Mine went home to be with the Lord. Jim had preached
in our church in Covington, Kentucky. Sometime
later, he asked me to come to Kansas City to
his church where I held a meeting, and then as
a result of our getting to know each other, we
asked him to join our staff in Covington, and
he did that, I think it was in 1978. He had a
very vital part of our ministry. We enjoyed serving
together. He had been a pastor over 40 years
himself and was desiring to wind down just a
little bit, although he was the kind of a guy
that didn't wind down very often, very fast.
When I resigned the church in 1979, Jim continued
on, of course. It was not but about three months
later that I discovered that he had terminal
cancer. Jim enjoyed eating out, and I ate with
him a number of times for lunch. He especially
liked iced tea. He would put in what I call the
fake sugar, the artificial sweetener. He didn't
put in one package of glass. He would put in
three or four per glass and drink a couple of
glasses at a meal. I can't help but think that
that contributed to the bladder cancer that eventually
took his life. I will remember the last time
that we saw him. Annette and I went to the hospital
room where he was. He had several kinds of cancer
in his body by that time. All of us knew that
this was it in this world. We chatted, I suppose,
for perhaps an hour. When it was time to go,
we had prayer. And as I slipped out the door,
I waved. And in my mind's eye, I can still see
Jim lift his right hand and wave, put it down,
close his eyes, and lean back in his bed. Within
24 hours, Jim went into a coma, and just about
three days later, went home to be deprived. It
was sometime that fall, I think about four months
after that, that I received a letter from his
attorney. His attorney said that Jim... had left
me $300 as an inheritance. You see, Jim was a
pastor, and he knew that books to a pastor are
what hammers and saws are to a carpenter. Books
are the tools of the trade. And because he knew
the expense of books, he very kindly left me
in his will $300 stipulated to buy books with.
And, of course, I went out and spent $300 very
quickly on books. As far as I can remember, that's
the only time that I've inherited anything. An
inheritance is a very special gift because it
is usually due to a relationship that has been
precious and dear in this life. In our text today,
we learn that all of us are heirs. of a marvelous
inheritance that God has given to us. You may
have inherited many estates in your life, or
you may have never inherited even $300. But I
want you to know that if you're a child of God
today, you have obtained an inheritance. It says
in Ephesians 1, verses 11 and 12, in him also
we have obtained an inheritance. having been
predestined according to his purpose, who works
all things after the counsel of his will, to
the end that we who were the first to hope in
Christ should be to the praise of his glory.
We have obtained inheritance, says our text.
Now there are two possible readings to the same
Greek words at this point. Occasionally this
happens in the New Testament. The student simply
has to decide which reading is preferred in light
of several factors, including the context. It's
possible to read verse 11 this way, In him also
we have been made an inheritance. The idea in
that reading being that we are the inheritance
given by God to Jesus Christ. That coincides
with the beautiful words of Jesus in John 17
as he prays to the fathers and says he prays
not for the world but for those, his words, whom
thou hast given me. You see, Jesus realized that
believers have been given to him in a very special
sense. We are his special possession. And he
prays for us. We are his inheritance in a sense.
But I believe personally that the better reading
of this phrase is what is found in most Bibles,
including the NASV, which I have, when it says
that we have obtained an inheritance. It seems
to me that that reading is preferred because
in the rest of the context, we are the recipients
of what God has done. And it seems to me that
should be the case here as well. We have received
an inheritance from God. We have obtained it.
He has given it to us. There are four thoughts
from our text that expose this truth to help
us to get a hold of it. First, let's think about
the direction, the direction of our inheritance.
There are two directions really involved. There
is a past direction and a future direction. There
is a past route to our inheritance. And there
is a future orientation to it. Let me explain
to you what I mean. Notice that the verb tense
is such that it says this is a completed action.
He says, we have obtained an inheritance. In
other words, it's something that has already
taken place. Not something that will take place.
