Eph 1:13 In whom ye also, after ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, 14 Who is the downpayment/first installment (earnest) of our inheritance with a view to (until) the delivery (redemption) of the purchased possession, to the praise of his glory.

We gain our inheritance by:

A. Praising the Father's Plan (Focus on Hope) vv11-12

                Our inheritance is according to God's Plan/Purpose v11a

                Our inheritance is according to God's Working & Will v11b

                Our inheritance is to accord God Praise v12

B. Incarnating our Union with Christ (Focus on Love) v13a

                2Cor 5:15-17; Rom 8:29; 2Pt 1:4; Heb 2:10

                The Death of Christ

                The Resurrection of Christ

                The Life of Christ

C. Investing in Business with the Spirit (Focus on Faith) vv13b-14

                1. Seal = indentifying (authoritative-empowering) mark, given at conversion (Jn 6:27)

                2. Lk 19:11-24 Investing requires: knowledge/objectives, resources/capital, work, moderating consumption, saving,                 seeking, risking, exchanging, spending, watchfulness, perseverance, cooperation, communication, commissions

                3. Cooperating with the Spirit requires:

                                a. Knowing His objectives and methods of operation:

                                                The HS powerfully uses the Word of the Father and model of Christ...

                                                to transform faithful believers into holy Christlike characters...

                                                who unite as a like-minded interdependent body...

                                                to engage in Christlike acts of love and service...

                                                in order to reap maximum inheritance blessing.

                                b. Responding to His promptings (Phil 2:13)

                                c. Relying on His help (Phil 4:13)

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. Do you tend to view God more as a forgiver, blesser, judge, or bellhop? Which view best helps you inherit?

2. How does your focus on Christ help you in becoming Christlike? (Rm 8:29)

3. Do you think of the sealing of the Spirit in terms of security or empowerment? What are the signs of the seal?

4. In which items of #B3a above could you personally improve? ...could we corporately improve?

5. What would have to happen for that improvement (#4 supra) to occur?

Eph 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:

Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. {trusted: or, hoped

Eph 1:11 In <1722> whom <3739> also <2532> we have obtained an inheritance <2820> (5681), being predestinated <4309> (5685) according to <2596> the purpose <4286> of him who worketh <1754> (5723) all things <3956> after <2596> the counsel <1012> of his own <848> will <2307>:

Eph 1:12 That <1519> we <2248> should be <1511> (5750) to <1519> the praise <1868> of his <846> glory <1391>, who <3588> first trusted <4276> (5761) in <1722> Christ <5547>. {trusted: or, hoped

obtained = have

purpose - our inher fits into a larger plan than just our benefit, or because God has to pass on his life savings. The purose is revealed in v12, we cause His glory to be praised by whom? ourselves, others, angelelic beings?

works - God orchestrates all things to play the piece He's composed.

Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Ro 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.)

Ro 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

Ro 8:25 But if we hope for what we see not, [then] with patience we wait for [it].

1Co 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

2Co 1:10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver [us];

Seal = indentifying (authoritative-empowering) mark

Joh 6:27 Labour not for the food which perisheth, but for that food which endureth to everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give to you: for him hath God the Father sealed. {Labour not: or, Work not

Joh 6:28 Then said they to him, What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?

2Co 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, by whom ye are sealed to the day of redemption.

Ro 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which [he had yet] being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they are not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed to them also:

1Co 9:2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you: for ye are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth firm, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

downpayment; first installment 728 arrhabon of Hebrew origin 06162; TDNT - 1:475,80; n m AV - earnest 3 1) an earnest 1a) money which in purchases is given as a pledge or downpayment that the full amount will subsequently be paid

2Co 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

2Co 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our house which is from heaven:

2Co 5:3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

2Co 5:4 For we that are in [this] tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not because we would be unclothed, but clothed, that mortality might be swallowed up in life.

Ge 38:17 And he said, I will send [thee] a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give [me] a pledge, till thou sendest [it]? {a kid: Heb. a kid of the goats

Promised Ac 1:4 And, being assembled with [them], commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, [saith he], ye have heard from me. {being...: or, eating together}