WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD - JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST. Romans 8:16

Such an lofty position of sonship and inheritance contrasted with our fallen state when we came to Christ, dead in our trespasses and sins. Our Lord spoke strongly on this, ‘You are children of the devil., and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning. He is a liar and the father of it.’ (John 8:44). Not a noble heritage! Even so, God planned great things for us.

Paul stated this plainly before King Agrippa, ‘The Lord will open their eyes ( we were blind spiritually); to turn them from darkness to light (groping in the shadow) ; from the power of satan ( impotent ) to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’ (Acts 26: 18)

We had an obscure background; sightless, groping and powerless. Till Jesus came.

Paul wrote, ‘the Spirit, Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the sons of God.’ How marvellous; that the third person of the triunity should affirm our sonship with the living God. As Christians we take our dignified position casually.

Indeed we have an intimate walk with our Lord , well expressed by Paul,’ Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying out, Abba Father.’ (Dear Daddy) Galatians 4:6) He continued, ’You are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God, through Christ.; He not only redeemed us from sin and shame, but lifted us to sonship, adopting us into HIS eternal family.

In 2 Corinthians 1:22, Paul wrote,’ Who has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a deposit’, like an engagement ring to one to be married. God carefully planned the marriage supper of the Lamb, including you and me as guests. GOD pre-determined us as His sons and daughters, giving us the unique gift of the Comforter to live in our transformed hearts: once a cesspit of evil and cultivation of wrong, but now the home of our pure and holy Lord.

John in his first epistle, 3:24 supports the wonder of the indwelling witness, for ‘By this we know He abides in us, by the Spirit He had given us.‘ Later he wrote, ‘This is HE who came by water ( His incarnation as born of Mary) and blood ( His life blood shed for our redemption ) - Jesus Christ: not only by water, but by water and blood. And firmly, ‘It is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. ‘

The Holy Spirit distinctively ensures that we know of our sonship with the Father.

We are children of God’. True aristocracy. Unchallengeable Royalty. John’s gospel states, ‘He ( the MESSIAH )came to His own , but His own received HIM not.’ (1:11 ) , indeed, the greatest calamity of all ages. He went on, ’But as many as received Him, to them He gave the power ( authority, right, might, liberty and jurisdiction from the Greek ) to become the sons of God.’ How beautiful and enriching- especially after His utter rejection by His chosen people. Settle that in your hearts, that you have been elevated to the princely status of a child of the King. Live like that!

Fifty years ago we lived in an impoverished Javanese village,. Recent calls stirred us ’You planted living seed in our young hearts, which has taken root. We are children of the same King. Some of us are preaching the word of God, while others are serving Christ in responsible positions. Our children love the same Lord Jesus. God’s foresight exceeds our hopes and expectations, as He gathers in His children .

In His Galatian letter, Paul confirmed that ’You are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Here the Old testament linked with the New. ’In You all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ ( Genesis 12:3 ) God fulfilled His promise in making you heirs.

In his thanksgiving day address, our national Treasurer, the Honourable Peter Costello told how, ’It took nearly 1800 years after Pentecost for the glorious gospel to come to Australia. ’ W rejoice that it came. My family are heirs of Christ; just as our Javanese family of half a century ago enjoy the same privileges. Are your family members heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ?

Paul spoke of ‘The washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that having been justified by His grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.’

(Titus 3:5-7) Paul painted a mighty setting to our being heirs of eternal life. No gold or jewels could secure such hope and inheritance.

Our heavenly Father sent angels to be‘ Ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation. ‘ (Hebrews 1:14) In His eyes as infinitely precious, angels sent from glory enrich and protest our lives. Yes, they actually attend to us, preserving and safeguarding our heritage. Special visible guards jealously care for the inherited Crown jewels of England. Invisible Angels protect your valuable souls.

In the great 21^st chapter of the Revelation, John wrote, ’He who overcomes shall inherit all things; and I shall be his God and he shall be My son. (21:7 ) Observe the understandable link with the overcomer and the heir. God highly esteems that man or woman who has overcome in the spiritual battle; so rewarding that person with a rich inheritance, and embracing all things. ’Mind-boggling are the special promises of the Spirit of God. Yet worthy of complete acceptance.

Don’t forge t to thank the Lord and praise His glorious Name that He made you to be an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ. You are incalculably wealthy.

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