We have obtained an inheritance. Now, if that
is true, when did it take place? When did we
obtain the inheritance? There are three possible
answers to that. I think they're all true in
a certain way. When it says we have obtained
the inheritance, it may refer to the eternal
action of God's decree when, as according to
our earlier studies, he chose us in Christ and
predestined us to be his sons and to obtain glory.
It's possible to say that at that point, before
God even created, there was a sense in which
we obtained this inheritance. It can also mean
that we obtained this inheritance when the Lord
Jesus Christ died for us. It may refer to his
cross work where he, our savior and our benefactor,
if you please, died to bring into force his will.
Now, a will is something that is made and set
in place, but it's not enforced until the death
of the one who's made it. In Hebrews 9, verses
15 to 17, God tells us that he has brought into
enforcement his new covenant or his will through
the death of Jesus Christ. His death was required
so that the will of God The covenant of God could
be set into motion, the new covenant sealed in
the blood of Christ. And so there's a sense in
which we obtained our inheritance when Jesus
died for us. That's when Christ died and the
will was set into motion. There's a third way
that we can look at this same thought. We obtained
our inheritance at the moment that we trusted
in the Lord Jesus Christ. That is when the Holy
Spirit regenerated us and we came to faith in
Christ. At that moment, we obtained our inheritance
in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, if you want to
settle for one of the three or for a piece of
all three, as I personally do, the point is this,
that our inheritance is not something for which
we yet must strive, hoping to gain, but it has
already been given to us. It is an action that
is completed. We have it now. That's the path
route. But let's look ahead now to the future
orientation. Because you see, even though we
have obtained it, we have not, in a sense, experienced
it. We have not yet, in our own experience, seen
that inheritance in our own possession. It's
not ours in that sense of our experience. That
is the sentence in which Peter writes about it,
and I'd like you to turn to 1 Peter 1, because
this is a parallel passage to what Paul writes
in Ephesians 1. Verse 3 of 1 Peter 1. 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. Great
words there. Now verse 4 explains the purpose
in view. To obtain an inheritance. Notice that.
We have been called to be born again that we
might obtain an inheritance. Notice what he says
about it. Which is imperishable. That is, it
cannot be destroyed. It's unspoiled. and is undefiled,
that is, it is unstained, it's unspotted, and
will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.
You see, there is a sense in which the inheritance
that we have obtained is yet reserved in heaven
for us, it goes on to say, who are protected
by the power of God through faith. for his salvation
ready to be revealed in the last time. And so
God is reserving for us our inheritance in heaven.
At the same time, he is protecting us here on
the earth for it. So there's a future sense in
which we will experience the inheritance that
we have already obtained through Jesus Christ.
That is the direction of our inheritance. It's
rooted in the past. but it is oriented to the
future as well. Secondly, I want you to think
with me regarding a definition of our inheritance.
What is it? What is this inheritance that we
are said to have obtained? It is not, I say,
the same as rewards. Our inheritance does not
equal the rewards that we anticipate from the
Lord. Rewards we earn, rewards may be lost, but
not so our inheritance. Inheritance is based
upon relationship and not servantship. Inheritance
is based upon our relationship as the children
of God, not upon our service for him. Our inheritance
is secured to us forever. It is secured in heaven
while we are protected on the earth. I think
we can define our inheritance with this sentence.
It is that which we share with Jesus Christ as
joint heirs with him. That's what our inheritance
is. It is that which we share with Jesus Christ
as joint heirs with him. I believe that we can
delineate it in four ways. In the first place,
there is a sense in which our inheritance involves
our eternal life. The very life that we share
with Jesus Christ is ours by inheritance. In
Matthew 19 .29, Jesus said, Everyone who has
left houses or brothers or sisters or father
or mother or children or farms for my name's
sake shall receive many times as much and shall
inherit eternal life. Now, Jesus is not saying
there that we are working our way toward the
inheritance of eternal life. But he's saying
that one who truly believes on him is one whose
faith will be proved by its works. And he says
it is that genuine faith which is proved by works
that causes us to inherit eternal life. So there's
a sense in which we inherit our very life from
Jesus Christ. We share that with him. Secondly,
As we think of our inheritance, we must think
of it in terms of our future glory with Christ.
