Ever caught yourself thinking you can “earn” something from God? We understand that salvation is unearned. Jesus paid it all. The Gospel is the declaration of “Good News,” and that news is that our salvation is already completed by Christ Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and ascension to the Right Hand of the Father.
Yet still, in the human heart resides a need to “earn” our way with God.
We wonder why God doesn’t heal us, or bless us, or give us what we ask for when we have been so obedient, or so good, or so loyal. There is something deep inside us that makes us think we need to gain God’s favor through our work.
We forget one very important thing … heirs don’t earn, they inherit. And as God’s children, we are heirs.
“The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ.” [Romans 8:16 HCSB]
When my aunt and uncle died in the early 1990’s, I inherited a part of their estate. I inherited, not because I worked for it, but because of my relationship with my aunt and uncle.
We are heirs, God’s heirs, coheirs with Christ! We have not earned anything! We are heirs because of our relationship with God the Father through our Lord Christ Jesus.
And what an inheritance it is!