Ephesians 1:11-14 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Focus: what does it mean to have an inheritance to be sealed by the holy Spirit? How does that change the way your life works what you see value, etc.
Humans have a large range of questions and phrases we like to use when we first meet someone. Things like: Tell me about yourself. Where did you grow up? What do you do? One thing all these types of questions have in common is the real underlying question: Who are you?
Who are you? If we think about it so boldly and up front many things begin to come to mind. I could tell you about the house where I grew up or the flavor of my favorite ice cream. Each detail and story makes up a little piece of who we are.
When I was in college one of my professors had us do an interesting exercise. He gave us each a piece of paper that had the outline of a person on it. Then he told us to write the names of people we had memories of that made an impression on us. As we each filled our paper with names it became clearer and clearer just how many different people have a hand in shaping our stories.
From getting ice cream after school with my grandparents, to backpacking in the woods with friends, to relaxing on the beach with my wife. So many moments. So many people have each contributed to who we are in unique ways.
But there is one more thing that shapes us more than the things we like or dislike or the people or places who have shaped us. The Apostle Paul points it out at the end of our reading in Ephesians. Let me reread that section for you so you can hear it again:
Ephesians 1:11-14 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Paul highlights two important aspects of who we are as God’s people. First, we are people who have received an inheritance. Second, we are people who have been sealed by the Holy Spirit.
These two aspects are important parts of who you and I are. But the interesting thing is neither having an inheritance nor being sealed by the holy spirit are things we have done. Both are things God has chosen to give us that change the entire foundation of who we are.
To get a better idea of this, let’s start by unpacking a little bit of what having an inheritance from God means. I know the first thing that comes to mind for me when I hear the word inheritance is a bunch of stuff that is left from one generation to the next. The passing down of a family farm or home. All of the worldly possessions of a family member given to their children or relatives.
But having an inheritance from God is not quite the same. The inheritance we receive is connected to a much bigger and deeper legacy than a plaque on a bench or a name on a building. The Isralites were the first people to receive an inheritance from God. Their inheritance helps to frame and give some background around what our inheritance as Christians is.
Now if you have ever read through parts of the books of Joshua and you made it to the part where the inheritance of israel is being divided up between the different tribes. It might seem like that should be an exciting part of the Bible, right? God is fulfilling his promises! The Israelites are finally coming into a land flowing with milk and honey. It is awesome, amazing… and then you make it through a few lists of place names defining the new borders of Israel and the excitement of what is happening in the story is hard to hold onto. I mean I couldn’t tell you where Kadesh-barnea or Hezron is off the top of my head.
But in the midst of all these place names is something that is exciting. God is providing for his people. The land the Israelites were given as an inheritance was divided in just the right way so that everyone had everything they needed to take care of themselves and the people around them who needed it. And you see that is the difference between inheritance just being a bunch of stuff passed down through a family and inheritance given by God. God provides us an inheritance of exactly what we need.
As Christians we no longer live in a nation state set up by God. We don’t have land given to us or special laws regulating the way we harvest fields or offer sacrifices. But we have received an inheritance from God. And not just any inheritance, an inheritance that is the fulfillment of every promise God has ever given throughout the history of humanity.
But we have an inheritance worth even more than land or physical provision. we have an inheritance in the kingdom of God.
What do we inherit Connection to a story and heritage Place to belong Avene to contribute
And we have a sure way to know that we do indeed have this inheritance
We have a guarantee of this inheritance by being sealed. This happens through baptism.The idea of seal
Talk through the now and not yet and that we have the first installment now. We are fully what we will be but at the same time also we wait for what is to come.
So who are you really? Revisit who are you? What really makes you you?
Living with our inheritance and seal can be hard
Story of the lady who bought our stuff for us
Story of Dan
What about you? When you tell your story what will be the most important part? Who will have shaped you the most?
In the midst of the things we do or the people we know the most important part of our story are the things God has done for us.
This week if you meet someone new. And they ask you one of the standard question to get to know you. Think about what part of your story is most important. You are an heir of God sealed with the Holy Spirit. No one can take that from you. You are his forever. Rest in that assurance. An assurance stronger than anything else in the universe. Amen