In Romans 8, verses 16 through 18, it says, The
Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God, and if children,
heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with
Christ, if indeed we suffer with him in order
that we may also be glorified with him. For I
consider that the sufferings of this present
time are not worthy to be compared with the glory
that is to be revealed to us. Our inheritance
in Jesus Christ involves future glory, a time
when we will be like him in every aspect of our
being, body, soul, and spirit, conformed to his
image. It is at that time that... We can be said
to be glorified. Glory, you see, is not just
a place, another name for heaven, but it is the
condition in which we will live in heaven. We
will be glorified in glory. We will be like the
Lord Jesus Christ, and that is our inheritance.
I believe our inheritance can thirdly be described
as kingdom privileges. In Matthew 25, verse 34,
it says, Then the king shall say to those on
his right, Come, you who are blessed with my
father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world. God has purposed
that his son, the Lord Jesus, should someday
reign over a kingdom in this world. It is what
we call the thousand -year reign of Christ or
the millennium. Those who are Christ's will share
with him the kingdom. You and I who are heirs
with the Lord Jesus Christ will partake of kingdom
privileges. We will reign together with Christ.
So our inheritance involves the very eternal
life that we have. future glory when we'll be
like Christ and it involves kingdom privileges.
But there's one more way to describe our inheritance.
This is in a two -word phrase found in 1 Corinthians
3, verses 21 to 23, where it is said that all
things belong to us. As heirs with Jesus Christ,
we will inherit All things. You say, well, what
does that include? All things. That's how you
say it, all things. It excludes nothing. This
is the way he puts it. All things belong to you,
whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world
or life or death or things present or things
to come. All things belong to you. And you belong
to Christ. And Christ belongs to God. Everything
that God has created is a part of the inheritance
that we have obtained in Christ. That includes
not only this creation, but the new creation.
For in Revelation 21 .7 it says, He who overcomes
shall inherit these things. Now you have to look
at the context to see what these things are.
They are the new heavens, the new earth, and
the new Jerusalem. He who overcomes, that's the
definition of the believer, shall inherit these
things. So not only all things that are now in
this present creation, but all things that shall
be when God creates a new heavens and new earth
and a new Jerusalem. All of those things as well
are ours as part of our inheritance to Christ.
Now that's something to be excited about. Our
inheritance is defined in those terms. Now think
with me thirdly regarding the definiteness of
our inheritance. How do I know beyond a shadow
of a doubt that I will be able to claim The inheritance
that God has given to me. How do I know that
I'll be there? Can I know that? Well, the answer
is yes. You can know that. We all have the privilege
of knowing that. The inheritance that we have
obtained is definite. It rests upon two things
in our text. It rests upon God's plan, number
one. and God's person, number two. The definiteness
of our inheritance, the assurance that we have
that we shall be there to claim that inheritance
rests upon God's plan and God's person. Notice
with me first God's plan. Ephesians chapter 1.
We have obtained an inheritance having been predestined
according To his purpose. That's God's plan right
there. What this means is that God marked out
before him, God predestined a certain objective.
And that objective is that you and I who trusted
Christ should inherit the things he's talked
about. In verse 5 he puts it this way. He predestined
us to adoption as sons. You see, God marked out
beforehand, he predestined, that we who trust
the Lord Jesus Christ should be his sons, brought
into his family as adults, and as that, heirs
with Jesus Christ of all things. Our future glory,
eternal life, and kingdom privileges. It says
here that this predestining was according to
his purpose. Did you notice that? The word purpose
here is the noun of the verb in verse 9 that
we looked at a couple of weeks ago. God predestined
us according to his purpose. That is not a hard
thing to get a hold of. God's purpose means that
which he has set before him. I assume that some
of you will be going on vacation this summer.
At some point, if you have not done so already,
you will sit down and you will set before yourself
certain goals that you want to accomplish. You're
going to drive to this destination. You're going
to stay in that particular place. You're going
to spend X number of dollars, knowing you'll
probably spend double X number of dollars. You
set certain goals before yourself. Now, you may
not be able to carry all of those out. Because,
you see, we can't know the future. We don't know
all that may be involved in our plans. But we
set before ourselves certain plans and purposes.
