Lesson 10

1:11 We become a heritage!

- "In Him also we have obtained an inheritance"

- In Him, also we [that is all who are in Christ] were made a heritage, [His possession, His portion]

* This is all based on what? "having been predestined" to mark out boundaries; ie. established by His plan, His design;

- It is a part of God's eternal purpose to gather a people for His name who would be His special possession. 1 Pet 2:9; Titus 2:14

* "having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will."

- working; energew (pres ptc) He keeps on being the one who has the energy, the operational power, to bring to pass everything that He chooses to decree.

Observations on the Decree!

1. Def: The decree of God is that which makes certain that which God desires.

2. God's decree is absolutely free!

- He never says, I'm unsure about what I want, what do you think?

- The decree of God is certain, what He has decided and declared is certain.

3. What are some of the manifestations of God's decree?

a. One of the greatest illustrations of God's ability to decree something and to bring it to pass is in creation. Gen 1

b. God has decreed periods of time, ages; Eph 1:9-10

4. Because of His sovereign control of all things, God is able to cause all things to work together to accomplish His purpose.

5. God has decreed and thus made certain the entire purpose of eternity.

1:12 Summary and transition

- there is an important interplay here between "we" in vs:12 and the shift to "you" in vs:13

That hope in Him is for a purpose!

* Point Paul is going to make is that even though we may have hoped in Jesus before you did, we are all united in one body in Christ.