Heirs Of God And Joint Heirs With Jesus Christ
An heir is one who inherits or is entitled to an inheritance. To inherit means to come into possession of. The heirs of famous and wealthy parents are usually honored in various ways. It is the ambition of some, only to come into possession of great wealth, while others think of the great blessing of being an HEIR OF GOD AND A JOINT HEIR WITH JESUS CHRIST.
The Holy Spirit certifies our relationship to God, by bearing witness WITH our spirits that we are the children of God. Our confidence is not based upon imagination nor spontaneous emotional feelings, but upon indisputable testimony of GOD'S WORD. (Rom. 8:14-16.)
How Do We Become Heirs?
We become heirs of God by becoming children of God. "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; — " (Rom. 8:17.) We become children by birth — a spiritual birth. Jesus told Nicodemus "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." (John 3:3.) He told Nicodemus that this was a birth of WATER AND SPIRIT. (John 3:5.) Paul says, "Ye are all the CHILDREN OF GOD by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Gal. 3:26-27.) Outside of Christ, no one is an heir. Outside of Christ, one is nameless; has no spiritual blessings; God is not the father; and for that individual there is no hope. Christ inherits by absolute right, while we are children by spiritual birth and inherit through grace.
Nature Of Christian Inheritance
The inheritance of a Christian is not of a material nature, but spiritual. "In MY FATHER'S house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you.
I go and prepare a place for you." (John 14:2.) "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away." (Rev. 21:4.) The wealth of this inheritance, unlike material substance, cannot be stolen nor corrupted. (Matt. 6:20.) The Hebrew writer calls it a "city with foundations." "For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." (Heb. 11:10.) All the riches of this life cannot compare with the inheritance prepared for them that love our God.
Possession Of The Inheritance
The actual possession of this inheritance is in the world to come. (Mark 10:29-30.) Here as children we await the eternal inheritance, which inheritance we now have in hope. "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began." (Titus 1:2.) We as children have hope because the Father has promised us eternal life. "And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life." (1 John 2:25.) Our receiving the inheritance is contingent upon faithfulness. "To them who by PATIENT CONTINUANCE in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, ETERNAL LIFE." (Rom. 2:7; cf. 1 Cor. 10:11-12.) Since receiving the inheritance depends on our continued faithfulness as a child of God, it can, therefore, be forfeited (Heb. 4:11), and we can be DISINHERITED. "Ye are fallen from grace." (Gal. 5:4) " — severity on them that fell — ." (Rom. 11:22.)
If we expect to receive an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, that fadeth not away, we must submit to the head of the family (Eph. 1:22); wear the family name (Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16; Acts 4:11-12); and be faithful to the family relationship. The way to be sure you are a child of God is to do His will as the Spirit requires.