And what this is saying here is that God has
purposed certain things. God has set before him
certain things. And his predestining, us, to
receive the inheritance is a part of what he's
purposed. Now there's one difference between
our purposing and God's. While we may not be
able to carry out what we purpose, God can carry
out everything that he purposes. Because he knows
everything that's involved in it. There's nothing
that escapes his notice. What God purposes, he
is able to do. We see God's purpose mentioned
elsewhere in this epistle. In chapter 3, verse
11, it says that God's calling out of Jew and
Gentile to form the church was in accordance
with the eternal purpose. Notice that word, eternal
purpose. God set before himself back in eternity,
before time even was, before there was a clock
or a calendar. God set before himself certain
objectives. And my friend, there is nothing in
heaven or hell, neither saint nor sinner, angel
nor demon, can prevent God from accomplishing
his purpose. It's an eternal purpose. We see
it mentioned as well in 2 Timothy chapter 1 and
verse 9. We're writing about God. Paul says,
Who has saved us? and called us with a holy calling,
not according to our works, but according to
his own purpose and grace, which was granted
us in Christ Jesus from all eternity. You see
that? From all of eternity past, God purposed
what he was going to do, and he granted grace
in advance to accomplish those purposes. But
there's one more familiar passage that talks
about his purpose, although sometimes it's overlooked
in the speed of our recitation. Romans 8, 28.
We read this this morning. It says that we know
that God causes all things to work together for
good to those who love God. Now question, who
are those that love God? He answers it. Those
who are called according to his purpose. Now,
in this particular text, Paul goes on to elaborate
what God's purpose is. He says, For whom he foreknew,
he also predestined to be conformed to the image
of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among
many brethren. Whom he predestined, these he
also called. Whom he called, these he also justified.
And whom he justified, these... He also glorified.
I want you to notice that the same D's are involved
in all of those verbs. There are none that lose
out along the way. In fact, there are none that
are added along the way. He speaks about those
he foreknew as being ones he predestined, and
those he predestined he called. Those he called
he justified, and those he called he what? He
glorified. Now even though we have not experienced
our glorification, it's still future. It is so
sure to happen that the eternal God, who is not
a part of the process of time, says, I see it
as done. That is part of God's eternal purpose.
That those that he foreknew and predestined and
called and justified should be glorified. And
that includes the obtaining of our inheritance.
That's God's plan. That's God's plan. His plan
is that all of those that he's called should
obtain that inheritance. But this definiteness
of the inheritance also rests upon God's person.
Because you see, it's one thing to plan, it's
another thing to pull it off. Is God able to
pull off what he plans? Can God achieve it? God
is the God of all power, is he not? He is omnipotent.
Notice with me that we see the statement of his
power here in Ephesians chapter 1, where he says,
we've been predestined according to his purpose,
who works. all things after the counsel of his
will. I want to break that clause there down
to three parts. Who works all things after the
counsel of his will. We see the statement of
his power in that word works. It means that he
energizes. You see, intrinsic to God's purpose,
his plan, is his power to fully accomplish it.
God operates with divine energy without frustration.
There is no one, there is no thing that can frustrate
the purpose of God because he has all power and
will bring about what he says he will do. That
is God's power. He did it in creation. God spoke.
And then God didn't have to go around trying
to get things together for it. When God spoke,
he said, that's my purpose, and immediately it
was so. It was there, fully functioning. God
didn't have to have startup time. God didn't
have to have an evolutionary process. God purposed
it that fast. It was there. It's true in redemption.
