1) As Christians, we have an inheritance in Christ that is described as imperishable, unspoiled, and unfading. This inheritance is reserved for us in heaven and cannot be touched by anything of this earth. 2) Our inheritance is guaranteed by the Holy Spirit, who acts as a deposit until we receive our full inheritance in heaven. 3) As adopted children of God, we are heirs with Christ and will receive an eternal heavenly inheritance for believing in him as our savior.

1. "Our inheritance inChrist" – 8th
August 2016
“Praisebe to the GodandFather of our Lord Jesus Christ,who hasblessed us inthe heavenlyrealms
with every spiritual blessinginChrist” (Ephesians1:3).
The Bible isfull of referencestothe inheritance we receive inChristaswe readof one instance from
Ephesians1:11, "In himwe were alsochosen,havingbeen predestined accordingto the planof him
who works out everythingin conformitywiththe purposeof hiswill”.Otherpassagesthat speakof
believer’sinheritance inColossians3:24,“…since you knowthat you will receive an inheritancefrom
the Lord asa reward. It is the Lord Christyou are serving”.We can alsoread inHebrews 9:15, “For this
reason Christis the mediatorof a new covenant, that those whoare calledmay receive the promised
eternal inheritance—nowthathe has diedas a ransom to set them free fromthe sinscommitted
under the first covenant.” Our inheritance thatwe seekasChristiansis Heavenwhichisthe sumtotal of
all God has promisedusinsalvation.Wordsrelatedto inheritance inScripture are alsoreferredas
portionor heritage.
Furthermore indescribesthisinheritance we canlearnthatwe have beenborn againintoan inheritance
that can neverperish,spoil orfade!. We learnthisfrom1 Peter1:4, “… andinto aninheritance that can
never perish,spoil or fade.This inheritanceis kept in heaven for you”. We can alsolearnthat this
inheritance iskeptinheavenfor the believers."Accordingtothe apostle Peter,ourinheritance is
distinguishedbyfourimportantqualities:
Firstly teachingisthatas Christianswe mustknow thatour inheritance inChristisimperishable. What
we have inChristis not subjecttocorruptionor decay.Incontrast, everythingonearthisin the process
of decaying,rusting,orfallingapart.The law of entropyaffectsourhouses,ourcars,and evenourown
bodies... everythingthisworldcanofferis subjecttodecay. Butour treasure inheaven,isunaffectedby
entropy.We can learnwhere Jesusteachesustostore our treasure in heavenasit will never“lose its
value”as everythingelse thatthe worldoffers.We canlearnthis from Matthew 6:19–20, ““Do not
store up for yourselvestreasures on earth, where mothsand vermin destroy,and where thieves break
in andsteal. 20
But store up for yourselvestreasures in heaven, where moths andvermin do not
destroy, andwhere thieves donot break inand steal”.Similarlythose whohave beenbornagainare
born "notof perishableseed,butof imperishable,throughthe livingandenduringwordof God". We
can learnthisfrom 1 Peter 1:23, “For youhave been born again,not ofperishableseed, but of
imperishable,throughthe livingandenduringword ofGod”.
Secondteachingisthat our inheritance inChrist isunspoiled.Whatwe have inChristisfree from
anythingthatwoulddeform,debase,ordegrade.Nothingonearthisperfect.Eventhe mostbeautiful
thingsof thisworldare flawed;if we lookcloselyenough,we canalwaysfindanimperfection.ButChrist
istrulyperfect.He is "holy,blameless,pure,setapartfromsinners,exaltedabove the heavens…"aswe
can learnfromHebrews 7:26, “Sucha highpriest truly meets our need—onewho isholy, blameless,
pure, set apart from sinners,exalted abovethe heavens”. Furthermore thatourinheritance in Jesus
Christisalso holy,blameless,exalted,andpure.Noearthlycorruptionorweaknesscan touchwhatGod
has bestowed. Inthe bookof Revelationwe canlearnthat nothingimpure will everenter the heavenly
realms,norwill anyone whodoeswhatisshameful ordeceitful. “Nothingimpurewill ever enter it, nor
will anyonewho does what isshameful or deceitful, but onlythose whose names are written in the
Lamb’sbook of life”(Revelation21:27).

2. Thirdteachingisthat our inheritance inChristis unfading.Whatwe have in Christisan enduring
possession.Ascreaturesof thisworld,itishardforus to imagine colorsof thatneverfade,excitement
that neverflags,orvalue thatneverdepreciates; because ourinheritance isnotof thisworld.Itsglorious
intensitywill neverdiminish.Godsays,"Iam makingeverythingnew…aNEWinheritance!Aswe can
readfrom Revelation 21:5,“Hewhowas seated on the throne said,“I am makingeverything
new!” Then he said,“Writethisdown, for these words are trustworthy andtrue.”.
Finallyitalsoteaches thatour inheritance inChristis reserved.Whatwe have inChristisbeing"kept"in
heavenforus.Your crown of gloryhas your name on it.Although we enjoymanyblessingsaschildrenof
God here on earth,ourtrue inheritance—ourtrue home—isreservedforusinheaven.
We can learn that the Holy Spirit guarantees that we will receive eternal life in the world to
come. We can learn this from 2 Corinthians 1:22, “…set his seal of ownership on us, and put his
Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come”. In fact, "when you believed,
you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing
our inheritance as we read in Ephesians 1:13–14, “And you also were included in Christ when
you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were
marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our
inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his
glory”.
As God’s children adopted into His family, we have been assured an inheritance from our
Heavenly Father. We can read from Romans 8:17, "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." This heavenly heritage is God’s purpose and will for us as we learn from
Ephesians 1:11, “In him we were also chosen,[a] having been predestined according to the
plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will”. We can
come to know and thus receive the promise of our inheritance by hearing the word of truth and
believing in Christ as our God and saviour in our lives. “And you also were included in Christ
when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you
were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit”(Ephesians 1:13).