PRAISE GOD FOR OUR INHERITANCE

1 Dear Friend, this is a transcript of a sermon preached by Pastor Jeremy Tan from the pulpit of Amazing Grace Baptist Church Singapore. We are committed to expository preaching because we believe it is the most effective way to expose, explain and expound the Holy Scriptures. And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, [Jesus] expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself (Luke 24:27). Through careful systematic and sequential exposition, the preacher is able to declare unto you all the counsel of God (Acts 20:27), and Christians are blessed with a regular, well-balanced diet of God s Word. Expository preaching also helps us to have a high view of Scripture. We wish to extend a warm welcome to you to join us in our church services for a time of uplifting worship and helpful Bible study, which will bring rejoicing and refreshment to your soul. Do visit our church website at www.amazingracebc.org or write to us at amazingracebc@gmail.com. PRAISE GOD FOR OUR INHERITANCE Ephesians 1:11 14 God has been blessing our expository studies of Paul s great epistle to the Ephesians. We praise and thank the Lord for guiding us in our studies of Ephesians, and for enriching us with a deeper and broader theological understanding of the doctrine of salvation. We have been following the apostle Paul as he brings us through the process of salvation. Before the foundation of the world, God first elected His people and then He predestinated them unto adoption as His children. Next is redemption, whereby Christ purchased believers in Him from slavery to sin and Satan, never to return there again. In redemption, Christ also paid for the forgiveness of sins with blood that He shed on the cross. Then in Ephesians 1:8 10 we learned that God has made known the mystery of His will. The mystery of God s will is that He will gather or sum up all of His creation under Christ as the Head. Let me point out three features in this long extended sentence: (1). This sentence reveals the sovereignty of God. In Ephesians 1:1 Paul stresses the sovereignty of God by saying that he is an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. Then in Ephesians 1:2 he states that grace and peace are blessings from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Furthermore, God gives to Christians all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). In giving us spiritual blessings, God does all the work. God s sovereignty is also emphasized in these statements: in Ephesians 1:5, According to the good pleasure of his will ; in Ephesians 1:9, According

2 to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself ; and Ephesians 1:11, According to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. God is sovereign and His purpose is not at the mercy of His creatures. (2). This sentence reveals the Trinity of God. This sentence is a Trinitarian passage. In Ephesians 1:4 6 Paul reveals the will of God the Father in election, predestination, and adoption. In Ephesians 1:7 10 we see the work of God the Son in redemption and the forgiveness of sins. Then in Ephesians 1:11 14 we have the witness of God the Holy Spirit. (3). This extended sentence resounds with praises to God. At intervals in this sentence Paul bursts forth into fulsome praise for God s spiritual blessings. We hear him in Ephesians 1:6, To the praise of the glory of his grace. In Ephesians 1:12 Paul says, That we should be to the praise of his glory. Then in Ephesians 1:14, the sentence ends with, Unto the praise of his glory. Concerning Paul s repeated praises, John Calvin wrote, His frequent mention of the glory of God ought not to be thought superfluous, for what is infinite cannot be spoken of too much. Now we come to Ephesians 1:11 14. This is the final section in the sentence, and here Paul reveals to us another spiritual blessing: this is God s inheritance for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. He begins with I. The Ground of Our Inheritance. Ephesians 1:11 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: The words in whom give us the ground of our inheritance: it is in Christ. Every spiritual blessing from God is given because of Christ. The terms in Christ, in Christ Jesus, in Him, and in whom, are used some 169 times, most often in Paul s writings in the New Testament. In contrast, the word Christian is used only three times in Acts 11:26; 26:28; and 1 Peter 4:16. Being in Christ is less ambiguous than the term Christian because there are people who identify themselves as Christians but they have never been born again. When they stand before the Lord Jesus for judgment, they will hear Him say, I never knew you (Matthew 7:23). Then notice the next part of the sentence, We have obtained an inheritance. Paul writes this statement in the past tense to tell us that the inheritance has already been given. This statement is translated from a single compound word in the Greek ( eklerothemen ). In the Greek word, Paul uses the aorist passive indicative and it indicates that we are apportioned as an inheritance. Since Paul uses the passive voice

3 (which means that the object receives the action), we have two possible translations, both of which are theologically true. Let me explain. The first translation is that God has made us His inheritance. In the Old Testament God called Israel His inheritance. In Deuteronomy 9:29 Moses said of Israel, Yet they are thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm. In Deuteronomy 32:9, we read, For the LORD s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance (see also 1 Kings 8:51; Psalm 33:12). In the New Testament, believers are Christ s inheritance. Let me make reference to this in some verses in the Gospel of John. John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. John 6:39 And this is the Father s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. John 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father s hand. The Lord Jesus redeemed us with His own blood at Calvary and we become His possessions. According to Acts 19:28, believers in Christ are the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. As the spoils of His victory over Satan, sin, and death, Christians belong to Him. Believers in Christ are His inheritance. The second possible translation is that which we find in the King James Version, We have obtained an inheritance. Let us refer to some verses that speak about our inheritance. 1 Peter 1:3-4 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, 1 Corinthians 3:22-23 22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 23 And ye are Christ s; and Christ is God s. God has graciously provided all that we need in accordance with His divine promises. Some of His promises to us are peace, love, grace, wisdom, comfort, strength, victory over sin and over death, eternal life, Heaven, and glory. All are yours; and ye are Christ s; and Christ is God s. This is an astounding statement. Why? Look at: Romans 8:16-17 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; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