What God purposed, he has the power to bring
about. God purposed before the foundation of
the world that Christ should come, die for our
sins, and be raised from the dead. Look over
here in verse 19. He says, These are in accordance
with the working of the strength of his might
which he brought about in Christ when he raised
him from the dead and seated him at his right
hand in the heavenly places. You see, not just
in creation, but in redemption, God has revealed
his power. Now, do you think that God is going
to be overcome by the whims of man? Not in the
slightest. What God has purposed to do, he will
do. He has the power to do it. So how do I know
that I'm really going to experience the inheritance
that I've said to obtain? How do I know that
God isn't going to change his will and drop me
out of it somewhere along the way? You know,
my friend, because God's plan is that all that
he foreknew and called and justified, he also
glorified. That's his plan. And his power is
great enough not only to keep that inheritance
in heaven for you, but to keep you for it. 1
Peter 3. What is the scope of his power? Well,
it says here that he works all things. Now, what
does that include? Well, again, it's all things.
It's unlimited. There's no limit to the reach
of God's ability to employ all things to his
own end. That's why Romans 8 .28 says what it
does. He works all things, as it says here. after
the counsel of his will. So we have the statement
of his power, he works, the scope of his power,
all things, now the sphere of his power. You
see, God's power is not just exploding in all
directions. God, who is all -powerful, has carefully
channeled his power. It's moving in a certain
direction. It's operating in a certain sphere.
And that sphere is said to be the counsel of
his will. And what is God's will? Well, that
is his divine volition. It's what he wills to
do. It's his purpose. What is the counsel, then,
of his will? Well, that could be described as
the specific plan that springs forth from God's
will. I like the words of Dr. Hendrickson in
his commentary on Ephesians when he says, The
benevolent purpose... that we should be holy
and faultless, destined to glorify him forever.
The benevolent purpose is fixed. Being part of
a larger, universe -embracing plan, not only
did God make this plan that includes absolutely
all things that ever take place in heaven, on
earth, and in hell, but he also wholly carries
it out. And then he makes this powerful sentence.
His providence in time is as comprehensive as
his decree from all eternity. God's decree in
eternity past includes all things. And now in
the process of time, his providence, his power,
is able to fully carry out every aspect of his
divine decree in the past. He works all things
after the counsel of his will. Now, my friend,
that includes your life and mine. That means
you can trust God without fear or doubt. What
are the circumstances that puzzle you today?
What are the circumstances that are holding you
back and limiting you and against which you jerk?
You wish you could be free of them. What is it
that's creating anxiety in your life? Will you
today get a hold of this truth that God works
all things at the counsel of his own will? And
that includes the pesky little things in your
life that right now are giving you headaches,
giving you upset stomachs, giving you heartburn.
The anxiety that you feel today, dear child of
God, the anxiety you feel today, my friend, forgive
me for saying it this way, it's of your own making.
God wants us to know a perfect peace about the
circumstances of our life because we can rest
in him who has a plan and the power to pull it
all off. That means that I don't need to worry
about the interest rates going back up before
I get my house refinanced. God's in control of
that. It means I don't have to worry about the
possibility of that disease that the doctors
suspect may be in my body. It means I need not
fret over those children that have gone astray.
And I can relax in God. I can step back from
my circumstances, take a deep breath, and say,
Lord, thank you. Thank you that you are in charge.
And I give myself to you. And I take my hands
back from the strain, the rain. of my life how
does god will you get a hold of this today and
and how that applies to your life and how practical
it is god knows what he's doing not just in the
world in the universe and eternity god knows
what he's doing in your life and mine too even
though we may not be able to understand what
we're passing through we may not be able to see
the purpose in it But God is powerful enough
to do what he wants to do. We have some dear
friends in Kentucky who have visited here, as
a matter of fact, a few years ago, who have wanted
a baby for a long time. They've lost two or three
due to premature delivery. And this time, jody
was able to carry the baby full term and the
baby was born last wednesday with down syndrome
i haven't had a chance to talk to tom yet but
knowing the man of god that he is i'm sure after
he got over the initial shock and maybe disappointment
he was able to stand back from the circumstances
i know tom will have to know this But he today
is able to say, God does all things well. I don't
have to spread about it. God's in control. Can
you say that where you are today in this circumstance?
I want to close with this thought. We've talked
this morning about the direction of the inheritance,
the definition of it, the definiteness of it.
