The Book Of Galatians – Chapter 4:6-7 Message 13 – The Greatness And Wonder Of Being Made Adopted Sons And Heirs In Christ – What Is "The Inheritance” - Part 2 Series

THE BOOK OF GALATIANS – CHAPTER 4:6-7 MESSAGE 13 – THE GREATNESS AND WONDER OF BEING MADE ADOPTED SONS AND HEIRS IN CHRIST – WHAT IS “THE INHERITANCE” - PART 2

We have been focussing our studies in the last two messages on {{Galatians 4:6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying, “Abba! Father!” AND

Galatians 4:7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a SON, and if a son, then AN HEIR THROUGH GOD.}}

It would be helpful for those who will read this to revise the previous message just to get the context, and all the glorious promises that await the children of God. It will make this one more meaningful.

Last time we looked at Adoption as sons of God, being brought into God’s family. That was done through the grace of God, and His love and kindness to us, especially as we were Gentiles, estranged from the promises of God, until Christ’s death on the cross when He reconciled to Himself both Jew and Gentile as one in the Church through faith.

We looked also at what it means to be heirs in Christ, examining several scriptures. Being an heir is the greatest of honours bestowed on us, but it goes further than that because we are joint heirs with Christ.

Today we continue that theme and examine INHERITANCE. An heir always has an inheritance.

[1]. {{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.”}}

This was the last time Paul would see the elders from the Ephesus region and it was a sorrowful departure. In commending these men to God, the Apostle mentions the word of His grace, not only to build up men in God, but that which gives to us all the inheritance; the “us” meaning all who are sanctified, and that is the work of the Holy Spirit in individual lives.

The inheritance that is coming is all of grace, and Christians must never think ever, that it is of themselves. There is a problem with many Christians that is subtle and cancerous. That problem is that we think we are people of importance and that what we do, is honouring God, but it is done in the strength of the flesh. We have the steering wheel, not God.

When I was quite young I used to have a problem spelling “Christian”. I could not get it correct: if it ended in “ain” or “ian”. Later on I heard a servant of God say this, “In Christ I Am Nothing,” and there you have it! I-A-N – in Christ, I am nothing. When we understand that we don’t become puffed up with our calling or position or status or even importance. None of us is important! You must realise that. The servant of God is humble.

In the verse above Paul does not specify what the inheritance is. Our inheritance must be so rich, purchased for us by the death of the Lamb of God. I have often wondered about the following verse, trying to understand something about it but it is too grand and overwhelming for us all – {{1Corinthians 2:9 but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED for those who love Him.”}}

But then in the following verse Paul says they are revealed to us through the Spirit. I sort of think God has revealed that they will be majestic things without itemising anything – {{1Corinthians 2:10 “To us God revealed them THROUGH THE SPIRIT, for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.”}} Just never forget, you had nothing to do with the inheritance. It was the full grace of God, so beware that you might think of yourself you are worthy. You are no more than a sinner saved by grace.

If perchance someone is listening to me right now or reading this in text form, then pay attention. If you have never received the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, then you are not counted among those who are sanctified, and you have no inheritance. That is very sad, and it is eternal. Please turn to the Lord and be saved.

[2]. {{Acts 26:17-18 “delivering you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and AN INHERITANCE among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’”}}