INHERITANCE
1. One of the things that sometimes interests people is
the word inheritance.
2. There are children who look forward to inheriting
certain things from their parents.
3. Some receive an inheritance from a friend or a
relative.
4. When inheritances are distributed, some are passed
over (excluded from receiving anything).
5. The Bible has some things to say about the word inheritance.
6. One of the passages that has
some bearing on this subject is Mt. 6.
7. Jesus said that there are some things that we need
to know about earthly treasures.
8. He taught that an inheritance based upon the things
of this earth is very limited.
9. This was made clear with the scripture reading.
10. Garments can be attacked by creatures such as moths.
11. Someone may leave us a house, but the house might be
infested with termites.
12. Insects or rodents may lessen the value of an
inheritance.
13. The things that people inherit can “rust.”
14. The word translated rust described anything
that can adversely affect an object.
15. The term is broad enough to describe the damage that
comes from age or the weather.
16. Mt.
17. Some receive an inheritance that is eventually
stolen or lost.
18. A
lot of things can happen to the inheritances that people receive.
THIS MORNING WE WANT TO
LOOK AT THE INHERITANCE THAT GOD HAS FOR HIS PEOPLE.
A. The first passage that will be read is Mt. 6:20.
B. Jesus spoke of some of the problems associated with
earthly wealth and treasure.
C. He added that the spiritual inheritance God has for
His people is different from treasures on earth.
D. What God has for His people cannot be defiled,
stolen, or decline in value.
E. There are not many forms of an inheritance that come
with a 100% guarantee.
F. This one does – Mt. 6:20 – READ.
2. Jesus affirmed that God Himself is protecting the
inheritance that is reserved for His people.
3. He further affirmed that heaven will not allow
anything happen to this inheritance.
4. This fact is stressed by another point in Matthew.
5. In Mt. 25:34 Jesus again spoke of an inheritance.
A. He said that the inheritance is a kingdom.
B. I have known some people who got excited about
inheriting a car.
C. A house at the lake made others sit up and smile.
D. Stocks and cash has
gladdened the hearts of others.
E. Here is what the Christian gets to inherit – Mt.
25:34 – READ.
6. The inheritance for the child of God is called a kingdom.
7. This has been prepared “since the foundation of the
world.”
8. Since creation God has been watching over this
kingdom.
9. The inheritance has been guarded and protected for
thousands of years.
10. God is looking forward to the time when He can say
to His people, “Here. It is yours. Take it.”
11. The word kingdom suggests a vast inheritance.
12. God could have used words like town, city,
community, or state.
13. He used the word kingdom.
14. Sometimes people can receive a great inheritance but
they are incapable of using it.
A. If a person who cannot drive receives a new car for
an inheritance, the vehicle is of little use.
B. If a blind man were to receive an airplane for an
inheritance, this would not be a practical gift.
C. Sometimes age and health have some bearing on
whether or not people can use their inheritance.
D. This causes us to ask about the inheritance for the
Christian.
15. Will the inheritance that God has for His people be practical?
16. Will there be anything that interferes with it?
17. At least two passages have something to say about
this.
18. The first is found in Phil. 3. The second is in Rev. 21.
19. At the end of Phil. 3, Paul spoke of our present
situation.
20. He said that we have a “body of humiliation.”
21. However, a time is coming when this will change.
22. Phil.
A. When it comes to our inheritance in heaven, there
will be no limitations.
B. Whatever is required for us to make full use of our
inheritance, we will have that.
C. This fact is supported by a
another verse – Rev. 21:4 – READ.
D. When people cannot fully enjoy their inheritance in
life, they are sad.
23. People can see the potential but they know that they
cannot make full use of what they have received.
24. God says that we will not have these kinds of
problems in heaven.
25. Nothing will interfere with our ability to enjoy the
kingdom and the inheritance.
26. One of the reasons for this is that we will be out
of Satan’s reach.
A. People in life can try to take or destroy what we
inherit.
B. Satan likes to destroy and hurt people.
C. When the end of time comes, and the saved are
separated from the lost,
D. Satan will lose all access to heaven.
E. There will be no chance for him to interfere with
the inheritance possessed by Christians.
27. In addition to being free from Satan, those who are
saved will be free from other things.
