“Eternal Inheritance”
Introduction
We are all familiar with inheritance. An inheritance is the passing of wealth and resources within the family from elder to younger. Sometimes it involves the death of the elder but not always. There are times when a parent will pass on an inheritance while the parent they are still alive. Inheritance is different from reward. Reward is based on merit or actions. Inheritance is generally based on relationship. I may receive a reward for finding a long lost object. Most inheritances are relieved because we had a relationship with the giver.
The Bible deals with both. God promises reward for faithfulness. God also promises inheritance. Israel inherited land as God’s chosen children, even though they did not always act faithfully.
Issues over inheritance stand at the top of the list of issues that fracture families. Even Jesus was asked to settle and inheritance issue.
Someone in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." But He said to him, "Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?"
Jesus then used the opportunity to reinforce a proper perspective on material goods.
Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." Luke 12:13-15
Since God considers us His beloved children, what inheritance, if any, can we expect?
Before we explore our inheritance, a brief word concerning the Fathers assets is in order.
I. The Father’s wealth
The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.
For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Psalms 24:1-2
For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know every bird of the mountains, and everything that moves in the field is Mine.
If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and all it contains. Psalms 50:10-12
Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it. Deuteronomy 10:14
I have made the earth, the men and the beasts which are on the face of the earth by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and I will give it to the one who is pleasing in My sight. Jeremiah 27:5
Everything in this universe belongs to God. He holds the patent on everything. All the gold is His. All the silver is His. All the precious metals and jewels are His. All the land is His. All the animals are His. Everything material is His because it was all made from resources that belong to Him. Technically the totality of the world’s wealth belongs to God.
I believe that God always touches with infinity everything that He does and this leads to the thought that the inheritance we receive must be equal to the God who gives it. Being God, He does not deal in things which are merely finite. Therefore, the inheritance that the child of God receives is limitless and infinite.
What a contrast to our small gifts and legacies and benefits on this earth!...
Even the world's richest man can only leave what he has—nothing more. Somewhere, the millions give out and every estate has a boundary.
But, God being who He is, the inheritance we receive from Him is limitless—it is all of the universe!...
We humans should remember that when our high flights of imagination have taken wings upward we can be sure that we have never quite reached as high as His provision, because our imagination will always falter, run out of energy and fall weakly to the ground. In contrast, there is no limit to the infinite benefactions of God Almighty to His redeemed ones. A.W. Tozer
God is not only the source and giver of all material things but the source of the immaterial as well. He is the source of life and all that enriches life. He is the source of ability, grace, love, joy, peace, virtues of all kinds, family, spiritual vitality, growth, hope. These belong to God and are His to distribute to whoever He wills. Who shares His wealth with Him?
II. The only begotten Son’s Inheritance
First and foremost God chooses to share His wealth with His only begotten Son.
I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 'Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession. Psalms 2:7-8
I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed. Daniel 7:13-14
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,
in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. Hebrews 1:1-2
The Father appointed Christ to share in all of the Father’s wealth. Not only does the Father share the wealth of the world but also He designated a special people as an inheritance to His Son.
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. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 1:18-19
The Father choose to give individuals through the ages to His Son.
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. John 6:37
We are a special gift of God to the Son. He considers us a glorious inheritance.
III. The inheritance of the saints
A. What is it?
What does God promised to His children? What is our inheritance?
1. God Himself
Most important above all is to realize that God Himself is our inheritance.
If we have Him, we have it all.
The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me. Psalm 16:5-6
And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, Revelation 21:3
He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. Rev 21:7
2. Everything that belongs to God
If you have God, you have it all.
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and 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. Romans 8:14-17
So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God. 1 Corinthians 3:21-23
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Romans 8:32
What is this inheritance? Everything! The whole enchilada! We will inherit every material and immaterial blessing that belongs to God and His Son Jesus.
3. The Kingdom
Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5
"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. Matthew 25:34
And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:29-32
Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? James 2:5
4. Complete Salvation
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14
5. Immortality
Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:50-52
6. Abraham's Inheritance
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise. Galatians 3:28-29
to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, Ephesians 3:6
7. A place, territory
By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Hebrews 11:9-10
But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:16
Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3
Kingdoms, cities, houses, lands, gold, silver, precious jewels, love, peace, life as it was meant to be. It is all ours.
8. ALL the Pagan’s stuff
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, and the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:22
B. How do we get it?
Our eternal inheritance is not based on works but a promise to a son.
For if the inheritance is based on works of the law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham (and us) by means of a promise. Galatians 3:18
For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. Romans 4:13
By reason of relationship we enter into God’s family and become heirs according to promise.
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26
But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men. Titus 3:4-8
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. Acts 20:32
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and 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. Romans 8:14-17
C. What guarantees it?
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:8-14
For 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. Hebrews 9:15
Peter further described this incredible inheritance.
Blessed 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,
Not only do we receive an inheritance through adoption but also through new birth. It is God’s action. God birthed us to share His infinite wealth with His children.
We were born again to obtain an inheritance
Peter recorded four characteristics of this inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
1. Imperishable
This speaks of the durability of our inheritance. It cannot be damaged or destroyed.
2. Undefiled
This speaks of the purity of our inheritance. It cannot be defiled or corrupted.
3. Unfading
This speaks of the lasting nature or eternity of our inheritance. Its value will never decrease.
It cannot be diminished.
4. Reserved in heaven
This speaks of the security. It cannot be stolen. Peter used a perfect passive verb.
God has safely locked our inheritance away at a point in time and it is still safe and secure.
It means to guard or watch over carefully to prevent injury or loss.
Our inheritance in not the only thing God protects until its possession. He guards over the inheritors.
who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Even though the inheritance is protected, what if a person dies before they inherit it? God takes care of that part too. Here he used a present passive verb meaning a continual garrison and guard placed around us. The entire heaven and earth belong to God and all they contain. God decreed they all belong to His Beloved Son. God promised that all who embrace His son would become a joint heir of all things with Christ.
He became poor that we might become rich. It is a glorious inheritance far beyond our ability to comprehend fully. It is imperishable, undefiled, unfading and reserved in heaven. All creation longs for the revealing of the sons of God when they receive their glorious inheritance. (Rom 8:18)
D. Who shares it?
This is an inheritance shared among all the saints. We actually inherit other brothers and sister.
Just as Jesus treasures those the Father gifted to Him as a glorious inheritance so should we.
What belongs to Him belongs to us.
E. Response to our glorious eternal inheritance
1. Embrace His Son
Only children of the king receive the king’s inheritance.
2. Take courage and trust in God
Jeremiah took courage in the a most traumatic circumstance by realizing that his confidence did not lie in the present circumstances but in the future promise that GOD alone was his “portion”, his plot of land, his inheritance.
The LORD is my portion, says my soul, therefore I have hope in Him. The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:24-26
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11:8
Look to the future. Look to God and not to men for life.
3. Give thanks
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. Colossians 1:12
Just as God fulfilled all of the promises made to Joshua and the children of Israel, so all the promises made to his children will be fulfilled to the letter.
Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever. And he said to me, "These words are faithful and true"; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place. "And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book." Rev 22:1-7
