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 8:17
As a child of God, you are spiritual (indwelled with His Spirit), and you are given the spirit of adoption (you are truly and literally a son or daughter of God). This defines your identity.
And, with ever increasing blessings and promises, the Scriptures also declare that the follower of Christ becomes a co-heir with Christ. The idea of “heir” in Romans 8:17 derives from the Greek term, klḗros, meaning heritage. Through spiritual adoption, the status of “child” gives one co-heirship with Christ. This becomes a phenomenal and overwhelming prospect that far exceeds what could ever be imagined.
As common from within Paul’s contemporary society, a household slave, once adopted by the master, could become an heir just as the natural children. What an amazing blessing that we who were alienated and estranged from God by our own sin have been given redemption at God’s highest cost – His only Son. We are then made heirs of God, and co-heirs with Christ. Allow this truth to saturate your soul for this moment. Do not move too quickly past this reality. This is who you are in Christ.
As followers of Christ we do share in His sufferings. But, this cost of discipleship must be viewed along with the brighter hope, for our present sufferings and difficulties become the temporary prelude to the glory of the eternal inheritance of the saints. The Apostle Paul offered what was a common theme in the New Testament, and the Apostle Peter also presented such an encouragement:
But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed (I Peter 4:13).
Can you imagine sharing in the glory of Christ at His exaltation!? Can you imagine this incredible day of standing with Him!? John 17:24 gives us what could be a taste of this co-heirship from the very prayer of Jesus:
“Father I desire those that you have given me to be with me where I am, then they will see my glory which You have given me because You loved me from the foundations of the world.”
This is our identity: co-heirs with Christ through sharing in His glory. Obviously, this does not indicate that we will be equal to Christ in any way, especially concerning His majesty and glory. (For, co-heir does not mean equally deserving, but rather something that is graciously and undeservingly shared.) Christ Jesus has invited us to share in the glory He alone deserves, and thus we are co-heirs with Him.
We are brought into the family of God through adoption. Our eternal inheritance as co-heirs with Christ becomes the further result of God’s amazing grace.
Do not live so gripped by this present moment that you cannot embrace this future reality. For, the very reason the Scriptures present the teaching of our place as co-heirs with Christ is to reveal how firm and sure is our eternal place with God in Christ. So, be blessed as you go forward with the promise of your eternal place in the Kingdom of Christ, and one day sharing in His glory for all eternity. This truth should envelop us all with undeniable joy today.
Blessings.
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Read Romans 8:1-17 and be wonderfully reminded of your identity in Christ.
