What does it mean to be co-heirs/joint-heirs with Christ?

Answer

In Romans 8:17, Paul states, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings so that we may also share in his glory.” According to this verse, we partake in the sufferings of Christ presently and will partake in the glory of Christ in the future as His “co-heirs” or “joint-heirs.”

The term heirs of God highlights our connection to God the Father. As His children, we possess “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade . . . kept in heaven” «to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, », (1 Peter 1:4). The Greek term translated as “heirs” in Romans 8:17 refers to “those who receive their allotted possession by right of sonship.” In essence, because God has adopted us as His children (see John 1:12), we have full entitlement to receive His inheritance. We are His beneficiaries (see Matthew 25:34;Galatians 3:29;Colossians 1:12;Colossians 3:24).

Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, is the natural “heir” of the Father. “God said to him, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father’” (Hebrews 5:5;cf: Psalm 2:7). Christ’s inheritance is the entire universe, all that exists: Hebrews 1:2 states that the Son has been “appointed heir of all things.” Being a co-heir with Christ means that we, as God’s adopted children, will partake in Jesus’s inheritance. What belongs to Jesus will also belong to us. Christ shares His glory with us «And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: », (John 17:22), His riches “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”, (2 Corinthians 8:9), and all things “has in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds;”, (Hebrews 1:2). We are as welcome in God’s family as Jesus is; we are “accepted in the Beloved” “to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he made us accepted in the beloved.”, (Ephesians 1:6, NKJV). All that belongs to Jesus Christ will belong to us, the co-heirs, as well.

“You are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir” “Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”, (Galatians 4:7). Think of all that means. Everything that God owns belongs to us as well because we belong to Him. Our eternal inheritance as co-heirs with Christ is the result of the amazing grace of God.

The musical play Annie contains a wonderful illustration of becoming an heir of God. When Annie moves from the orphanage to the Warbucks Mansion, it’s an incredible change for her. She leaves behind a spiteful, alcoholic caretaker and enters a relationship with a caring father. She goes from having no possessions to having a fortune at her disposal. The hard-knock life is overcome by the brightness of a sunny tomorrow. Seen from a Christian perspective, Annie pictures what being a co-heir with Christ means. “We share in his sufferings so that we may also become

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).

Ephesians 2:13 says, “In Christ Jesus, you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” God took us, poor orphans in this world, and made us a part of His family through faith in Jesus Christ. He has showered us with blessings and promised us an eternal inheritance, based on the worthiness of Christ Himself.