” also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,…”- {Ephesians 1:11}
Have you ever considered what The LORD Jesus left you in His Will?
An “Inheritance” is something that can greatly benefit a person, providing for their good and future. But there are no guarantees as an earthly inheritance can be lost through unforeseen events. But there are no unforeseen events that can destroy, deteriorate, or lose the eternal “inheritance” the follower of The LORD Jesus Christ has been gifted.
“Inheritance “-{Kleronomia}. Literally speaks of a gift that is received from someone after they died. But here, figuratively as in this verse it refers to God’s promised salvation, gifts, and benefits.
Consider some of the Believer’s Inheritance…
1.We Inherit GOD.
” These are the territories which Moses apportioned for an inheritance in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan at Jericho to the east. But to the tribe of Levi, Moses did not give an inheritance; the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as He had promised to them.“- {Joshua 13:32-33}. While He gave individual tribes parcels of land, He gave Himself as the inheritance to the tribe of Levi! Of the twelve trials Levi were the priestly tribe and did not inherit any land from the LORD, but they inherited Him as their portion. They inherited God!!! The God who made the land, provided deliverance for them, opened the Red Sea, provided manna from Heaven, who created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. They inherited God!
David said, “The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;”-{Psalm 16:5}
Asaph said,”Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion {inheritance} forever.“-{Psalm 73:25-26}
In the midst of devastation Jeremiah said, “The Lord is my portion,{inheritance}” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.”-{Jer 3:24}. In the New Testament we see this wonderful truth, Paul wrote, ” and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” -{Romans 8;17}. Peter wrote concerning the believers position, “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;”-{1 Peter 2:9}. We are God’s inheritance and God is ours! What a wonderful Inheritance we have!
2. We Inherit JESUS CHRIST.
A. -Jesus Christ is our inheritance, we are,
” fellow heirs with Christ,“-{Rom 8:17}.
B.- We are a Gift To Christ;
“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 17:24}.We are Gifts of God to the LORD Jesus and we will “be with” Him, where He is.
C. – We Will Be like Him, We Will See Him.
“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.“- {1 John 3:2}
D. – Christ in us the Hope Of Heaven;
“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.” -{Col 1;26-27}
3. We Inherit THE HOLY SPIRIT.
He is Gifted to us;
” who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”-{Eph 1:14} The word “pledge”- {arrabōn} was used to speak of a down payment given to secure a purchase. A form of this word came to speak of an engagement ring.The Holy Spirit is our guarantee of our eternal inheritance.
Upon hearing the Gospel and the people asked what they must do, Peter told them,
“Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself. “-{Acts 2:38-39}. No repentance, no forgiveness, no Gift of the Holy Spirit.But with repentance, forgiveness and the Gift of the Holy Spirit!
“All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.”-{Acts 10:45}
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. “-{John 14:16-17}. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”-{John 14:26}
4. We Inherit ETERNAL BLESSINGS.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, “-{1 Peter 1:3-4}.
Our Inheritance In Christ is Imperishable- Not subject to decay or corruption.
Our Inheritance in Christ is Unspoiled. It does not deform, or become debased
Our Inheritance in Christ is Unfading. It endures forever!
Peter’s Response is to “Bless “Him for…
A. God’s Great Mercy
B. New Birth
C. Living Hope
D. The Resurrection Of Jesus Christ
E. An Inheritance That Will Not Perish.
- Our Inheritance In Christ is Imperishable- Not subject to decay or corruption.
- Our Inheritance in Christ is Un-defiled. It does not deform, or become debased, it cannot spoil.
- Our Inheritance in Christ is Unfading. It endures forever!
- Our Inheritance in Christ is Reserved in Heaven.
