What is our inheritance in Christ?

Answer

The Bible is replete with references to the inheritance that believers possess in Christ. Ephesians 1:11 states, “In [Christ] we have received an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will” (ESV). Other verses that allude to a believer’s inheritance include Colossians 3:24 and Hebrews 9:15. Our inheritance can be summed up as heaven, encompassing all that God has pledged to us in salvation. Synonyms for inheritance in Scripture are portion and heritage.

1 Peter 1:4 elaborates on this inheritance, affirming that we have been born anew “into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. This inheritance is reserved in heaven for you.” According to the apostle Peter, our inheritance is characterized by four significant attributes:

Our inheritance in Christ is imperishable. What we possess in Christ is not susceptible to decay or deterioration. In contrast, everything on earth is subject to decay, rust, or disintegration. The principle of entropy impacts our homes, vehicles, and even our physical bodies. However, our heavenly treasure remains untouched by entropy (Matthew 6:19-20). Those who have been born anew are born “not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God” «being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. », (1 Peter 1:23).

Our inheritance in Christ is unspoiled. What we possess in Christ is untainted by anything that would distort, devalue, or degrade it. Nothing on earth is flawless. Even the most exquisite things in this world have imperfections; upon close inspection, flaws can always be found. However, Christ is genuinely flawless. He is “holy, blameless,

Less, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens” «For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; », (Hebrews 7:26), and our inheritance in Him is also holy, blameless, exalted, and pure. No earthly corruption or weakness can touch what God has bestowed. Revelation 21:27 says that “nothing impure will ever enter [the New Jerusalem], nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful.”

Our inheritance in Christ is unfading. What we have in Christ is an enduring possession. As creatures of this world, it is hard for us to imagine colors that never fade, excitement that never flags, or value that never depreciates; but our inheritance is not of this world. Its glorious intensity will never diminish. God says, “I am making everything new!” «And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. », (Revelation 21:5).

Our inheritance in Christ is reserved. What we have in Christ is being “kept” in heaven for us. Your crown of glory has your name on it. Although we enjoy many blessings as children of God here on earth, our true inheritance—our true home—is reserved for us in heaven. Like Abraham, we are “looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” «for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. », (Hebrews 11:10). The Holy Spirit guarantees that we will receive eternal life in the world to come «who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. », (2 Corinthians 1:22).

ns 1:22). In fact, “when you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance” (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Jesus prayed for His followers, “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name” «And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. », (John 17:11). We are secure, being guarded by the Almighty Himself, and surely our inheritance is equally secure. No one can steal it from us. John 10:28–29: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” See also Matthew 6:20.

As God’s children, “adopted” into His family, we have been assured an inheritance from our Heavenly Father. “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” «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. », (Romans 8:17). This heavenly heritage is God’s purpose and will for us «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: », (Ephesians 1:11). We receive the promise of our inheritance by hearing the word of truth and believing in Christ «In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth.

Oh, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13).

One day, we will take possession of our portion, our heritage, our full inheritance. John Calvin writes of our inheritance, “We do not have the full enjoyment of it at present. . . . We walk . . . in hope, and we do not see the thing as if it were present, but we see it by faith. . . . Although, then, the world gives itself liberty to trample us underfoot, as they say; although our Lord keeps us tried with many temptations; although he humbles us in such a way that it may seem we are as sheep appointed to the slaughter, so that we are continually at death’s door, yet we are not destitute of a good remedy. And why? Seeing that the Holy Spirit reigns in our hearts, we have something for which to give praise even in the midst of all our temptations. . . . [Therefore,] we should rejoice, mourn, grieve, give thanks, be content, wait” (from Calvin’s Ephesian sermons, delivered in Geneva, 1558–59).

When we understand and value the glory that awaits us, we are better able to endure whatever comes our way in this life. We can give God praise even during trials because we have His guarantee that we will receive all He has promised: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” «For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; », (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Revelation 21:4 gives us a brief but beautiful description of our inheritance: “‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” God and man will dwell together. Everything will be made new. The bejeweled

City, New Jerusalem, will be our residence. The river of life will flow from God’s throne. The healing tree of life with twelve kinds of fruit will also grow there. There will be no night because the eternal light of the Lamb will illuminate the new heaven and new earth and shine upon all the heirs of God.

David writes, “Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance” (Psalm 16:5-6). And that is why “we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” «while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.», (2 Corinthians 4:18).