“Salvation” versus “Inheritance”
We know that “salvation”, receiving Jesus as our Savior and accepting His free gift of eternal life, has no requirements. It is offered to all who call upon His name. There are no works to be considered.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2)
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10)
There is a difference between what it takes to receive “salvation” and what it takes to lay hold of our promised “inheritance”, the kingdom of heaven.
The Scenario
Picture children being adopted by a father. They are given their new father’s name. They are loved and cared for all their life as long as they do not choose to leave their father’s house. They are brought up to have their father’s values and work in their father’s business, learning how to one day run it as their father has done. The father made a will. It included all his children that would ever be adopted, promising them his estate and all his wealth.
The Will-
Each child is a beneficiary named in the father’s will. The father wants his children to have all that he owns, but will not take away their right to do as they please, taking up his offer or going their own way. He put forth certain conditions that each of his children must meet in order to possess what is guaranteed to them by the will according to the father’s wishes.
1. The child must choose to remain in the father’s house and work in his business. They
2. The child must demonstrate his desire to possess the estate by being productive
according to his father’s expectations.
3. If the child chooses to leave, he is permitted to go, but can return if he chooses to.
4. If the child chooses to leave and has not returned by the time the will is executed, he
forfeits his inheritance.
Question 1: Did the children earn their adoption, or was it something that they were given by
Question 2: Did the children earn their place in the father’s will, or was it given at birth?
Question 3: Will the children have earned their inheritance by obeying his father’s wishes so
What Christians absolutely cannot accept, is that the Lord requires something from those who have received “salvation” and have also been given, free of works, an “inheritance” that must be strived for in order to obtain what has been promised.
Once we have been “born again”, we have been “adopted” into the family of God. We have his name and we have been promised an “inheritance” to be possessed in the future. We have been given an eternal spirit giving us everlasting life. We will one day be resurrected to receive our “inheritance”. We did not earn either our “salvation” (the free gift of everlasting life), or our “inheritance” (the kingdom of heaven).
If we do not distinguish between what constitutes “salvation” from what is expected by our Father to possess what he has promised, (our “inheritance”) then we can never understand what is hidden in the parables…
10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”
11 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. (Luke 8)
When Jesus says,
“The kingdom of heaven is like…” He is not referring to salvation!
He is explaining the “
mysteries of the kingdom of heaven”. “Salvation” and our “inheritance” are two separate and distinctly different aspects of our adoption. Both are unmerited, free gifts received by faith. Once we “see” the kingdom of heaven, we must value it enough to seek to possess it at all costs…
Matthew 13:44
[ Hidden Treasure ]
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Matthew 13:45
[ A Costly Pearl ]
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Is Jesus saying that we must “buy” the kingdom of heaven? No, but he is saying that obtaining it will cost you
everything. If you can’t “see” that there is something required, you will never be able to see the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven revealed.
Mark 10:24
The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them,
“Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
What?...
How about the Master of the Servants and his expectations? Read it in its entirety…
14 “The kingdom of heaven is like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.
16 Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
24 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25)
If you can read that parable and
not see that this “Master”, who owns these “slaves” has expectations that have rewards and consequences, then…
“but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.” (Luke 8)