HOPE OF ETERNAL INHERITANCE

“That you may know what is the HOPE of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His INHERITANCE in the saints” – Ephesians 1:18b

Believers have the HOPE of ETERNAL INHERITANCE: “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the HOPE of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His INHERITANCE in the saints” (Eph.1:18). Inheritance is the practice of passing on property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual, to heirs or those entitled to succeed. It is a bequest, birth right, heritage, legacy or patrimony. It is usual for children to enter into their inheritance when one or both parents die. But the Christian’s inheritance is the result not only of the Saviour’s death, but also of His resurrection. This is a predestined inheritance (v.11); and the Holy Spirit is the “guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (v.14).

Christ’s glorious “Inheritance in the saints” is unmatched by any earthly inheritance: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit” (1 Cor. 2:9-10a). This means that Christians have something unimaginably wonderful to look forward to. In measure, God has already revealed what He has prepared for His people in Christ. He has not left us in the dark to wonder what this inheritance is. Peter gave a passing glimpse of the astounding future awaiting Believers in Christ:“an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Pet. 1:4).

We have been born again to “a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead’ (1Pet.1:3). If there were no resurrection, His death would have been the greatest anti-climax in history. But gloriously, it was not possible for death to hold Him (Acts 2:24). As the risen, triumphant Saviour, Jesus bequeathed to His people the inheritance He secured by His sin-atoning death and His glorious triumph over sin, death, and hell in His resurrection. Because of Christ’s resurrection we are born anew; not bound to a false hope, but to a living hope! Despite present trials, we can rejoice in the inheritance we have been promised.

By virtue of union with Jesus Christ, we have an eternal inheritance: we’ll be united with Him forever. Unlike any earthly inheritance, this can “never perish, spoil or fade” because of God’s omnipotence and supremacy. Christ’s resurrection from the dead gives us absolute confidence that this hope will last eternally. The Christian’s hope – that things will get better; that this is not the end; that hearts can change; and that heaven is waiting for us – is not based on wishful thinking, but is an assured and confident expectation of what is to come. We have hope because God keeps His promises.

The apostles knew this. As they travelled with Jesus, they saw promises being made and kept, including the promises of His death and resurrection. They heard Jesus promise He would build His Church, and witnessed Him doing it all through the book of Acts. They knew that He – who is the same yesterday, today and forever – keeps His Word (Heb.13:8). We can trust Him to come through today, tomorrow, and always. God’s past provision is sure predictor of His future faithfulness.

Paul challenged those at Corinth who denied the resurrection: “And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God…And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have HOPE in CHRIST, we are of all men the most pitiable” (1Cor.15: 14-19). Praise God! The Resurrection is true! Our inheritance is real! In the darkness of despair, God’s message for the world is: There is Hope, and that Hope is the Person of Jesus Christ!