Your Inheritance
Are you expecting to inherit? Will the family fortune come to you?
For most of us the answer is probably – “No!” Our families are not wealthy and we have no long lost relatives with fortunes to leave. But, would you believe me if I said that there is an inheritance waiting for you? One that surpasses anything you can imagine. You could receive a portion of your inheritance now, something in advance that will guarantee your acceptance into the family from whom you will inherit. So whose family will you become part of? And who died that you might receive this inheritance?
Who died?
Jesus Christ was the one who died! He died so that we can be reconciled with God the Father from whom we will receive our inheritance. God said: “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be my sons and daughters,” (II Corinthians 6:18). According to Bible, “as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:14) - “The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,” (v 16-17). What an incredible revelation! We are to be children of God and heirs to all the blessings of the spiritual realm (Ephesians 1:3).
Inherit What?
As an heir of God we will be part of a royal family and receive many things - a new name and a position to go with it (Revelation 2:17, 5:10). We will be known amongst the most high (Revelation 3:5, I Peter 2:9), crowned and established on a throne with power over nations on earth (Matthew 5:5, Revelation 2:10, 26 and 3:21), and be a pillar in God’s Kingdom forever (Matthew 25:34, Revelation 3:12, 2:7). A place has already been prepared, we will sit in heavenly places with Christ (John 14:2-3, Ephesians 2:5-7). Can you imagine that? Often inheritances have conditions attached. Although God sets conditions, He also provides the means to achieve them. The question is, what do we have to do to receive our incredible inheritance?
Belief
Belief is one of the conditions. Those who believe God will be rewarded with eternal life (John 3:15, I John 5:13). And if our belief is from the heart, we shall be saved (Romans 10:9). Those who do believe Christ are given power to become the sons and daughters of God (John 1:12). When God says we are to be family and inherit all the things we have just read about, then we should believe it! Belief is faith.
Repentance
Repentance is another condition. We have all been subjected to the evil influence of Satan and God does not want the inheritance to be used for evil purposes.
Ridding our lives of evil can only be done through a process of conversion beginning with repentance (Luke 13:3). Repentance not only means feeling sorry for the way we have lived, more importantly it means making changes in our lives (Acts 3:19, Romans 12:2). Not only changes to the way we act, but also in what motivates our actions and in the way we think. The sort of changes God wants to see can only be achieved by spiritual means. That is why He is so willing to give us the Holy Spirit as an advance on our inheritance - it is the means by which we can make those changes.
Baptism
Those who believe what God says and begin the process of conversion are baptised in order to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Baptism is a ceremonial commitment to God and His way of life. The Holy Spirit is the seal of approval that guarantees acceptance into God’s family and to receive the full inheritance (Ephesians 1:12-14). Your acceptance into His family is assured because the Spirit comprises a small portion of the very essence and mind of God. Combined with the spirit of man it will reveal the things of God that we could not otherwise understand (I Corinthians 2:11). The outcome of God’s Spirit combined with the spirit in us will eventually be manifested in the way we think and act. We will no longer be strangers, but true sons and daughters of God (Ephesians 2:19).
Overcoming
Although our sins are forgiven at baptism, it doesn’t mean we will never sin again. Being human we will make mistakes. However, having made a commitment to God we continue to repent of evil as it occurs in our lives until it is eventually conquered. If we confess our sins to God, He will forgive us (I John 1:9).
Christ has overcome and if we believe what God has said, we can also overcome the sins of this world through the help and power of His Spirit that is in us (John 16:33, 14:16, I John 5:5). God says, “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall by my son,” or daughter (Revelation 21:7).
Endurance
Having started the process of repentance, it is important that we continue in our commitment to overcoming no matter how long it takes. Although the going might get tough and the trials may seem overwhelming, God has promised that we will not have to face anything we cannot handle (I Corinthians 10:13).
Keep in mind that -“all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). And remember that Christ our co-heir also offered to help when he said, “If you ask anything in my name, I will do it,” (John 14:14)
If you are prepared to make the sort of commitment that is needed to meet the conditions for an inheritance that surpasses anything else you can possibly have in this life, then God is willing to give you a portion of that inheritance now to help you meet those conditions. Along with that inheritance comes membership into the very family of God. What an incredible opportunity.
Your inheritance awaits you.
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Last modified: 04/16/11