Good Morning, Greetings… Series of lessons on “The Blessings of Christianity.” Over the last several weeks we have discussed many “blessings” found in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). (SLIDE) Last week we looked at love, the blessing all other blessings build from. Today we are going to be looking at the last spiritual blessing for this series of lesson…(SLIDE)

Romans 8:12-19 Personally speaking no other spiritual blessings has that same awe-inspiring ring to it as the spiritual blessing of “inheritance” or as it is called in Romans 8:17 “Heirs with Christ.” Today I want us to dive into this spiritual blessing and determine why it is so magnificent. To be an “heir with Christ” means are first and foremost…(SLIDE)

God’s Children There are several metaphors used in the Scriptures to describe the relationship between God and Christians. One of the metaphors is seeing a Christian as a “child of God.” (Romans 8:16-17) (SLIDE)

Romans 8:16-17 “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” Since we are “children of God” we have a right to inherit from our Father!!! To be an “heir with Christ” means to be a child of God which, as we just read, means we have an inheritance waiting for us. What is our “inheritance” though? This is an important question when considering the “spiritual blessing of being “heirs with Christ.” Our inheritance, as children of God, means we inherit…(SLIDE)

Eternal Life Jesus makes this perfectly clear in Matthew 19:29. (SLIDE)

Matthew 19:29 “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.” What is “eternal life” though? What is it that we are inheriting? Eternal life is the “collective whole” of Christ. (SLIDE)

1 John 1:1-3 “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” Here we clearly see “eternal life” and Christ woven together. Because John uses the neuter here rather than the masculine it cannot be referring to the person of Christ. It is rather referring to Christ the “sum” hence the need for “fellowship.” We inherit the sum total of Christ which means we inherit a fellowship with Him i.e. eternal life. So when we enter into Christ and receive the spiritual blessing of “inheritance” we are inheriting eternal life i.e. fellowship with Christ. We inherit a powerful blond or closeness with Him!!! Now, as children of God, there is another inheritance by which we have yet to receive. Though this inheritance is in the future it and not a part of the spiritual blessing we receive here on earth, eternal life, I though it would be good to discuss that inheritance that still awaits us. (SLIDE)

Kingdom of God/Heaven Don’t misunderstand me, the church is the kingdom right now. But like with many words in Scripture the word “kingdom” has several meanings. It can mean an earthly physical kingdom (Mark 6:23) “Herod promised the daughter of Herodius up to half of his kingdom.” It can mean the church (Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:9) It can mean the after life. (2 Timothy 4:18) “Paul stated the Lord will deliver him to the heavenly kingdom.” As children of God there is a heavenly kingdom that awaits the faithful, but it is not of this world. Paul, inspired by God, makes this abundantly clear in 1 Corinthians 15:50. (SLIDE)

1 Corinthians 15:50 “I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” Only Christians are qualified to partake of this kingdom for it is their reward. (SLIDE)

Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” This kingdom of God that is a reward for the faithful in Christ is ultimately is heaven. (SLIDE)

1 Peter 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Peter 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (SLIDE)

Romans 8:12-19 Brothers and sisters is there any better

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Have Faith In Jesus Repent/Turn To God Confess Jesus As Lord Obey The Gospel Live A Faithful Life Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:6 Luke 13:3 Matthew 10:32 Romans 6:3-5 1 John 1:7

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Romans 10:17

Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Have Faith In Jesus Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:6

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Have Faith In Jesus Repent/Turn To God Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:6 Luke 13:3

Luke 13:3 “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Have Faith In Jesus Repent/Turn To God Confess Jesus As Lord Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:6 Luke 13:3 Matthew 10:32

Matthew 10:32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.”

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Have Faith In Jesus Repent/Turn To God Confess Jesus As Lord Obey The Gospel Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:6 Luke 13:3 Matthew 10:32 Romans 6:3-5

Romans 6:3-5 “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Have Faith In Jesus Repent/Turn To God Confess Jesus As Lord Obey The Gospel Live A Faithful Life Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:6 Luke 13:3 Matthew 10:32 Romans 6:3-5 1 John 1:7

1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”