Unity and Inheritance in God's Eternal Plan
Summary
In the passage from Ephesians 1:11-14, we delve into the profound mystery of God's eternal purpose and the inheritance we have obtained in Christ. This passage is part of a grand sentence that stretches from verse 3 to 14, encapsulating the essence of God's plan for humanity. The Apostle Paul unfolds this divine purpose, emphasizing the restoration of harmony in the universe through Christ. This plan, which transcends the temporal concerns of the world, is a testament to God's wisdom and prudence, given to us through the Holy Spirit.
Paul's letter to the Ephesians is a remarkable illustration of God's unfolding plan, particularly in the context of the Christian church. The church serves as a supreme example of God's cosmic plan to restore harmony. Paul, a former Jewish nationalist, now writes to Gentile Ephesians, highlighting the unity and reconciliation found in Christ. This unity is not merely a theoretical concept but a practical reality, as evidenced by the church's existence.
The Apostle's writing style, characterized by its elaborate and passionate nature, reflects his deep spiritual engagement with these truths. He is not merely a literary stylist but an evangelist, captivated by the grandeur of God's plan. This passage serves as an overture, introducing the themes that will be explored throughout the epistle.
Paul emphasizes that true unity and reconciliation are only possible in Christ. It is not through human effort or adherence to the law but through being in Christ that we are reconciled to God and one another. This new relationship in Christ transcends all earthly divisions, creating a new humanity united in Him.
The inheritance we have obtained is not just a future promise but a present reality. We are joint heirs with Christ, sharing in His glory and the ultimate restoration of harmony in the cosmos. This inheritance is secure, guaranteed by the Holy Spirit, and it shapes our perspective on the world. As Christians, our focus is on the eternal, not the temporal, and this transforms how we live and interact with others.
Key Takeaways:
- Unity in Christ: True unity among people is only possible through being in Christ. This unity transcends all earthly divisions and is a testament to God's grand plan of reconciliation. In Christ, we find a new relationship that brings harmony and peace. [27:01]
- Inheritance in Christ: As Christians, we have obtained an inheritance in Christ, which is both a present reality and a future promise. This inheritance is secure and guaranteed by the Holy Spirit, shaping our perspective on life and eternity. [39:05]
- God's Grand Plan: God's ultimate purpose is to restore harmony in the universe through Christ. This plan is unfolding in the church, which serves as a supreme illustration of God's cosmic design. [07:06]
- Paul's Passionate Proclamation: The Apostle Paul's writing style reflects his deep spiritual engagement with the truths of God's plan. His elaborate and passionate expression is a hallmark of his spirituality and evangelistic zeal. [11:45]
- Living with Eternal Perspective: As Christians, our focus is on the eternal inheritance we have in Christ. This perspective transforms how we live, freeing us from the temporal concerns of the world and uniting us in our shared hope. [45:22]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to Ephesians 1:11-14
- [01:02] - The Grand Sentence of Ephesians
- [03:15] - God's Eternal Purpose
- [05:27] - The Unfolding Plan in the Church
- [07:24] - The Nature of the Christian Church
- [09:00] - Paul's Passionate Writing Style
- [12:39] - The Overture of Ephesians
- [14:03] - Unity in Christ
- [17:54] - Jew and Gentile Reconciled
- [20:29] - The New Humanity in Christ
- [23:40] - Christianity's Transformative Power
- [27:01] - Being in Christ
- [39:05] - Our Inheritance in Christ
- [45:22] - Living with an Eternal Perspective
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 1:11-14
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul mean when he says we have "obtained an inheritance" in Christ according to Ephesians 1:11? How does this relate to the concept of predestination mentioned in the same verse? [00:26]
2. In the sermon, how does the pastor describe the unity between Jews and Gentiles as part of God's plan? What historical context does he provide to illustrate this unity? [17:54]
3. How does the pastor explain the role of the Holy Spirit in guaranteeing our inheritance in Christ? What is the significance of being "sealed" with the Holy Spirit? [25:19]
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the church as an illustration of God's cosmic plan? How does this relate to the restoration of harmony in the universe? [07:06]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of being "in Christ" redefine relationships among believers, according to the sermon? What implications does this have for earthly divisions? [27:01]
2. The pastor mentions that the inheritance in Christ is both a present reality and a future promise. How does this dual aspect of inheritance affect a believer's perspective on life and eternity? [39:05]
