CO-HEIRS WITH CHRIST
Greetings church family!
Last Sabbath I shared a message on the Holy Spirit that came from the heart. It was based on Romans 8:16, which says, “The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children.” In addition, Galatians 4:4-6 says, “When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
One of the most crucial roles of the Holy Spirit is to root us in our identity as adopted sons and daughters of God, rather than slaves to fear or duty. As children of God, the Spirit leads us to live lives driven by love rather than by obligation.
If we are children of God, then the Heavenly Father is our Father. This means we are siblings of Christ. Hebrews 2:10-11 confirms this. It says, “For in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—for whom and through whom all things exist—should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.”
Since we are adopted siblings of Jesus Christ, Romans 8:17a tells us something even more spectacular. It says, “and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ..” Wow, we are co-heirs with Christ. The blessings Christ inherits, we, as his siblings, inherit too.
Ephesians 1:20-21 says, “He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens— far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” Jesus was raised from the dead, he ascended to heaven, and he was seated at the right hand of the Father, giving him ultimate authority. Wait a minute, what does that mean for Christ’s followers, since we are co-heirs with Christ?
Ephesians 2:4-7 says, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”
Did you catch that? As co-heirs with Christ, we too will be raised from the dead, we too will ascend to heaven, and we too will sit with Christ at the right hand (see Revelation 3:21) of the Father and be given authority (see Revelation 20:4).
This is incredible! Our salvation isn’t just that we are saved from sin. Our salvation isn’t just that we are given eternal life. God, as a display of “the immeasurable riches of his grace through His kindness to us in Christ Jesus,” will grant to his people the same inheritance He grants to His Son Jesus Christ.
I don’t know about you, but as I contemplate on what our salvation truly is, all I can say is praise God, praise God, and praise God!!!
Without a doubt, God is for us, God is with us, and God loves us!
Pastor Chris
