What is our Inheritance?

[Marilyn C]

The way I read it all of those Scriptures do apply for us! The creation account, to give us dominion on earth, is for us because we are human. The reconciliation process promised to Abraham was to begin with Israel but was specifically targeted at many nations. That also would be us. We are all members of various nations and have been reconciled through Christ.

I'm not sure how you believe these Scriptures don't apply to us unless it is that they were given before Christ came? Paul interpreted the Abrahamic promises as something fulfilled through Christ.

Gal 3.7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. 8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

If you have faith in Christ, you are one of the many children of Abraham, and have been reconciled through Christ to God. Therefore, the original promise to Man, male and female, to inherit the earth has come to you and to all the children of Abraham who enter into God's family through faith.

Clearly, the original promise to Man was the inheritance of the earth. Not only so, but this inheritance was to include the blessings of God showing His favor towards us.

An example of God's favor was given under the Law to Israel even before they were fully reconciled to God. They were to enjoy abundance and health wherever they want, and would enjoy productivity, with God dwelling permanently in their midst.

Hi Randy,

There will be nations on the new earth as God purposed, with bodies like Adam`s, however those in the Body of Christ will have glorified bodies like unto the Lord`s made for the higher realms.

As to Abraham we are blessed, but we don`t have all his inheritance - the land of Israel.

 

[Marilyn C]

No, it refers to the Lord separating individuals into two groups that are called the sheep and the goats. The sheep are the body of Christ because the body of Christ are those who belong to Jesus and that is what Jesus said about His sheep as well (see John 10). The sheep (body of Christ) will inherit eternal life in the kingdom of God when Jesus returns. That is what is portrayed in Matthew 25:31-46.


Just go by what it says instead of allowing doctrinal bias to change the text. It says our inheritance will be the new heavens AND the new earth.

2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens AND a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Peter clearly said that we (Christians) look to inherit new heavens AND a new earth. There is no basis at all for asking whether our inheritance is the new heavens or the new earth when Peter indicated we, according to the promise of Christ's coming, look for both new heavens and a new earth. Don't try to limit what God has in store for us.

`All the nations will be gathered before Him...` (Matt. 25: 32) The Body of Christ are not the nations, but called out of the nations.

I agree, our inheritance is in the New Heavens and New Earth. Glad we can agree there.

 

[Marilyn C]

They are though.

Hard dispensationalism is error.

Romans 11.
We are grafted in to Israel.

The Church does not replace Israel, but it is also not wholly separate either. We're grafted in. We're a part of it, we're coheirs to the promises made to Israel.
Our ultimate destiny is shared.

We are not grafted into Israel but to Christ the `holy root, the nourishes and supports us.` (Rom. 11: 16 & 17) Israel cannot do those things.

 

[RandyPNW]

Hi Randy,

There will be nations on the new earth as God purposed, with bodies like Adam`s, however those in the Body of Christ will have glorified bodies like unto the Lord`s made for the higher realms.

As to Abraham we are blessed, but we don`t have all his inheritance - the land of Israel.

I agree, Marilyn. In the OT era Israel was given the land of Israel but having rejected Christ the nation lost that inheritance temporarily. Jesus prophesied that in the NT age Israel would appear to be a "lost nation." Their hope would have to be in his 2nd Coming.

But the promise of Israel to their land was just a model, I believe, for all nations of faith. Were there, or have there been, "nations of faith?" I believe so. There have been many Christian nations, even though like Israel not all of them are true followers of God.

So all nations have their own particular land inheritances in this age. But in the coming age we will be glorified, even though the non-Christian world will enter into a final phase in world history. I don't know who will witness to the survivors of Armageddon? Perhaps it will be the glorified Church? Perhaps many will simply convert at Christ's Return?

These are just some of the questions I still have in my mind. But the object is always the inheritance of the earth. We get there simply because it was promised to Man, male and female, from the beginning. But there is this weeding out process by which only true Christians are given the deed to the earth in the eternal view of things.

 

[keras]

Our heritage; the promises of God:
Ephesians 1:11-14 In Christ we have been given our share in the heritage, as was decreed in His design …for it was God’s will that we, who were the first to set our hope on Jesus and to praise His glory.
And, in Christ, you Christians also, once you believed and received the Holy Spirit, the promise of the inheritance that will be ours, when God has redeemed all of His own, to His glory and praise.

Ephesians 3:6 Through the Gospel, the Gentiles are joint heirs with the Jews, part of the same body, sharers together in the promises made through Jesus.
Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit of God affirms that we are His children and if children, then also the heirs of God and fellow heirs with Jesus, but we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory.