28. There is a beautiful passage towards the end of Rev.
7.
29. In fact, this consists of the final two verses in
Rev. 7.
30. I want to read Rev. 7:16-17 – READ.
A. God’s people have an inheritance.
B. This inheritance will occupy their full time
attention.
C. Sometimes people receive an inheritance but they
cannot fully enjoy it because of other things.
D. This inheritance is one that people will always be
able to enjoy.
E. Nothing will call them away from it or distract them
from enjoying it.
31. These two verses may cause some to wonder about the
inheritance promised by God.
32. If we are consistently exposed to something, we
sometimes lose interest in it.
33. The longer something is enjoyed, the less interested
people sometimes become.
34. Will this be true in heaven?
35. Another passage in Revelation helps us answer this
question.
36. This passage is Rev. 2:7.
A. In this part of the letter John wrote to the church
at
B. He offered both a warning and a promise.
C. Rev. 2:7 – READ.
D. The word paradise is an important word.
37. This single term indicates perfection and complete
harmony.
38. This word would seem to suggest an environment that
is completely balanced.
39. People who are in paradise do not want to leave
where they are or have a change in their routine.
40. Paradise is perfection.
41. Here the text says “paradise of God.”
A. This is beyond our ability to grasp.
B. This is one more description of the inheritance that
God has for His people.
C. The perfection is so beyond our ability to grasp
that John said it is suitable for God.
42. GOD HAS AN INHERITANCE FOR HIS PEOPLE THAT IS BEYOND DESCRIPTION. WHEN WE READ THE NEW TESTAMENT WE FIND THAT HE WANTS PEOPLE TO RECEIVE IT.
A. Sometimes people say that their inheritance is not
going to go to a certain family member.
B. In some situations people are cut out of a will.
C. Some spend everything that they have before they
die.
D. There are cases where an inheritance is left to just
one person.
E. Deserving people are sometimes neglected.
F. God says that all people are invited to share in His
inheritance.
G.
All are invited, but not all will receive the inheritance God has prepared.
43. I have three more passages to present.
44. These come from Eph. 1; Acts 26; and Acts 20.
A. I am going to start with Eph. 1:11.
B. Here Paul spoke about the inheritance and he showed
how will receive it.
C. Here is what he said in verse 11of Eph. 1 – READ.
D. The KJV uses the word “inheritance.” The ASV says “heritage.”
E. The difference in translations reflects two
different points.
F. On the one hand it is as if we are God’s
inheritance.
G. God has selected something for Himself, and this is
the people in the church.
H. The people who are “in” Christ (11a) are going to be
presented as a gift to God.
I. These same people will receive the inheritance.
J. The inheritance is for the saved and only for the
saved.
45. This thought is developed a little more in Acts
20:32.
46. Here Paul again spoke to some people from Ephesus.
47. Paul described the Bible. He spoke of God’s word as “the word of His
grace.”
48. Here is what he said – Acts 20:32 – READ.
49. God’s word gives us the inheritance.
A. How does it do that?
B. Is God going to see who owned a Bible on the Day of
Judgment?
C. Will the inheritance be based upon those who read
the Bible?
D. The right answer is found in the word obedience.
E. Those who are obedient are “in” the Lord, Eph. 1:11.
F. These people are those who have accessed the grace
of God by obeying His word.
G. Because these people have done what the New
Testament says, they will be saved.
H. The people who are in Christ are further
described in Acts 26:18.
I. Here is what this reference says – READ Acts 26:18.
50. Before entering into Christ people are in the
“darkness.”
51. They are under Satan’s power and their only
inheritance is the “wages of sin.”
52. People can have their eyes “opened.”
53. People can exchange the wages of death for eternal
life in Christ.
54. How is this done?
55. It is done through the word of grace, Acts 20:32.
56. It is done by entering “into Christ,” Eph. 1:11.
57. The Bible tells us that entering into Christ occurs
through baptism.
58. In Gal. 3:27 Paul said, QUOTE.
59. Baptism opens the door to the inheritance.
60. Faithful Christian living keeps us on the right
road.
61. A time is coming when each one here will receive an
inheritance.
62. It will be the inheritance of Satan and endless
suffering, or it will be eternity with Jesus.
63. Which inheritance do we want?