HEIRS OF GOD AND JOINT-HEIRS WITH CHRIST

WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL

OCTOBER 04, 2021

TOPIC: HEIRS OF GOD AND JOINT-HEIRS WITH CHRIST

BY T. O. BANSO

“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (Romans 8:16-17 New King James Version).

When people believe in Jesus Christ and accept Him as their Lord and Saviour, they share the fatherhood of God with Him. Jesus is our elder brother! Hebrews 2:11 says, “So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters” (New Living Translation). This scripture is talking about the children of God – those who are born again.

Jesus answered and said to Nicodemus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3 New King James Version). He said further in verses 5-7, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again’” (New King James Version).

Born again people are heirs of God; they are also joint-heirs with Christ. All heirs are entitled to their fathers’ inheritance. The same thing applies to the heir of God. By virtue of the adoption of those who believe in Jesus into the family of God, they are entitled, as heirs of God, to the spiritual inheritance of their Father. As a Christian, a child of God, you’re an heir of God and a joint-heir or co-heir with Christ. Therefore, just like Jesus Christ, you have a right to God’s inheritance.

There is no inheritance without sonship. Galatians 4:6-7 says, “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’  Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (New King James Version).  Only sons have a right to God’s inheritance. Ephesians 3:6 describes the Gentiles as fellow heirs of the same body and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel.

Are you a child of God? Are you His heir? Romans 8:16-17 says, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (New King James Version).

The Greek word translated heirs in this scripture is kleronomos while the Greek word translated joint-heirs is sugkleronomos. The Bible in Basic English renders Romans 8:17a thus, “And if we are children, we have a right to a part in the heritage; a part in the things of God, together with Christ.”  Among human beings and with regard to earthly inheritances only the firstborn are heirs. But, spiritually, all the children of God are firstborn. Hebrews 12:23 refers to Christians as the church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven. We are all the heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. We are entitled to God’s inheritance as our Father by grace.

There is a measure of the inheritance available for believers in the present dispensation. This inheritance God expects you to appropriate now and start enjoying. 2 Peter 1:2-4 says, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (New King James Version).

You are a partaker of God’s nature, and, therefore, should allow that life of God to manifest in you on this earth. His rich and wonderful promises are also yours, and you should claim them for yourself here and now.

But the Bible also tells us that there is the inheritance that is yours but not meant for this dispensation. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5 New King James Version).

Hebrews 9:15 tells us that we have an eternal inheritance. “And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15 New King James Version). There is an inheritance waiting for you in eternity. It is not by works but by grace. Titus 3:7 says that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. If you’re born again, you are an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ.

So we have inheritance both now and in the future. You should not miss either. While you should enjoy all the inheritance available to you now in Jesus Christ, you should always look forward to your future inheritance – eternal inheritance.  “So Jesus answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time — houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions — and in the age to come, eternal life” (Mark 10:29-30 New King James Version). Luke 18:29-30 says a similar thing.

However, as joint-heirs with Jesus, Christians be responsible brothers and sisters of Christ. Love and loyalty are among the qualities expected among members of any family towards one another. That was why Jesus could die on the cross to save the world. He is the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29). God appointed Him the heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2).

As stated earlier in Romans 8:16-17,  you should, as an heir of God and joint-heir with Christ, be prepared to suffer with Him. That scripture says if we suffer with Him, we shall be glorified together. “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12 New King James Version). You should rejoice that you partake of Christ’s sufferings (1 Peter 4:13). Verse 16 says if anyone suffers as a Christian, he should not be ashamed, but glorify God. “You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:5 New Living Translation).

Live for Jesus to the end so that you can partake of His eternal glory. God says in Revelation 21:7, “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son” (New King James Version). Also, Jesus said earlier in Revelation 3:21, “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (New King James Version).

The inheritance awaiting you in eternity is far greater than any blessing you receive from God while you’re living on earth. Eternal inheritance is incorruptible and undefiled and does not fade away. It is reserved in heaven for you.

David said, “O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot” (Psalm 16:5 New King James Version). The New Living Translation puts it this way: “LORD, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine.” You should also relate to God as your inheritance now and in eternity. He is your greatest inheritance! When you have Him, you have everything. As we have seen in Revelation 21, those who overcome shall inherit all things.

I will close with the words of Paul to the Ephesian elders: “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32 New King James Version).  

TAKE ACTION!

If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.

Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.

I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.

PRAYER POINTS:  Father, thank You for adopting me as Your son/daughter and making me Your heir and joint-heir with Christ. Thank You, Father, for sending forth the Spirit of Your Son into my heart, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Holy Spirit, help me to live for Jesus to the end and overcome.  I shall not miss the eternal inheritance reserved in heaven for me in Jesus’ name. Father, You alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing; guard all that is mine.

(For over 600 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).

T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org