Trusting in an Unbreakable Promise
When you were a child, did you ever make a “pinky promise”? Locking pinkies, promising to keep a secret or remain friends forever. I gave my pinkie promise many times, and honestly, I am not sure if I kept those precious promises I made. Today’s verses speak of a promise that is given to us, but unlike our childhood promises, these promises are anchored in Christ and can never be taken back or removed from us (2 Corinthians 1:21-22 and 5:5).
In Ephesians 1:11-14 Paul is rejoicing in all that Christ has done for us. It is by the work of Christ on the cross, and His resurrection, that we are able to stand secure in our relationship with God the Father, who willed that Christ would be the payment for our sin. The promise is eternal life (Matt. 19:29) and salvation (Heb. 1:14, Rev. 21:7), of which, we can be guaranteed of in Christ. This inheritance is given to us upon believing in Christ, and it is sealed for us, guaranteed for that day when we stand before God (Ephesians 1:13).
When we were lost in our sin, we had no hope of Heaven. We had no hope at all, but in Christ we can have hope. We can trust what has been accomplished on our behalf through Christ’s atoning work. We are purchased by the blood of Christ. He becomes our Lord, and we can live our life with the understanding that nothing can separate us from the Father (Romans 8:38-39).
At the moment of belief, a new reality is fixed for us and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). We obtain a mark of rightful ownership, guaranteeing that He who promised is faithful to fulfill it. The Holy Spirit Himself is that deposit in us, showing we are indeed set apart for our inheritance.
Speaking of Ephesians 1:14, Theologian Matthew Henry said: “It may be called here the possession, because this earnest(deposit) makes it as sure to the heirs as though they were already possessed of it; and it is purchased for them by the blood of Christ. The redemption of it is mentioned because it was mortgaged and forfeited by sin; and Christ restores it to us.” (italics mine)
This is all done to bring all glory to God (Ephesians 1:14). God delighted in sending His Son to be the sacrifice for us. I don’t mean that He took joy in watching Christ die, rather it was all done because Christ was the only one that could give us that guarantee.
God delights in our salvation and our inheritance being settled. Everything He does is out of love, and if He gives us a promise that cannot be broken, it is so that we can be free to worship Him in our daily lives – unafraid. We can live in peace, not consumed whether we have earned our way into Heaven or not. He wants us to have security in His precious promise.
(Predestination is a word that causes many people to be nervous, questioning their inheritance in Christ. We find ourselves trying to explain a mystery that only God fully understands. God is sovereign and we are given a choice to surrender to Christ and become children of the Living God. Our focus needs to be securely anchored to this: it is enough to know that our destiny, upon believing Christ, is sealed. The glory of God’s grace is that the free gift of salvation is offered to all. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
Many want to know how election or predestination works before saying yes to Christ. But in reality, only looking to Christ as your salvation secures your guarantee in Heaven. Once we trust Him as our Savior, we are chosen. We no longer have to worry if we are predestined. Rather than focusing on how God works out the details, we can rest in Christ, knowing that we can become sons and daughters of God, by His great power.)
Are you confident that your inheritance was paid for by Christ’s pure, precious blood and guaranteed by the Holy Spirit? What do you think might change in your life if you fully embraced that promise of your inheritance in Christ? What’s one thing you could do to begin living in that freedom?
