In His Name Devotionals
INHERITANCE IN CHRIST
In His Name Devotionals
INHERITANCE IN CHRIST
“In (Christ) also we have obtained an inheritance.” (Ephesians 1:10-11 NIV)
An inheritance is something received by an heir as the result of a will or a legal process. It’s a legacy one receives from family connections.
As a member of God’s family, you are an heir of God and a fellow-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17). As such you have obtained an inheritance that Peter called “imperishable and undefiled...reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4). It cannot perish, fade away, or be defiled because Heaven is timeless and sinless. It is a secure inheritance. As a faithful member of God’s family, you have obtained a future inheritance that has many present benefits.
In Ephesians 1:11, Paul refers to it in the past tense (“have obtained”). That’s significant, because the fullness of your inheritance will not be revealed until you are glorified in God’s presence (1 John 3:2). But, as a faithful Christian, your inheritance is so sure that Paul refers to it as if it is already in hand.
Although its fullness lies in the future, your inheritance has present benefits. In addition to inheriting Christ and the Holy Spirit, you also inherit peace, love, grace, wisdom, joy, victory, strength, guidance, mercy, forgiveness, righteousness, discernment, and every other possible spiritual benefit. Paul sums it all up this way: “All things belong to you...and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God” (1 Corinthians 3:22-23).
Looking forward to your eternal inheritance will help you maintain a proper perspective on temporal things and motivate you to praise and adore God.
