Inheritance in Christ

God saved you (us) for a reason.

Don’t forget God’s reason for saving you (us).

Ephesians 1:12-14 NLT
¹² God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. ¹³ And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. ¹⁴ The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

Examine the scriptures:

Ephesians 1:12-14 NLT
Inheritance in Christ

¹² God’s purpose was that we Jews (this was written by Paul) who were the first to trust in Christ

Romans 1:16 NLT
¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.

Chronologically many Jews became believers before Gentiles became believers.

would bring praise and glory to God. 

This verse: God’s purpose was that Jews who put their trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God.

Verse 13-14: God’s purpose was that Gentiles purchased by God would bring praise and glory to God.

Westminster Shorter Catechism

1. 1. 1. 1. What is the chief end of man? A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

• God’s glory is the supreme purpose of redemption. 

¹³ And now you Gentiles

• God’s plan includes salvation for Gentiles.

Acts 9:15 NLT
¹⁵ But the Lord said (speaking to Ananias), “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.

Acts 28:28 NLT
²⁸ So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it.”

1 Corinthians 12:13 NLT
¹³ Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you.

Heard the truth.

Romans 10:14-15 NLT
¹⁴ But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? ¹⁵ And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

Romans 10:17 NLT
¹⁷ So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

• Faith comes from hearing the Good News about Christ.

The ministry at Redeemer Day School is to tell the students about Jesus.

And when you believed in Christ,

And believed in Christ.

John 1:12 NLT
¹² But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

 

Romans 10:9-15 NLT
⁹ If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. ¹¹ As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” ¹² Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. ¹³ For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

¹⁴ But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? ¹⁵ And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

• If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

How God’s sovereignty and human responsibility work together is a mystery no one fully understands. 

he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 

Acts 2:38 NLT
³⁸ Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 1:22 NLT
²² and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us. 

Ephesians 4:30 NLT
³⁰ And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (NIV)

• The Holy Spirit in our life (in a believer’s life) identifies us as one of God’s own children. 

¹⁴ The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised 

and that he has purchased us to be his own people.

2 Corinthians 1:22 NLT
²² and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.

Galatians 3:29 NLT
²⁹ And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.

Galatians 4:7 NLT
⁷ Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

Colossians 1:12 NLT
¹² always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

Titus 3:7 NLT
⁷ Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.

• The Holy Spirit living in us is God’s guarantee that He will give us the inheritance He promised. 

He did this so we would praise and glorify him. 

Ephesians 1:6 NLT
⁶ So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.

Colossians 1:12 NLT
¹² always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 

David does this well. 

Psalm 108 NLT
A song. A psalm of David.
¹ My heart is confident in you, O God;
no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!
² Wake up, lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn with my song.
³ I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
I will sing your praises among the nations.
⁴ For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
⁵ Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
May your glory shine over all the earth. 

This is something done well at Redeemer Day School where the students memorize Psalm 100 each year at Thanksgiving. 

Psalm 100 NLT
¹ Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
²     Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
³ Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation. 

• Scripture instructs us to praise and glorify God. 

Remember:

God chose us.
Jesus redeemed us.
The Holy Spirit protects (seals) us.

We should praise God for choosing us.  (Ephesians 1:3-6)
We should praise Jesus for redeeming us.  (Ephesians 1:5-13)
We should praise the Holy Spirit for protecting (sealing) us.  (Ephesians 1:13-14)