Riches of His Inheritance
A Sermon on Ephesians 1:18
Originally preached June 12, 1955
Scripture
18The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Sermon Description
There are common objections to Christianity. Christianity is only for the weak. It is of no consequence today because it does not care about what is happening in the “real” world. Christianity is a waste of time because it is caught-up in other-worldly matters. These objections are as common today as they were in Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones’s day. In this sermon on inheritance from Ephesians 1:18 titled “Riches of His Inheritance,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones meets the objections head on and points to the reality that the Bible does call Christians to fix their minds on the world to come. What is important is that this is a good thing for this world. Looking to the list of faithful men and women of Scripture and of history, Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that the ones who did the most for this world had their eyes set on the world to come. The greatest benefactors of this world are those men and women of God who were concerned about the inheritance of the saints. If humanity forgets the next world, everything goes wrong for this world. To be uninterested in the glory to be revealed in heaven is to be unlike the Lord Jesus Christ himself. The Christian must be fixed on the glory to come when they will be with God.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul prays that Christians may know God and the hope of their calling.
- Paul prays specifically that Christians may know "the riches of the glory of [God's] inheritance in the saints."
- There are two views on what this means: 1) God's inheritance is in the saints; 2) The saints' inheritance from God. The second view is more likely.
- Paul prays that Christians may know the glorious state and condition God has prepared for them.
- Many today dislike focusing on the afterlife and heaven. But this view is unbiblical. The Bible commands us to set our minds on heavenly things.
- Focusing on heaven has historically led to great earthly benefits, like hospitals, education, and political reforms. Forgetting heaven leads to earthly troubles.
- We should consider heaven because of the comfort and encouragement it provides, and because it leads to holiness. Jesus himself focused on the joy set before him.
- We know little about heaven because human language cannot fully capture its glory. But we know we will be with Christ, see him face to face, and be like him.
- Heaven will be incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading. There will be no sin, sorrow, or death. It is only for the saints - those set apart for God.
- Nothing can prevent the saints from inheriting heaven. We must make sure we are saints, then dwell on the glories of heaven.
- We should pray for enlightened eyes to see heavenly realities, and set our affections on things above. The glory to come far surpasses our present sufferings.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on God's Inheritance for the Saints: Questions and Answers
What does "the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints" mean according to Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, this phrase from Ephesians 1:18 has two possible interpretations. While some believe it refers to God's inheritance (with the saints being God's possession), Lloyd-Jones favors the second interpretation: "the inheritance that God is preparing for us." He explains, "His inheritance means the inheritance that he is preparing for us. 'I hath not seen nor ear heard, neither hath entered the heart of men. The things which God hath prepared for them that love him.'" This interpretation aligns with the context of the first chapter of Ephesians where Christians are described as having "obtained an inheritance" and being "sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance."
Why does Lloyd-Jones believe Christians should focus on heavenly things rather than just earthly matters?
Lloyd-Jones counters the criticism that Christianity is too "otherworldly" by providing several reasons Christians should focus on heavenly things:
- Biblical command: "Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2)
- Comfort in suffering: "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us"
- Encouragement and stimulus for holy living: "He that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure"
- Following Christ's example: Jesus himself endured the cross "for the joy that was set before him"
- Historical evidence: The greatest benefactors to society were those who lived with eternity in view
He states, "It is only men who have a complete view of life who really know how to live in this life."
What specific characteristics of our heavenly inheritance does Lloyd-Jones highlight?
Lloyd-Jones highlights several characteristics of our heavenly inheritance:
- Being with Christ: "The central part of the glory is this, that we shall be with him"
- Seeing Christ in His glory: "We shall see him. And still more marvelous, we shall be like him"
- Physical transformation: "Our very bodies shall have been changed...like unto the body of his own glorification"
- Incorruptibility: "Incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away"
- Freedom from sin, sorrow, and decay: "There'll be no sorrow there. No sighing, no tears, no sin, no separation"
- Exclusivity: "Only for the saints. 'Not that defileth shall enter in there'"
He emphasizes that human language is inadequate to fully describe this glory: "It is so glorious, so marvelous, so wonderful, that language, our human language, is incapable of conveying it."
How does Lloyd-Jones address the criticism that Christians are too focused on heaven and not enough on earthly problems?
Lloyd-Jones calls this criticism "fatuous" and provides a historical rebuttal. He argues that "the greatest benefactors that this world has ever known, the men who have done most for life in this world, have been the men who have emphasized most of all the importance of seeing the unseen."
He offers specific examples: - Biblical saints from Hebrews 11 - Hospitals started by saints - Educational institutions founded by spiritual people - John Calvin's reformation of Geneva - Puritans who "laid the foundation of the greatness of this country" - The Evangelical Awakening that prevented revolution in England - The origins of trade unionism from those "saved by this gospel"
He concludes: "It is when mankind forgets the next world that things always go wrong in this world."
Who are the saints that will receive this inheritance according to Lloyd-Jones?
Lloyd-Jones explains that the saints are "those who are separated, set apart by the Holy Spirit, set apart for God." He emphasizes that "sanctified means primarily set apart for God" and that we are all "either saints or else we are sinners."
The saints are: - Those called "from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God" - Those who have "forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith" - Those whom God has "apprehended" and "set apart" - Those who are being purified by the work of the Holy Spirit within
He emphasizes that this inheritance is secure for believers: "If you are a saint, if you are one of God's people, you are going to this glory of which I've been speaking and nothing can prevent it."
The Book of Ephesians
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.