Inheritance Part 4, (conclusion, for now)

            So far, I have explored 3 different aspects of the inheritance Paul writes of in Ephesians chapter 1. The last aspect I would like to cover regards our inheritance as to being able to lose it. Paul discusses this in his letter, chapter 5 verses 1-5. It appears it is a possibility, a lost inheritance.
 
            Please take the time to read the entire chapter, at least through verse 21. I will highlight from these verses to gather the full force of what I believe to be Paul’s intent.
 
Ephesians 5:1-5 NRSV
(1) Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children, (2) and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (3) But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints. (4) Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. (5) Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
 
            God has a purpose for us, and to fulfill God’s purpose requires certain standards. These are not required for salvation, they are not needed to put you in God’s good graces, Christ has already accomplished this for us. But there are standards needed to be effective in manifesting God, manifesting love, to the world around us. The standards are extremely high, and I am quite sure all of us have missed them and will miss them many times. I strongly caution anyone who “longs for the good old days”, when everyone lived with such standards, there has never been such a time in our history. Living outside of these standards or living as the world lives, reduces the effectiveness of the message. To me this is self-explanatory however, we probably need reminding just like the early church needed reminding in Paul’s day. Imagine your world where everyone lived in such a way; it would be vastly different, but I believe that is the idea!
 
            What is our acceptable sacrifice according to Romans 12? It is us. This is exactly what God and Jesus gave, everything. This is what Paul is driving at in verses 1 and 2 of our text; imitate God because God is love and sent His son who also imitated his Father to perfection, straight to the cross. Throughout this chapter that is the theme. All the behaviors and poor character traits Paul lists are the direct effects of living for the self. The final example of marriage is the same, husbands give up yourselves for your wives, and wives for the husband. The other always matters most. What are these things? Drunkenness, foolishness, fornication, obscene and silly talk just to mention a few. I believe this is only a small selection Paul uses, other behaviors not mentioned also apply. We are to walk in light and truth and to walk in darkness is to walk in a lie because Jesus is truth and light.
 
            In verse 3 Paul uses the word must not do these things. This is not a suggestion; it is a commandment. Not only must we not do these things, we must not even talk about them. Let us go even further, we should probably not watch or read about them either. We must put an enormous distance between us and these behaviors and desires. These things are the results of our broken human nature and we are a new creation, created to be zealous for good works. Certainly, this is not easy, and God is so patient and full of grace; God knows who we are and is working in us if we would listen. God does not condemn any longer those who are His! God sees us as pure in Jesus Christ, therefore we should walk as those who are pure, and knowing how God sees us, would we lose our inheritance? If one loses it, we all lose it.
 
The Prodigal Son

            As an illustration, I would like to use the parable of the prodigal son. I believe there are some lessons in this parable that might help to answer this question.

Luke 15:12 CLV
(12)  And the younger of them said to the father, 'Father, give me the part of the estate accruing to me.' Now he apportioned to them the livelihood."
 
            I am not going to recount the entire story as it is so familiar to us. I used the Concordant Literal Version because it correctly tells that the younger son asked for his portion of the livelihood. The livelihood is more than money, it is the families means of living, it is their trade; imagine a farm, or a textile business. Whatever their trade was, it afforded them a comfortable life. They all worked and managed this business together; it was a large part of who they were. Eventually the business would be passed to the sons, and maybe their sons, and so on. When the younger received his share, he probably had to sell it to acquire the riches he desired. So, he was not only desiring to gain riches, but he was looking to get out of the family business.
 
            The second thing we see is the family business was apportioned to both sons. The younger did not just get his money and run, but the older brother also received his portion of the family business. We know from the story that the older brother stayed in the business with his father. The family business continues, and their livelihood is secured to some extent. We do not know who purchased the younger brother’s portion; it is possible it was the older brother or other family member, but this is only speculation.
 
            Younger brother now goes and does everything Paul said not to do in Ephesians 5. In effect, he has lost his inheritance by squandering it away in the world. He followed the passions of the broken human nature which is so powerful and tempting. He did not keep his passions on heavenly things, but on those of the world. He eventually returns humbly to his father and is received. The younger brother is reconciled to the family livelihood with joy, but only after he has died to himself. The older brother becomes truly angry and must be consoled by their father who makes a particularly important point in our topic of inheritance.
 
