So Many Questions... (Ephesians 1:11-14)

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 1:11-14

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, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 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, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

COMMENT

In him we have obtained an inheritance

How far does the analogy go? Those who inherit do not decide to take an inheritance, they are given on because they are sons. Or should this analogy only go so far as to mean that those who become sons have the inheritance? 

having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory

There is the "P" word again, predestined. Were we chosen because of His will, or was it our will and then that melds into His will? In either case, it is for His glory that this occurs.

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, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

What happened when we heard the Gospel? We were sealed with the Holy Spirit, and our inheritance was guaranteed. Again, was it set forth by God's choosing, and sealed by the gospel and our belief, or did we hear the gospel, and then were sealed when we chose to believe? In either case, there is a word there that bears thought. That word is guarantee. Our inheritance is guaranteed. Does that mean that we cannot lose our salvation? If we can, then what does this guarantee mean?

So many questions...

But there are also implications. Implications that include that unless we hear the gospel and believe it, we are not sealed, and therefore not saved. Implications regarding that the gospel we submit to must be the gospel of truth, and not any man's version or any distortion of the gospel. Implications regarding our response, because in the Bible, believe involves change and repentance.