Joint heirs with Christ Week 3, 2011

“We are heirs of the Father, we are joint heirs with the son; we are children of the kingdom… why are you looking at me like that?” I just wondered if you really know what you are singing. “Surely you have nothing against this song. All of it is scriptural; look let me show you: So that you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, also an heir of God through Christ Gal 4:7(MKJV).” Save yourself the trouble I have been reading it myself. I just wonder if you really realize what you are claiming. “Of course I do! Everyone who has trusted Jesus to save him from sin has been born of God and automatically is a member of God’s house hold. We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ Jesus.”
I praise God you have finally accepted suffering with Jesus. “Suffering? Who said anything about suffering? I am claiming my birth rights in Christ.” Heir of God may tell you that being a joint heir with Christ is conditional. “Bro, take it easy o. you are on the verge of error.” Am I? Read that Rom 8:17(KJV) passage for me. 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. Please note the “If” there. If you do not suffer today with Him, you cannot be a joint heir. “I said you are at the verge of error. Gal 4:7 places no such condition and assures me I am an heir.” I never disputed you are God’s heir; in Christ Jesus we all are. That Galatian passage says nothing about being joint heirs. To be a joint heir you must suffer with Him. “Can this be true?” Where else does scripture call us joint heirs? Check.
“I see no other place with that phrase. You can’t teach this. Did you not say you don’t use solitary incidents to build doctrines?” Good chap! No other place uses that phrase but 2Ti 2:12(KJV) says If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us. I want you to notice the “if” again. To reign with Him we must first suffer. Consider Then I saw the souls of those whose heads had been cut off because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God…They lived and ruled with Christ for 1,000 years Rev 20:4(GW). “No way! My head doesn’t have to be cut off first o.” Yes. But those that who suffer with him reign with Him! What of James and John? Can we open to…? “It’s okay. I’ve heard enough; the point is made.” So continue singing the song; and get ready to suffer with Him.
Our suffering is light and temporary and is producing for us an eternal glory that is greater than anything we can imagine 2Co 4:17(GW).