Series:
Ephesians
Title:
Inheritance Obtained
Text:
Ephesians 1: 11
Date: April 7,
2013
Place: SGBC,
New Jersey
Our focus this morning will be this one
glorious truth declared in Ephesians 1:
11: In
whom also we have obtained an inheritance…
Titled: Inheritance
Obtained
Divisions: Our
divisions will be 1) To see that it is in Christ that we have obtained our
inheritance 2) Who has obtained it; 3) We will see the fact that our
inheritance is already ours 4) We will consider what our inheritance is
I. OUR
INHERITANCE IS OBTAINED IN CHRIST—V11: IN WHOM
Everything that God the Father has for his
children is in his Son, Christ Jesus.
God gave the work of glorifying his name and saving his people to his
Son. Christ has, is and shall do
everything necessary to bring his children to the Father. God the Holy Spirit
bears witness of Christ in our hearts—the Lord Jesus said,
John 16: 13: Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he
will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever
he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14: He
shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Everything that God the Father has for his
children is in his Son, Christ Jesus.
V3: God
the Father blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places IN CHRIST
V4:
According as he hath chosen us IN HIM before
the foundation of the world,
V5: Having
predestinated us unto the adoption of children BY JESUS CHRIST to himself,
V6: To the
praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted IN THE BELOVED.
V7: IN WHOM we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches of his grace;
V10: That
in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all
things IN CHRIST, both which are in
heaven, and which are on earth; even
IN HIM:
V11: IN WHOM we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated
according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his
own will:
V12: That
we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted IN CHRIST.
V13 IN
WHOM ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word
of truth, the gospel of your salvation:
IN WHOM also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit
of promise,
V15: Wherefore I also, after I heard of
your faith IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST,
and love unto all the saints,
V19: the exceeding greatness of his power
to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought IN CHRIST, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own
right hand in the heavenly places,…Eph
2: 6 And hath raised us up together,
and made us sit together in heavenly places IN CHRIST JESUS
2: 10: For we are his workmanship, created IN CHRIST JESUS
2: 13
But now IN CHRIST JESUS ye
who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
2: 21
IN WHOM all the building
fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple IN THE LORD:
2: 22
IN WHOM ye also are builded
together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Application: The foundation and fountain of all
spiritual blessings is in Christ Jesus.
Listen to scripture:
·
Grace and
truth came by Jesus Christ (Jn 1:
17)
·
There is now
no condemnation to them which are in
Christ Jesus (Ro 8: 1)
·
It is the
Spirit of life in Christ Jesus that
hath made us free from the law of sin and death (Rom 8: 2)
·
The love of
God is in Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom
8: 39)
·
We are one
body in Christ (Rom 12: 5)
·
The church of
God is sanctified in Christ Jesus (1
Cor 1: 2)
·
In Christ we are begotten through the gospel (1
Cor 4: 15)
·
We have hope in Christ Jesus (1 Cor 15: 19)
·
In Christ shall all be made alive (1 Cor 15:
22)
·
Our rejoicing
is in Christ Jesus (1 Cor 15: 31)
·
Our love for
one another is in Christ Jesus (1
Cor 16: 14)
·
God always
causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus
(2 Cor 2: 14)
·
The vail over
the heart is done away in Christ (2
Cor 3: 14)
·
If any man be in Christ he is a new creature (2 Cor
15: 17)
·
God reconciled
us unto himself in Christ (2 Cor 5:
19)
·
Our liberty is
in Christ Jesus (Gal 2: 4)
·
We are
justified by Christ (Gal 2: 17)
·
The
everlasting covenant is confirmed of God in
Christ Jesus (Gal 3: 17)
·
We are all
children of God by faith in Christ Jesus
(Gal 3: 26)
·
We are all one
in Christ Jesus (Gal 3: 28)
·
The truth is in Jesus Christ (Eph 4: 21)
·
You were
darkness, but now are ye light in the
Lord Jesus (Eph 5: 8)
·
We are filled
with fruits of righteousness by Christ
Jesus (Php 1: 11)
·
Our
consolation and comfort of love is in
Christ (Php 2: 1)
·
The high
calling of God is in Christ Jesus
(Php 3: 14)
·
The peace of
God keeps our hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus (Php 4: 7)
·
We can do all
things through Christ which
strengthens us (Php 4: 13)
·
God supplies
all our need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Php 4: 19)
·
Every believer
shall be presented to God perfect in
Christ Jesus (Col 1: 28)
·
The ministry
we have received is in the Lord (Col
4: 17)
·
The dead shall
rise in Christ (1 Thess 4: 16)
·
We are
preserved in Jesus Christ (Jude 1:
1)
·
The grace of
our Lord is exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus (1 Tim 1: 14)
·
The promise of
life is in Christ Jesus (2 Tim 1: 1)
·
God saves us
and called us, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and
grace, which was given us in Christ
Jesus before the world began (2 Tim 1: 9)
·
We offer up
spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by
Jesus Christ (1 Pet 2: 5)
·
We have been
called unto eternal glory by Christ
Jesus (1 Pet 5: 10)
Application: Everything God has for his people is
in, by and through Christ Jesus the Son of God.
