Title: Heirs of Heavenly Father
Contents
Bible: Romans 8:17 Title: Heirs of God the Father
Today's text is a word of great comfort to us as it reveals the children of God, that is, the heirs of God.
1. Becoming a child of God
It is God the Holy Spirit who testifies both internally and externally that we have received the Spirit of adoption and have been adopted into our family as real sons. In this way, the saints became sons of God in every way, which was practiced by His sovereign providence long before we did not know Him.
1) A person who has been made according to the promise.
It is not based on our status or situation that God has accepted us as His children. For this work, God has prepared in many ways. This is something that has been spoken and promised through his servants at every opportunity. The plan also includes details on how to adopt us and what to do after adoption.
This testifies to how much God has planned and prepared to receive us as His children. But we didn't know this. I also didn't believe it when I heard it. Now that we have become children of God according to that promise, we are living as God's children, enjoying the sacred privileges.
2) One who resembles God.
Although we became children of God, we still have the image of children who are slaves to sin. The Bible describes this as ‘one who follows the old customs’. But now that we have become children of God, we must and must give up those appearances.
Our religious life means to throw away this old life and live a right life as a child of God. In this way, we can imitate the image of our Father, which means resemblance in the sense of character, that is, we become sanctified, we become wise, we become sanctified, we become true, we become righteous. If you do not resemble God in this way, you cannot be said to be a complete child of God. His whole personality and full will follow him perfectly, and this is the true life of the saints who have become children of God.
2. Heir to the inheritance
1) Heirs.
A child, the heir of God, can claim no merit in inheriting His inheritance. According to God's merciful disposition, he was unilaterally adopted as his child. Let's think about it. One day, an orphan of Cheon-ae, whom no one welcomes, appears to an adult with social and economic virtues and character, saying, “I am your father. Now all my property and possessions are yours. If you say, 'You are my son from now on,' how amazing and amazing is that?
God loved us, the children of sin and the children of destruction, even sacrificing his only begotten Son, making them children of God and designating them as heirs of all these inheritances. It is truly a blessing to be grateful for.
2) He is patient.
His children, heirs of God, cannot escape suffering and suffering as Christ suffered on earth. Sometimes we are faced with hardships and trials, sometimes big and sometimes small, regardless of our will. But these difficulties are temporary sufferings in the present, and they are very light and insignificant compared to the glory and crowns we will receive for eternity. In order for us to share in the glory of Christ, we must also share in his sufferings. A believer should not be afraid of suffering or try to avoid it. You must have the image of a child of God who can overcome only through patience with a bold heart.
3. A place is prepared
Those who become heirs of our Heavenly Father are those whose dwelling place has been prepared for him and his descendants to dwell forever. This is, of course, in a spiritual sense, an inheritance for the glorious kingdom that will be given to us in the future. It is a land where there is no tears or mourning, no sighs and no worries. It is a place where there is only God's glory and grace, and where all the saints can rest in peace. God has given his children this place of rest.