Ephesians 1: 11
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance,...
The first word that in our statement above that caught my eye was "also." This word in our phrase indicates that this inheritance isn't the only thing we received but this inheritance is in addition to every thing else that Paul has speaking of previously. In a sense it points us back to all the things Paul has told us about in Christ and then says in addition to these things you have also received an inheritance in Christ. Think about all the "also's" in your life. God not only saved you from hell He also restored fellowship, He also forgave your sins, He also gave you His righteousness, He also gave you His Spirit, He also gave you His Word, also,also, also!! He adds to us daily provisions in addition to our spiritual, eternal blessings. He saved me, He also saved my father, He also saved my mother, He also saved my Wife. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all the we ask or think! I'm so glad the Spirit of God moved Paul to include the word also in our text here today; It serves as a reminder to look back at what is being added to and not only in text should we do this but in our life from the time of salvation, look back at what He is adding to when He adds a blessing.
Secondly I want to notice "Inheritance." An inheritance is something that someone leaves to you, usually after they have passed away. Consider some aspects of inheritances we receive here on earth. A person spends their life acquiring goods, money, property and such. At the end of that persons life all the goods, money, property and such will be distributed to the beneficiaries that the deceased person has specified in his/her last will and testament. they went to work for years and years, investing blood sweat and tears to accumulate the wealth that they have or the properties they have or whatever else they have gotten over the span of their life. Then when death comes the wealth is transferred to the beneficiaries and at no work or effort on their part the only thing that gives them any right to the transfer of wealth is the family they belong to. The deceased one did all the work, he worked, sweated, and accumulated but the beneficiaries had no part in the procuring of wealth only in the passing on of the wealth. When I consider this in the light of our inheritance in Christ it thrills my soul!
Dear reader, Christ spent his life here on earth achieving righteousness. He didn't have earthly houses or land to pass on to his future children but he had righteousness and a heavenly home, He was the first man to please God, the first to fulfill the Law, He didn't have money to pay his taxes or a place to lay his head. He never owned anything, even the grave he was buried in was borrowed. The wealth he achieved during his life on earth was far greater than we could ever put a price tag on. He pleased the Father, something no man could do and at his death there was a transfer of wealth to the beneficiaries of his testament. Not only to those of that time but to whosoever is born into the family of God, by grace through faith, are also included in the inheritance He left for all those who are in Him! There is no work to do, He did the work, invested blood, sweat and tears, even greater, His sweat became as great drops of blood for you and I! He finished the work and we are just the beneficiaries. We had no part and have no part in the procuring of the inheritance only in the passing on of the inheritance.
Paul explains it best in Hebrews 9
Heb 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. :16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. :17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
Now, I've referred to Jesus as a man and think this may need some explanation. It is true that Jesus was 100% God but it as just as true that he was 100% man. The Bible tells us he was tempted in all points such as we are, yet without sin. He faced every temptation, every trial, every pain, every emotion that you and I have ever felt, yet without sin. He defeated sin as a man, He lived righteously as a man. He never once relied on his Godly ability to serve the needs of him self or in aiding to defeat temptation. He conquered sin and achieved righteousness without supernatural intervention. I challenge you to search the scripture and find one place where He used his supernatural ability to aid himself. He achieved righteousness as a man so he could pass it on to us(the saved) who had no hope of ever having any. He has promised us an inheritance! Oh what a Savior is Mine!!
According to the riches of His Grace!!
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