The Inheritance

Text: Revelation 21:6-8

 

I.         The Christian’s relationship with God is described by several metaphors

            A.        We are servants - I Corinthians 4:1

                        1.         The emphasis is on our obeying the will of our Master

            B.        We are priests - I Peter 2:4-5, 9

                        1.         We are able to bring worship directly to God without anyone in between

            C.        We are children of God - Romans 8:16-17

                        1.         The emphasis is on a close and personal relationship

                        2.         But it also means we have the right to an inheritance from our Father - Galatians 3:26-29

II.        What is our inheritance?

            A.        Eternal life - Matthew 19:29

            B.        It cannot be given in this life - I Corinthians 15:50

            C.        It is gained at the time of the redemption - Ephesians 1:13-14

                        1.         The Spirit is the down payment or guarantee of what we have not yet received.

            D.        We are qualified to partake, but have not yet received - Colossians 1:12

            E.        Looking forward to the reward - Colossians 3:23-24

III.       Though we are saved when we become Christians, what we actually have is a promise of salvation - Hebrews 9:15

            A.        Those who responded to Peter’s sermon and were baptized were being saved and added to the church - Acts 2:47

            B.        It is something that had happened - Ephesians 2:5; Titus 3:5

            C.        Yet it is also something that is currently taking place - I Corinthians 1:18

            D.        But salvation is also a future expectation - Romans 5:9-10

            E.        It is a promise that we are so certain of receiving that it can be spoken of as already obtained - Hebrews 1:14

            F.        But until we reach the place where there is no sin, it is still something ultimately in the future. We could give up our promised salvation - I Corinthians 15:1-2

            G.        It is waiting for us in heaven - I Peter 1:3-5

IV.      An inheritance for many

            A.        Since Christians compose God’s kingdom, then when the saved enter heaven, they become a part of the eternal kingdom

                        1.         An inheritance among the sanctified - Acts 20:32

                        2.         Also - Acts 26:18

            B.        Thus we can say we are inheriting a kingdom - Matthew 24:34

            C.        Since sin will not and cannot be in heaven, those who live lives of sin will not be a part of that inheritance

                        1.         The unrighteous will not inherit - I Corinthians 6:9-10

                        2.         Sins are of this world, so sinners cannot be a part of the spiritual realm - Galatians 5:19-21

                        3.         Also - Ephesians 5:5

V.        The inheritance for him who overcomes - Revelation 21:6-8

            A.        If we hold fast to the end - Hebrew 3:14

            B.        It requires effort on our part - Hebrews 6:11

            C.        We cannot toss the offer aside - Hebrews 10:35-37