New Life in Christ — Joint-Heirs

Consider the rich heritage and blessings that we have in Christ Jesus our Lord. We just saw that Jesus Christ arose from the grave in triumph and victory. When He ascended to the right hand of the Father, Jesus Christ entered into His position of power and authority. In His position of power, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11) After He came down to the lowest parts of earth and vanquished every foe, Jesus arose and was exalted to the highest place of honor at the Father’s right hand. In that position of honor and power, He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He has entered into the glory and blessings that He has inherited through His obedience, suffering, and victory. Now as a result of Christ’s victory, we have been offered an inheritance in Him that is incorruptible, undefiled and does not fade away.

1 Peter 1:3-4 NKJV Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

Have you considered the inheritance you have gained in Christ?

Do you know that you have been made an heir of God through Christ? This inheritance is a direct result of the grace of God that has brought you salvation.

Romans 8:16-17 NKJV The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

A joint-heir is a person who shares in the inheritance of another.

Consider the benefits of being a joint-heir with Jesus Christ. Watch how God has brought us together in Christ into a living hope. This living hope envelopes every blessing that is in Christ.

1 Peter 1:3 NKJV Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

The Passion Translation — “Celebrate with praises the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has shown us his extravagant mercy. For His fountain of mercy has given us a new life — we are reborn to experience a living, energetic hope…

We are so radically changed when we are born again that we are made children and heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. The impact and influence of that abundant and extravagant mercy is a hope that we can live on.

What does that mean?

You are born again to a living hope through Christ’s resurrection from the dead. When Christ came out of the grave, you gained victory and life. We have been born into a life of glorious liberty in Christ. This is a life of freedom from condemnation. It is a birth into a perfect inheritance and life that can never perish, never be defiled, and never diminish. This is a new kind of life with a new hope. This new and living hope gives us the expectation of the inheritance that is in Christ.

Listen to what is said about this great inheritance that we have been begotten into.

1 Peter 1:4-5 NKJV To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

There is much here that we need to consider.

God has implanted within you the seed of eternal life. When you were born into this living hope, it impacted your past, present and eternal future. Your past sins have been put away. Your present life is filled with His joy, peace, mercy, grace and hope. Your eternal future is secured in Christ.

Consider the eternal future that is secured in heaven.

We have heard of that land that is marvelous and grand. We hear that its grandeur is beyond compare. The walls there are jasper and streets are pure gold. Mansions in that celestial city do not crumble, and folks never grow old. We have a deep longing to behold all of its beauty and unexpected splendor. We will see everything we’ve been longing to see and much more. There’s a day coming soon where the old will be made new. Heaven’s glory will shine like the morning before our eyes. When we all see Jesus — no more sickness, no more sadness, no more pain. When we all see Jesus — face to face.

This inheritance is incorruptible and undefiled, and it does not fade away.

It is not like anything we receive down here. It is reserved in heaven for us. When you were born again, your inheritance changed. You had a corruptible, defiled, and temporary inheritance. Some of the things we inherited from our fore-fathers have faded and decayed.

Watch this carefully.

By grace you have been saved. You are currently being saved by the keeping power of God. You are going to be saved when your salvation is revealed and we see Jesus.

There are degrees of excellence in the inheritance you have received in Christ.

Don’t forget the hope that we have in Christ in heaven. The ultimate reward for all of God’s children is reserved in heaven for us.

Consider with me the many things that we have received since we have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Consider the power of God that keeps you. We need to know that God is able to keep us. This keeping power is specific to God’s own children. This is amazing grace.

Philippians 1:6 tells us “God has done this and we are “confident in this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

God’s amazing grace and mercy has rescued and saved us. It is His amazing grace that continues keeping us. It will be amazing grace that opens the gates of heaven and ushers us into a place in the Father’s house.

We have great security in this.

John 10:27-28 NKJV My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

John 10:29 NKJV My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

I never tire of hearing that My Father is watching over me and preserving my life. We are precious in His sight. He watches over us as a Father watches His children. Had it not been the Lord who was on our side we would have been consumed. The enemy of our soul would have swallowed us alive.

This is God’s faithfulness.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 NKJV But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

David gave an eloquent word about the Lord being his shepherd. He showed us God’s care and protection. Nothing demonstrates this more than the Lord’s promise that He would not leave us comfortless. Even when we are tempted, tested, tossed and driven, God is faithful and does not abandon us.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

We have been born again into our faithful Father’s care.

Think about the depth of God’s care. He always watches over us and always makes the way of escape so we may be able to bear it. God does not want His children to be cast down and run over with the evil that is about. He wants you to be able to keep standing. He wants you to come out of every conflict as a conqueror. So He tells you before you enter into that temptation, test or trial, “I have made a way of escape.” This is part of your inheritance in Christ.

God is faithful.

This is the Lord’s promise to believers.

John 14:16 NKJV And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—

John 14:17-18 NKJV the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

Hold on to those words, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

• He will come to you.
• He will be your Comforter and Helper.
• He will give you peace and security.
• He will show you how God is working on your behalf.
• He is on your side and is fighting for you.
• He will give you Heaven’s Bread to sustain you.
• He will give you the water of life.
• He will give you new joy and peace that passes understanding.

Jesus said: “I will come to you.”

God the Holy Spirit is coming to your aid. He has saved your soul and given you new life. He has healed your body and has given you strength to make it through your day. He has come to you.

Consider that we are joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.

God your Father has brought you into the rich inheritance of His Son, Jesus Christ. This is more than you deserve.

You are being given what Jesus deserves.

You are being brought into the richness of God’s favor at Christ’s expense.

What Jesus has gained is coming on us.

• His victory is becoming our victory.
• His newness of life is ours.
• His name has been given to us.
• By Jesus, you are given new hope and salvation.
• By Jesus, you have healing for your spirit, soul, and body.
• By Jesus, you have an eternal inheritance that is reserved in heaven for you that never passes away.

We don’t know the half of what has been prepared for us in heaven.

So that you can know that the inheritance is coming, God is giving you the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

You have trusted in Jesus Christ and His word of truth. You have believed and trusted the Gospel of your salvation. Now, God guarantees your inheritance by sending you the Holy Spirit.

Until the inheritance is fully received in heaven, the Holy Spirit is here for you.

The Holy Spirit keeps saying, “there are joys prepared for you.” He keeps giving you peace, joy and love. He keeps giving you encouragement and comfort. He is here to help you up and keep you alive in Christ. He is here to show you what heaven will be like.

New Life in Christ — Joint-Heirs