Season 3 Podcast 29 Heirs of God and Joint-Heirs with Christ

Heirs of God and Joint-Heirs with Christ16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.  (Romans 8:16-17), What does it mean to be a child of God?   If we take it literally, we must be the offspring of God. The Savior himself taught us how to pray. We begin with “Our Father which art in heaven…” In that phrase we are taught who we pray to and where he is.  Earthly families are a microcosm of heavenly families. Let’s go back to the story of the creation of man stated in Genesis:“26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: Image and likeness are synonyms. There is overlap, making the terms interchangeable; therefore, for information we must examine the differences., Synonyms for image are resemblance, conception, appearance, shape, frame, cast, mold, copy, facsimile, correspondent, complement, materialization.Synonyms for likeness are representation, portrait, portrayal, sculpture, statue, clay model, replica, duplicate, reproduction, identical twin, living or very image, look-alike, clone, exact match, perfect likeness, spitting image, outward form, double, shape, figure, features, similitude.The differences suggest that when God said, “let us make man in our image” he is referring to a spiritual image. In other words, he is the Father of our spirits which are after the image of his spirit. “Let us make man” suggest two parents not one. It presents an argument for a heavenly mother. Paul’s statement then becomes literal, “We are the children of God.”“Let us make man after out likeness” is referring to a physical image. In other words, he made it possible for us to have physical bodies. “Our likeness” suggests that God also has a physical body.” And for us to be “in our image and likeness” we must have both a spiritual body and a physical body. Look again at the synonyms for likeness.  They suggest a corporeal image: outward form, spitting image, perfect likeness, clay model, sculpture, figure, similitude.If all the host of heaven were created, why wasn’t there a man to till the ground. The answer is simple.  We were spirits. It is now that the Lord finishes the story of creation.What does it mean to be heirs of God?To inherit means to acquire or to receive or to be bequeathed. It generally refers to possessions handed down from our fathers or mothers to their children. God is our Father; therefore, we are his heirs. What then does it mean to be a “joint heir with Christ.” Jesus Christ is the oldest son; therefore, by rights of ancient inheritance laws, all properties of the father go to him. Paul teaches, “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” (Hebrews 1: 2) By being “joint heirs with Christ” means that Christ is willing to give us an equal share. Paul said, “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Galatians 4:7) What is it that we inherit.  In Hebrews 1:14 he declares that we “shall be heirs of salvation.” Paul further stated, “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:7) Peter teaches that husband and wife shall be “heirs together of the grace of life.” James teaches that we shall be “heirs of the kingdom.”