 5). It is no accident that God has allotted to his new people in Christ the inheritance designed for those who recognize the Savior. In no sense are we to think that Christians have somehow usurped Jewish privileges. Before time began, God marked out those in Christ to be co-heirs with his Son (Wood, A. S. (1981). Ephesians. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Ephesians through Philemon (Vol. 11, p. 26). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.).
God is described here as the one: "who works all things according to the counsel of his will". There is a tendency among Christians to be engrossed in an attempt to determine God’s will for each decision in their lives. Many such decisions can be made with more precision and more legitimate reason, however, if they are measured against the long-range will of God that is revealed throughout God’s Word. Instead of seeking specific verses for turning points in our lives, we will be far better equipped to make sound decisions if we have a grasp of God’s revealed will for the Christian, for the church and for the world. This requires a sweeping understanding of Scripture as a whole. That does not mean we cannot pray for guidance day by day; it does mean that there should be a spiritual maturing in our lives that gives us a solid foundation for making biblically informed decisions (Liefeld, W. L. (1997). Ephesians (Vol. 10, Eph 1:11). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.).
Jesus Christ is declared here as the ground of the inheritance that we have obtained. In verse 12, Paul first shows that inheritance from the human and then divine perspective. We who were first to hope in Christ is the first statement given here about the human side of our divine inheritance in Christ. The Greek has a definite article before Christ, and a more literal translation is hope in the Christ. The definite article emphasizes the uniqueness of our hope: it is in the one and only Savior, Jesus Christ. It also stresses the idea that the apostles and other first–generation Jewish believers were the first to receive the Messiah.
A rich factor in believing the gospel is the hope one is given in the Savior and Lord. In this context, hope is used primarily as a synonym for faith. The first to hope in Christ were the first to believe in Him.
As a gift from the Father to the Son, we who were first to hope in Christ are given to the praise of His glory This phrase begins verse twelve in the Greek text, and that order fits logically with what Paul has been saying about God’s perspective on our inheritance. The Lord’s perspective and working are seen in His predestination, in His power, and, as we see here, in His preeminence. Humanity is redeemed for the purpose of restoring the divine image marred by sin. Because God’s intention in creating humanity was that they should bear the divine image, salvation’s goal is creation’s goal. God desires creatures that will give Him glory by both proclaiming and displaying His glory..
Therefore, Paul continues in the beginning of verse 13, In Him, you also, when you heard/listened to the word/message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, The term heard is amplified in the next few words. There are many people who have heard the gospel in the sense that the sound of it has struck their auditory nerves. They have been exposed to it, but they have never submitted to it. But in the case of the Ephesians, it was combined with faith in Christ (Sproul, R. C. (1994). The Purpose of God: Ephesians (p. 31). Scotland: Christian Focus Publications.).
That is why the text add that to their hearing they: "believed"… As the apostle explains in his letter to the Romans, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). Faith comes from a positive response to the word/message of truth, the gospel (cf. Gal. 1:6–9)—the good news is that God has provided a way of salvation through the atoning work of His Son, Jesus Christ.
For one to have believed in Him, stresses the means by which salvation is appropriated. Faith is people response to God’s elective purpose. God’s choice of people is election; God then enables and gives people the gift of faith. In election God gives His promises, and by faith people receive them. Salvation is both a message to believe and a person to trust. It involves both a mental acceptance of a content (world view) and a personal welcoming of Jesus! (Utley, R. J. (1997). Paul Bound, the Gospel Unbound: Letters from Prison (Colossians, Ephesians and Philemon, then later, Philippians) (Vol. Volume 8, p. 78). Marshall, TX: Bible Lessons International.)
Illustration: A distraught wife sought out a Christian marriage counselor and told her sad story of a marriage about to dissolve. “But we have so much!” she kept saying. “Look at this diamond ring on my finger. Why, it’s worth thousands! We have an expensive mansion in an exclusive area. We have three cars, and even a cabin in the mountains. Why, we have everything money can buy!” The counselor replied: “It’s good to have the things money can buy provided you don’t lose the things money can’t buy. What good is an expensive house if there’s no home? Or an expensive ring if there’s no love?” In Christ, you and I have “what money can’t buy,” and these spiritual riches open up to us all the wealth of God’s vast creation. We enjoy the gifts because we know and love the Giver (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 13). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
2) The Guarantee of Our Inheritance (Ephesians 1:13b–14a)
Ephesians 1:13b-14a [13](In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him), were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, [14]who is the guarantee of our inheritance (until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory). (ESV)
Because we do not directly and immediately receive the fullness of all God’s promises when we first believe (since it is “reserved in heaven for us,” 1 Pet. 1:3–4), we may sometimes be tempted to doubt our salvation and wonder about the ultimate blessings that are supposed to accompany it. While we are still in this life our redemption is not complete, because we still await “the redemption of our body” (Rom. 8:23). Because we have not yet received full possession of our inheritance, we may question its reality or at least its greatness.
Please turn to Romans 8 1 (p.944)
As one means of guaranteeing His promises to those who have received Jesus Christ, God has sealed (believers in Him) with the promised Holy Spirit. Every believer is given the very Holy Spirit of God the moment they trust in Christ.
