Ephesians 1:11,12 - In Him we have obtained an inheritance

1:11

In Christ we have an inheritance, we have a destiny.  Most translations have “we have obtained an inheritance” (ESV and many others), though FF Bruce thinks “we were made a heritage” is better. (ASB). NIV says “in Him we were also chosen”, The emphasis is that we belong to God. This happened because we were “predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will”. The emphasis throughout is upon God and His will. Most human thinking puts us at the centre. Even much church thinking does the same, and it always leads to error. We fear that if we put God first then we lose out. This was the lie of the devil in the Garden of Eden. The truth is that when we put God first we win out. 

1:12

God did this so that we might “be to the praise of His glory”. The purpose is the “praise of His glory”. “We who were first” implies that 1:11,12 are aimed primarily at the Jewish believers, 1:13,14 will then go on to say that the same blessings and purposes apply to the Gentile believers as well. In all our thinking we should put God first. In theology if we want to have a right theology we need to put God first, the temptation is always to put ourselves first.