Ephesians 1:11

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: IN WHOM - in union to whom. OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE, [ ekleerootheemen (G2820)] - 'Aleph (') B, Vulgate, 'We were made to have an inheritance.' Compare Ephesians 1:18, "His inheritance in the saints." As His inheritance is in them, so theirs is in Him (Acts 26:18). How ever, Ephesians 1:12, "that we should BE to ... His glory," favours Bengel, Ellicott, etc., 'We were made an inheritance.' So the literal Israel ...

11._Through whom also we have obtained an inheritance. _Hitherto he has spoken generally of all the elect; he now begins to take notice of separate classes. When he says, _WE have obtained, _he speaks of himself and of the Jews, or, perhaps more correctly, of all who were the first fruits of Christianity; and afterwards he comes to the Ephesians. It tended not a little to confirm the faith of the Ephesian converts, that he associated them with himself and the other believers, who might be said to be the first-born in the church. As if he had said, “The condition of all godly persons is the same with yours; for we who were first called by God owe our acceptance to his eternal election.” Thus, he shews, that, from first to last, all have obtained salvation by free grace, because they have been freely adopted according to eternal election. _Who worketh all things. _The circumlocution employ...

9-14 Blessings were made known to believers, by the Lord's showing to them the mystery of his sovereign will, and the method of redemption and salvation. But these must have been for ever hidden from us, if God had not made them known by his written word, preached gospel, and Spirit of truth. Christ united the two differing parties, God and man, in his own person, and satisfied for that wrong which caused the separation. He wrought, by his Spirit, those graces of faith and love, whereby we are made one with God, and among ourselves. He dispenses all his blessings, according to his good pleasure. His Divine teaching led whom he pleased to see the glory of those truths, which others were left to blaspheme. What a gracious promise that is, which secures the gift of the Holy Ghost to those who ask him! The sanctifying and comforting influences of the Holy Spirit seal believers as the childr...

Verse 11. _IN WHOM_] Christ Jesus; _also we_-believing _Jews have_ _obtained an inheritance_-what was promised to Abraham and his spiritual seed, viz. the _adoption of sons_, and the _kingdom of_ _heaven_, signified by the privileges under the Mosaic dispensation, and the possession of the promised land, but all these privileges being forfeited by the rebellion and unbelief of the Jews, they are now about to be finally cut off, and the believing part to be re-elected, and put in possession of the blessings promised to Abraham and his spiritual seed, by faith; for without a re-election, they cannot get possession of these spiritual privileges. _BEING PREDESTINATED_] God having determined to bring both Jews and Gentiles to salvation, not by _works_, nor by any human _means_ or _schemes_, but by Jesus Christ; that salvation being _defined_ and _determined before_ in the Divine mind, and

IN WHOM ALSO WE HAVE OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE - We who are Christians. Most commentators suppose that by the word “we” the Jews particularly are intended, and that it stands in contradistinction from “ye,” as referring to the Gentiles, in Ephesians 1:13. This construction, they suppose is demanded by the nature of the passage. The meaning may then be, that the Jews who were believers had “first” obtained a part in the plan of redemption, as the offer was first made to them, and then that the same favor was conferred also on the Gentiles. Or it may refer to those who had been first converted, without particular reference to the fact that they were Jews; and the reference may be to the apostle and his fellow-laborers. This seems to me to be the correct interpretation. “We the ministers of religion first believed, and have obtained an inheritance in the hopes of

EXPOSITION EPHESIANS 1:1, EPHESIANS 1:2 ADDRESS AND SALUTATION. EPHESIANS 1:1 PAUL AN APOSTLE OF CHRIST JESUS. Paul's one but all-sufficient claim on the Ephesians is his relation to Christ: he is Christ's apostle, not only as sent forth by him, but also as belonging to him; elsewhere his servant or bondman. He makes no claim to their attention on the ground of his great experience in the gospel, his profound study of it, or even his gifts, but rests simply on his being Christ's apostle; thus recognizing Christ as the only Head of the Church, and source

IN WHOM ALSO WE HAVE OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE,.... Or a part and lot; that is, have obtained one in Christ, in his person, and in his fulness of grace, in the blessings and promises which are in him; or have obtained to be the Lord's clergy, or heritage, to be his portion and inheritance; or rather to have an inheritance in him by lot, meaning the incorruptible and eternal inheritance of glory and happiness in heaven; to which elect men are chosen in Christ, and are begotten to a lively hope of through his resurrection from the dead; and which his righteousness gives a right unto, and his grace a meetness for; and which is now in his hands, and will be given to them through him: and this is said to be obtained by lot, as the word signifies, in allusion to the land of Canaan, which was divided by lot to the children of Israel; and to show that it is not by works of righteousness done by me...

In this chapter, we see what Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, has to say about the possessions and privileges of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:1. _Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ._ Brethren and sisters in Christ, this is a benediction for you as well as for the saints at Ephesus; it is for all «the faithful in Christ Jesus.» May you all have grace without measure, and may you all have «the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,» to «keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus»! Grace and peace are both to be had by believing in Jesus. Ephesians 1:3

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. THE MASTERWORK OF GOD (1-3) 1. The Godhead at Work CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The introduction (Ephesians 1:1)_ 2. The great doxology (Ephesians 1:3) 3. The work of the Father (Ephesians 1:4) 4. The work of the Son (Ephesians 1:7) 5. The work of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) 6. The parenthetical prayer to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory (Ephesians 1:15)

A PARAGRAPH OF PRAISE. God, who is also the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is thanked for the blessings embracing every form of spiritual riches bestowed through their mystical relationship to Christ in the heavenly sphere upon the writer and upon his readers. The fact of their Christianity is evidence of their vocation to be holy and blameless before Him in love a vocation which runs back into the eternal counsels (Ephesians 1:4): God has predetermined them to be His own adopted sons through Christ, the motive being simply the good pleasure of His will (Ephesians 1:5), and the purpose in view the glorious manifestation of His kindness and the eternal praise thereof (Ephesians 1:6). This kindness is bestowed upon them in