I am an Heir of God

1. INTRODUCTION

   1. An inheritance is a gift or heritage that is passed down from a benefactor to an heir.  For example, parents typically leave an inheritance from their estate to their children.

   2. As children of God (see Lesson 2), we who are Christians have an inheritance from our heavenly Father.  Indeed, we are heirs to the greatest fortune known or unknown to man, for our Father owns the heavens, the earth, and all their fullness (Deut. 10:14; Ps. 24:1; 50:10-12).

       

2. A CHILD OF GOD IS AN HEIR OF GOD

   1. Being a child of God makes one an heir of God also.

      1. Because God is our Father, we shall share in the inheritance that comes from Him.  Consider Romans 8:16-17:

         ¹⁶The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

      2. Notice that we are "fellow heirs with Christ."  God appointed Christ as "heir of all things" (Heb. 1:2), so "all things" is the inheritance we share with Him.

      3. Also notice that our inheritance is conditional on our suffering with Christ.

         1. This suffering is further explained in Romans 8:18-39 as an endurance of anything (tribulation, distress, persecution, etc.) necessary for the sake of God.

         2. While such suffering is difficult, the result will be worth it, for verse 18 says, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us."

   2. Believers in Christ are heirs of God through His promise to Abraham, which is fulfilled in Christ.

      1. God made the promise to bless all nations through Abraham's seed (Gen. 22:18), and He fulfilled the promise through Jesus (Gal. 3:7-9, 15-18).  Let us appreciate that this promise was about us.

      2. As sons of God by faith in Christ (Gal. 3:26), Christians are heirs to this promise, these blessings, and their fulfillment   Notice Galatians 3:29:

         And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.

      3. Consider Galatians 4:7, which says, "Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God."

         1. Whereas those who were under the Law of Moses were like slaves (Gal. 4:1-3), Christians are sons and therefore heirs of the Father.

         2. Slaves have no inheritance from their masters, but we are not slaves in this respect.  We are sons of God, which means that we have a great inheritance from our heavenly Father.

             

3. THINK ABOUT YOUR INHERITANCE

   1. God wants us to be fully aware of our inheritance.

      1. In Christ, "we have obtained an inheritance" (Eph. 1:11) and are "sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance" (Eph. 1:13-14).

      2. Concerning the Ephesian Christians, Paul wrote, "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe..." (Eph. 1:18-19).  Certainly, God wants His children to know "the glory of His inheritance in the saints."

   2. God has left His will for us so that we may know about our inheritance.

      1. Think of God's written word as a will, a testament, and a covenant made by Christ.  Just as a man's last will and testament is executed to settle his estate after the man dies, so also Christ's will and testament is being executed following His death.  Notice Hebrews 9:15-17:

         ¹⁵For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.  ¹⁶For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it.  ¹⁷For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives.

      2. It is only by the word of God that we may know about this will and our inheritance.  Notice Paul's words in Acts 20:32:

         "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified."

      3. The word of God describes the substance of our inheritance and tells us how to obtain it.  Clearly, if we want to receive the blessings of God's inheritance, then we must follow God' directions for obtaining it.

   3. Our inheritance consists of many rich blessings, most of which will be received at the Judgment.

      1. The blessings of being a Christian in this world are many and great, but the ultimate inheritance of Christians is eternal life.  Consider Christ's words in Luke 18:29-30:

         ²⁹And He said to them, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, ³⁰who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life."

      2. This inheritance is variously described in terms of eternal life (John 3:14-16), eternal salvation (Heb. 5:9), eternal comfort (2Thess. 2:16), and eternal glory (2Tim. 2:10).

      3. Perhaps this inheritance is best summarized as the eternal kingdom, which entails all that the children of God will receive at the Judgment.  Notice the Lord's words in Matthew 25:34:

         "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'"

      4. The fullness of this inheritance cannot be realized in this world, for "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God" (1Cor. 15:50).

      5. This inheritance is secured in heaven by the power of God for the faithful in Christ.  Consider 1Peter 1:3-5:

         ³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

   4. Our inheritance may be obtained and retained by faithfully obeying the will of God.

      1. Jesus told Paul to go to the Gentiles with His gospel "to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me" (Acts 26:18). Indeed, this process of turning to Christ through the gospel is necessary for obtaining the inheritance.

      2. The hope of our inheritance in Christ should affect everything we do.  Notice Colossians 3:23-24:

         ²³Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, ²⁴knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.  It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

      3. If we do not faithfully abide in the will of God, then we will forfeit our inheritance.  Consider several warnings from Scripture.

         1. John 3:36 -- "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

         2. 1Corinthians 6:9-10 -- ⁹Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, ¹⁰nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

         3. Galatians 5:19-21 -- ¹⁹Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, ²¹envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

         4. Ephesians 5:5 -- For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

             

4. CONCLUSION

   1. Dear Christian, you are an heir of God.  Your inheritance is immeasurably great and unimaginably glorious.

   2. Therefore, be an imitator "of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Heb. 6:12).