Heirs of God
This chapter is like the garden of Eden, which had in it all manner of delights. If one were shut up to preach only from the eighth of Romans he would have a subject which might last a life time. Every line of the chapter serves for a text. It is an inexhaustible mine. Paul sets before us a golden ladder, and from every step he climbs to something yet higher: from sonship he rises to heirship, and from heirship to joint-heirslrp with the Lord Jesus.
I. THE GROUND OP HEmsHip. “If children, then heirs.”
1. It does not follow from ordinary creation. It is
not written — if creatures, then heirs.
2. Neither is it found in natural descent. It is
not written — if children of Abraham, then heirs. Rom. ix. 7 — 13.
3. Nor can it come by meritorious service. It is
not written — if servants, then heirs Gal. iv. 30.
4. Nor by ceremonial observances. It is not
written — if circumcised or baptized, then heirs. Bom iv. 9 — 12.
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Our being regenerated or born again unto God by his Holy Spirit is our one ground of heirship. Let us enquire —
Have we been born again? John iii. 3. Have we the spirit of adoption? Gal. iv. 6. Are we fashioned in the likeness of God? Col.
iii. 10.
Have we believed on Jesus? John i. 12.
II. THE UNIVERSALITY OF THE HEiRSHiP. “Children, then
heirs.”
1. The principle of priority as to time cannot enter
into this question. The elder and the
younger in the divine family are equally
heirs.
2. The love of God is the same to them all.
3. They are all blessed under the same promise.
Heb. vi. 17.
4. They are all equally related to that great First
born Son through whom their heirship conies to them. He is the first-born among many brethren.
5. The inheritance is large enough for them all. They are not all prophets, preachers, apostle.*, or
even well-instructed and eminent saints; they are not all rich and influential; they are not all strong and useful; but they are all heirs.
Let us, then, all live as such, and rejoice in our portion.
III. THE INHERITANCE WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OP HEIRSHIP
Our inheritance is divinely great. We are —
Heirs of all things. “tie that overcorneth shall inherit all things: “Rev. xxi. 7.” All things are yours: ‘’ 2 Cor. iii. 21.
Heirs of salvation. Heb. i. 14.
Heirs of eternal life. Tit. iii. 7.
Heirs of promise. Heb. vi. 17.
Heirs of the grace of life. 1 Pet. iii. 7.
Heirs of righteousness. Heb. XL 7.
Heirs of the kingdom. James ii. 5. Whereas we are said to be “heirs of God,” it must
mean that we are —
1. Heirs of all that God possesses.
2. Heirs of all that God is. Of his love; for God
is love. Hence heirs of all possible good; for God is good.
3. Heirs of God himself. What an infinite portion!
4. Heirs of all that Jesus has and is, as God and
man.
IV. THE PARTNERSHIP OF THE CLAIMANTS TO HEIRSHIP.
“And joint-heirs with Christ.”
1. This is the test of our heirship. We are not
heirs except with Christ, through Christ, and in Christ.
2. This sweetens it all. Fellowship with Jesus is
our best portion.
3. This shows the greatness of the inheritance.
Worthy of Jesus. Such an inheritance as
the Father gives to the Well-beloved.
4. This ensures it to us; for Jesus will not lose it,
and his title-deed and ours are one and indivisible.
5. This reveals and endears his lore. That he
should become a partner with us in all
things is love unbounded.
His taking us into union with himself secures our inheritance.
His prayer for us attains it.
His going into heaven before us prepares it.
His coming again will bring us the full enjoyment of it.
6. This joint heirship binds us faster to Jesus,
since we are nothing, and have nothing
apart from him.
Let us joyfully accept the present suffering with Christ, for it is part of the heritage.
Let us believe in the glorification which is sure to follow in due time, and let us anticipate it with immediate rejoicing.
NOTES.
How God treats men.” He pardons them and receives them into his house, he makes them all children, and all his children are his heirs, and all his heirs are princes, and all his princes are crowned.’’ — John Pus8;’ord.
As a dead man cannot inherit an estate, no more can a dead soul inherit the kingdom of God. — Sailer.
It is not easy to imagine a more cautious, lawyer-like record than the following: entry in a MS. book written by the celebrated Lord Eldon: “I was born, I believe, on the 4th June, 1751.” We may suppose that this hesitating statement refers to the date, and not to the fact, of his birth. Many, however, are just as uncertain about their spiritual birth. It is a grand thing to be able to say, “We know that we have passed from death unto life,” even though we may not be able to put a date to it.
As justification is union and communion with Christ in his righteousness; and sanctification is union and communion with Christ in his holiness, or his holy character and nature; so, by parity of reasoning, adoption must be held to be union and communion with Christ in his Sonship; surely the highest and best union and communion of the three. — Dr. Cancttish.
Inheritance. — What is it? The pay of a soldier is not inheritance; neither are the fees of a lawyer, nor of a physician; nor the gains of trade; nor the wages of labor. The rewards of toil or skill, these are earned by the hands that receive them. What is inherited, on the other hand, may be the property of a new-born babe; and so the coronet, won long ago by the stout arm of valor, and first blazoned on a battered shield, now stands above the cradle of a wailing infant. — Dr. Chtthrie.
The question lies in that first word “«/”.” Can you cast out all uncertainty from that matter by proving your sonship? “Then” — ah! then, no doubt remains as to your heirship. No man need question that heaven will be his if be is the Lord’s. The inheritance is — to be glorifiel together with Christ. What more could a child desire than to inherit as much as his eldest brother? If we are as favored as Jesus, what more can we be?