IN CHRIST
A Study of Positional Truths

Let us now continue to look at the some of the many references by Paul of being IN CHRIST.  There are two in our text this week.  They are found in Ephesians 1:11-12 which says, “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.  That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.”

The word, also, is a connector word. It is expanding upon the mystery revealed in
verses 9 and 10. 

Paul tells us that In Christ we have obtained an inheritance.  It is certainly clear from other portions of scripture that we have an inheritance willed to us through Christ.  Paul says in Romans, “…we are joint heirs with him…” According to Wuest Greek Word Studies, obtained, is the word ‘made’ in the original text.  This changes the whole idea from us getting an inheritance from God, to ‘being’ the inheritance of God.  This verse is a much deeper truth that IN CHRIST we not only get an inheritance, but that we ‘are’ an inheritance.  Can you imagine that?  The likes of God seeing the likes of us as His inheritance.  There are other portions of scripture that bear this to be true.  Deuteronomy 9:29 says, “Yet they are thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm.”  Chapter 32, verse 9 says, “For the Lord’s portion is his people…”

 The text before us tells how we became our Lord’s inheritance.  Verse 11 says, we were predestinated to this inheritance.  Predestinate means to previously mark out of a group.  In this verse the marking out was according to the counsel and purpose of His own will.  The word, will, is a desire that springs from ones emotions.  The text tells us this springing desire is not without control.  The words counsel and purpose have the idea of deep reason and deliberation.  After careful reasoning deliberation the Lord’s desire has sprung forth and deliberately marked some off to say, ‘These are mine’.  They are my inheritance. 

This is a very humbling thought.  The humbling work according to the text is not yet done.  In verse 12 He lumps us with those who first trusted in Christ.   Christ is the term of Messiah.  He speaks of the Jewish Christians who trusted in Him prior to His first earthly appearance.  What a group to be numbered with.  What does He want from me because of this great position I have been afforded?  Verse 12 also says, “…that we should be to the praise of His glory” He marked us off for himself that He might show the world His glorious inheritance.  Isaiah 43:21 says,  “This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise.”

 Many, for various reasons, have gotten ‘took’ in a family inheritance.  They got far less than they expected.  LORD, let me not live my life in such a way that the world would think the LORD got ‘took’ with His inheritance.