September 02 2025

Tuesday September 02

“We Have Obtained an Inheritance”

Ephesians 1:11-12

11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

It's a wonderful thing to be back home again and I want to thank you for your prayers. We traveled over 1300 miles on this trip to be with my sister Beverly and brother-in-law Ronnie Riggins in Pennsylvania and celebrate their 50th anniversary at New Life Church. And also his retirement as senior pastor. But as you know, a pastor does not retire. I’ll never forget the evangelist, B.R. Lakin say, “Yes, a pastor can retire. He gets four new ones and rolls on”. And I'm sure my brother-in-law Ronnie, will continue to “roll on” for the glory of God.

Now, we're looking at Ephesians 1, and we're talking about the riches, the riches that we have in Christ Jesus. I made the statement the other day that Isaac was born to wealth. Remember his father Abraham was called by God to leave Ur of the Chaldees and go to a land that God would show him. And God promised that He would bless him. He would make him a great nation. And in him all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3). And then God promised him a son through whom this seed, this great nation would come. But it took a long time. And finally, Isaac was born. But by the time Isaac was born, Abraham, because of the blessings of God, was a wealthy, wealthy man. Isaac didn't do anything. If you read about him in the Old Testament, he was born to wealth.

And my friend, we've been born again to great riches in Christ Jesus. That's what the book of Ephesians is about. We see that especially in verses 2-6, because God the Father, God the Father has chosen us. He has adopted us. He has accepted us in Christ. All these rich blessings are made possible with the Father in heaven. Before we were alienated from Him, but now we're reconciled to Him through Christ.

In Ephesians 1:7-12, we see our riches we have from God the Son. In Him we have the redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. And again, it's according to the “riches of His grace”. He has revealed to us His will. The mystery that's been hidden in the past ages but now revealed to us through Jesus Christ. And that is that He will bring everything together. That “in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him” (v. 10).

We have something to look forward to. The world has nothing to look forward to except another day possibly. And they don't even know that they are guaranteed that. They have no future. They're without hope. We'll read in Ephesians 2:12. But we have hope. Hope in Christ. A future that's bright. A future that's sure, secure, anchored to Jesus Christ. What a rich blessing.

Today we see in verse 11, "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory." What is the will of God? What has God predestined us for? That we should be to the praise of His glory. Every born-again believer, every saint of God has been called to glorify God, to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, be to the praise of His glory. And this will take place one day. But even now, we are to live for His glory.

Not only have we “obtained an inheritance”, but as some translations read, "in whom also we were made an inheritance", we are His, Christ, inheritance! Both are true and the one includes the other. In Christ we have a wonderful inheritance (read 1 Peter 1:1-4), and in Christ we are an inheritance. We are valuable to Him. Think of the price God paid to purchase us and make us part of His inheritance! God the Son is the Father's love gift to us; and we are the Father's love gift to His Son. Read John 17 and note how many times Christ calls us "those whom Thou hast given Me." The church is Christ's body (Eph. 1:22-23), building (Eph. 2:19-22), and bride (Eph. 5:22-23); Christ's future inheritance is wrapped up in His church.

We are "joint-heirs with Christ", which means that He cannot claim His inheritance apart from us! Romans 8:17 says: "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with Him that we may also be glorified together with Him."  What a rich blessing that we have an inheritance and at the same time we are His inheritance.

Today, are you enjoying the inheritance you have in Christ?

God bless!