“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” -Romans 8:16–17
That the Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit, means that internally, the Spirit of God confirms to our spirit, that we believers are in fact the children of God. This new life in Christ means a new relationship with the Father. We are adopted children which means we are also entitled to the inheritance of God. None of this is accomplished by our own merits but by the merits of Jesus Christ, our brother, with whom we share in this inheritance. All that was promised to Jesus we will share in.
Recall, this inheritance was first promised to Abraham—and to his offspring—to all who believed.
“After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness. And he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”” -Genesis 15:1–7
Paul further explains in his letter to the Galatians that those who are in Christ are Abraham’s seed: “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Galatians 3:29).
This is because, “…the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.” -Galatians 3:16–18
Paul capitalizes on the singularity of the word to prove that the true Israel was the only begotten of God, Jesus, who came through the Israelites, but not all Israel are Israel. Only Christ and believers in the Christ are the Israel to whom the promises were made.
How then do we know we are fellow heirs with Christ? If we suffer with him so that we may be glorified with him. That is, if we have died with Christ and have been buried. And in a real sense, those who have truly died with Christ, will, should it be necessary, actually and really die for Christ.
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