This “inheritance” is “reserved” by God for you, where? “In Heaven!” This inheritance cannot be corrupted, without defect or flaw, cannot perish. No one can break in where this inheritance is guarded, kept! Jesus prayed, “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.”- {John 17:11}. Jesus said, “and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.“- {John 10;28-29}
Paul wrote concerning believers,”giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.“-{Col 1:12-14}
5. We Inherit Full SALVATION.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.“- {Eph 2:8-9}. “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”- {Phil 1:6}. Salvation is the “Gift Of God.” He initiated it, He sustains it, He will finish it.
Peter wrote of the believer’s position, “who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”-{ 1 Peter 1:5}. Our inheritance is “protected,” the word means “to guard, protect, secure” and is a military term, it is continuous, continually guarded by whom?”…the power of God!” God protects our salvation. We cannot have it pried from Him, it cannot be lost since He undertakes to personally guard it! He who is all powerful protects our, your, my salvation!
The word “salvation”-{Soterian} refers to a”rescue” or “deliverance.” In this passage it is speaking of salvation in its fullest and final form. It refers to salvation from the curse of the Law, the penalty, power and presence of sin, The wrath of God, condemned, judgment. Ours will be the experience of deliverance from sin, sickness, pain, sorrow, death, and to be with Him forever and in His presence is fullness of Joy forever more. Peter wrote to people encountering “fiery trials” and experiencing “distress” the word means ” tearfully sorrowful, mental distress.” They were suffering and he encourages them with the security of their salvation and no matter how difficult things are here there is a future to look forward to. And Peter tells then they have the capacity to rejoice because of God and the future He has secured for them!
The future is bright, the future is Christ!
6. We Inherit The Promises of God In Christ.
“By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the one who called us to Himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”- {2 Peter 1:3-4}.
A. The Promise Of Eternal Inheritance
” For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. “-{Heb 9:15}. The Inheritance is not temporal like things on this earth but it is…ETERNAL! God who cannot lie has promised you an eternal inheritance! Our Inheritance is Heaven.
B. The Promise Of An End To Our Pain And Suffering.
“ and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”-{Rev 21:4}
C. The Promise Of Power To Live Godly
“seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”-{2 Peter 1:3}
D. The Promise Of Peace In Exchange For Anxiety
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. “-{Phil 4:6-7}
E. The Promise Of Contentment Irrespective Of Circumstances.
” Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. “- {Phil 4:11-13}
F. The Promise To Meet All Of Our Needs
” And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”-{Phil 4:19}
As God’s children who are “adopted” into His family and “accepted in the Beloved,” it is His will and wants us to know and be assured of the Inheritance that He has gifted us and is ours “In Christ.” “… also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,”- { Eph 1:11}
As Children of God who have been Gifted, assured, of their inheritance we need to conduct ourselves as children of the King.
7. Our Inheritance Motivates Us To Live Differently
PRACTICE;
“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.“-{1 John 3:2-3}
This inheritance is all by Grace, His kindness, favor, gifted to us based solely on His kindness, love – {Read Eph 2:4-6}. We don’t merit, earn it, we receive it as a gift of God exclusively through our LORD Jesus Christ.
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who 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. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.” – {Titus 2;11-15.}
We “Put Off” like a dirty old garment, “ungodliness and worldly desires…”
We “Put On,” like a new clean garment, attitudes and actions “…to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,…zealous for good deeds.”
Bless, Praise Him, “speak well of” Him…who has gifted you an eternal inheritance.
You have inherited, God, Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, Eternal Benefits, Full Salvation, Precious and Magnificent Promises! And in light of it we live as children, sons and daughters of the King conducting ourselves as His ambassadors during our stay upon this earth!
PRAYER; For yourself and other believers you know…{Put their name in where it says “your, you.”}
“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 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might”-{Eph 1:18-19}
How wealthy you are In Christ…Through Christ… Because of Christ! Incorporate the SIX Spiritual Realities you have Inherited and praise Him for it s you pray. Seek to mediate upon each of the six and praying for understanding s you do. Seek to encourage someone else today with the truth of what they have Inherited, what Jesus left them in His Will!