A New Creation in Christ – Part 5 – Our Inheritance

Note –​​ Did you ever set out to do something only to discover early on that the task was far more involved than you ever imagined? That is my thinking on writing about our Christian inheritance. Several times I decided to abandon the subject and write about something else; however, I was so blessed by the many things I discovered in connection with studying about our inheritance, that I kept going. My final conclusion is that the subject of “our inheritance in Christ”, cannot adequately be expressed in this short blog. As a matter of fact, I do not believe man will ever be able to adequately express all that God has stored up for us!​​ 

Have you ever been notified that your presence is requested for the reading of someone’s will? Although I have not had that experience, I’ve seen it on television a number of times. How exciting that must be, knowing that someone cared enough about you to leave you a portion of their very own possessions – an inheritance.​​ 

And how much more exciting is it that our Creator and loving Heavenly Father has given us an inheritance? Typically, it’s family members who receive an inheritance from their parents or other relatives. And it is no different with God. He has given an inheritance to his children, his spiritual family.

How Do We Become Children of God?​​ 

When we receive Christ by faith, we are said to be born again. This is a spiritual rebirth in which our old spirit is crucified with Christ and we get a new spirit that is in union with Christ’s spirit (Romans 6; 1 Cor. 6:17); thus, we are born into the family of God and qualified to receive an inheritance. (John 1:12; Rom. 9:8; Gal. 3:26; 1 John 3:1-2)

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,​​ 1 Peter 1.3-4​​ 

Heirs with Christ

Even more, we are said to be​​ “fellow heirs”​​ with Christ (Rom. 8:17).

The phrase,​​ “fellow heirs”​​ means – receiving possessions and/or inheriting together. Hence, we will inherit all that Christ inherits from our Heavenly Father. And folks, that is more than we can imagine.​​ Read the following verses carefully –​​ 

• 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 1.2​​ 

• Jesus,​​ knowing that​​ the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God,​​ John 13.3​​ 

• For​​ from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him​​ be​​ the glory forever. Amen.​​ Romans 11.36​​ 

• 'Ask of Me, and​​ I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the​​ very​​ ends of the earth as Your possession.​​ Psalm 2.8​​ 

Hopefully, you get the idea. But just in case, Jesus, and therefore we, are heirs to​​ ALL THINGS!

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”-​​ 1 Cor. 2.9 ESV

​​ “All Things”?

Unfortunately, the Bible does not give us a concise list of our inheritance, however, there are a few things that I will mention. I think it is important to note that we have already received a portion of our inheritance.​​ 

• We have been “blessed in the heavenlies with every spiritual blessing”​​ (Eph. 1:3). Notice this is written in past tense, indicating that we already have these blessings. To name a few, - forgiveness, new life in Christ, reconciliation, redemption, etc.​​ 

• Eternal life​​ – recall from​​ Part 1​​ of this series, eternal life is a person named Jesus. We are in union with Christ now and forever! Amen. (Heb. 1:14)

• The Holy Spirit –​​ Jesus promised his disciples that he would send the Holy Spirit. (John 14:15-17) If you are in the family of God (see above), you have the Holy Spirit, all of Him! (Rom. 8:9) We are “sealed in Christ” by the agent of the Holy Spirit, i.e., we belong to Christ and no one can change that! ​​ The Holy Spirit not only seals us, he also serves as a guarantee of our inheritance; which is a pledge of more to come. (Eph. 1:11-14)

What is Our Future Inheritance?

When we receive Christ by faith, we are immediately set free from the penalty and the power of sin. (Romans chapters 6 and 8); but sadly, we are not free from the presence of sin which dwells in our physical body.​​ Please read the​​ Controlling Power Sin​​ for a better understanding of this.​​ 

But we are told that these earthly bodies will someday die,​​ and we are promised a new body after that time. (1 Corinthians 15) When these earthly bodies die, we will be free from the presence of sin forever.​​ 

I will bring up one more thing concerning our future inheritance. As mentioned, our earthly bodies will die someday. Then what? Does our soul and spirit continue to live? If so, where do they live? The common Christian answer is that our eternal dwelling place is in heaven. But what about the new earth and the new Jerusalem that come down from heaven? (Rev. 21:1-3) After some study, I’ve concluded that there​​ are​​ too many unanswered questions to speak definitively on this subject. But here’s what I can say, with the utmost confidence.​​ 

We will be in the presence of Almighty God forever. We will be united with Jesus forever. Thus, ultimately it doesn’t matter where we are, because we will be where they are! (John 14:1-3) And where God is, there will be peace and love,​​ and joy! There will be no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain, and no more death. (Rev. 21:4)

You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.​​ Psalm 16:11

The next time you are going through a struggle, let me encourage you to focus on what God has stored up for his children. Remember, this life on earth is very short. And even​​ during​​ our inevitable struggles here and now, we can experience God’s love, joy and peace.

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.​​ Romans 8.16-17​​ 

Next​​ –​​ A New Creation in Christ - Part 6 –​​ Our​​ Righteousness