Wednesday: Living in Praise of His Glory
“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, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:11-12, NKJV).
The believers in Ephesus seem to have lost a clear sense of who they are as Christians, to have “lost heart” (see Ephesians 3:13). In line with what he has affirmed earlier (Ephesians 1:3-5),
Image © Lars Justinen at Goodsalt.com
Paul wishes again to shore up their identity as Christians. Believers are not victims of haphazard, arbitrary decisions by various deities or astral powers. They are the children of God (Ephesians 1:5) and have access to many blessings through Christ based on the deep counsels and eternal decisions of God. It is God’s purpose, counsel, and will (Ephesians 1:11) that is being worked out in their lives in line with the still wider plan of God to unite all things in Christ (Ephesians 1:10). They may have unshakable confidence in their standing before God and in the effectiveness of the blessings He provides. Their lives should shout the message of Ephesians 1:3-14: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Compare the uses of the idea of “inheritance” in Ephesians 1:11, Ephesians 1:14, Ephesians 1:18. Why do you think this idea is important to Paul?
Have you ever received an inheritance as the result of someone’s death? Perhaps a relative left you a valuable treasure or a considerable sum of money. In Paul’s view by virtue of the death of Jesus, Christians have received an inheritance from God (Ephesians 1:14) and become an “inheritance” to God (Ephesians 1:18).
In the Old Testament, God’s people are sometimes thought of as being His “heritage,” or inheritance (Deuteronomy 9:29, Deuteronomy 32:9, Zechariah 2:12). This sense of being or becoming God’s inheritance is clear in Ephesians 1:18 and is the likely meaning of the term in Ephesians 1:11 as well (which would then be translated, “In him we have become an inheritance”). As a central element in their Christian identity, Paul wishes believers to know their value to God. They not only possess an inheritance from God (Ephesians 1:14, Ephesians 3:6, compare Ephesians 5:5), but they are God’s inheritance.
| What is the difference between working to get something and inheriting it instead? How does this idea help us understand what we have been given in Jesus? |
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One of the interesting things about comparative religion studies is that you find that most religions have a lot in common. I read a book as a teenager called "The Lotus and the Robot" that essentially summarised and compared Eastern religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and so on. It also examined some of the early Mediterranean religions. One of the challenging things for me was how much they had in common with Christianity. That was tough going for a Seventh-day Adventist teenager. But, the differences were also obvious to me. I saw that the big emphasis of most or the other religions was essentially fertility. You appeased the Gods so that your crops would be bountiful, your herds would increase, and you would have many children so that you would be looked after in your old age.
This notion continues on today. When I was in Thailand, I noticed that many Thai people visited the Buddhist temples and holy sites to apply gold leaf to the statues and burn incense and spend some time in prayer. I asked some of the folk I knew what these folk were praying for and they replied that mostly they were praying for good luck in the lottery draws and horse races. (Reminds you a little bit of "Prosperity Christianity doesn't it?)
So, what does Christianity have to say? Well, the way I hear a lot of Christians talk is is: If you are really good now and believe exactly the right things in the right sort of way, then you will get lucky and get to heaven where it will be like you have won all the lotteries at once." Of course, there are more theological ways of saying that so it does not sound so avaricious.
There are a couple of pointers in the Ephesian Epistle that are worth examining.
What indeed have we inherited?
The concept of "inheritance" is frequently used by Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, particularly in Ephesians 1:11, 1:14, and 1:18, as a metaphor for the spiritual blessings and promises that God has bestowed upon believers. In Ephesians 1:11, Paul states that believers have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to God's purpose and will. This speaks to the divine orchestration and generosity of God, who, out of his boundless love, has chosen believers to partake in his blessings, rights, and promises - a theme that is amplified in the subsequent verses.
In Ephesians 1:14, the Holy Spirit is referred to as the "guarantee of our inheritance". This metaphor assures believers that the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives serves as a tangible seal or promise of God's unwavering commitment to fulfil his promises. The Holy Spirit, therefore, serves as a divine down-payment or deposit, a guarantee of the complete redemption and promised blessings that await believers.
In Ephesians 1:18, Paul prays for believers to have a deep, spiritual understanding of the "riches of his glorious inheritance". This points to the immense value and richness of the spiritual blessings reserved for believers, emphasizing the hope and future glory that lies in store for them.
The contrast between working for something and receiving it as an inheritance is stark. When we work for something, it implies a transaction based on our efforts or achievements. The reward is typically proportional to the work done, and there is an inherent sense of merit and deservingness associated with it. However, an inheritance is received, not earned. It comes as a result of a relationship - usually familial - and is a gift passed down out of love, grace, or goodwill.
In the Christian context, this concept of inheritance is critical in understanding what we receive in Jesus Christ. Salvation, eternal life, and the forgiveness of sins are not rewards for good behavior or spiritual achievement. They cannot be earned through human effort. Instead, they are freely given - inherited - through a relationship with God, made possible by faith in Jesus Christ. This grace-based theology underscores God's abundant love and mercy, highlighting that what we receive in Christ is a generous gift, not a wage earned. In this way, understanding our salvation and life in Christ as an inheritance deepens our appreciation for God's love and grace.
Heritage can be denied but never chosen to be received; it is a matter of rights. Thus, it's incredible how we can inherit the best inheritance a human being can receive simply by free choice! Just by accepting Christ's sacrifice for our lives, we are entitled to receive God's blessings! It is as simple as it can be!
I've been to an innovation event lately and saw a bunch of robots doing several human activities (even animal, there was this dog robot), like serving tables, docs for an office, etc. But the main limitation of these robots, which men cannot mirror, is freedom of choice while they do whatever they are programmed to do.
How far are we from God's creative force?
To me the highlighting of “inheritance” in todays lesson helps to identify one of the principle issues surrounding the great controversy between Christ and Satan. In this world and as our minds typically think (we do not naturally think spiritually) inheritance has to do with what we possess and I believe sin has predisposed us to this way of thinking. Satan became more concerned with what he had than who he was. Jesus came with no outward attractions that we should desire Him for any other reason than Who He was in character. So to me the glory of our inheritance is not what we have but who we are in Christ Jesus our Lord. To be like Jesus in thought, word, and deed, and one with Him in relationship is our glorious inheritance.
Maurice Ashton, I love the last question on the Wednesday's lesson about the difference between inheriting a gift and just working for it. That is where to me working for a gift is not really a gift. Working for a blessing is certainly a blessing to be sure but it is still not a gift. We can never by our works inherit the Eternal Life that comes by serving God and our Saviour Jesus etc. And that is also where the parable of the laborers comes in to play here too. At the end of the day they all got the same pay, even those that had worked every single hour of the hot day.
I don't have a problem with that idea Pete. I think you will find that any time the idea of a "debt" is mentioned in regards to our salvation is that we cannot pay it.