A number of New Testament words share the concept of “inheritance.” What follows is a simple summary of the use of those words as they relate to believers.
Who are the heirs who inherit an inheritance?
Jesus is the heir of all things (Heb 1:2; cf. Matt 21:38; Mark 12:7; Luke 20:14). He inherited a more excellent names than angels (Heb 1:4). We are fellow heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17), and classified further, Jews and Gentiles are fellow heirs of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel (Eph 3:6). We could even be so specific as to identify believing husbands and wives who are fellow heirs of the grace of eternal life (1 Pet 3:7). We will receive an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Christ (Acts 26:18; cf. 20:32).
How do we as heirs inherit our inheritance?
The Father has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light (Col 1:12). Inheritance comes through the righteousness of faith (Rom 4:13). We are heirs of righteousness by faith (Heb 11:7). We are heirs according to promise (Gal 3:29; Heb 6:17) and according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:7). We are heirs through God (Gal 4:7). We will inherit the promises through faith and patience (Heb 6:12), and one day, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself will give us the reward of our inheritance (Col 3:24). The indwelling Spirit is a pledge of our inheritance to come (Eph 1:14).
What do we as heirs inherit as our inheritance?
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were fellow heirs of the promise, the land of promise (Heb 11:8–9; cf. Acts 7:5), and even the world (Rom 4:13). The meek shall inherit the earth (Matt 5:5).
We will inherit eternal life (Matt 19:29; Luke 18:18), salvation (Heb 1:14), a blessing (1 Pet 3:9), and are heirs of God Himself (Rom 8:17). We will receive all that is included in the promise of the eternal inheritance (Heb 9:15).
Inheritance includes a kingdom. We are heirs of the kingdom which God promised to those who love Him (James 2:5). We have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God (1 Cor 6:9, 10; Eph 5:5; Gal 5:21). We will inherit this kingdom, prepared for us from the foundation of the world (Matt 25:34). We inherit this kingdom in imperishable bodies (1 Cor 15:50).
Our inheritance is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for us (1 Pet 1:4). For whatever or whoever we have left behind in this life for Christ’s name, we will receive many times as much of houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, and farms (Matt 19:29). We will inherit “these things” (Rev 21:7), all things new—the new heaven, the new earth, the new Jerusalem, the water of life, and nothing of the first things (cf. Rev 21:1–6)
Does anyone inherit us?
One final note is that believers themselves have been made an inheritance unto God (Eph 1:11). May God help us to better understand the riches of God’s glory in us as His inheritance (Eph 1:18).
Summary Thoughts
As wonderful as this life may be, there is something greater to come—all things new that we will inherit one day, specified in many ways from the many passages above. In addition to what God gives us, God will give us to Himself—we ourselves are an inheritance unto Him. We receive blessing, and it will be a blessing to be received by Him. Amazing!
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David Huffstutler is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Troy, MI. He blogs here, where this article also appeared. It is published here by permission.
Photo by Carlos N. Cuatzo Meza on Unsplash
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