1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that
God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son….20: And we know
that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may
know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus
Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
If you are here today and do not know Christ,
do not believe on Christ—you should make it your preeminent goal to seek mercy
from Christ Jesus, to cast all your care into his hands and to learn of him.
II. WHO HAS
OBTAINED THIS INHERITANCE?—“WE HAVE”—WHO ARE THE “WE”?
We who believe ourselves to be totally ruined
in sin, undeserving of the least of God’s favors.
Application: Sinner, can you honestly say that you
deserve nothing from God? Can you say
the only reason God has done anything for you is because it was God’s will and
God’s good pleasure to do so—to bring you to praise his glorious grace? That is
the “we” who have obtained an inheritance.
“We” who have been sanctified—set apart and
made holy—by the triune God.
·
Sanctified by
the Father in divine election
·
Sanctified by
the Son in blood redemption
·
Sanctified by
the Spirit in regeneration—
Colossians 1: 12: Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be
partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of
darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood,
even the forgiveness of sins:
“We” who are sons by adoption and therefore
God sent forth his gospel and his Spirit giving us life.
Galatians 4: 6: And BECAUSE ye are sons, God hath sent
forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7:
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an HEIR of
God through Christ.
Romans 8: 16: The Spirit itself
beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17: And if
children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;
“We” who persevere in faith by his keeping
power, suffering for the sake of Christ and his gospel.
Romans 8: 17: And if children, then
heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; IF SO BE that we suffer with
him, that we may be also glorified together. 18: For I reckon that the
sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed in us.
“We” who
believe we have been justified, not by our works, but by God’s pure grace.
Titus 3: 6: Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus
Christ our Saviour; 7 That being
justified by his grace, we should be made HEIRS according to the hope of
eternal life.
Application: Sinner, do you believe there is no
work you can do to justify you from your sins?
Do you believe Christ has done it all by his grace? That is who have obtained an inheritance from
God.
“We” to whom God has sent forth his elect
angels to protect and minister unto.
Hebrews 1:14: Are they not all ministering spirits, sent
forth to minister for them who shall be HEIRS of salvation?
“We” to whom God has shown the immutability
of his counsel.
Hebrews 6:17: Wherein God, willing more abundantly to
shew unto the HEIRS of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it
by an oath:
Application: Sinner, do you believe God? Are you
persuaded that not only can God not lie, but that he has gone out of his way to
prove to you his promise is unchangeable? That is who the “we” are that have
obtained an inheritance from God our Father.
“We” who are the poor of this world.
James 2:5: Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God
chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and HEIRS of the kingdom which he
hath promised to them that love him?
“We” who are Christ’s and Abraham’s true
spiritual sons and daughters.
Galatians 3:29: And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye
Abraham’s seed, and HEIRS
according to the promise.
“We” who delight in God’s will and good
pleasure and purpose.
·
V5:…predestinated
us unto the adoption…according to the good pleasure of his will,
·
v9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his
will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
·
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance,
being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things
after the counsel of his own will:
Application: Sinner, the “we” who have obtained an
inheritance—truly delight in God’s will, in God saving us according to his good
pleasure which he purposed in himself.
We delight to know that all things are governed according to God’s
sovereign predestination. Is that the
case with you? That is who the “we” are
who have obtained an eternal inheritance.
But if you say, “No” to any of these things—then you are not one of the
“we” who have obtained eternal inheritance.
All that awaits you is a tormenting worm that never dies. An eternal
view of our bliss while you gnaw your tongue in pain and blaspheme God in your
bitter hatred. It terrifies me to think
about it.
III. Believer,
THE SPIRIT OF GOD GIVES US THE GOOD NEWS THAT WE ALREADY POSSESS OUR
INHERITANCE—IT IS CURRENTLY OURS—V11:…WE HAVE OBTAINED
The phrase means we are passive in obtaining
it. It is
not a thing we seek, but the words mean “we have been allotted or
assigned a possession.” It means we have been "chosen and apportioned an inheritance by
lot." Just as we passively “receive forgiveness of
sins”, likewise we passively “receive an inheritance.” (Acts 26: 18) It was not a thing we deserved; it was the
free gift of God in Christ—“being
predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the
counsel of his own will.”
