Are you worried about your life?
Are you worried that you’re not quite getting your fair share here on earth? Do you fret about your saving accounts? Is your home a little too small?
You might want to understand your inheritance as a believer? The concept of a “child of God” is much deeper than you may imagine.
An inheritance
The bible discusses our inheritance in 1 Peter 1.
What are the aspects of this inheritance? Let’s explore.
To? “God’s elect…”
-
- “chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father”
- “through the sanctifying work of the Spirit” and
- “sprinkled with His (Christ’s) blood.”
From? “Praise be to God…He has given us new birth…”
What? “…into an inheritance…”
Qualities? “(it) can never perish, spoil or fade…“
Security? “…kept in heaven…”
When? “ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Salvation
So, what is this inheritance? Verse 5 states “until the coming of the salvation…”
Don’t we have that? I mean, aren’t we already saved?
True.
- When we were justified, we were freed from the penalty of sin,
- We are currently being sanctified and free from the power of sin, but
- When we go to be with the Lord, we are glorified and freed from even the presence of sin. That’s the fulness of our salvation.
Matthew 25:31, 34 completes the thought when it says, “When the Son of Man comes…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.”
- You should also note that those on His left “will go away to eternal punishment…”
A deeper meaning of inheritance
Many think of our inheritance as our physical mansion in heaven. But, it’s so much deeper.
In Joshua, Moses is giving land to the tribes of Israel, however, in 13:33 it states “To the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance; the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance…”
The tribe of Levi was the priests who receive God as their inheritance. Interestingly, in 1 Peter 2:9, are not believers described likewise “…you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood…”
Also, notice in Psalm 15:5-6 “Lord, you alone are my portion…surely I have a delightful inheritance.”
Notice, also, 1 Peter 3:1 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Our inheritance then is the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. In fact, Ephesians 1:14 defines the Holy Spirit as the seal “who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption...”
Summary
With all of this in mind, what are we to do?
1 Peter 1:3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Are you thankful? In light of all you have, we are to be thankful and praise God.
Should a Prince, who is being groomed by his father the King, worry about what he doesn’t have?
Are you not the Prince in God’s kingdom?
If you worry about your earthly situation, you might pause and recognize your inheritance. All else pales by comparison.
P.S.
Note that verse 3 states “our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Lord means Sovereign
- Jesus means Incarnate (God and perfect man), and
- Christ means Anointed King Messiah.
That fulness is already yours, notice the pronoun “ours“!
