A Great Inheritance

Introduction

Ephesians 1:11–14 ESV

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, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Cornelius Vanderbilt is considered by many to be the first great American business tycoon. Born in 1794, he went into business on his own in the 1820s, building an empire of steam ships, railroads, and other developments.

At the height of his wealth, he was worth 100 million dollars. The modern equivalent is 2.5 billion dollars.

He founded schools, build libraries, had mansions, and lived an extravagant lifestyle. Five of his mansions are still available to see today: The Biltmore, Idlehour, Florham, the Breakers, and Marble House.

His son, William Henry Vanderbilt, inherited 95% of the estate, and actually doubled the money during his lifetime.

You would think that Mr. Vanderbilt would have set his family up for countless generations for wealth, success, and security.

An article was written recently about the Vanderbilts. They had a family reunion in 1973. Do you know how many of them had over 1,000,000 dollars in their bank account. Zero. Zilch. None.

What happened? Anderson Cooper wrote an book recently about his family. Between legal battles over the inheritance, keeping appearances in the socialite class, bad business ventures, etc. The entire inheritance was lost.

As Christians, how can we know that our inheritance will not be lost.

The Vanderbilt inheritance was lost because it was placed in the hands of untrustworthy people. Our inheritance will not be lost, because our inheritance has been placed in God’s hands. NOT YOUR HANDS. GOD’s.

CIT: Believers in Christ have an inheritance that has been sealed in them by the Holy Spirit from the moment of their salvation until the day they possess their inheritance in full.

Explanation

Ephesians 1:11 “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,”

This theme of “in Christ” continues - “in him.”

The inheritance that we have does not come from out abilities, our general goodness, our kindness to strangers, our tithes, or our family pedigree. Our inheritance comes from the fact that we are now a part of the family.

We are part of the family, because the Son gave his place for us.

God’s will is more solid than any family “will.”

What is God’s will? It is his desire to see something through. (Scripture)

We measure God’s will by our own will. We think about how hard it was to get up for Sunday School or how easy it was to sleep in. We think that God’s will is fickle.

By contrast, a family will is in writing. It is the “desire of a family.”

God’s will is greater and more sure than any legal document.

Long after the constitution of the US no longer has a say, God, His will, and his purposes will be seen.

Ephesians 1:12 “so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.”

While we are not the first and to our knowledge we are not the last - the end is the same - the praise of his glory.

For thousands of years, God has been praised as people give their lives to Him.

Ephesians 1:13 “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,”

I believe that many of us do not walk in victory in the Christian life because we do not walk in the assurance of our salvation. You can be assured of your salvation.

When we constantly worry about whether we are saved or not, we cannot walk in the assurance and victory that are ours in Christ.

Christ desires for your spiritual life to be a victorious one. The problem is that many of us feel like we have lost.

The Holy Spirit is the seal of our salvation.

Paul is illustrating the Holy Spirit’s “sealing” of us with the Roman wax seal.

The Roman wax seal was a stamp that was used to seal a letter. One would melt wax, drip it on the envelope, and stamp the wax.

Ephesians 1:14 “who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

The Holy Spirit inside of you is the guarantee that God will see you to His throne.

Application

Faith vs. Jesus //

Invitation