What is the Meaning of Ephesians 1.11-14.Handout

“I Am His and He Is Mine”

Eph. 1:11-14

INTRODUCTION What is the Meaning of Ephesians 1.11-14.Handout

God’s program: Accomplishing the mystery of His will, i.e., the gospel, salvation of Gentiles, and bringing everything underneath the leadership of Christ. Make God’s program an increasing part of your life.

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1. Mutual Inheritance: We Are and Have Christ’s Inheritance

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   1. We are Christ’s inheritance (Eph. 1:11,14)

“We have obtained an inheritance”= “We were made to be Christ’s inheritance”

1. Old Testament: Nation of Israel is God’s inheritance (Ps. 33:12)
2. New Testament: Jew and Gentiles are His inheritance (Eph. 1:11,14)
   1. Eph. 1:11: “We are Christ’s inheritance”
   2. Eph. 1:14: Redemption of “God’s own possession” = Resurrection of God’s people (Ro. 8:23)

2. We have Christ’s inheritance (Eph. 1:14)
   3. The Holy Spirit is given as a deposit of our inheritance, until the resurrection, when we receive our inheritance in full.
   4. We will reign with Christ (2 Ti. 2:12; Rev. 20:6). We are fellow heirs with Christ (Ro. 8:17).

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TRANSITION: How did He do this? Answer is II….by…

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2. Mutual Actions: By God’s Predestination and My Faith
   3. God’s Predestination
      5. God Predetermined Believer’s Destiny (Eph. 1:11)
         3. That believer’s be adopted as sons (Eph. 1:5)
         4. That believer’s be Christ’s inheritance (Eph. 1:11)
         5. That believer’s ultimately be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ (Ro. 8:29)

TRANS: Can I have confidence in this? Yes! Why? ….Because…(#2)

6. God’s Predestination is in keeping with all God’s purposes (Eph. 1:11)
   6. He “Works all things”= “constantly working toward the intended goal for all things.”

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“Believers are Christ’s inheritance because God has predetermined our destiny to this. And this is all in keeping with His purposes as He constantly works to bring everything else to its completed end.”

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7. He careful plans out and then does His will (Eph. 1:11)

Lit: “After the counsel of His will”= After careful deliberation and planning He accomplishes His will. Application: Afraid? Worried? God is the one working to bring everything to its completed end after he has carefully planned out, not you! [Meditate on this verse!]

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TRANS: For you to be Christ’s inheritance (v.12) and to be secure and owned by Him (v. 13) requires your response, too.

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4. My Faith (Eph. 1:12, 13)
   7. Hope in Christ (v. 12)

“We who were the first to hope” = “we who already have hope.”

Hope=confident expectation; confidence in Christ

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8. Faith in the Gospel (v. 13)

Gospel (“Good News”; Ro. 1:1-7; 1 Co. 15:3-6) =

• Jesus (human) is the Son of God (=God).
• He paid what you deserved to pay on the cross=eternal separation from God
• Raised in His body 3 days later; made appearances

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TRANS: What is the purpose of believers being Christ’s inheritance and us receiving the Holy Spirit?

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3. Mutual triumph: For God’s Glory (exaltation) and My Joy (exultation)
   5. God’s Glory: “To the praise of His glory” (1:12b; 14b)
      9. Goal for you as Christ’s inheritance (v.11): the praise of His glory (v. 12b)
      10. Goal for you sealed with the Holy Spirit (v.14): the praise of His glory (v.14b)

   TRANS: What is for God’s glory is for my joy.

   6. My Joy: I have the promise of the inheritance: The Holy Spirit
      11. The Holy Spirit is God’s seal (v.13)

Seal=a stamped piece of wax. If He seals it, it is His. God seals believers with the Holy Spirit in our hearts (2 Co. 1:22).

12. The Holy Spirit is God’s promise (v.13)

The Holy Spirit is Himself God’s promise to us, which is (#3) …

13. The Holy Spirit is God’s pledge (v.14)
    8. Biblical Greek (arrabon): A deposit=small amount of money indicating a larger amount is coming.
    9. Modern Greek (arrabon): An engagement ring= a promise of future marriage.

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If the Holy Spirit is our deposit, what must our inheritance be like?

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CONCLUSION What is the Meaning of Ephesians 1.11-14.Handout

Get in step with God’s plan. “Be so heavenly minded that you are earthly good.”

Am I in step? How is your speech (Eph. 4:29-30)? You have failed, but there is abundant forgiveness! See 1 Co. 3:21-23, “All things are yours, for ye are Christ’s and Christ is God’s.”

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