3. In what ways does the pastor suggest that Paul's passionate writing style reflects his deep spiritual engagement with God's plan? How does this passion influence the message of the epistle? [11:45]
4. How does the sermon describe the transformation that occurs when believers focus on their eternal inheritance rather than temporal concerns? What practical changes might this bring about in a believer's life? [45:22]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there any divisions or conflicts you are experiencing that could be reconciled by focusing on your unity in Christ? How might you approach these situations differently? [27:01]
2. Consider the inheritance you have in Christ. How does this understanding shape your daily decisions and interactions with others? Are there specific areas where you need to shift your focus from the temporal to the eternal? [39:05]
3. The pastor emphasizes the importance of being "in Christ" for true unity. How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with Christ to enhance your unity with fellow believers? [27:01]
4. Paul's writing style is described as passionate and spiritually engaged. How can you bring more passion and engagement into your own spiritual practices and sharing of the gospel? [11:45]
5. The sermon highlights the church as a supreme illustration of God's plan. How can you actively participate in your church community to reflect this cosmic plan of unity and reconciliation? [07:06]
6. How does the assurance of the Holy Spirit's seal on your inheritance influence your confidence in your faith journey? Are there specific doubts or fears you need to address in light of this assurance? [25:19]
7. In what ways can you set your affections on things above, as encouraged in the sermon, to transform your perspective on worldly concerns? Identify one practical step you can take this week to focus more on your eternal inheritance. [45:22]
Devotional
Day 1: Unity in Christ Transcends Earthly Divisions
In Ephesians 1:11-14, the Apostle Paul emphasizes that true unity among people is only possible through being in Christ. This unity transcends all earthly divisions and is a testament to God's grand plan of reconciliation. In Christ, we find a new relationship that brings harmony and peace. This unity is not just a theoretical concept but a practical reality, as evidenced by the existence of the church. The church serves as a supreme example of God's cosmic plan to restore harmony, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds into one body. This unity is a reflection of God's wisdom and prudence, given to us through the Holy Spirit. [27:01]
Ephesians 2:14-16 (ESV): "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility."
Reflection: Think of a relationship in your life where division exists. How can you actively seek unity in Christ with that person today?
Day 2: Our Inheritance in Christ is a Present Reality
As Christians, we have obtained an inheritance in Christ, which is both a present reality and a future promise. This inheritance is secure and guaranteed by the Holy Spirit, shaping our perspective on life and eternity. We are joint heirs with Christ, sharing in His glory and the ultimate restoration of harmony in the cosmos. This inheritance is not just something we look forward to in the future but is a present reality that influences how we live and interact with others. It calls us to live with an eternal perspective, focusing on the things that truly matter. [39:05]
1 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."
Reflection: How does knowing your inheritance in Christ is secure change the way you approach challenges in your life today?
Day 3: God's Grand Plan Unfolds in the Church
God's ultimate purpose is to restore harmony in the universe through Christ. This plan is unfolding in the church, which serves as a supreme illustration of God's cosmic design. The church is not just a gathering of believers but a living testament to God's plan of reconciliation and unity. Through the church, God is demonstrating His wisdom and the power of His plan to bring all things together in Christ. This grand plan transcends the temporal concerns of the world and invites us to participate in God's work of restoration and reconciliation. [07:06]
Colossians 1:18-20 (ESV): "And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."
Reflection: In what ways can you actively participate in God's plan of reconciliation within your local church community?
Day 4: Paul's Passionate Proclamation of God's Plan
The Apostle Paul's writing style reflects his deep spiritual engagement with the truths of God's plan. His elaborate and passionate expression is a hallmark of his spirituality and evangelistic zeal. Paul, a former Jewish nationalist, now writes to Gentile Ephesians, highlighting the unity and reconciliation found in Christ. His passion for God's plan is evident in his writing, as he seeks to convey the grandeur of God's purpose to his readers. This passion serves as an example for us to be deeply engaged with the truths of God's word and to share them with others. [11:45]
2 Corinthians 5:13-15 (ESV): "For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper passion for God's word and His plan in your daily life?
