My Bible program has hundreds of books so I did a word search on “inheritance” and was surprised to find most of the hits were about our inheritance as God’s children and all we receive because God the Son died for us. Commentaries speak of what Christ inherits but I could not find any illustrations or quotes about that, only about what I inherit. I’m glad that MacArthur’s thoughts are not about God’s gift to us but first focus on His blessing on His Son. He begins by pointing to all that Jesus gave up when He came to earth:
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)
Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. (Luke 9:58)
Jesus had nothing for Himself. This Galilean carpenter was crucified like a common criminal, naked and bleeding on a cross outside the city of Jerusalem. Even His clothes were taken from Him when He died, and He was buried in a tomb that belonged to someone else. Yet He is King of kings and Lord of lords. How can that be? It is because He is the Son of God and heir of all that God possesses.
All that exists was created by Him and for Him: “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” (Colossians 1:16) The OT predicted this would happen:
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. (Psalm 2:8)
And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. (Psalm 89:27)
And the NT backs this up: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” (Colossians 1:15) The term “firstborn” is about legal rights including authority and inheritance.
This term shows that Christ will completely and eternally inherit all things. Yes, those who trust in Him will be joint heirs with Him and possess all that He possesses. His inheritance will be ours as well.
Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15)
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:16–17)
PRAY: Jesus, the first thing, that You inherit all things and that all things are Yours is easy to understand. You are God the Son. The second thing, that I am a joint heir with You is mind blowing. I cannot wrap my mind around that, even though Your Spirit assures me that it is true. All I can grasp is that You died, and because of Your death, Your last will and testament makes me and all Your children Your heirs — yet You still retain ownership and authority over all that You bequeathed to us. How utterly amazing!
PONDER: Revelation 5:1–14 shouts that Jesus is “worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” Revelation 11:15–18 declares, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”
This too will be eternal joy for me and for all who trust in Him!
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