4 Believers in Christ are God s children. As His children, we are heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. This means that in Christ, God inherits you, and you inherit everything together with Christ. Isn t this an amazing truth, that God makes you an heir of the inheritance together with our Lord Jesus Christ? Who am I, and who are we, to be made heirs of God? The ground of our inheritance is the Lord Jesus Christ. Both interpretations are legitimate: believers are made the inheritance of God, and they have also obtained an inheritance from God. However I hold to the interpretation as it is rendered in the King James Version because the context of Paul s entire sentence is about the spiritual blessings that God gives to believers. This is a great truth, but we must move on. Ephesians 1:11-12 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: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. Let us examine our inheritance from two perspectives: 1. The Divine Perspective. Ephesians 1:11 12 give us three points that show us God s perspective. (1). God s Predestination in our inheritance. God gives us an inheritance according to His predestination. Paul uses this same word in Ephesians 1:5 about our adoption as God s children. In Greek this word means predetermine, determine before, ordain, or predestinate. Friend, God alone decides anything beforehand, and He has decided to give us an inheritance. His predestination is not affected by any external force or factor. (2). God s Power in our inheritance. In Ephesians 1:11 Paul writes that the predestination of our inheritance is according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. The word translated worketh is energeo, from which we get our words energy, energetic, and energize. Whatever it is that God plans or predestinates, He energizes. God spoke the world into existence, so God s creation is a demonstration of His energy. This is the same thought that we find in:

5 Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: God makes you a new creature in Christ, and His energy will enable you to do His will. God gives us His power for service, for ministry, and for life. Furthermore, the power of God through the Holy Spirit protects His people. 1 John 4:4, Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (3). God s Preeminence in our inheritance. This is declared in Ephesians 1:12, That we should be to the praise of his glory. God gives us His inheritance for the same reason that He elects us, adopts us, and redeems us: it is all for His glory. The Bible always presents salvation as God s work, and thus salvation is for the glory of God. God redeemed sinners so that His image in His creatures that was marred and disfigured by sin can be restored. It is God s desire for His glory to be reflected in His creatures. Friend, the salvation of sinners that turns on human free will is opposed to the glory of God. In Romans 11:36 Paul writes, For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. God s glory is exclusive to Himself. 2. The Human Perspective. But now we turn our attention to Someone has described the divine and human sides of salvation in this way: when a person looks toward Heaven he sees the sign, Whosoever will may come. But after he enters Heaven and looks back to the same sign, he sees these words on the other side, Chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. Throughout Scripture there is tension between the sovereignty of God and the will of man. But we cannot resolve this tension because of our finite mind and limited understanding. Even Paul, the apostle who teaches the doctrine of God s sovereign election, submits himself to the tension in humility, writing in: Romans 11:33-34 33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? A person is not elected because he believes in the Lord Jesus Christ; he believes in the Lord Jesus Christ because he was elected. How does God s elect

6 people come to believe the Lord Jesus as their personal Saviour when they are born spiritually dead like everyone else? The answer is that God uses the means to reach His elect. What are the means? Paul reveals the means in: Ephesians 1:13 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, God uses the preaching of the Gospel to reach those whom He has elected in eternity past. When the Gospel is preached, faith is man s response to God s elective purpose. But faith is not human free will; in Ephesians 2:8 9 we read that our faith is a gift of God. II. The Guarantee of Our Inheritance. In our lifetime we will always experience the disappointment of broken promises. Due to our fallen nature, promises are not always fulfilled. People make promises, politicians make promises, products offer promises, even preachers make promises; but intentionally or unintentionally, not all promises are kept. God is not like man. God fulfills every promise that He makes. How do we know? How can we be sure that God keeps His word? First of all, Titus 1:2 declares that God cannot lie. In Hebrews 10:23 the writer states that God is faithful that promised. In Romans 4:21 Paul writes that what God promised, He is able also to perform. But men have always wanted and needed assurances. According to 1 Peter 1:4 our inheritance is reserved in heaven for us. Even now our redemption is not complete, for we still await the redemption of our body (Romans 8:23). Today we are groaning together with the rest of creation, but the day will come when our redemption is complete and we will have bodies fashioned like unto his glorious body (Philippians 3:21), bodies without disease, disability, deformity, defilement, and death. Since we have not received full possession of our inheritance, God graciously gives us a guarantee. God s guarantee to us is found in: Ephesians 1:13-14 13 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, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Note the title holy Spirit of promise. This title is another way of saying that the Holy Spirit is God s guarantee to all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour. The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of the believer s inheritance. There are two terms in these verses that speak of God s guarantee of our inheritance. Notice: 1. God s Seal.

