THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS
"The Believer and their Inheritance In-Christ"

 

 


Addendum to Ephesians 1:11-12

THE BELIEVER AND THEIR INHERITANCE IN-CHRIST[i]

 

I.       Doctrine Verses:

 

Titus 3:4-7

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

 

Galatians 1:4-7

Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. 3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

 

Ephesians 1:13-18

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 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. 15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.


 

II.     What is the Believer's Inheritance?

 

 

1) We shall inherit the kingdom of God

 

A) We shall inherit the earth

 

Matthew 5:5

5 “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

 

B) We shall inherit eternal life

 

Matthew 19:29

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.

 

Luke 10:25

And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

 

C) We shall inherit a blessing

 

1 Peter 3:9

not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

 

D) We shall inherit position

 

Matthew 25:21-23

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’


 

Revelation 20:6

Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

 

 

 

III.   What does the Bible say specifically about the Believer's Inheritance?

 

1) That our inheritance is given to us on the basis of our faith in Christ.

 

Acts 26:15-18

And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; 17 rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’

 

2) That our inheritance is not given to us on the basis of the Law

 

Romans 4:14-16

For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified; 15 for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation. 16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

 

Galatians 3:18

For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.


 

3) That we are joint-heirs with Christ.

 

Romans 8:16-17

The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

 

4) That no unrighteous person will inherit the kingdom of God

 

1 Corinthians 6:9-10

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

 

Galatians 5:19-21

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

Ephesians 5:5

For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

 

5) That flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God

 

1 Corinthians 15:50

Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.


 

6) That our inheritance is obtained in Christ

 

Ephesians 1:10-11

with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,

 

7) That the Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance

 

Ephesians 1:13-14

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 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.

 

8) That the Father hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance

 

Colossians 1:12

giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

 

9) That our inheritance is a reward

 

Colossians 3:24

knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

 

10) That we through faith and patience inherit the promises

 

Hebrews 6:12

so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.


 

11) That our inheritance is eternal

 

Hebrews 9:15

For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

 

12) That God hath chosen the poor of this word to be heirs of the kingdom

 

James 2:5

Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

 

13) That our inheritance is incorruptible and undefiled and fades not away reserved in heaven for us

 

1 Peter 1:4

to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

 

14) That one day, if we are faithful, we shall receive the inheritance

 

Matthew 25:34

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world

 

Revelation 21:7

He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.


 

IV.    What does the Bible say specifically about Christ's inheritance?

 

1) Jesus has been made heir of all things

 

Hebrews 1:1-2

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world

 

a) A More Excellent Name

 

Hebrews 1:4

having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

 

Philippians 2:9-10

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth

 

b) All Power & Authority

 

1 Corinthians 15:24

then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power

 

Matthew 28:18

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

 


 

[i] Steadman, Ray, The Believer and Their Inheritance
 Edited and anotated: J. Deering,
AncientPath.net


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49_eph_Redemption.htm
2023-04-18
2023-09-04 update