Our Glorious Inheritance:
Sermon 1: What is our Spiritual Inheritance?
Text: Romans 8: 16-17
Intro:
Many years back when our family moved to San Antonio we lived, for about six months, in a rented condominium. We picked our temporary lodging primarily because it was economical and close to the church I serve as pastor. We moved in knowing about the covered parking for my two cars, and about the three outside storage closets which we filled with our belongings. But because we hadn’t actually talked to the owner of the condo, there were other amenities we were not aware of, and didn’t take advantage of for the first three months of living there.
Every week my wife would head out with the family laundry to a coin operated Laundromat. Two hours and several stacks of coins later, she would come home lamenting the loss of the use of her own washer and dryer, which were parked in the aforementioned storage areas. As the weather warmed up, we looked for places where the kids could swim, and paid to use public pools. About three months into our time at the condo, the little girl next door invited our girls to go swimming with her at the condo pool. Condo Pool? We had never heard anything about a pool at our condo, but about two blocks away, there it was, and it was ours to use freely.
A week went by, and when walking through our kitchen, I took another look at what I assumed was a hook up for an apartment sized washer. I don’t know why I hadn’t noticed before, but it certainly looked like a normal washer hook up, and when I got out a yardstick to measure things, it appeared to be the right size for our washer. Yep, it was a place to hook up our washer all right. We quickly retrieved our machine from storage and hooked it up. Viola! Then when we looked around for a way to string up a clothesline, surprise! There was a 220 hookup for a dryer in a location nearby.
Our reasonably priced condo had amenities we were not aware of, and therefore, did not enjoy for several months, but once we learned about the pool and hooked up our washing machine and dryer it became a terrific palace. We were glad to learn about the extras, but we wished we had known about them from the day we moved in.
Why Study about our Inheritance?
When we become Christians we inherit a wonderful new home in Christ. This home comes with all kinds of extras, much more exciting than a washer hook-up or a pool. All we need to do is consult the owner to start enjoying them. Unfortunately, many believers are not aware of all that is included in their inheritance. Some become Christians merely to escape the fires of hell. There is so much more to our life with God, than just taking out fire insurance against infernal damages. Like our discoveries while living in our condo, believers who take the time to look beyond just the joys of heaven can discover many other features of our eternal inheritance. Our walk with God can go beyond “nice” to “glorious.”
I have chosen to use the word “inheritance” to describe the wonderful blessings God has showered upon us because we belong to him. The words “inheritance,” “inherit,” and “heirs” are used thirty seven times in the New Testament to explain what God has promised and provided to those who are His. This series of messages will uncover, the rich and glorious inheritance God has in store for his people. My hope is that those of you who learn about what God has promised and is providing will grow in your love for God, will dedicate yourselves more fully to his service, will abide in Christ more intimately, and will allow Jesus to live his life within you daily.
Romans 8:16-17 qualifies as a key text to provide a foundation for all that will be covered in this series. We read there, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”(NIV) In all the ways that we have been connected with Christ we have also been granted the privilege to share in his inheritance. And what is included in this inheritance? There is so much that one week end sermon series could hardly cover it all, but we will attempt to introduce the beginnings of the glories that will be revealed to us through our union with Christ.
Furthermore, lest we get sidetracked into thinking that the inheritance we receive involves just the acquisition of goodies from God’s storehouse, we need to comprehend that our greatest inheritance is our connection to God himself. This is what God told Aaron, the high priest concerning his inheritance. In Numbers 18:20 he told Aaron that He (God) was Aaron’s inheritance. To Abraham God said he was his shield and exceeding great reward (Genesis 15:1). If there were no other benefits to be gained from our union with God, it would be enough for him to be our inheritance and great reward.
What does the New Testament teach about our inheritance?
1. Believers inherit the Kingdom: Jesus is speaking about the judgment day when he says, In Matt 25:34, “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.’” From this passage we see that those who are saved (on his right) inherit the kingdom which has been prepared for them since the creation of the world. This means that it has always been God’s plan to provide the kingdom which Jesus preached during his public ministry on earth.
