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.