Heirs and Joint-Heirs

I) INTRODUCTION

1. Rm 8:17 - 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.
2. Adoption defined - The placing of a son
3. Adoption logically follows regeneration.
4. 1. Ga 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

II) AND IF CHILDREN

1. Two Types of Children
2. 1. The Jewish Nation represent naturally born children
   2. 1. The example of Abrahamic Descendant's
   3. Those born of faith represent spiritually born children
   4. 1. The example of Abraham's spiritually born followers
      2. 1. Gal 3:6-9 - 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.
            8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
            9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham

III) THEN...

1. Heirs of God (There is an intimacy toward the Father)
2. 1. Carries the idea of Sonship, not just a child; but a son
   2. Not achieved through natural strength/lawful works
   3. Achieved solely on the Father's rich and merciful graces
   4. 1. Eph 1:5 - Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.
      2. Bestows an inheritance upon them
3. Joint Heirs with Christ (There is an inheritance with the Son)
4. 1. As we have already seen - We must be "in Christ" to be heirs of God! This makes us joint-heirs with Christ!
   2. Christ is the Firstborn - the Preeminent One.
   3. Christ will call us brethren - Heb 2:11 - For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

IV) IF SO BE

1. That we may suffer with him
   1. By way of the indwelling Holy Spirit
   2. 1. Christ suffers when we suffer, he is touched by our infirmities.
      2. He reckons our afflictions - His (the whole body suffers)
      3. He encourages us, during the time of our suffering
      4. 1. Jesus suffered on the cross, alone!
2. That we may be also glorified together
3. Illustration:

After the Chicago fire I met a man who said, "Moody, I hear you lost everything in the Chicago fire." "Well," I said, "you understood it wrong; I didn't." He said, "how much have you left?" "I can't tell you; I have got a good deal more left than I lost." "You can't tell me how much you have?" "No," "I didn't know that you were ever that rich. What do you mean?" "I mean just what I say. I got my old bible out of the fire; that is about the only thing. One promise came to me that illuminated the whole city a great deal more than the fire did. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God and he shall be my son. You ask me how much I am worth. I don't know. You may go and find out how much the Vanderbilt's are worth, and the Astor's, and Rothschild's, but you can't find out how much a child of God is worth. Why? Because he is a joint heir with Jesus Christ. Why are you going around with your head down, talking about your poverty? The weakest, poorest child of God is richer than a Vanderbilt, because he has eternal riches. The stuff that burned up in Chicago was like the dust in the balance.
(D.L. Moody)

CONC.:

1. Are you a Son or Daughter of God - Adoption follows regeneration
2. Have you placed Abrahamic faith "in Christ" - He believed and it was accounted unto him as righteousness.
3. Are you prepared to spend eternity with God as a co-heir with Christ
4. 1. If not - won't you become a son/daughter this morning, oh, the riches here and in eternity are incomprehensible. (1 Peter 1:4).