Heirs of God

Romans 14:9

For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

The unveiling of the Mystery of God allows us to see creation from His perspective. It is when we see the awesome plan of God for mankind that our hearts are moved with appreciation for our Father. When we consider all God has done to have a family to call His own, it simply brings our hearts to rejoicing. He is a wise God who can restore all things unto Himself by the WORD of His power.

Genesis 2:16-17

16. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

This is quite a familiar scripture to us. We know it was the commandment of God given to Adam that he should not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Well, as we all know, he did eat; and all of mankind was sold unto death. Let us note however, that God allowed for every other tree to be eaten from; this therefore includes the Tree of Life. Let us not forget that Adam was of the earth, earthy. His body was susceptible to his environment and could therefore die. The fruit and the leaves of the Tree of Life were used to sustain their natural bodies.

Genesis 3:22-23

22. And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

23. Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

I would like to remind you that God was not surprised at Adam’s actions. He had already seen what would happen. We must then read the above in light of the foreknowledge of the Father. Adam was now corrupt; the seed of Satan had entered his flesh and he was now spiritually dead. It was the preference of the Father that he die rather than live. In order to be redeemed, Adam had to die.

Romans 6:7

For he that is dead is freed from sin.

The word of God then lets us know that sin multiplied upon the face of the earth and death through sin was passed upon all men. However, in the fullness of time, God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for the sins of the world and to redeem man unto Himself.

Before we go deeper, God dealt with men under different dispensations. Adam was expected to offer up sacrifices and he taught his children to do the same. There were provisions made for mankind to be saved, however despite the sacrifices they were still swallowed by death.

However, consider the Old Patriarchs. Many were friends of God. They are a great cloud of witnesses who testify unto us the faithfulness of our God. But they were all born in sin. The scripture says Jeremiah was sanctified (set apart) to be a prophet in his mother’s womb, yet by the same womb he was born in sin.

Revelation 17:8

The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

The Book of Life was written from before the foundation of the world. In the same included the names of many of the patriarchs, however, they were yet born in bodies of sin. What is my point here?

Let us reconsider the following scripture:

Psalm 139:14-16

14. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

15. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

The substance Jesus speaks of here are those who are written in the Book of Life. These are they which were curiously wrought in Christ in the lower parts of the earth. Their lives were manifested at different points throughout time, yet all those who comprised the book were found and formed at one point. Jeremiah died not receiving the promise, and was never saved on the earth but his name was still written. It was not until many years later that the Lord came and rescued him from the grave. The Body of Christ must be discerned through the eyes of the Spirit. It is only then that we will see the glory that it is to be called a Son of God.

Hebrews 2:10-11

10. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

11. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Jesus was made perfect in the lower parts of the earth. The souls of righteous men who were called to be Sons of God were made one with Christ Jesus. Those who waited for the Messiah in the lower parts of the earth could not be made perfect without us (Heb. 11:39). They had to be joined to us by Christ. A Son of God is a new creature. He is a spiritual being who lives in an earthen vessel. Consider the vision Paul had of the predestined children of God.

Galatians 4:1-7

1. Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

2. But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

3. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

6. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

7. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

The called of God were made partakers of flesh and blood. They were appointed to live in flesh under the bondage of sin, even though they were the heirs of God. There are many today who are predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ, but are simply not yet saved. They are under the tutoring and governing of the devil, waiting for the time appointed that they might be revealed as an elect.

Hebrews 2:14

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Sin had separated us from each other and from God. Many were heirs before the coming of our Lord but yet separated by sin. It is the spilling of the blood of Christ that was able to end the transgression of sin. His death paid the penalty of sin and allowed the body to be joined together in one of the lower parts of the earth. Jesus has unified all those who were before Him and after Him in one that He might be Lord of the dead and the living. It is the blood of the Lamb that has washed clean the garments of the elect and unified them by the Spirit.

Zechariah 3:1-4

1. And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.

2. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

3. Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.

4. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.

Our iniquity is blotted out. God has clothed us with the raiment of the Spirit, we are no longer filthy by the flesh. We are they which have been plucked out of the fire. We have been purged from iniquity by the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is by Him that we can be made manifest in the glory of the children of God at the appointed time. Brethren, now are we the Sons of God.