Let's close with a thought about the design of
our inheritance. Why has God caused us to inherit
all things? Why has he given us this marvelous
salvation? Well, he says in verse 12, to the
end that we who were the first to hope in Christ
should be the praise of his glory. The design
of our inheritance, my friend, is not that we
might be spoiled brats in God's family. Not so
that we might abuse the wealth of our inheritance
in Jesus Christ. Not so that we might be careless
in our living and the sureness, but certainly
the definiteness of our inheritance. But he has
designed all of this for the praise of his glory.
So that we might understand that salvation is
of the Lord. That salvation with all of its benefits
is for the glory of God and for no credit. to
man whatsoever. And I like the way the apostle
balances things out. After talking about predestining
again, he says in verse 12, we who were the first
to hope in Christ. You see, there's man's part.
He talks about God's eternal purpose, and then
he says, we who were the first to hope, the first
to trust in Christ. You see, while God has the
eternal plan and all things that he has purposed
will come to pass because he has power to do
it, man has a responsibility too. Today, my friend,
if you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your
Savior, and if you should die and be condemned
in hell, you will never be able to justly say
that it's God's fault. Because, you see, God
has said to you, whosoever will may come. God
has compassionately loved all, and he desires
with his heart for all to be saved. He does not
delight in the death of the wicked. If a person
dies and goes to hell, it is the result of his
own sin and his own rebellion, and not because
of God's decree. The Spirit of God today is working
with some of you. I can't help but believe there
may be someone here who has not yet trusted the
Lord Jesus Christ. May I close by reading a poem
especially for you. The rest of you can listen
in, but if you are not assured today of your
own salvation, listen to these words penned by
an unknown author entitled The Four Calls. The
spirit came in childhood and pleaded, let me
in. But oh, the door was bolted by thoughtlessness
and sin. I'm too young, replied the child. I
will not yield today. There's enough time tomorrow.
So the spirit went away. Again he came and pleaded,
in youth bright happy hour. He came but found
no answer. For lured by Satan's power, the youth
lay dreaming there and saying, Not today, not
until I've tried earth's pleasures. So the spirit
went away. Again he called in mercy, in manhood's
vigorous prime. But he found still no welcome.
The merchant had no time, no time for true repentance,
no time to think or pray. And so, repulsed and
saddened, the spirit went away. Once more he
called and waited. The man was old and ill. He
scarcely heard the whisper. His heart was cold
and still. Go, leave me. When I need thee, I'll
call for thee, he cried. And then, sinking on
his pillow. Without a hope, you died. If you
sense the Spirit of God working in your life
today, I call upon you to take God at His word.
That whosoever will, may take of the water the
life -giving. Whosoever shall call upon the name
of the Lord shall be saved. Will you do that
today? Let's bow together in prayer. Our heads
are bowed, our eyes are closed. The service is
about over. But the Spirit of God is pleading.
He's knocking at some hearts right now. I wonder
if there's someone here today, maybe only one,
maybe a few, that if you're one who right now
would say, I... Today, give my heart to Jesus
Christ and trust in him as my savior. I know
he died for my sin and I receive Jesus and believe
on him. And that is my decision today. Would
you lift your hand and put it down? I'm not going
to embarrass you or come back to you, but I'd
like to know. And I believe God would have you
make an indication of that decision. By the uplifted
hand, you're saying, today I do trust in the
Lord Jesus Christ. And my uplifted hand is my
testimony to that. God bless you. Yes, two of
you have lifted your hands. God bless you. You
may put it down. Anyone else? Today I trust in
the Savior. Father, I thank you for these who
have made that life -changing and eternity -changing
decision. And I pray that as they begin their
walk, as newborn babies, you will strengthen
them and encourage them. And may all of us who,
like them, are heirs of the inheritance, walk...
faithfully as the children of God. May we now
appropriate the inheritance you've given to us,
knowing that one day we shall fully experience
it. This week, may what we are in Jesus Christ
make a difference in the way that we think and
respond to our circumstances, the way that we
treat people, and the way that we treat you.
To that end, we ask your blessing on this message.