"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD'S MANY BLESSINGS IN CHRIST"
Ephesians 1:11 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,
A few explanatory thoughts/application, and a prayer:
1. Paul in this verse, as with most of the first chapter of Eph, has been telling the Ephesian church, and you and I who also are in Christ, of the many blessings that we have in Christ. And, in this verse we have another one.
Ephesians 1:11 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,
2. Let's take a brief look at this verse, breaking it down bit by bit.
(1) Eph 1:11a "In Him" This is speaking of the position we are now in, as those who have come to faith. When we repented of our sins, and placed our faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit placed us "In Him" That's where we are, we are in Jesus Christ. In fact, you will find the words "In Christ" mentioned some 85 times in the NT, and "In Him" We used to be without Him, and separated from Him, but, now we are in Him, that is our position. You as a Christian are in Jesus Christ, you are part of His body, His family, His flock, and His household, His army, His field, His building, etc, etc. You are in Him. 1Cor 12:13 "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit".
That is a blessing indeed.
(2) Eph 1:11b "we have obtained an inheritance," Being in Christ, also means that we are now heirs of God, in fact, Rom 8, tells us we are joint heirs with Christ. Heirs have an inheritance. I means that in the will of God we have blessings in store for us. We will receive these when we arrive in heaven. The word inheritance means, to be assigned something. God has assigned a private possession to each one of us. So, we have blessings now, and untold blessings to come when we leave this world and are finally face to face with our Savior.
(3) Eph 1:11c "being predestined according to the purpose of Him" What a great blessing this is. It's speaking of God's having planned His will for our lives. The word predestined means, to determine before, to ordain, to decide beforehand, to decree from eternity, to appoint beforehand. Thus, we are blessed in knowing that even before we were saved, much less created, God had already been planning out His will for our lives. You are today, as a Christian blessed to know that God has a plan for you, and He is working it out in your life. This is His will for you.
You can pray, Lord show me Your will, help me to know Your will, the will that You have planned out for me.
(4) Eph 1:11d "who works all things according to the counsel of His will", I happen to really love this verse. It's one of my favorites in the whole Bible, it's right there with what Paul said in Rom 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose".
What this verse in Eph means, is that God is making everything happen, or work out according to His plan.
He decided this plan, long ago, and is now carrying it out. He is working His plan out for your life. It's what He had planned from the beginning. It's what we were destined for long ago. Again what a blessing.
Here's a quote by a lady named Hannah Moore about God's blessings in our lives. "There are three requisites to the proper enjoyment of earthly blessings: a thankful reflection, on the goodness of the giver; a deep sense of our own unworthiness; and a recollection of the uncertainty of our long possessing them. The first will make us grateful; the second, humble; and the third, moderate."
A prayer:
Father, reading Your Word is like opening up a treasure chest of truth. Thank You for the many, many blessing which You have given to us by Your grace. Thank You Lord. You are so gracious. We love You Lord.
In Jesus name. Amen.