This is
not an inheritance like our earthly inheritance which is passed on merely
because of who our earthly father was.
Many of the natural sons of Abraham did not receive it—but the election
have obtained it. This inheritance is blood bought by the blood of the Lamb of
God, Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 53: 12: “He shall divide the spoil with the
strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and
he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made
intercession for the transgressors.”
Application: Does that describe
you? Have you passively had God to
choose you, to redeem you and to give you life and repentance and faith in
Christ Jesus?
Now be sure to get this, believer, “We have
obtained” means our inheritance is not something that will be ours in the
future, it is ours now—we HAVE obtained. Christ has entered in and taken possession of
our inheritance for us already.
John 14:2: In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it
were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place FOR YOU. 3: And if
I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto
myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
And
because it is by God’s grace, therefore, our inheritance has each redeemed
child’s name on it and it shall never be taken away.
1 Peter
1: 3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which
according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an INHERITANCE incorruptible, and
undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven FOR YOU, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through
faith unto salvation READY TO BE REVEALED in the last time.
IV. WHAT IS OUR
INHERITANCE?
Illustration: If you had lost your
husband/wife or a son/daughter and were told you could have, on this earth
right now, whatever you wanted—and one of the choices was that one you love
more than any other then you would gladly trade everything else for that one
you love so dearly. Well, just like that, Christ is the one believer love. He
is the believers Husband and we his bride. The one thing we want more than
anything else is Christ!
Christ is the inheritnce of all the children
of God. Christ has been allotted to us for our
inheritance.
Lamentation 3: 24: The Lord
is my portion, saith my soul.
Psalm 16:5: The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance
and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
Psalm 73:26: My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is
the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
The
LORD gave us a picture of this in the Levites.
They were the priests of God like as Christ has “loved us and washed us
and made us kings and priests unto God and his Father.” (Rev 1: 5-6)
Among
all the tribes in Israel, the Levites
did not have the same inheritance in Canaan as the other tribes, they had a
better inheritance.
Joshua 13:33: But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any
inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he
said unto them.
And you know what the Lord Jesus Christ wants
for his inheritance? His people, his
bride. Just as Christ has been allotted to us, we have been allotted to Christ for his
inheritance.
Deuteronomy 32:9: For the LORD’S portion is his
people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
Psalm 2:8: Ask of me, and I shall give thee the
heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for
thy possession.
The
heathen are his elect scattered in the four corners of the earth. We are the riches of his glory—his
inheritance is his saints. That is what
it says in the last phrase of verse 18:
Ephesians 1: 18: The eyes
of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of
his calling, and what the riches of the glory of HIS inheritance in the saints,
Viewing his saints as his
inheritance, Christ sees us as we really are—complete in him, with all our sins
washed away by his precious blood, made the righteousness of God—so when he
looks upon us he sees “the riches of HIS GLORY—in his inheritance—in the
saints.” He sees us as His fullness. So Christ
says of his inheritance—of you and me, believer--"The lines are fallen
unto me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage." (Ps.16:6.)
Application:
If his saints are that dear to him then we ought to treat one another as just
that dear to us. That is why Paul prayed
desiring for us to understand “the riches of his glory in his inheritance in
his saints” so that we might treat each other as Christ’s precious inheritance.
Lastly, as far as what all our inheritance
will include, we can only wait to see how great our inheritance will be. Right now, just think of the blessings we have:
·
Eternal redemption
·
Reconciliation to God
·
Free justification from all our sins
·
Forgiveness of all our sins
·
The righteousness of Christ imputed to us
·
Made meet to be partakers of the inheritance
of the saints in light
·
And we could go on and on
Yet, as great as
these blessings are to us, we haven’t seen anything yet. God says…
Ephesians 2: 7: That in the ages to come he might shew the
EXCEEDING riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 2:9: But as it is written, Eye hath not
seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things
which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Revelation 21:3: And I heard a great voice
out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he
will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and GOD HIMSELF SHALL BE
WITH THEM, and be their God 4: And God shall wipe away all tears from
their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away….7: He that overcometh shall inherit ALL THINGS; and I
will be his God, AND HE SHALL BE MY SON.
Every
saint for whom Christ died shall then enjoy:
·
Perfect communion with Christ
·
Perfect commitment to Christ
·
Perfect conformity to Christ forever.
These
things I am speaking of are certain because his people are “predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things
after the counsel of his own will, that we should be to the praise of his
glory.” No man has any excuse for
not believing a God so good as our God.
May God give us grace now to believe him.
Amen!