Mystery #6 mystery of inheritance

Ephesians 1:9-11

“Making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time to unite all things in him, things in the heavens and upon the earth. 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.”

 

Introduction:

 

The essential message of the mystery to the Ephesians is to understand that there are two types of inheritance. The first type of inheritance is received by grace through faith and is the guaranteed adoption into the family of God through Christ by the down payment of the Holy Spirit when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. This makes us a child of God. This represents our new birth, the forgiveness of sins and the promise that God will finish His plan of complete reconciliation. This initial guarantee of inheritance is for those in the church as they are now members of the household of God. The inheritance that the Father gave is to everybody reborn in Christ and this cannot be lost. It is comforting to know that our being born into His family is a permanent inheritance and we will never be considered a non-family member anymore. (heir of God) We became a family member adopted by Christ.

 

To be a co-heir is the second type of inheritance. Romans 8 says “All of creation waits for the revealing…”

Even though we are grafted into the family with sonship, we can lose inheritance as a firstborn son and only receive single portion (like Jacob and his 12 sons where Ruben failed to receive his firstborn birthright due to sin but remained a son that didn’t qualify as first born.) See other key examples.

 

This same idea is also depicted in how God laid out the harvest cycles. The first portion are the first fruits of harvest was always used for holy purposes.

 

This second type of inheritance is received by grace through faith but is conditioned upon persevering in faithfulness to the end of our race as mentioned in the previous mysteries/chapters. This inheritance is for those faithful followers who are worthy to be a son (not just a child) among many brethren. One of the examples that the New Testament uses from the Old Testament is the story of Esau in his youth he forfeited his birthright before he became of age to receive his inheritance. The Apostle Paul likewise uses the example of the Isrealites coming out of Egypt trying to make it to the promised inheritance of the land of Canaan. The book of Hebrews tells us that Joshua was never able to give the Isrealites their rest in this land.

 

We all (Jews and Gentiles, male and female) have the same access to inheritance. By faith we have access to this as a son. If you leave the faith and are not actively obedient in following the commands of God, inheritance can be lost. But if we walk faithfully we can all have the inheritance of Abraham. The inheritance of Abraham given by the Father is to receive the Promised Land. We can be a recipient of this promise by our faithful walk with the Lord and are an heir of the father with active, ongoing faith. 

 

This author believes the double portion of the inheritance promised to Christ is that if we partake in Christ’s sufferings, we will be a co-heir (co-inheritor) with Christ. The promise to Christ was that He would receive a Kingdom and this is the promise that can be lost if we are not overcomers in Christ. The promise to Abraham was a land flowing with milk and honey. Christ has the land and the Kingdom! He is the first born….will we be a first born with Christ to receive this land, authority and name (exactly like the inheritance of the first born in the Old Testament). The first born will be those that rule and reign with Christ’s kingship in the new Jerusalem.

 

This mystery of inheritance brings together both Jews and Gentiles who are found in Him when He comes to fulfill His promised Kingdom. The Gentiles and the Jews are now being brought together to receive the chance to achieve this Messianic reign. The conditional inheritance that was conditional for the Isrealites is also a mystery for the church as it is dependent on our walking and our running by grace through faith as an overcomer. The church can be cut off from this inheritance and the partaking being a first born son. (heir of Christ)

 

Paul was committed to this message of being able to rule and reign in the Kingdom with Christ and to not be outside of this kingdom. 

 

These two types of inheritance have been presented throughout biblical history. The birthright inheritance usually is a double portion of the Father’s estate to the firstborn son and the single portion of inheritance to all other children. This can be seen and understood in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. 

 

Let us now have the word of God speak through a scripture soliloquy of Ephesians. The cleansing is unconditional promise fo Jesus finishing what He started in us. Inheritance is conditioned upon our faithfulness in the race and portions can be lost. This is the justice of God. He has to remain faithful to the reaping and sowing as promised to the church after conversion (see verse on reaping and sowing). God doesn’t just wave a magic wand, it must be practically finished.

(See Hebrews 12:15-17 in reference to Esau losing His inheritance even though seeking it through tears)

 

“Making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time to unite all things in him, things in the heavens and upon the earth. 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….Who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints…Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Isreal and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world…Through Jesus, we (Jews and Gentiles) now have access to one spirit to the father, strangers and foreigners are are now fellow citizens and part of the household of God with Jesus as the chief cornerstone growing into the holy temple of the Lord…and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things…For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of obedience…Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefor strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but may be healed. Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears…And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off that i might be grafted in.” Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off…For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has promised him.”

 

Conclusion:

 

Be careful to understand what definition of inheritance is being referred to in each scripture. There is a guaranteed inheritance of being God’s possession/child once we have accepted this in Christ but we must continue in a faithful walk of obedience, repenting when we sin to be back in alignment, in order to inherit the Millennial Kingdom.

 

The church of Ephesis had been deceived that they can live in sin and still gain their inheritance in Christ’s Kingdom. Paul warns the church that the church can still be partakers of darkness and if they continue to walk in their disobedience they can indeed lose this inheritance they were initially given at their rebirth. Paul is telling the church to walk in righteousness, holiness and goodness. Paul wants the Ephesians to finish their race and receive the double portion of their inheritance.

The mystery of inheritance can be further explored by referring to the keys noted at the of the chapter.

 

Adoption in the family of God is a work of faith, a decision. Once our decision to follow Him is made we now are ask to enter into a labor of love, a preparing of our garments for Christ’s return. The good deeds of the saints to resist sin and grow in the knowledge of God is a patient endurance for the hope of the Lord that He will reward you when He returns!

It is our promise of hope to receive this blessing. It is a work of faith not a works of the law. (1 Thessalonians)

 

Case : You think there are no repercussions for those that are in Christ.

Rebuttal : Throughout history you could always make God mad. It doesn’t mean you are not a child of God but that you can be punished by God. There is no partiality in Christ. To the church in Colissi the wrong doer will be paid back. (See Colossians 3:23 - add)

Whether or not you will receive God’s rest through Christ is a condition…a condition on the believer being faithful and not testing the Lord (like the Isrealites in the wilderness).

“For we have become partakers in Christ IF we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.” …. Continually faithfully…. we can make God angry. (Hebrews)

 

(Key to Inheritance; Key to Sitting, Walking, Standing; Key to Power; Key to Old Testament)

(See Book of Joshua for further study)