Heirs and Fellow heirs

“and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may be glorified with Him.”  Romans 8:17

Heirs and Fellow heirs – When do you inherit something?  Usually, it is on the death of the benefactor.  Someone has to die before the inheritance becomes mine.  And what happens when there are many beneficiaries?  The inheritance is divided up among all the rightful claimants.  Each one gets a share.  That’s the root meaning of the first word for “heir”.  It is simply a word that means “given a lot or a share” (kleronomoi).  Paul points out that the death of Jesus insured that each of us were entitled to our share, a share that is not determined by us but by our benefactor, God.

 Here’s the critical point.  You had nothing to do with why you have an inheritance and you have nothing to do with what you inherit.  This is God’s will, not yours, and it is not open to debate.

 There is a second word we need to understand.  It is sugkleronomoi.  The addition of the prefix changes the meaning by adding the thought “together”.  We share in the inheritance with Christ. 

 If you read the few verses before this one, you discover that Paul introduces this legal metaphor with another legal element – the witness.  It is the Spirit that witnesses to us that our inheritance is real.  God confirms His role as benefactor by direct revelation.  We cry “Abba, Father” because we know that we belong in the family and will inherit all the intentions of the Father.

 This is a wonderful and powerful promise.  I have often suggested that pursuing those things in life that can be taken from us by any means or event in this world is foolish and irrational.  Here is God’s reply.  His inheritance can never be taken from us.  He guarantees it.  It does not depend one iota on me, my circumstances, my performance (or lack thereof) or any decision by any person other than God.  It is utterly reliable. 

 This is real inheritance!  This counts!  You can live life today absolutely assured of the inheritance.

 And tomorrow we will take a look at the surprising part of this inheritance, the part we usually don’t see.