Joint Heirs

Newsletter #261 - July 2000 - By Shepherds Chapel - http://www.shepherdschapel.com/

We may think of the word "joint-heirs" as meaning "to participate in a common cause". Who are these joint-heirs, and what are the parameters involved? The answer should be of great comfort to you. We are going to begin our study in the Book or Romans.

Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.

Upon belief in Jesus Christ as your Savior, the Holy Spirit dwells within you. You do not have the Father, or the Holy Spirit, without the Son.

Romans 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

To be in the flesh is to be in sin all the way back to Adam. The righteousness of Christ paid for our sin, and upon repentance those sins are forgiven. When you accept Christ as your Savior, you are family. You then have a common cause with all the family.

Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him That raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He That raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit That dwelleth in you.

We are talking about a very close family bond here. The flesh of all men will return to dust. The word "quicken" in this verse mean "to make alive". Only your spiritual body has the capability of eternal life due to His Holy Spirit that dwells within you; however, there are conditions.

Romans 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

The Spirit within you puts your sins to death. Does this give you a license to sin? Of course not. When the Spirit resides within you, you want to be a better person.

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, "Abba, Father."

What are the qualifications for being a member of God's family? Those that are led by the Spirit are His family. The alternative is Satan's family, and they won't be around for long. God's spirit sets you free.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 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.

To be an heir of God is a very good thing. He owns the universe. Here we have our word "joint-heirs". Remember, it means "to participate in a common cause". When one member of the family suffers, the entire family suffers. Don't be a fair-weather Christian that thinks they are too special to suffer. Christ suffered a great deal for you.

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Any suffering you may endure in the flesh will be rewarded in such a glorious way in the spirit that I think words are not sufficient to describe how great it will be.

Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope,

The word "creature" may be translated "creation". The world was made subject to man, and that is vanity. God's hope is that we will come to repentance.

Romans 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

In this verse, the word "creature" would better be translated "earth". The earth will be rejuvenated to its' former state. It will be beautiful.

Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

The flesh grows old and is painful at times. In our spirit bodies there will be no pain. There will be no tears.

Romans 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

Many pray that God will reveal things to them. If God does reveal something to them, they are no longer protected from forgiveness based on hope. Once a thing has been revealed to you, it is a reality and no longer hope. Be careful what you pray for.

Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

The disciples saw Jesus and the miracles He performed. Yet, even some of them had doubts. You believe, and you didn't even see it with your own eyes. That goes a long way with Father. That is faith.

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Our infirmities are our weaknesses. We all have them. Don't be afraid to ask the Holy Spirit to intercede in your life. The Holy Spirit knows more about what is best for us more than we do.

Romans 8:27 And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

According to the will of God is exactly how things will be, and that is the way you should want it, as well.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

This means whatever those that love God pray for, things will ultimately work to their good according to the purpose of God. What more could we ask for?

Romans 8:29 For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

We are talking about the elect here, beloved. These are not volunteers, they are called.

Romans 8:30 Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

These stood against Satan in the 1st earth age. They were judged at that time, and God knows He can count on them. If God is for us, not even Satan has power over us. In fact, we have power over him through Jesus Christ. Let's continue our study in Galatians.

Galatians 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

Until the child matures, he is no different than a servant even though he stands to inherit everything. You stand to inherit the universe as a joint-heir. Do you think you are ready to run it? I think not.

Galatians 4:2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

The elements are the rudiments, or evil of the world.

Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, "Abba, Father."

Jesus was born in the flesh under the laws of nature just as you and I were born of woman. As a member of the family, you have the Holy Spirit within you that makes you want to cry out to you Father and love Him.

Galatians 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

The inheritance is yours, if you claim it. In closing, let's turn to the great book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds;

Think about what was just said. By Christ the worlds were made. Now, you know Whose Spirit moved upon the waters.

Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

The Son is the exact image of the Father. If you have seen the Son, you have seen the Father. He purged our sins on the cross.

Hebrews 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

Our Father is explaining here why you are important to Him. He loves you so much that He sent His only begotten Son to be your Savior.

Hebrews 1:6 And again, when He bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, He saith, "And let all the angels of God worship Him."

If His name is Immanuel which means "God with us", why wouldn't the angels worship Him?

Hebrews 1:7 And of the angels He saith, "Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire." 8 But unto the Son he saith, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom.

That would be a hard verse for some people to explain. It isn't for you. You understand the meaning of Emanuel. Paul goes on to quote Scripture which glorifies the Son of the Father. I suggest you read the whole Chapter; however, we are going to skip to verse 14.

Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

We should thank our Father daily for making us joint-heirs in His Kingdom. Don't ever say you have nothing. Your Father is willing to give you everything, if you are one of His children that share in the common cause of the family.

In His Service,
Arnold Murray.