Luke 15:31 NRSV
(31)  Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
 
            The father still has much to offer. When the sons received their portion of the family livelihood it did not mean the father had nothing left. It was not as if the father had died and all his wealth was transferred. The transfer was of the livelihood, the family business. All that is the fathers is all that is both brothers. How the younger is brought into the family livelihood again is not stated, but he might have to work his way back in. Regardless, he is welcomed back with open arms. The father always has more to offer, and it is enough for all.  
 
Sermon on the Mount

            In Matthew chapters 5, through 7, there are instructions on how to inherit the kingdom of heaven (of God) with a warning of what happens to those who do not seek after it. Honestly, Paul implores us to do the same things as Jesus is asking his hearers to do. Paul models his life after that of Christ's, but with the total view of the accomplishments of the cross!
 
Matthew 7:21 NRSV
 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
 
            So, who can enter the kingdom? Elsewhere the disciples are worried that it is near impossible. I believe “the one” in this verse is singular. Some translations turn it into plural, as those who follow the principles laid out in the sermon of the mount will be allowed. I am not sure of this but remember that I am not a bible language scholar and am only a layperson but follow me for a moment. I do not believe there existed a person under the old covenant who could enter the kingdom. The kingdom was at hand, it was close. How was it close? I believe it was close in the way that people would soon be able to enter but that possibility was still a small way off. There was only one man who, at that moment, was able to enter the kingdom of God and that man was Jesus. The Jonathan Mitchell New Testament, an expanded version which is so valuable for study of the scriptures, says it this way.
"the one habitually performing the result or progressively producing the effect of the will, intent and purpose of My Father – the One within and in union with the heavens, and in the midst of the atmospheres – [will proceed entering]."  There was only one, Jesus Christ, and he eventually gave all on the cross so that all of those who believed on him and were found in him, could enter the kingdom!
 
            We have an inheritance. When I gave this series as a sermon, I stated that we probably could not be sure what the inheritance covered. After some more thought, I believe we can have some idea of what our inheritance is and will be. But as Paul says, he prays that we will grow in our understanding and experience; so, I believe that much will be learned as we progress in our lives in Christ. This progression is happening right now and may continue in the future realm.
 
What conclusions then can I draw? Here are four and there are probably others that you might find.
 
1- You have an inheritance- guaranteed, pledged through the Holy Spirit- through God's very breath. If it is guaranteed- if it is yours- how can it be taken away? It cannot.
 
2- Like the younger son, you have an inheritance- it is your livelihood, IT IS WHAT DEFINES YOU IN THE PRESENT- you are a child of God. Do not squander it away on darkness. This livelihood deserves only to be lived to its fullest possible potential while we walk this earth!
 
3- The only person who has ever, and will ever, live it to the absolute fullest is now sitting at the Father's right hand, Christ Jesus. There is not one single other person, ever, in all of history, out of billions and billions and billions, who is presently sitting, literally, next to God. As the next conclusion says, God does see my sitting next to Him in Christ.
 
4- Where are you, right now, in God's eyes, in God's mind? You are in Christ. Sitting right next to God. For all intents and purposes, the full inheritance is already yours, what will you do with it right now? This might be the biggest question I have asked myself of late- what will I do with it right now, in the present? It matters!
 
            What about those who will not inherit The Kingdom? Both Jesus and Paul say there are some who will not inherit, at least not yet. The parables of the lost things/people in Luke 15 tells us that God is seeking every single person in creation, and that God will not rest until everyone is safe in His arms. I believe this is the same as resting in His Kingdom. There is one way to gain entrance and that is through Jesus Christ. Only in Jesus, the crucified and risen Lord, can we be free of all the behaviors and poor character attributes Paul speaks of in Ephesians chapter 5. I believe Paul’s main point is that how we live today matters, it has wide ranging effects on those around us concerning the work of the Spirit.
 
 What matters now?
 
            I live in a kingdom; it is not controlled by any on this earth. It does not matter what is happening around me, I should have loyalty to one kingdom, and that is Christ's. This kingdom is based in the heavens, where my hope is, where my affections need to be. I see my inheritance as resting in a person- Jesus Christ. Not in anything physical, not in mansions or crowns, or gold streets. In the heavenly city, the “capital” of the Kingdom, is the throne which pours out a flowing river of life. That river is flowing all around us and through us. Someday, our full inheritance- quite possibly it is sharing in the full glory of God, will be realized, and that there is likely to be even more.