{"id":28027,"date":"2020-08-12T01:07:07","date_gmt":"2020-08-12T00:07:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/?p=28027"},"modified":"2020-08-12T01:07:07","modified_gmt":"2020-08-12T00:07:07","slug":"what-it-means-to-be-a-joint-heir-with-jesus-christ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/?p=28027","title":{"rendered":"What it means to be a joint heir with Jesus Christ"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Tope Banso\u00a0<\/strong>
\n1 Corinthians 2:12 says, \u201cNow we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God\u201d (New King James Version).
\nEvery born again Christian is a child of God. Galatians 3:26 says, \u201cFor you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus\u201d (New King James Version). One of the things every child of God must know is that he or she is an heir of God and joint heir with Jesus.
\nAmong humans, the firstborn is the heir, but all believers are firstborn in the family of God! (Hebrews 12:23). Redemption affords every believer the full inheritance rights as an adopted son of God (Galatians 4:1-7). Sonship comes with privileges and responsibilities.
\nRomans 8:16-17 says, \u201cThe Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs \u2014 heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together\u201d (New King James Version).
\nHaving been born into the family of God, believers share the fatherhood of God with Jesus Christ. Jesus is our elder brother. Hebrews 2:11 says, \u201cSo now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters\u201d (New Living Translation). Those who are made holy or sanctified are the children of God \u2013 those who are born again.
\nAll heirs are entitled to their fathers\u2019 inheritance. Therefore, by virtue of adoption into the family of God, you are entitled, as an heir, to the spiritual inheritance of your Father.\u00a0 You have the same right as other believers because you\u2019re an heir of God and joint heir with Christ Jesus.
\nThere is a measure of the inheritance available to believers in the present dispensation on earth because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross. God expects you to appropriate this inheritance now, and start enjoying it.
\n2 Peter 1:2-4 says, \u201cGrace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust\u201d (New King James Version).
\nYou are a partaker of God\u2019s nature, and, therefore, you should allow that life of God to manifest in you on this earth. His rich and wonderful promises that pertain to this earth could be regarded as our inheritance. He expects us to claim and enjoy them here and now.
\nBut the Bible also tells us that there is the inheritance that is for the future dispensation, which is the main inheritance. \u201cBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time\u201d (1 Peter 1:3-5 New King James Version).
\nSo, we have inheritance both now and in the future. You should not miss either. While you should enjoy all the promises of God available to you now on the earth, you should always look forward to your future inheritance. \u00a0\u201cIn My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.\u00a0 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.\u00a0 And where I go you know, and the way you know” (John 14:2-4 New King James Version).
\nIn Luke 18:28, Peter told Jesus that they (Jesus\u2019 disciples) had left all and followed Him. \u201cSo Jesus answered and said, \u2018Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time \u2014 houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions \u2014 and in the age to come, eternal life\u2019\u201d (Mark 10:29-31 New King James Version). Luke 18:29-30 says a similar thing.
\nIt is important to point out that as heirs and joint heirs with Jesus, Christians owe it a duty to be responsible brothers and sisters of Christ. Love and loyalty are among the qualities expected among members of any family towards one another. Jesus says, “If you love me, obey my commandments\u201d (John 14:15 New Living Translation).
\nEarlier in John 13:34-35, Jesus said, \u201cA new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another\u201d (New King James Version).
\nJesus died on the cross to save the world because of love. We must love Him also as heirs of the kingdom. \u201cListen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?\u201d (James 2:5 New King James Version).
\nAs stated earlier in Romans 8:16-17, as an heir of God and joint heir with Christ, you should be prepared to suffer with Him. That scripture says if we suffer with Him, we shall be glorified together. \u201cAnd since we are his children, we will share his treasures \u2014 for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering\u201d (verse 17 New Living Translation).
\n2 Timothy 3:12 says all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. You should rejoice that you partake of Christ’s sufferings (1 Peter 4:13).
\nPeter and the other apostles arrested and tried by the Jewish Council understood this. After they had been tried and beaten, they were commanded not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. But the Bible says, \u201cSo they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ\u201d (Acts 5:41-42 New King James Version).
\nIn the Beatitudes, Jesus says, \u201cBlessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.\u00a0 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you\u201d (Matthew 5:11-12 New King James Version).
\nPersecution is part of the package as the Bible shows in Mark 10:29-31 quoted earlier, where Jesus highlights the blessings His followers will enjoy but adds “with persecutions.” Many love the blessings minus the persecutions. But it\u2019s a total package! You\u2019re not permitted to choose one and reject the other.
\nAs you\u2019ve read in Hebrews 2:11, \u201cSo now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters\u201d (New Living Translation). Jesus is not ashamed to call you His brother or sister; don\u2019t be ashamed of Him either.
\nJesus says in Mark 8:38, \u201cFor whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels\u201d (New King James Version).
\nAccording to Paul, believers have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:13-14). \u00a0Every born again child of God is an heir and joint heir with Christ. Are you?
\nIn Matthew 25:34, Jesus says, \u201cThen the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world\u201d New King James Version). The Bible talks about those who won\u2019t inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:20). I pray you\u2019ll inherit it in Jesus\u2019 name. \u201cHe who overcomes shall inherit all things\u201d (Revelation 21:7 New King James Version).
\nDavid says the LORD is the portion of his inheritance (Psalm 16:5). “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32 New King James Version).
\nIf you\u2019re not born again, repent of your sins today and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Whoever comes to Him, He will by no means cast out.
\nPRAYER POINTS: \u00a0Father, I thank You for the privilege to be Your heir and joint heir with Christ. I will not miss my inheritance here on earth and in heaven. Jesus, I shall not be ashamed of You. Holy Spirit, I receive Your help to endure persecution patiently and remain firm to the end, obeying God’s commands and trusting in Jesus (Revelation 14:12).
\nThis is wisdom for living, and it\u2019s worth sharing. Please share.
\n(For over 300 in-depth and powerful messages by T.O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
\n\u25aa\ufe0e Banso, an Abuja-based Minister, heads Cedar Ministry International, and can be reached at<\/strong>
\ncedarministryintl@yahoo.com, cedarministryng@gmail.com; Tel No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523; WhatsApp No: +2349081295947<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Tope Banso\u00a0 1 Corinthians 2:12 says, \u201cNow we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God\u201d (New King James Version). Every born again Christian is a child of God. Galatians 3:26 says, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":28028,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5772],"tags":[2118,159,2119],"class_list":["post-28027","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-faith","tag-heir","tag-jesus-christ","tag-joint-heir"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28027","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=28027"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28027\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=28027"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=28027"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=28027"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}