“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:” (Ephesians 1:11)
Right away one centers on a couple of words, inheritance and predestinated. Some take this Scripture as a basis for a whole theology of God picking and choosing those who will be saved. Those who believe this theology are unsure of their salvation even if they believe in Jesus and consider themselves disciples of Jesus. Evangelism becomes a nonessential. The Lord does not want us unsure of our salvation. John wrote, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1John 5:13) This theology also countermands Jesus’ commandment. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20) This is a command until the end of the world to all His disciples since the original twelve.
If we look at how Paul used this word, we will understand the word predestinated in a different context. Paul used the word predestinate in Romans. “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.” (Romans 8:29-30) The phrase that clarifies the word predestinate is “For whom He did foreknow.” God knows the past, present and future all at once. He knows already all who will believe in Jesus, who will receive His merciful gift of salvation and who will obey Him. They are the ones He does “foreknow.” Those who He knows this about, He has predestinated. He has predetermined these to be fashioned in the image of Jesus. And these He has called, justified and glorified. Here Paul speaks about the past and future believers.
The other principal word is inheritance. In Jesus we have obtained an inheritance. It’s necessary to read verse 11 with the following verses to get the full impact of how God guarantees this inheritance. “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: That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. 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, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:11-14) There is a legal seal on us much like the stamp on a purchased item that says paid for in full. It’s the guarantee of our inheritance. It’s the Holy Spirit indwelling. God has purchased us and laid claim to us and guaranteed our inheritance by giving the Holy Spirit to indwell.
But it gets even better. Paul explains this inheritance. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 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.” (Romans 8:14-17) It’s hard to imagine that we will co-inherit with Jesus.
There is a little phrase that clarifies this inheritance, “if so be that we suffer with Him.” There is the belief that if we are in Christ, we will not suffer because Christ suffered for us. And because He took all our suffering, there is no more suffering for us. Paul is not talking about suffering because of the consequences of sin or trials and tribulations that arise in this world that are common to all man. He speaks of the suffering with Jesus. Jesus suffered for the sake of His Gospel and the salvation of sinners. If we are following in Jesus’ footsteps, we will suffer for the Gospel and the salvation of sinners. Some say, “I can’t go to the mission field.” Or “I can’t preach the Gospel.” We all can suffer for the Gospel and sinners. If you pray, intercede or fast for the spread of the Gospel and repentance of sinners you have sacrificed and suffered for the Gospel and the salvation of sinners. If you have given to a ministry dedicated to preaching the Gospel to the unbeliever, you have sacrificed or suffered for the Gospel and the sinner. We can all suffer in some way with Jesus Who suffered for the Gospel’s sake and sinners.
When Jesus walked on this earth, He prayed, “And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.” (John 17:22-23) Peter wrote that he prayed that God would “fulfil all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power”: “That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2Thessalonians 1:12) We will sit with Jesus in heavenly places. “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” (Ephesians 2:6) God’s inheritance to His children is beyond our understanding and knowledge.
Comments