Living in our spiritual inheritance
Jesus Christ came to earth to share His spiritual inheritance with His followers. We may not escape pain and suffering in life, but our lives can begin to reflect God’s image and holiness now. What should a life that is a reflection of our spiritual heritage look like?
(See Chinese versions: 简体中文 > 生活在我们属灵的基业中 | 繁體中文 > 生活在我們屬靈的基業中)
Spiritual inheritance
Here are some signs of someone who is living out their spiritual inheritance on earth:
1. Joy and peace
Moody, grumpy Christians make Jesus Christ’s message of love very unattractive. If we have truly grasped our spiritual inheritance from heaven, how can anyone remain joyless? Such joy and peace will not depend on our circumstances. God never promised us a perfect life, He promises us something money cannot buy; a perfect peace.
Romans 14:17 ESV For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 26:3 ESV You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
2. Contentment
Spiritually mature Christians will treat life on earth as a transit station, rather than the final destination. When you have this mindset, you will begin to see things very differently.
The focus of our time and resources will be on things of eternal value. Life will feel abundant even if we have little in terms of material wealth because our pleasure will be in our relationship with God, our Father, and our heavenly treasures. Hardships on earth are easier to endure because we know they are temporal.
John 10:10 ESV The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Mathew 6:19-20 ESV “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
3. No fear
Christians who live out their spiritual inheritance tend to be calm in the face of calamity. When you know the King of all kings as your Father, provider and protector, it’s hard to live in fear! There is little distress or alarm, even in the face of strong challenges.
Romans 8:15-16 ESV For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
4. Battle ready
As heirs of God’s kingdom, we can stand as more than conquerors, undefeated by earthly rulers, fallen angels (demons), spiritual powers or anything in creation!
Romans 8:37-38 ESV No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Christians who live in their spiritual inheritance know they have all the ammunition they need to overcome the enemy schemes, as they stand firm on their Father God’s promises.
Isaiah 54:17 ESV no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.”
2 Corinthians 10:4-6 ESV For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
5. Divine nature
When people take hold of their spiritual inheritance and allow the Holy Spirit (the seal and guarantee of their inheritance) to become active in their hearts, you will notice an inner glow that seems to radiate from them.
2 Corinthians 2:21-22 ESV And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
It’s almost as if they have had a “spiritual spa”, which is essentially the sanctification that “detoxes” us of worldly sins, lies and traps. When we allow God to work through us more and more, we will experience His divine nature in us. Our choices, thoughts, words and actions will become more and more God-centred.
2 Peter 1:3-4 ESV His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
Heirs, not just followers
Not all spiritually mature Christians live out their God-given inheritance on earth.
They may have in-depth knowledge of the Bible and follow God out of obedience, rather than an intimate relationship with Him. Theirs is more of a head knowledge rather than an embrace of their spiritual identity in their hearts. They may even doubt some parts of the Bible when they can’t seem to live out its promises in abundance.
Ephesians 1:5-6 ESV he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
To live out our spiritual inheritance requires us to renew our minds, hearts, souls and strength. This often requires us to submit our lives to God’s Holy Spirit and to thrive in a new family – a godly community that encourages and admonishes each other to turn to God for everything. These are our new (eternal) brothers and sisters whom we can “do” life together with. May we seek to experience the Father as His sons and daughters, rather than just being followers!
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