Romans 8:19 The Created universe is waiting with eager expectation for God’s sons to be revealed.

Our greatest hope as born again Christians, is the promise of eternal life. John 3:16,Titus 3:5-7, +
But we also inherit the Land promises, Psalms 37:29, Ezekiel 36:8-12, Ezekiel 34:11-31 It is we Christians, from every tribe, race, nation and language, that are the vast multitude seen waving palm branches in Jerusalem. Revelation 7:9

Faithful Christians are the ones who have passed thru the great ordeal of the Sixth Seal disaster and have earned the white garments by standing firm in our faith. Revelation 7:14

Note: in Romans 8:19, that God’s true children are not yet made known, Jesus will come with His winnowing fork and sift the wheat from the chaff. Matthew 3:12
Those Christians who stood strong in their faith and trusted in His protection, when He comes in fire, Luke 12:49, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8, are the wheat that will be gathered into the granary of the holy Land. The chaff of the ungodly peoples will be as ashes under their feet. Isaiah 66:17, Malachi 4:3, 2 Peter 3:7

 

[Marilyn C]

I agree, Marilyn. In the OT era Israel was given the land of Israel but having rejected Christ the nation lost that inheritance temporarily. Jesus prophesied that in the NT age Israel would appear to be a "lost nation." Their hope would have to be in his 2nd Coming.

But the promise of Israel to their land was just a model, I believe, for all nations of faith. Were there, or have there been, "nations of faith?" I believe so. There have been many Christian nations, even though like Israel not all of them are true followers of God.

So all nations have their own particular land inheritances in this age. But in the coming age we will be glorified, even though the non-Christian world will enter into a final phase in world history. I don't know who will witness to the survivors of Armageddon? Perhaps it will be the glorified Church? Perhaps many will simply convert at Christ's Return?

These are just some of the questions I still have in my mind. But the object is always the inheritance of the earth. We get there simply because it was promised to Man, male and female, from the beginning. But there is this weeding out process by which only true Christians are given the deed to the earth in the eternal view of things.

Hi Randy,

I see you are thinking through many details. Just something to remember we, the Body of Christ will have a glorified body that can go through realms. It is not like Adam`s was in the beginning, but more glorious, bound for the realms above.

 

[Spiritual Jew]

`All the nations will be gathered before Him...` (Matt. 25: 32) The Body of Christ are not the nations, but called out of the nations.

Read the text in Matthew 25:31-46 carefully. It's talking about people being gathered before Him and then judged. They are divided up into two groups that Jesus called the sheep and the goats. Clearly, only individuals will inherit eternal life or be cast into "everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels", not entire nations. The sheep are those who belong to Christ, which can be seen if you read John 10 where Jesus refers to His people as His sheep. You're not using scripture to interpret scripture here.

I agree, our inheritance is in the New Heavens and New Earth. Glad we can agree there.

I'm saying our inheritance IS the new heavens and new earth, not IN the new heavens and new earth. Do you agree with that? Based on things you have said before, I don't think so. I'm also saying that is the inheritance of all believers from all time and I don't think you agree with that, either.

 

[Spiritual Jew]

We are not grafted into Israel but to Christ the `holy root, the nourishes and supports us.` (Rom. 11: 16 & 17) Israel cannot do those things.

We're not grafted into the nation of Israel, but we are grafted into spiritual Israel.

Romans 9:6 It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.

We are grafted into the Israel of which not all who are physically descended from the nation of Israel and physically descended from Abraham are in. We are grafted into the Israel which is not based on who or what someone has physically descended from, but instead is dependent on being one of God's children and one of Abraham's spiritual offspring, which all believers, including all Jew and all Gentile believers, are (Galatians 3:26-29).

 

[Gregory Thompson]

What is our Inheritance?

We know that Christ has redeemed us and is sanctifying us and making us like unto Himself, however, what is our inheritance?

With scriptures, please.

After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” (Genesis 15:1)

God is our reward.

 

[Spiritual Jew]

Totally agree. However, it may depend on the way in which we inherit the universe. It may be a bit much for humans to declare themselves inheritors of the universe, or masters of all space!

From our limited perspective that we currently have, that may seem to be the case. But, remember this...

1 Corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him...

I think we'll have a more clear understanding of things at that point and it won't be so overwhelming to us at that point like it is when we try to imagine it now.

So, as I see it, we do inherit both heavens and earth. However, earth is really our dominion, or the place we are to subdue or extract produce from.