2. This inheritance is granted among all who are sanctified: In Apostle Paul’s farewell address to the Ephesian elders he uttered this final benediction to those he loved, Acts 20:32,“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Again, we notice that the inheritance is shared by those who are sanctified. This is enjoyed by those who share a relationship with God, and by implication, denied to those who are not in God’s family.
3. The inheritance depends on God’s promise: Paul takes the time to differentiate between what the law provides, and what God promised to Abraham before the Mosaic law was ever given. He wrote in Gal 3:18, “For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.” We discover that God’s promise of an inheritance to Abraham, which included both land and descendants, was an unconditional promise based on an everlasting covenant which preceded God’s covenant with Israel.
4. The Holy Spirit is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance: Paul assures us that, “…Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession- to the praise of his glory” (Eph. 1:13b-14). The presence of the Holy Spirit living within us is like a down payment on all that God has promised to provide to those who are His. Because He is there, we know that there is more to come.
5. This is a rich inheritance: By revelation we are enabled to know all that God has provided to us. Paul wrote, “ I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” (Eph. 1:18) What we receive from God is not miniscule in its size and scope. It is far beyond anything we might inherit from earthly parents.
6. This inheritance is a reward of faithful service: We see that our inheritance is related to our connection to and activity in behalf of the God we serve. Col. 3:24, “…since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Though some are inclined to wonder why our actions on God’s behalf have anything to do with our inheritance, this is consistent with Christ’s words in Matt. 25:34-45 about the actions and words of those on the right and left of the King in the parable of the sheep and goats.
7. This inheritance is related to a new covenant: In Heb 9:15 we notice that Jesus is a mediator of a new and different covenant based on his death. We read, “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance – now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” Jesus is actually the testator of a new will which was put into effect after his death on the cross. Our inheritance is based on His finished work and completed redemption.
8. It is possible through immorality or godlessness to give up our inheritance: The writer of Hebrews warns against setting aside our inheritance in favor of lesser things. We read in Heb 12:16, “See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.” Looking at the account in Genesis 25:27ff, we notice Esau giving up his birthright for a bowl of red beans. The birthright of the firstborn son in a family was no small matter. To the firstborn would go a double portion of inheritance and the right to be executor of the father’s estate. For Esau to “despise” his rights as firstborn (vs. 34) revealed how little he valued his rightful inheritance. We also treat our inheritance from God as worthless through sin and rebellion.
9. Our inheritance is eternal: Peter writes how God has given us new birth into a living hope through Christ’s resurrection, and goes on to explain the following: “and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you,” (I Peter 1:4). The events of the last several years (2008-2009) have proved that retirement savings can take a major hit regardless of where they have been invested. Even seemingly conservative investments dropped suddenly in the fall of 2008. So much for careful planning and shrewd investments. Juxtaposed to these shaky times, God has given an inheritance that can never “perish, spoil or fade.” And the reason for that permanence is that it is kept in heaven for us.
10. As children of God we are heirs, and co-heirs with Christ: Romans 8:17 reminds us that with son-ship comes the right of heirs: “Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share his glory.” Our inheritance comes as a result of our son-ship to the Father, and our brotherhood with Christ. Having shared in His sufferings we are promised that we will also share in His glory. Paul goes on to explain in Galatians 3:29 that because we belong to Christ we also inherit the promise given to Abraham because we are also his seed. “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to promise.” Though it might be logical to conclude that only natural born Jews could claim such a promise, Paul states clearly that Gentiles share with the Jews in all promises through Christ. “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 3:6)
Conclusion:
What we have just learned is a lot to digest. But this New Testament teaching forms the spring board for what we will learn this week end:
• Tomorrow, we will look at the covenant nature of our inheritance and learn about God’s promises to us.
• Sunday Morning we will focus on how the Father, Son and Spirit all participate in our inheritance
• Sunday Evening we will focus on what we must do guard our inheritance, and to receive the full benefit from it.