Day 5: Living with an Eternal Perspective
As Christians, our focus is on the eternal inheritance we have in Christ. This perspective transforms how we live, freeing us from the temporal concerns of the world and uniting us in our shared hope. By keeping our eyes on the eternal, we are able to navigate the challenges of life with a sense of peace and purpose. This eternal perspective shapes our values, priorities, and interactions with others, allowing us to live in a way that reflects the hope we have in Christ. [45:22]
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to shift your focus from the temporal to the eternal in your daily life?
Quotes
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will that we should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ in whom ye also trusted after that he heard the word of Truth The Gospel of your salvation in whom also after that he believed he were sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise which is the earnest of our inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory. [00:22:16]
God in Christ has a plan and way to restore that broken Harmony and the Apostle has opened that out before us in the 10th verse having already told us in verses 8 and N that he's equipped us with the necessary faculties to understand it as we are by Nature we don't understand it the world this morning thinks that you and I gathering together like this are doing something quite futile. [00:38:20]
The Apostle has told us that God by the Holy Spirit has given us wisdom he's given us this wisdom and Prudence without which these things are Darkness to us and mean nothing and are utterly remote from life but to us they're everything because we see that God is working this out and that we are involved in it and that our whole Eternal Destiny is concerned. [00:50:28]
The greatest illustration that the world has seen so far of the carrying out of that plan is what is to be seen in the Christian church and that's the theme that the Apostle takes up here he starts on it now that is of course the great theme of this particular epistle it's one of the great church Epistles and the Apostle gives us here perhaps his richest teaching with regard to the nature and the character of the Christian church. [01:09:16]
Paul is not content ever with just saying a he has to add to it let me show you what I mean by that he says in whom also we have obtained an inheritance well that's all right that really says it doesn't it it's the great thing that he's emphasizing but Paul isn't content just to say that we have obtained an inheritance he tells us how being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. [01:29:44]
The Apostle here emphasizes the we and the you we Jews you Gentiles and here's the astounding thing that they have both been brought together they have been made one in Christ we also have obtained an inheritance and you also we are all together in it now of course this as I've already suggested is uh not only the great theme of this particular epistle it is in a sense the great theme of the whole of the New Testament. [01:58:48]
The first thing he tells us is this that which makes us Christians is that we are in Christ the there's no hope of unity apart from Christianity there will never be Unity amongst men until men are Christians there is no conceivable lasting unity and Harmony and the restoration of that which God originally made except as men are Christians and we are Christians only as we are in Christ in whom. [02:24:40]
Unity is only possible in terms of Christianity it is only as we become Christians we can never know this and he tells us here what is true us because we are Christians what do we enjoy ask Christians how it's all come to us how we may know that we've got it and that we'll never lose it and the whole of it as a manifestation of the glory of the Eternal and the ever blessed god. [02:37:16]
To be a Christian I say means to be in a new relationship to Christ it means to be in Christ it doesn't just mean to be a member of a particular society it doesn't just mean that you've been born in a particular country it doesn't mean that well that your parents or your grandparents were that isn't Christianity Christianity means being in Christ God in other words reconciles Men by bringing them into a new relationship. [02:41:36]
The only Harmony that this world will ever know is the harmony that is produced in and through men and women who in Christ have set their affections on those things in whom also we have an inheritance in whom ye also fading is the worldlings treasure all his boasted pump and show solid J and Lasting treasure none but Zion's children no oh oh the joy of being amongst the redeemed. [04:34:45]
The joy of knowing that though we may be stripped of everything here our final inheritance is guaranteed and safe and sure have you got a stake in it has the lot been given to you it has says the Apostle to all who are in Christ who have hoped in him. [04:39:44]
The Apostle has told us that God by the Holy Spirit has given us wisdom he's given us this wisdom and Prudence without which these things are Darkness to us and mean nothing and are utterly remote from life but to us they're everything because we see that God is working this out and that we are involved in it and that our whole Eternal Destiny is concerned. [00:50:28]
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