At the beginning of his inspired letter to the people of Ephesus, the Apostle Paul recounts many of the blessings which the followers of Christ enjoy. In verses 11 through 14 he continues by writing, “in whom also we were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will; to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ: in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.”
In verse 9 Paul mentioned the mystery of God’s will which has been made known to Christ’s followers. In verse 11 Paul describes another aspect of God’s will. It is not based on whim but is proceeding according to purpose. What is this purpose? In verse 5 Paul stated that God has predestined the followers of Christ to be adopted as his sons. Here he writes that they are assigned a foreordained inheritance. However, this phrase can just as well be translated to say that the followers of Christ are predestined to be God’s inheritance.
How can someone be God’s inheritance? An inheritance is given only when a person dies. Therefore, someone had to die in order for this inheritance to be given. Notice that Paul says that it takes place in Christ. In another place Scripture says, “You, being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and blameless before him…” (Colossians 1:21-22 NIV) Christ presents to God those whom He has made holy through His own death and in this way Christ’s followers become God’s inheritance.
In verse 12 Paul mentions “we who had before hoped in Christ.” This is a reference to the Jewish people because the first people to accept Christ as their Lord were Jews. But salvation is not restricted to the Jewish people. In verse 13 Paul includes the non-Jewish people to whom he is writing when he says, “you also.”
But how were the non-Jewish peoples included in God’s inheritance? Paul writes it was, “having heard the word of the truth…” Paul then defines the “word of truth” as “the Good News of your salvation.” If we want salvation then we must hear the gospel. What is the gospel? In another place Paul explains that the gospel is “…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NIV)
Hearing means a great deal more than just sounds reaching someone’s ears. If merely hearing the truth about Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection were enough to save someone, then perhaps the majority of mankind would be saved. But in Scripture ‘hearing’ also implies taking action on what is heard. For example it says, “For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn’t profit them, because it wasn’t mixed with faith by those who heard.” (Hebrews 4:2 NIV) It is only when what is heard produces faith that the ‘word of truth’ causes people to be saved. Paul makes it clear that the people to whom he is writing not only heard, but also believed. It was because their hearing of the ‘word of truth’ was effective that it became the “the Good News of your salvation.”
But how can one know that he is saved? The answer is that God, in fulfillment of His promise, gives his Holy Spirit to the followers of Christ. The gift of the Holy Spirit fulfills the promise that God made to Abraham that all the peoples of the earth would be blessed through him. (See Genesis 12:1-3) Scripture says Christ redeemed us, “that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:14 NIV) God promised His Spirit again through the prophet Joel. “…I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh… It will happen that whoever will call on the name of Yahweh [that is, the Lord] shall be saved…” (Joel 2:28, 32 NIV) God reaffirmed this promise through the Apostle Peter when he said, “For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” (Acts 2:39 NIV)
Paul mentions two purposes or functions of the Spirit. The first is that the Spirit is a witness to the world that a follower of Christ belongs to God. Paul writes that they are “sealed.” Just as an owner puts his seal on something to mark it so the everyone will know that it belongs to him, God puts His seal on the Christian. The Christian is stamped with the mark of his owner. God’s Spirit will mold the follower of Christ until he takes on the character of Christ. When is the seal of the Spirit applied? Scripture seems to indicate that it occurs when a person is baptized into Christ. For example, “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:13 NIV)
Paul writes that a second purpose or function of God’s Spirit is to act as a down payment securing the inheritance, that is redemption, which God’s people will receive. Verse 11 stated that Christians are God’s inheritance. The Christian inherits redemption, God inherits the Christian! In one sense, as Paul indicated in verse 7, redemption is an accomplished fact because Christ has already paid the price necessary to redeem us. But in another sense redemption will not be completed until the followers of Christ receive their reward in heaven. God’s Spirit is the guarantee that the reward will be given. These two functions of God’s Spirit are reaffirmed in 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, “Now he who establishes us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God; who also sealed us, and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts.” (NIV)
When the follower of Christ realizes what God has done for him, it should result in praise. While recounting these blessings, Paul mentions this three times. In verse 6 it says, “to the praise of the glory of his grace…” in verse 12, “…we should be to the praise of his glory” and in verse 14, “…to the praise of his glory.” If our lives do not praise God or cause others to praise God then we need to ask the question, “Do I belong to Christ?”