We Have Received an Inheritance
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Series Review
Series Review
Tonight’s offering is a food offering to the Calvert Churches Community Food Pantry, one of our ministry partners. During the offertory, you are invited to bring your food donation and place around the altar. If you did not bring a food donation, you are welcome to make a financial contribution after the service.
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Sermon Introduction
Sermon Introduction
We are thanking God that we are made heirs. We have an inheritance waiting for us. I’ve been working through , and most of the time when I preach, I use the NIV. Partly because of habit, partly because I think it is a solid English translation. This evening I want to read from another translation: The English Standard Version. I’m doing this for one simple reason: in verse 11 Paul uses the word “inheritance,” whereas the NIV uses the word “chosen.” Here the word of the Lord:
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
English Standard Version Chapter 1
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
This is the Word of God for the people of God.
I once visited a terminally ill person. The only caregiver was a grandchild and a couple of neighbors. Of course the question in mind became, “Does she have any family?” I found out that she had 3 children. Being 7 hours away from my parents, having 4 children, I understand the hardship of visiting family. And not everyone can just drop everything at work and care for a terminally ill parent. Still, when the doctors informed the neighbors and grandchild that it could a matter of days or weeks, I would have expected to see some family. I never saw them. That’s when I heard the sad story: the children were not speaking with each other, and were not speaking with their mother. The reason? Money. There was a significant amount of it in cash and real estate. And when the family couldn’t be together without having fierce arguments about it, they were taken off the will, and all relationship ceased. After she died, her family visited the area to contest the will.
Money is the root of all kinds of evil, says Jesus, whether it’s in your hands now, or you are expecting it as soon as the doctor writes the death certificate. This is not a modern problem. The Bible is full of violence and hatred over money, and also family squabbles over inheritance. Jacob and Esau. Jacob’s sons - who sold their youngest into slavery, which was in no small part due to a fight over an inheritance. The prodigal son.
This shouldn’t surprise us, given the birthright laws in the Old Testament, where the oldest was entitled to a double portion of the inheritance. Already you’ve set yourself up for some family drama. The law allowed exceptions, so if the dad got mad at the son, he could give the youngest the rights of the firstborn. Then you’ve really set yourself up for some drama. Often this didn’t really matter: the majority of people in New Testament times were poor, so the differences were negligible. Or often there was nothing of value to leave behind. But those who had money, an inheritance was something to expect.
I want to point out a few things about this inheritance that belongs to us through Christ:
Often this didn’t really matter: the majority of people in New Testament times were poor, so the differences were negligible. Or often there was nothing of value to leave behind.
It is a future blessing.
It is a future blessing.
That’s pretty obvious, but it’s worth saying, given the focus of our thanksgiving. We thank God for what we have been given in the past, and what we are being given now. These tend to be things that we can handle, touch, taste or experience in a direct way. I can smell the food, I’m enjoyed the fellowship so far, my job allows me to provide for my family so we can have this house. Never stop thanking God for these things, but never stop there.
This series is about the spiritual blessings we have in Christ. When is the last time we thanked God for those? But even when we are thanking God for salvation, we can say that we have experienced God’s grace and forgiveness. We can testify that we have been healed of our brokenness.
But how strange it is to thank God for something we have not yet received. Which fills your heart with gratitude the most: the unopened gift or the one you’ve opened?
It’s also an unimaginable blessing.
It’s also an unimaginable blessing.
9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him—
We sing about the mansion He has built for me in glory, but can we really imagine the glory of eternal life with Jesus?
And how hard is it to thank God for something we really have trouble imaging? We use words like streets of gold, a mansion in glory, our glorified bodies, enjoying the direct presence of God, but our imagination can’t tell the full story.
We can’t see the inheritance, we have trouble imagining it, but we are called to be thankful for it. Paul says that one of the things we need to be thankful for is our God-given inheritance. Paul writes this in other places in the New Testament.
We are co-heirs with each other, and we are co-heirs with Christ.
We are co-heirs with each other, and we are co-heirs with Christ.
17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
A few weeks ago I talked about one of the blessings mentioned in Ephesians: adoption. We have been brought into God’s family. We receive the rights that children normally would have: Protection. A new status. Provision. And inheritance: that’s one of the rights of being family. What’s interesting here in is that we are co-heirs with Christ. We share in his inheritance if we share in his sufferings.
There is equality in this inheritance.
There is equality in this inheritance.
6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
Hebrews 12:
No maneuvering. No competing. No jealousy. When the disciples argued over who would be the greatest, Jesus put that one to rest. When their moms said please left my sons sit on your left and right,
What will we inherit?
What will we inherit?
Salvation. (in the eternal sense)
Salvation. (in the eternal sense)
14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
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Eternal life
Eternal life
7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
The Kingdom
The Kingdom
Matthew
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
The reign of God. We inherit that. We rule alongside with God. We inherit authority.
All things.
All things.
21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours,
The Lord Himself
The Lord Himself
20 The Lord said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites.
KJV - In my father’s house are many mansions.
NIV - In my father’s house are many rooms. The difference is important: what God tried to tell the ancient Israelites He tries to tell us: our future inheritance is not about a mansion; it’s not about land or money; God is our inheritance.
I disagree with any version of our faith which turns Christianity into something that's all about us. There are far too many teachings on Jesus and Heaven, where the ultimate goal is our satisfaction. A nice place to live. That kind of religion is not what Jesus taught.
inmost important? looking forward to a mansion in the life to come? (in my fathers house are many mansions)
It's not our mansion. Not our marble. Not our four car garage and personal theatre. It's God's House. And for our
I disagree with any version of our faith which turns Christianity into something that's all about us. There are far too many teachings on Jesus and Heaven, where the ultimate goal is our satisfaction. A nice place to live. That kind of religion is not what Jesus taught.
And, whether we're talking about the House of God below, or the House of God above - we're talking about a place that is, first-and-foremost, God's.
Jesus promises to prepare a place in His Father's house for us. And that's where this passage strikes me in the gut: In God's House, where His Name is worshipped, and where He dwells...I have a place. A spot.
And, whether we're talking about the House of God below, or the House of God above - we're talking about a place that is, first-and-foremost, God's.
Jesus promises to prepare a place in His Father's house for us. And that's where this passage strikes me in the gut: In God's House, where His Name is worshipped, and where He dwells...I have a place. A spot.