Romans 8:9-17 [9]You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. [10]But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. [11]If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. [12]So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. [13]For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. [14]For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. [15]For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" [16]The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, [17]and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (ESV)
• Incredibly, the body of every true Christian is actually “a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in [him]” (1 Cor. 6:19).When a person becomes a Christian, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in his life. Life in Jesus Christ is different because the Spirit of God is now within. He is there to empower us, equip us for ministry, and function through the gifts He has given us. The Holy Spirit is our Helper and Advocate. He protects and encourages us. He also guarantees our inheritance in Jesus Christ.
The sealing of which Paul speaks of in Eph. 1:13 refers to an official mark of identification that was placed on a letter, contract, or other important document. The seal usually was made from hot wax, which was placed on the document and then impressed with a signet ring. The document was thereby officially identified with and under the authority of the person to whom the signet belonged. The idea of believers being sealed with the promised Holy Spirit notes how the Holy Spirit secures each believer, marking them with His own inviolable seal. When God gives us His Holy Spirit, it is as if He stamps us with a seal that reads, “This person belongs to Me and is an authentic citizen of My divine kingdom and member of My divine family.” When the Holy Spirit seals believers, He marks them as God’s divine possessions, who from that moment on entirely and eternally belong to Him, The Spirit’s seal declares the transaction of salvation as divinely official and final. Finally,when Christians are sealed with the Holy Spirit they are delegated to proclaim, teach, minister, and defend God’s Word and His gospel with the Lord’s own authority. Christians are branded by the evidence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Wherever we are, our Owner’s mark should be in evidence. The mark of the Holy Spirit is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22, 23) (Lawson, L. (1987). Galatians, Ephesians: Unlocking the Scriptures for You (p. 142). Cincinnati, OH: Standard.)
Verse 14 further notes how the Holy Spirit is the believers guarantee/down payment/pledge. The Holy Spirit is a “deposit” (NIV) or an earnest—arrabôn (cf. 2 Cor 1:22; 5:5). The word is borrowed from the commercial world and means a deposit or first installment in hire purchase. It is a token payment assuring the vendor that the full amount will eventually follow. It can also be applied to an engagement ring (MM, p 79). Paul regards the Holy Spirit as the first installment of the Christian’s inheritance. At the end of the age God will redeem his pledge and open the treasuries of heaven to all who are his in Christ. Meanwhile, the Spirit gives us the assurance that these things will one day be ours (Wood, A. S. (1981). Ephesians. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Ephesians through Philemon (Vol. 11, p. 27). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.).
Hymn: Charles Wesley, who sang the theology of the Methodist revival, and sang so often in the language of Paul, prayed in song often for the coming of the Holy Spirit. In one verse of one of his most expressive hymns, he portrayed the work of the Holy Spirit, pleading: "Send the Spirit of Thy Son, To make the depths of Godhead known, To make us share the life divine, Send him the sprinkled blood to apply. Send him our souls to sanctify, And show and seal us ever thine." Like Paul, Wesley knew the Holy Spirit was not an option, but an essential reality in the Christian experience. (Dunnam, M. D., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1982). Galatians / Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / Philemon (Vol. 31, p. 153). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.)
3) The Goal of Our Inheritance (Ephesians 1:14b)
Ephesians 1:14b [14](who is the guarantee of our inheritance) until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (ESV)
All creation belongs to God, and in His infinite wisdom, love, and grace He chose to provide redemption for the fallen creatures He had made in His own image—for His own sake even more than for their sakes, because they do not belong to themselves but to Him.
Please turn to Psalm 96 1 (p.499)
Although our divine inheritance in Christ is a marvelous, awesome, and guaranteed promise to us from the Lord, it is not the primary purpose of our salvation. Our salvation and all of the promises, blessings, and privileges we gain through salvation are first of all bestowed to the praise of His glory.
Psalm 96 is a hymn celebrating how God’s kingship over all creation showing the praise of His glory:
Psalm 96 [96:1]Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! [2]Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. [3]Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! [4]For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. [5]For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens.[6]Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. [7]Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! [8]Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts![9]Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth![10]Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity." [11]Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; [12]let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy [13]before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.
• God called Israel to be a vehicle of blessing for all mankind, bringing them knowledge of the true God for whom all human beings yearn (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1059). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.)
• As this knowledge is spoken and lived out among the nations, in our families and by the earth itself, God is praised and glorified. Salvation is thereby given as a call for others to repent in light of future coming judgment.
As Paul has already twice declared (vv. 6, 12), God’s ultimate goal in redeeming humanity is the praise of His glory. We are not saved and blessed for our own glory but for God’s (cf. Isa. 43:20–21). When we glorify ourselves we rob God of that which is wholly His. He saved us to serve Him and to praise Him. We are saved to be restored to the intended divine purpose of creation—to bear the image of God and bring Him greater glory. This is fully accomplished at the believer’s glorification, when we receive full glory and redemption and are made the perfect possession of God. Here then are the ‘how’ and the ‘why’ of God’s people, who are also his ‘heritage’ and his ‘possession’. How did we become his people? Answer: ‘According to the good pleasure of his will.’ Why did he make us his people? Answer: ‘For the praise of the glory of his grace.’ Thus everything we have and are in Christ both comes from God and returns to God. It begins in his will and ends in his glory. For this is where everything begins and ends (Stott, J. R. W. (1979). God’s new society: the message of Ephesians (p. 50). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.).
(Format note: Outline & some base commentary from MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1986). Ephesians (pp. 27–37). Chicago: Moody Press.)
