December 8 – Redeemed to be Heirs

“Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel.” – Ruth 4:14 (NASB)

A short book of four chapters which recounts a beautiful story of God’s promise to watch and care for His people. Naomi, returns from Moab with her daughter-in-law to Bethlehem, her home town. With nothing left and having lost all in the death her husband and both sons. Ruth, now a believer in the God of Naomi is a Moabite and widow of Naomi’s son Mahlon. The story is one of redemption by a close relative named Boaz. Boaz takes the legal steps to claim the land belonging to Naomi’s late husband Elimelech. God provided this means of preserving a family who had lost all claim to the land through the death all their men. In the same way our Lord God has not left us by providing a redeemer for us in Jesus Christ. All who believe are now promised to be co-heirs with Jesus of all of that is His (Romans 8:17-18). Boaz marries Ruth and they have a son, Obed. It is Obed who cares for Naomi and Ruth in their old age and is the father of Jesse, the father of King David of Israel from whose line Jesus of Nazareth is born.

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October 17 – Suffering With Christ Produces Glory

“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” – Romans 8:16-17 (NASB)

 

Our verses today are packed with promises. First is the  promise that God’s Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children of God. In Roman culture at the time Paul wrote this letter, for an adoption to be legally binding, seven reputable witnesses had to be present, attesting to its validity. God’s Holy Spirit confirms the validity of our adoption.[1] As children, we are heirs of God. We are promised that we will inherit eternal salvation (Titus 3:7), God Himself (Revelation 21:3), glory (Romans 5:2), and everything in the universe (Hebrews 1:2).[2] Proof of ultimate glory of faith believers is that we will suffer—whether it comes as mockery, ridicule, or physical persecution—because of our Lord and savior Jesus.  Because He suffered, we suffer. Because He's glorified, we're glorified. It's a long way from the peace-and -prosperity doctrine. Christianity is not escapism.[3] In verse 18 that follows our passage, Paul considers "that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

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[1] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible., (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Ro 8:16.

[2] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible., (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Ro 8:17.

[3] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible., (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Ro 8:17.

 

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June 1 – We’re In the Will

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 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.” -  Romans 8:16-17 (ESV)

Every person who by faith believes in Jesus Christ is fully justified and formally adopted by God, our Father in heaven.  That is a promise given to all true Christians. At first we knew nothing of these promises and now they are ours forever. We once did not believe this but now we do believe and God’s Spirit is our witness that we are children in the Family of God.  Our new birth in Christ came at a tremendous cost; but we did not have to pay it. Jesus Christ paid the cost for us by sacrificing Himself to die on the cross. Our sin caused the death of God’s only begotten Son. Now, we are adopted sons and adopted daughters and heirs with full rights in the Family. In fact we’re fellow heirs with God’s only begotten Son, Christ Jesus. It’s good news for us because by the faith given to us, we are not on the outs; we are in God’s will in more ways than we know. He included us so, we have an inheritance as heirs – that’s a forever promise. Let’s live our lives today with respect to what God has given to us. 

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July 3 – Heirs Indeed, Co-Heirs

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Romans 8:17 (NIV)

When we accept Jesus as our Savior, God brings us into His family. This verse refers to just one aspect of our family relationship – the inheritance that God has promised us, His children.  We can think of our inheritance as being in the future, and of course we look forward to entering into God's glory in heaven when our life her on earth is over.  We will be co-heirs with Christ and because we carry His Name with us, we will be targets of the enemy and experience a kind of suffering for our faith – it is to be expected.  And yet the promise that He will share with us the wonders of God's glory there.  But even now, we are enjoying the privileges of family membership in this life. Can we not think of God's love and the daily blessings he gives to us as part of our inheritance as members of His family?  God the Father restored His Son to His glory in heaven and we benefit from His presence there and His presence with us here.