The concept of inheritance in the Bible is deeply rooted in the promises of God to His people. It signifies not only the material blessings bestowed upon the Israelites but also the spiritual blessings promised to the saints through Jesus Christ. The inheritance of the saints is a central theme in Scripture, reflecting God's covenantal faithfulness and the eternal hope of believers.

Old Testament Foundations

The idea of inheritance begins with God's promises to Abraham. In Genesis 12:7 , God declares, "To your offspring I will give this land." This promise of land was a tangible inheritance for the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, symbolizing God's covenant with His chosen people, Israel. The land of Canaan became the physical inheritance for the Israelites, as seen in Joshua 1:6 : "Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people the inheritance of the land that I swore to their fathers I would give them."

The inheritance was not merely a possession but a sign of God's enduring promise and presence among His people. It was a reminder of their identity as God's chosen nation and their responsibility to live according to His statutes.

New Testament Fulfillment

In the New Testament, the concept of inheritance takes on a spiritual dimension through the work of Jesus Christ. The inheritance of the saints is no longer confined to a physical land but is expanded to include eternal life and the kingdom of God. Ephesians 1:11 states, "In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will."

This inheritance is described as imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for believers (1 Peter 1:4). It is a promise of eternal life and fellowship with God, secured through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:12 encourages believers to "give thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light."

The Nature of the Inheritance

The inheritance of the saints is characterized by several key aspects:

1. Eternal Life: The most significant aspect of the inheritance is eternal life with God. John 3:16 affirms, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

2. The Kingdom of God: Believers are promised a share in God's kingdom. Matthew 25:34 records Jesus saying, "Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

3. Spiritual Riches: The inheritance includes the riches of God's grace and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13-14 speaks of the Holy Spirit as "the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession."

4. Glory with Christ: Romans 8:17 declares that believers are "heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ," sharing in His sufferings and glory.

Living in Light of the Inheritance

The promise of inheritance calls believers to live in a manner worthy of their calling. It is both a present reality and a future hope, motivating Christians to pursue holiness and faithfulness. Hebrews 9:15 emphasizes that Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, "so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance."

The inheritance of the saints is a testament to God's unchanging promises and His desire to dwell with His people. It is a source of hope and encouragement, urging believers to remain steadfast in their faith as they await the fulfillment of God's promises.Romans 4:13
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Galatians 3:18
For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Kingdom Given to the Saints at the Resurrection of the Just.
... While he dwelt in that land, God "gave him none inheritance in it ... also true of all
those "who died in faith, not having received the promises, but having ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the kingdom given to the.htm

In that Flesh in which the Saints have Suffered So Many ...
... all creation waits for this, and God promises it to ... they are both ignorant of God's
dispensations, and of ... to receive the promise of the inheritance which God ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxxii in that flesh in.htm

Wisdom and Revelation.
... who promises; hope with the thing that the person promises. ... are thus reminded that
the calling of God covers past ... riches of the glory of His inheritance in the ...
/.../thomas/the prayers of st paul/vii wisdom and revelation.htm

God Has Everything to do with Prayer
... to Him the heathen for His inheritance relies on ... Prayer gives efficiency and utility
to the promises. The mighty ongoing of God's purposes rests on prayer. ...
/.../bounds/the reality of prayer/iv god has everything to.htm

"Nunc Dimittis"
... fitness of the venerable man was all the handiwork of God, and so, also, was his
anxiety to obtain the inheritance for which ... The promises of God, which are ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/nunc dimittis.htm

He Fortifies his Opinions with Regard to the Temporal and Earthly ...
... whole earth, and feed thee with the inheritance of Jacob ... the heaven, is given to
the saints of the ... in the kingdom of the righteous, which God promises that He ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxxiv he fortifies his opinions.htm

Unwon but Claimed
... God's promises are all conditional, and if we do not work, or if we work ... faith, we
shall not win our allotted part in the 'inheritance of the saints in light ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/unwon but claimed.htm

Satan's Devices
... because you are not yet "meet for the inheritance of the ... in having a fresh proof
of the faithfulness of God in fulfilling all his promises; and stir ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 42 satans devices.htm

Heavenly Contemplation Exemplified, and the Whole Work Concluded.
... shall no more need these written precepts and promises, nor read ... as to entice my
desires from my God, or make ... the dust, let my soul have the inheritance of the ...
/.../the saints everlasting rest/chapter xvi heavenly contemplation exemplified.htm

They Shall be Called the Children of God
... He neither believes the promises nor dreads the threatenings. ... as are fellow-heirs
with him of the same inheritance. ... of God who hate those that are born of God. ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/19 they shall be called.htm

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