The Kingdom of God
First of all, the righteous in Christ will inherit the kingdom of God. "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (Mat 25:34)"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luk 12:32)
We will need a new, glorified body to enjoy the kingdom of God that we will inherit, since human flesh and blood will not inherit it. That's why we seek to attain to the resurrection of the dead (Phil 3:11). The apostle Paul said, “Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.” (1Co 15:49-53)
“Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which He promised to those who love Him?” (Jas 2:5)
The Promised Land
As the apostle John wrote about Caiaphas the high priest saying: “Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.” (Joh 11:51-52)
As the apostle Paul wrote, “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” (Eph 3:6, NIV)
"Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Yourself, and said to them, 'I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.'" (Exo 32:13)
“Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose. His soul will abide in prosperity, And his descendants will inherit the land.” (Psa 25:12-13)
“For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.” (Psa 37:9)
“But the humble will inherit the land And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.” (Psa 37:11)
“For those blessed by Him will inherit the land, But those cursed by Him will be cut off.” (Psa 37:22)
“Wait for the LORD and keep His way, And He will exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.” (Psa 37:34)
“For God will save Zion and build the cities of Judah, That they may dwell there and possess it. The descendants of His servants will inherit it, And those who love His name will dwell in it.” (Psa 69:35-36)
Thus says the LORD, "In a favorable time I have answered You, And in a day of salvation I have helped You; And I will keep You and give You for a covenant of the people, To restore the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages; (Isa 49:8)
"When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry all of them up, And a breath will take them away. But he who takes refuge in Me will inherit the land And will possess My holy mountain." (Isa 57:13)
"I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, And an heir of My mountains from Judah; Even My chosen ones shall inherit it, And My servants will dwell there. (Isa 65:9)
"However, there will be no poor among you, since the LORD will surely bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, if only you listen obediently to the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all this commandment which I am commanding you today. (Deu 15:4-5)
"So Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land on which your foot has trodden will be an inheritance to you and to your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God fully.' (Jos 14:9)
“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.” (Heb 11:8)
“The righteous will inherit the land And dwell in it forever.” (Psa 37:29)
Eternal Life
The Scriptures say the righteous will inherit eternal life, and that will be forever. “The LORD knows the days of the blameless, And their inheritance will be forever.” (Psa 37:18)
"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.” (Mat 19:29)
As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. "You know the commandments, 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'" (Mar 10:17-19)
A ruler questioned Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. "You know the commandments, 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.'" And he said, "All these things I have kept from my youth." When Jesus heard this, He said to him, "One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." (Luk 18:18-22)
And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?" And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And He said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live." (Luk 10:25-28)
“So that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Tit 3:7)
Salvation
The apostle Paul wrote about the angels, known as ministering spirits, sent to serve the heirs of salvation. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?” (Heb 1:14)
The Earth
While the references to the Land the righteous will inherit refer to our eternal dwelling place in the kingdom of God, it is also true that the righteous will inherit the earth.
Jesus said, "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth." (Mat 5:5)
Honor
"He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap To make them sit with nobles, And inherit a seat of honor; For the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, And He set the world on them. (1Sa 2:8)
“The wise will inherit honor, But fools display dishonor.” (Pro 3:35)
Good
“He who leads the upright astray in an evil way Will himself fall into his own pit, But the blameless will inherit good.” (Pro 28:10)
An Inheritance
"And I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 'But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.' (Act 26:15-18)
“For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” (Heb 9:15)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,” (1Pe 1:3-4)
“Also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,” (Eph 1:11)
“Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.” (Col 1:12)
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” (Col 3:23-24)
Blessing
The apostle Peter wrote, “To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.” (1Pe 3:8-9)
The Holy Spirit of Promise is a Pledge
“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Eph 1:13-14)
The Lord
“The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot.” (Psa 16:5)
Matthew Henry remarked about the Lord as our inheritance with these words:
“Choosing the Lord for its portion and happiness. ‘Most men take the world for their chief good, and place their felicity in the enjoyments of it; but this I say, The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup, the portion I make choice of, and will gladly take up with, how poor soever my condition is in this world. Let me have the love and favour of God, and be accepted of him; let me have the comfort of communion with God, and satisfaction in the communications of his graces and comforts; let me have an interest in his promises, and a title by promise to everlasting life and happiness in the future state; and I have enough, I need no more, I desire no more, to complete my felicity.’ Would we do well and wisely for ourselves, we must take God, in Christ, to be…the portion of our inheritance in the other world. Heaven is an inheritance. God himself is the inheritance of the saints there, whose everlasting bliss is to enjoy him. We must take that for our inheritance, our home, our rest, our lasting, everlasting, good, and look upon this world to be no more ours than the country through which our road lies when we are on a journey.”
A New Heaven and A New Earth
He who overcomes will inherit a new heaven and a new earth. The apostle John wrote, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.’ And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ And He said, ‘Write, for these words are faithful and true.’ Then He said to me, ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.’” (Rev 21:1-7)
The Promises of God
In Hebrews 6, the term “promises” refers to all that God promised Abraham.
“And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, ‘I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you.’ And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.” (Heb 6:11-15)
“For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.” (Gal 3:18)
Those in Christ Are Heirs with Him
“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 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.” (Rom 8:16-17). This says to me that whatever Christ inherits the righteous will inherit also.
Matthew Henry also saw it the same way. He wrote:
"Christ, as Mediator, is said to be the heir of all things (Heb 1:2), and true believers, by virtue of their union with him, shall inherit all things, Rev 21:7. Those that now partake of the Spirit of Christ, as his brethren, shall, as his brethren, partake of his glory (Joh 17:24), shall sit down with him upon his throne, Rev 3:21. Lord, what is man, that thou shouldst thus magnify him! Now this future glory is further spoken of as the reward of present sufferings and as the accomplishment of present hopes."