Yeah, I basically agree with that. Scripture says we will inherit the earth and I believe that will be forever. After the earth is renewed first, that is (2 Peter 3:10-13). But, it seems that heaven and earth will come together in some way rather than being separated like they are now. I'm talking even about the third heaven here where Jesus, the angels and the souls of the dead in Christ are now and that is currently far from us.

The heavens we inherit as a sort of umbrella over our earth, so that evil angels no longer wander through the heavens, or even in our atmosphere, threatening to assault us in some way.

This is how I think we inherit the heavens, as a safe environment for our planet, which is really our eternal home. Whether or not we will penetrate farther into the heavens, to inhabit other planets, I don't know? I just know we were given earth as our home.

Yeah, I basically agree with that. I'm not going to pretend I know exactly what it will be like when that happens. None of us do. Which is good because it would be disappointing if our finite minds could imagine it.

New Jerusalem, however, reaches all the way up past our atmosphere into space. So there may be an element of inhabiting parts of space, as well. Wonderful to contemplate these things!

I have a different understanding of New Jerusalem than that. I believe it is symbolic of the church because it is called "the bride, the Lamb's wife" (Revelation 21:9). But, we don't need to get into a big debate on that. I think the main thing is that we agree that we will inherit the new heavens and new earth while, at the same time, it seems that the earth (new/renewed earth) will be where we primarily dwell.

 

[Jamdoc]

From our limited perspective that we currently have, that may seem to be the case. But, remember this...

1 Corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him...

I think we'll have a more clear understanding of things at that point and it won't be so overwhelming to us at that point like it is when we try to imagine it now.


Yeah, I basically agree with that. Scripture says we will inherit the earth and I believe that will be forever. After the earth is renewed first, that is (2 Peter 3:10-13). But, it seems that heaven and earth will come together in some way rather than being separated like they are now. I'm talking even about the third heaven here where Jesus, the angels and the souls of the dead in Christ are now and that is currently far from us.


Yeah, I basically agree with that. I'm not going to pretend I know exactly what it will be like when that happens. None of us do. Which is good because it would be disappointing if our finite minds could imagine it.


I have a different understanding of New Jerusalem than that. I believe it is symbolic of the church because it is called "the bride, the Lamb's wife" (Revelation 21:9). But, we don't need to get into a big debate on that. I think the main thing is that we agree that we will inherit the new heavens and new earth while, at the same time, it seems that the earth (new/renewed earth) will be where we primarily dwell.

I don't think we'll be limited to a single planet.

heavens includes second heaven as well, the cosmological space. We inherit that too.

 

[Spiritual Jew]

I don't think we'll be limited to a single planet.

heavens includes second heaven as well, the cosmological space. We inherit that too.

Right. I agree with that. I didn't intend to imply otherwise. That something exciting to think about, also.

 

[Jamdoc]

Right. I agree with that. I didn't intend to imply otherwise. That something exciting to think about, also.

Some people have like, flat earther views and don't even believe an infinitely large physical universe exists outside of Earth's atmosphere. So sometimes they focus just on the Earth it self, with that cosmological view.

I believe the infnite vastness of the universe attests to God's glory more than just 1 planet.

 

[Marilyn C]

Read the text in Matthew 25:31-46 carefully. It's talking about people being gathered before Him and then judged. They are divided up into two groups that Jesus called the sheep and the goats. Clearly, only individuals will inherit eternal life or be cast into "everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels", not entire nations. The sheep are those who belong to Christ, which can be seen if you read John 10 where Jesus refers to His people as His sheep. You're not using scripture to interpret scripture here.


I'm saying our inheritance IS the new heavens and new earth, not IN the new heavens and new earth. Do you agree with that? Based on things you have said before, I don't think so. I'm also saying that is the inheritance of all believers from all time and I don't think you agree with that, either.

The Body of Christ was NOT known about when Jesus was on earth. The Lord only revealed that to the Apostle Paul when Jesus ascended to the Father. (Eph. 3: 2 - 7)

And when Jesus comes after the trib, the Body of Christ has already been in the third heaven with the Lord judging the world system and fallen angels. (1 Cor. 6: 2 & 3)

If all God wanted was one people, then He would have made them in the first century and not spent centuries with the nations and Israel. Which we see is still on going.

 

[Marilyn C]

We're not grafted into the nation of Israel, but we are grafted into spiritual Israel.

Romans 9:6 It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.

