Heirs of God; Co-Heirs with Christ

November 28th, 2024
by Dr. D. Lance Waldie

Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

The Holy Spirit “testifies” with the spirit of man—his intellect, that he is indeed a child of God. The present tense verb “testify” (Gr. summartureō) means “to confirm; agree with,” signifying the ongoing assurance of salvation provided by the Holy Spirit. This daily affirmation to believers is the gift of God. Like a child or spouse in need of daily affirmation that they are loved by those they love, so too does the Spirit daily confirm this to the believer’s spirit.

Now that Paul has revealed the true nature of knowing Christ, which entails being without condemnation (8:1), living in the Spirit (5), being indwelt by the Spirit (9-11), being led by the Spirit (14), adopted as sons of God (15), and being assured (16), he now unfolds the eternal benefits of these privileges. As a result of being God’s children Christians are now God’s “heirs” (Gr. klēronomos), a term that refers to one who has received some allotted portion (cf. Matt. 21:38). Spiritually speaking, it refers to a recipient of God’s eternal promises. In Matthew 25:34 Jesus tells His sheep (i.e., His faithful ones), “Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” How magnanimous! God’s future kingdom prepared by Him for them to inherit—and from the foundation of the world! So, God’s adoption of His children was not a postscript added to His sovereign plan but His preordained plan He conjured up before He ever created anything or anybody (cf. Eph. 1:4).

Now if we were able to count all believers from all ages who will inherit God’s promises, each heir would only receive a portion of all that God promised. But in eternity there are no such limits. Not a single adopted child of God will receive anything less than Jesus Christ Himself! All that Christ receives by divine right will be bestowed upon all the heirs of God’s grace who are co-heirs with Christ. The parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Matt. 20:1-16) illustrates this truth, for no matter how long the workers labored, they all received the same wage.

Verse 17 appears to add a caveat that Christians must suffer for Christ if they are true Christians. But the “if” in Greek speaks of actuality, not possibility. It is better translated “since.” The reference is to that aspect of suffering that is inseparable from faithfulness to Christ. The earthly evidence of the believer’s final glory comes through suffering simply for being a Christian. This comes in the form of ridicule, scorn, or unfair treatment by simple virtue of being Christian. Jesus warned of this, saying, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you… a slave is not greater than his master… if they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:18-21).

Now since suffering for Christ is certain, believers can be comforted knowing that they will also share in Christ’s glory: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5:10-12).

Food for Thought

What privileges we as believers have in Christ! While we strive for riches and moan about not having more money or greater earthly possessions, we are sitting on a gold mine of eternal inheritances that offer us riches in the here and now that far surpass what we strive after. Even our sufferings are meant to drive us to God for comfort and so assure us of our salvation.