“And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.” (Gal 3:29)
The Inheritance of the Wicked and Foolish
By way of contrast, it's worth mentioning what the wicked and foolish will inherit.
"He who troubles his own house will inherit wind, And the foolish will be servant to the wisehearted." (Pro 11:29)
"The naive inherit foolishness, But the sensible are crowned with knowledge." (Pro 14:18)
“For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” (Eph 5:5)
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God." (1Co 6:9-10)
"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Gal 5:19-21)
"See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears." (Heb 12:15-17)
"But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (Rev 21:8)
The Lord’s Inheritance
The Scriptures say that the saints are the Lord’s inheritance.
'Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession. (Psa 2:8)
'I will abandon the remnant of My inheritance and deliver them into the hand of their enemies, and they will become as plunder and spoil to all their enemies; (2Ki 21:14)
"Whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, 'Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.'" (Isa 19:25)
"I brought you into the fruitful land To eat its fruit and its good things. But you came and defiled My land, And My inheritance you made an abomination. (Jer 2:7)
"I have forsaken My house, I have abandoned My inheritance; I have given the beloved of My soul Into the hand of her enemies. (Jer 12:7)
"My inheritance has become to Me Like a lion in the forest; She has roared against Me; Therefore I have come to hate her. (Jer 12:8)
"Is My inheritance like a speckled bird of prey to Me? Are the birds of prey against her on every side? Go, gather all the beasts of the field, Bring them to devour!
(Jer 12:9)
"I will first doubly repay their iniquity and their sin, because they have polluted My land; they have filled My inheritance with the carcasses of their detestable idols and with their abominations." (Jer 16:18)
I will gather all the nations And bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there On behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; And they have divided up My land. (Joe 3:2)
"Terror and dread fall upon them; By the greatness of Your arm they are motionless as stone; Until Your people pass over, O LORD, Until the people pass over whom You have purchased. "You will bring them and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, The place, O LORD, which You have made for Your dwelling, The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established. "The LORD shall reign forever and ever." (Exo 15:16-18)
"I prayed to the LORD and said, 'O Lord GOD, do not destroy Your people, even Your inheritance, whom You have redeemed through Your greatness, whom You have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. (Deu 9:26)
'Yet they are Your people, even Your inheritance, whom You have brought out by Your great power and Your outstretched arm.' (Deu 9:29)
(for they are Your people and Your inheritance which You have brought forth from Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace), (1Ki 8:51)
"For You have separated them from all the peoples of the earth as Your inheritance, as You spoke through Moses Your servant, when You brought our fathers forth from Egypt, O Lord GOD." (1Ki 8:53)
"Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; Be their shepherd also, and carry them forever." (Psa 28:9)
"You shed abroad a plentiful rain, O God; You confirmed Your inheritance when it was parched." (Psa 68:9)
"Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, Which You have redeemed to be the tribe of Your inheritance; And this Mount Zion, where You have dwelt." (Psa 74:2)
“O God, the nations have invaded Your inheritance; They have defiled Your holy temple; They have laid Jerusalem in ruins.” (Psa 79:1)
"That I may see the prosperity of Your chosen ones, That I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, That I may glory with Your inheritance." (Psa 106:5)
Let the priests, the LORD'S ministers, Weep between the porch and the altar, And let them say, "Spare Your people, O LORD, And do not make Your inheritance a reproach, A byword among the nations. Why should they among the peoples say, 'Where is their God?'" (Joel 2:17).
"For the LORD'S portion is His people; Jacob is the allotment of His inheritance.” (Deu 32:9)
"Then Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it on his head, kissed him and said, 'Has not the LORD anointed you a ruler over His inheritance?'" (1Sa 10:1)
"He also delivered His people to the sword, And was filled with wrath at His inheritance." (Psa 78:62)
"From the care of the ewes with suckling lambs He brought him To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance." (Psa 78:71)
"For the LORD will not abandon His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance." (Psa 94:14)
"Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against His people And He abhorred His inheritance." (Psa 106:40)
"The portion of Jacob is not like these; For the Maker of all is He, And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance; The LORD of hosts is His name." (Jer 10:16)
"The portion of Jacob is not like these; For the Maker of all is He, And of the tribe of His inheritance; The LORD of hosts is His name." (Jer 51:19)
"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints," (Eph 1:18)
Putting it All Together
All who are in Christ are fellow heirs with Him, and we are His inheritance. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble; that there be no immoral or godless person among you. For such people do not inherit the kingdom of God. Rather let’s imitate those who through faith and patience inherit all that God has promised the righteous, including salvation, the earth, honor, good, eternal life, the kingdom of God, also known as the kingdom of heaven, the Holy Spirit, and even the Lord Himself. What an incomparable inheritance!
Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB, unless otherwise noted. Other Scriptures taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, where noted. The "All Hail King Jesus" painting © 2012 is by Danny Hahlbohm, all rights reserved by the artist. The "View Over Crystal Lake" and "River of Delights" paintings are by my seventeen-year old daughter, C.V. Lacroix. You can enjoy more of her lovely artwork at A Brush with Life.
Author's note: If you enjoyed this post, please also read The Kingdom of God as Revealed to James Agboola, Angelic Escape from Terrorist Assassins, Gabriel Doufle Kokou Testimony of Heaven and Hell, Linda Ngaujah Revelation of Heaven and Hell, Michael Thomas Sambo's Revelation of Heaven and Hell, The Link Between Two Realms, and The Secret Kingdom. You may access the Main Directory for The Kingdom of God is Like This, and you may also my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master."
Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus. Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15). He preached that we must repent and believe.
Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
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Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International. He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission.
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