We are grafted into the Israel of which not all who are physically descended from the nation of Israel and physically descended from Abraham are in. We are grafted into the Israel which is not based on who or what someone has physically descended from, but instead is dependent on being one of God's children and one of Abraham's spiritual offspring, which all believers, including all Jew and all Gentile believers, are (Galatians 3:26-29).

Rom. 9: 6 & 7. God said it was through Isaac that Israel`s offspring would be reckoned.

Gal. 3: 25 - 27 We are not sons of Abraham, but sons of God through Christ Jesus. We are OF Abraham`s SEED, which is CHRIST.

 

[Spiritual Jew]

Some people have like, flat earther views and don't even believe an infinitely large physical universe exists outside of Earth's atmosphere. So sometimes they focus just on the Earth it self, with that cosmological view.

I can't take that view seriously at all. It's utter nonsense. Flat earth? Do they also believe in aliens and Big Foot?

I believe the infnite vastness of the universe attests to God's glory more than just 1 planet.

For sure.

 

[Spiritual Jew]

Rom. 9: 6 & 7. God said it was through Isaac that Israel`s offspring would be reckoned.

Exactly. But, do you understand what that means? Have you never read this...

Galatians 4:26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written: "Be glad, barren woman, you who never bore a child; shout for joy and cry aloud, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.” 28 Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.

Marilyn, do you believe that you, like Isaac, are a child of the promise?

Romans 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

Gal. 3: 25 - 27 We are not sons of Abraham, but sons of God through Christ Jesus. We are OF Abraham`s SEED, which is CHRIST.

That is absolutely false. We ARE the children of Abraham AND children of God through Christ Jesus. You need to read scripture more carefully without bringing doctrinal bias into it.

Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same ARE the children of Abraham.

Galatians 3:29 If you belong to Christ, then YOU ARE Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

What you said blatantly contradicts the above verses. How could you be familiar with Galatians 3:25-27, which you referenced and does not say anything about not being children of Abraham, but not Galatians 3:6-7 and Galatians 3:29 which do say that we are children of Abraham?

 

[Jamdoc]

I just wonder why there's such struggle over our relationship to Israel is. Like I find Paul's imagery of the olive tree pretty clear. Christ the root, Israel and the gentile Christians the branches. The branches are not the same, they don't replace each other, and yet they're part of the same tree, so they're also not wholly separate.

People seem to gravitate to a view where either God's done with Israel and the Church replaced it.. or that the Church and Israel are wholly separate and God deals with each differently.

like Romans 11 and Revelation 7 both kind of settle it for me, that we have a unified destiny and yet there is a distinction.
the 144k the remnant of the tribes of Israel, the uncountable multitude, the gentiles in Christ. Both redeemed (the redeemed remnant accept Jesus as Messiah though don't get me wrong I don't believe they have a separate plan of salvation)

 

[Marilyn C]

Exactly. But, do you understand what that means? Have you never read this...

Galatians 4:26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written: "Be glad, barren woman, you who never bore a child; shout for joy and cry aloud, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.” 28 Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.

Marilyn, do you believe that you, like Isaac, are a child of the promise?

Romans 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.


That is absolutely false. We ARE the children of Abraham AND children of God through Christ Jesus. You need to read scripture more carefully without bringing doctrinal bias into it.

Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same ARE the children of Abraham.

Galatians 3:29 If you belong to Christ, then YOU ARE Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

What you said blatantly contradicts the above verses. How could you be familiar with Galatians 3:25-27, which you referenced and does not say anything about not being children of Abraham, but not Galatians 3:6-7 and Galatians 3:29 which do say that we are children of Abraham?

Yes, children of the promise. the Promise of the Holy Spirit.

`...that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.` (Gal. 3: 14)

Abraham`s SEED was Christ. We are not born of Abraham`s physical seed but OF his Seed, Christ. That is the meaning of that phrase.

 

[Spiritual Jew]

The Body of Christ was NOT known about when Jesus was on earth. The Lord only revealed that to the Apostle Paul when Jesus ascended to the Father. (Eph. 3: 2 - 7)

Jesus knew about it, so this is not a valid argument for denying that the sheep are the body of Christ.

And when Jesus comes after the trib, the Body of Christ has already been in the third heaven with the Lord judging the world system and fallen angels. (1 Cor. 6: 2 & 3)

The judgment doesn't occur until Jesus comes. The souls of the dead in Christ are in the third heaven and are not judging anyone.

If all God wanted was one people, then He would have made them in the first century and not spent centuries with the nations and Israel. Which we see is still on going.

Scripture explicitly teaches that He has one people and it is those who have faith and belong to Christ. There is one body of God's people. Period. That is what scripture teaches.