Subject – Christians have obtained an inheritance
Text - 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:”
This is one of my most favorite scriptures, because it talks
about God’s absolute Sovereignty and it talks about our inheritance given us in
Christ Jesus. People who hate the Sovereignty of God and mostly election try to
link this passage to the election of the Jews or the Nation Israel, but I could
not disagree more. They say the word “we” is talking about the Jews because
Paul was a Jew and the word “ye” is talking about the Gentiles. However,
doesn’t that thought exclude what Christianity is all about? Aren’t Christians
all one in Christ, weather Jew of Gentile? The bible I read lumps Christians in
as one, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free,
there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And
if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to
the promise.” Galatians 3:28 – 29 How can Paul who is a Jew by nature,
but more importantly a Christian through Jesus Christ be true to Christianity
if he separates himself from his Gentile brethren? Paul is no more a Jew, but
by nature only, therefore he is a Christian BRETHERN with Gentiles. Therefore,
such separation would be unscriptural because once a Christian we are one in
Christ Jesus whether Jew of Gentile. But not only does it affect Paul’s natural
affiliation it also affects the Gentiles affiliation because God said we “as
Christians” are one in Christ. “for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according
to the promise.” This is not the Jews, this is Christian, all Christians. God
does not separate Christians, people separate Christians. Therefore, the
promises to “Abraham's seed” are to the Christians where there is neither Jew
nor Gentile but Abraham who is the father of many nations and of all of
believers. Do not forget the Gentiles were ingrafted and became natural parts
of the tree. Romans 11:11 – 24 One more point, people point to John to divide
Jews and Gentiles John 10:16 “And other sheep I have, which are not
of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there
shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” While it shows a separation of
Jews and Gentiles God talks about bringing them into this Jewish fold and
making them one in Christ Jesus, “…I must bring, and they shall hear my voice;
and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” where there is neither Jew nor Gentile
but all are one because the Gentiles have been ingrafted into Abraham who is
the father of many Nations. Therefore, the conclusion must be that with Paul
there were no separation with the “we” and “ye” because he was no longer a Jew
but a Christian.
One of the great mysteries of God’s will was to the Jews in
the Old Testament, and that was that Gentiles would be a part of them. All the
promises made to Israel was not to the Nation but to Abraham’s Nation or to all
believers. All Jews are not elected Christians, in fact very few Jews believed
in Jesus Christ, in fact God said in John 1:11 “He came unto his own,
and his own received him not.” And the Jews, they condemned Him, and they
beat Him, and they mocked Him, and the crucified Him. Very few Jews today
believe in Jesus Christ, in fact they still hate Him, they use Him for “Holy
Land” money but they still do not recognize Him as the Messiah nor as Saviour.
When they die, they are no better than the Gentiles when anyone dies without
Christ, all of them go to hell, Jew or Gentile. John 3:18 “He that
believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned
already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of
God.”
Therefore, the “we” in verse 11 are “we Christians” whether
Jew or Gentile all in Christ Jesus and in Him we have an inheritance. This word
“inheritance” means
literally “to acquire by lot,” and then to obtain, to receive. We are
Christ’s by the Fathers gifting us to Him, we are “in Christ” and as Christians
we are brethren to the Son of man Jesus the Christ. “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
8:16 – 17 I would like to quote John Gill here, “he makes them heirs; they
are not so by nature, nor do they become such by the works of the law; but
God his rich grace adopts them into his family, begets them again, and
freely bestows the inheritance on them: or subjectively, they are heirs of
himself; he not only makes them his heirs, but he himself is their inheritance
and portion; they are heirs of all things which are his; they share in
his love, grace, and mercy; and his wisdom, power, truth, and faithfulness, and
indeed, every perfection of his are engaged on their side, and in their favour;
all things are theirs who have God to be their God and Father; the Gospel and
the ministers of it are theirs; the world and the things of it, life and death,
things present and things to come; heaven and happiness, which go by the names
of glory, riches of glory, kingdom, eternal life and salvation, are all
represented as things to be inherited by the saints.” This is what it is to
be a child of the Living God in Jesus His Son, glory to God for His gift of
salvation! The Father has given Jesus Christ all things, even us for His
glory, but look what the Father has given to us in Christ. We have an inheritance
or a lot, we will live with and reign with Jesus Christ forever, “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. 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. John 14:2 – 3 One word to conclude here, AMEN!!!