7 When a person becomes a believer in Christ, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in his life. The sealing is immediate; it is not performed at a later time. The body of every true Christian is the temple of the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 6:19). The seal of the Holy Spirit bears witness that we belong to God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 8:16-17 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; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. In the book of Ephesians Paul reveals the Holy Spirit as the seal of God s guarantee. There are four functions of a seal. (1). The seal is a sign of security. In ancient times, the seal of a ruler represents security and inviolability. The Bible gives us two examples of the seal as a sign of security. First, when Daniel was thrown into the lions den, King Darius and his nobles fixed their seals on the stone placed over the entrance. Likewise to secure the tomb where Jesus was buried, the Romans and the Pharisees placed a seal on the stone of the tomb. The punishment is death for those who tamper or break the seal. In an infinitely greater way, the Holy Spirit secures each believer with His own inviolable seal. God s seal makes us secure until the last day, for in Ephesians 4:30 we are sealed unto the day of redemption. (2). The seal is a sign of authenticity. A seal marks a document as authentic. Thus with the seal of the Holy Spirit, God is declaring the authenticity of believers in Christ. Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (3). The seal is a sign of ownership. An example of such a seal is that of Jeremiah. God instructed the prophet to buy some land in Anathoth for which Jeremiah had redemption rights. The redemption contract was agreed and paid before a number of witnesses. The title deed to the land was signed and sealed, establishing Jeremiah as the new legal owner of the property (Jeremiah 32:10). Likewise for Christians, the Holy Spirit seals and marks them as God s possessions. We read in Ephesians 1:14 that believers are the

8 purchased possession. Friend, God s redemption of believers in Christ is a completed transaction. (4). The seal is a sign of authority. In ancient times, those who possessed the king s seal had royal authority to perform their duties. For Christians sealed with the Holy Spirit, they have the delegated authority of God to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to preach His Word. Christians have God s authority to be His ambassadors. The second term that indicates God s guarantee of our inheritance is 2. God s Earnest. About the holy Spirit of promise, we read in Ephesians 1:14, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession. The Greek word translated earnest in Ephesians 1:14 is arrabon. The arrabon is the earnest money or down payment given to secure a purchase. This same word is used in: 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (In 2 Corinthians 5:5 the statement earnest of the Spirit is also used). Now, some translations use the word pledge instead of earnest. But there is a difference between a pledge and an earnest. A pledge is made to guarantee redemption. But a pledge can be different than the item for redemption. For example, if you borrow a book from me you can give me something valuable as a pledge that I will get back my book. When you return my book, you can reclaim your pledged item. However, an earnest is a guarantee of the same kind. An earnest is a part or portion of the whole amount. An earnest is similar to the first deposit or down payment for the purchase of a property. This payment of earnest money proves the buyer s intention to pay the rest of the purchase price. So when God gives to the believer the earnest of the Holy Spirit, He guarantees that He will complete the transaction. His earnest guarantees the redemption of the purchased possession. God has paid the earnest amount for our redemption. Now we are enjoying His down payment in the spiritual blessings. John Stott observed that God s spiritual blessings is only a small fraction of the future endowment (The Bible

9 Speaks Today, p. 48). Today we are enjoying a little foretaste of God s full amount. There is more to come! A form of the word arrabon can also be used for the engagement ring. All true Christians are members in the body of Christ, which is the church (Ephesians 1:22 23). The church is also called the bride of Christ. Therefore when we see the arrabon as the engagement ring that Christ gives to His bride, we are seeing the guarantee that He gives to His church. For this reason, Christians await the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9) that the Lord Jesus will celebrate with them in Heaven. III. The Goal of Our Inheritance. Why does God promise an inheritance to believers in Christ? Why does God save us? Paul gives the answer at the end of the sentence in Ephesians 1:14, Unto the praise of his glory. We are not saved for our own glory. God saves sinners so that He might be glorified. We are also made heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ for the same reason: the goal of our inheritance is the glory of God. It is vainglory when we seek our own glory. When we seek our own glory, we are in competition with God for that which belongs only to Him. Salvation is for God s glory alone: this is why it is the work of God from beginning to end! Conclusion Are you an heir of the inheritance from God? God only gives His inheritance to those who are in Christ. Are you in Christ? Are you a believer in the Lord Jesus? There is nothing to gain apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. For us who are Christians, we have obtained an inheritance from God. Therefore as heirs of God s inheritance, we should not live as spiritual paupers without hope in the world. Instead, we should live with confident expectation that there is more to come. Our redemption is not complete. The spiritual blessings we enjoy are just the foretaste of more to come. How do we know? The seal of the Holy Spirit is our guarantee. As God s inheritance, Christians are His prized possession. God redeemed us at the great cost of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. This means that we are not our own; we belong to our God, so let us live for His glory!

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