What is our inheritance in Christ?

The inheritance of which Christians are heirs is this same inheritance of Christ. We are children of God and “if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together” (Rom. 8:17). And it is by reason of our identification with Christ that we have title to it, for He it is “In whom … we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will” (Eph. 1:11).

While waiting to share the inheritance with Christ, we now possess it "in Christ." How vast is the inheritance that Christ is given! It comprehends "all things … which are in heaven, and which are on earth." Israel's inheritance was earthly, and although both rich and beautiful, a land flowing with milk and honey, it was very limited. But the inheritance given to Christ as God's Heir, and to those who have been made "joint-heirs with Christ," far surpasses in every way the earthly possession of Israel.

In Him we have obtained an inheritance, for whatever He inherits we inherit along with Him, and with Him we are joint-heirs. And this “according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will.” It is not given to us in answer to any request or desire on our part. He has acted from Himself in His infinite wisdom and eternal love. We have not been consulted about this, nor about any blessing that He has bestowed upon us. And it is well for us that He has thus acted, for had He left the deciding of our blessings to ourselves, hired servants and not sons would have been our eternal portion.

Israel as a nation possessed an earthly inheritance, the promised land and with it corresponding earthly blessings. But now as the elect, according to the foreknowledge of the Father, they have a better inheritance. Earthly things are corruptible; the heavenly inheritance is incorruptible. Earthly things are defiled, pollution clings to the fairest and choicest; the coming inheritance is undefiled, nor can it ever be polluted by sin and its curse, it is eternally pure. Here on earth everything is fading, every beautiful flower has its roots in a grave, all is passing and fading away; but that inheritance which we shall receive is never-fading, it is always fresh and beautiful. And this inheritance is "preserved in heaven for you"; it is more than reserved, as we have it in our Bibles. It is with Him in the glory and He preserves it for His saints, so that the cruel hand of Satan cannot touch it nor take it away from man. And while that inheritance is preserved by the never-failing Lord in glory, saints are kept for the inheritance by the power of God through faith. Here is the real perseverance of the saints; the power to persevere and to keep is not in us but in God. That inheritance is ready to be revealed in the last times, that is when the Lord comes for His saints.

Of this divine inheritance we read in Ephesians 1, "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will," and again, in the same chapter, "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened that ye may know … the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints." Peter views the Christian hope in relation to "An inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you." God has not promised His heavenly saints earthly possessions. Everything possessed of present things must be relinquished, but the heavenly inheritance will be ours forever. We have been called to have part with Christ in all that shall be His in the coming day He is the Heir of all, and we are God's joint-heirs along with Christ, in the riches of His grace.

The counsel of His own will. The inheritance that belongs to Christ, and that He will enter into in the coming day, is a vast inheritance. All belongs to God, but Christ is the Heir, and God has marked His many sons out to share the inheritance with Christ. Therefore it is said, “in whom also we have obtained an inheritance” (verse 11). We have nothing outside of Christ: all our blessings now, and all that we shall have in the coming day, are “in Christ,” in association with Him, and dependent upon Him who has procured all for us by His death upon the cross.

‘Earnest’ is an old word for deposit, down payment, or guarantee. When a buyer of a house pays the deposit you know he intends to pay the balance. In this sense, the Holy Spirit is called ‘the earnest of our inheritance’ (Eph. 1:14; 2 Cor. 5:5): God has already given us His Spirit, so He will also give us the future inheritance — to share in Christ’s universal dominion (Eph. 1:10, 22, 23). This is why it continues to say: ‘to the redemption of the acquired possession’ (v. 14). It is a future redemption[6]: the inheritance is already ours but still needs to be ‘redeemed’, like a cheque you have already received but is only redeemed when it is presented to the bank.

But another motive is added. "For this we know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." (v. 5.) The believer is a joint-heir with Christ; for in Him "we have obtained an inheritance." But if we are to have part "in the kingdom of Christ and of God," we must be morally suited to it in character. As seen in Christ indeed we are already made "meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;" but here the question is not so much one of standing as of conduct. And in this too the great principle holds, that if we are to be in God's presence, we must be fitted for it; "for without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie."

(Vv. 3, 4). The first two verses view the believer as a stranger on earth, set apart from the world according to the election of the Father, the work of the Spirit, and the work of Jesus Christ. Now we learn that the believer's home is in heaven. The hope of the Jew was earthly and, for the time, was closed by the death of Christ. The nation had crucified their Messiah, and thus forfeited their earthly blessing. Nevertheless, in the abundant mercy of God, these believers had been begotten again to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from among the dead. Every hope of the believer rests upon Christ risen. Our hope is a sure and certain hope because He is risen. It is a living hope because Christ is living. This heavenly inheritance, in contrast to the earthly, is incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading; and is reserved for the believer.

The Lord's servants were wholly cast upon Him for their portion. They had no inheritance or possession saving Himself. Blessed inheritance! Precious portion! None like it, in the judgement of faith. Blessed are all those who can truly say to the Lord, "Thou art the portion of my cup, and the lot of my inheritance." God took care of His dependent servants, and permitted the whole congregation of Israel to taste the hallowed privilege — for such it most assuredly was — of being co-workers with Him in providing for those who had willingly devoted themselves to His work, abandoning all besides.