Biblical Teaching from a Reformed Perspective

I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy
name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou
hast magnified thy word above all thy name. Ps. 138:2

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the believer's inheritance by Mike Aldridge



Text: Eph. 1:15-23 (esp. v. 18); Gal. 4:1-7; Titus 3:3-7

Scripture References: Matt. 5:5; Matt.19:29; Matt. 25:34; Matt. 28:18; Luke 10:25; Acts 20:32; Acts 26:15-18; Rom. 4:14-16; Rom. 8:16-17; 1 Cor. 6:9; 1 Cor. 15:24; 1 Cor. 15:50; Gal. 3:18; Gal. 4:1-7; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 1:10-11; Eph. 1:13-14; Eph. 1:15-23; Eph. 5:5; Phil. 2:9-10; Col. 1:10-12; Col. 3:23-24; Titus 3:3-7; Heb. 1:1-2; Heb. 1:4; Heb. 6:12; Heb. 9:15; James 2:5; 1 Pet. 1:3-5; Rev. 21:7

What is the Believer's Inheritance?

1) We shall inherit the earth

Matthew 5:5
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

2) We shall inherit eternal life

Matthew 19:29
And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

Luke 10:25
And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

3) We shall inherit the kingdom of God

(See #4 & #5 below)

4) We shall inherit a blessing

1 Peter 3:9
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

5) We shall inherit position

Matthew 25:21-23
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

What does the Bible say specifically about the Believer's Inheritance?

1) That our inheritance is given to us on the basis of our faith in Christ.

Acts 26:15-18
And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

2) That our inheritance is not given to us on the baisis of the Law

Romans 4:14-16
For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

Galatians 3:18
For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

3) That we are joint-heirs with Christ.

Romans 8:16-17
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

4) That no unrighteous person will inherit the kingdom of God

1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God ? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God .

Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5:5
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

5) That flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God

1 Corinthians 15:50
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God ; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

6) That our inheritance is obtained in Christ

Ephesians 1:10-11
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

7) That the Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance

Ephesians 1:13-14
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

8) That the Father hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance

Colossians 1:12
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

9) That our inheritance is a reward

Colossians 3:24
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

10) That we through faith and patience inherit the promises

Hebrews 6:12
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience, inherit the promises.

11) That our inheritance is eternal

Hebrews 9:15
And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

12) That God hath chosen the poor of this word to be heirs of the kingdom

James 2:5
Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

13) That our inheritance is incorruptable and undefiled and fadeth not away reserved in heaven for us

1 Peter 1:4
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

14) That one day, if we are faithful, we shall receive the inheritance

Matthew 25:34
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Revelation 21:7
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

What does the Bible say specifically about Christ's inheritance?

1) Jesus has been made heir of all things

Hebrews 1:1-2
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

a) A More Excellent Name

Hebrews 1:4
Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Philippians 2:9-10
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

b) All Power & Authority

1 Corinthians 15:24
Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

 
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