probably a little less than a year ago. And I began to study for it in preparation for speaking here this past March, when Nancy and Jim went to Hawaii for their missionary trip. But I was soon led to present another subject instead to preface this message, almost as a needful introduction to it. So I last spoke to you under the title of The Adoption of the Saints.

Adoption being a theme introduced in Genesis, which runs throughout scripture, which is also mentioned several times in the New Testament. Well, in order to better connect these two messages and kind of refresh our minds and memories, I'd like to make a few comments on and revisit the six main points concerning our adoption unto salvation from that message.

Now, my first point was adoption is a binding contract. or a covenant, transacted according to law. The adoptive child, point number two, the adoptive child has no active role in effecting or bringing to pass the adoption, which is instigated solely by the adoptive parent. He's simply the recipient of the act of another. Third point, the adoptive parent must not only be willing, but personally fit before the law to be the child's parent and able to take care of all the responsibilities and supply all the needs for the child as he is. Point four, adoption is conceived in love. The parent's love for the child motivates him to meet all the child's or all the law's demands in order to claim the child as his own. And the fifth point, adoption brings with it a change of name for the child. So I want to elaborate a little bit on those first five points, how they relate to our salvation before introducing the sixth point, which is tonight's subject.

Now, we know that the chief attribute of our God is his immaculate holiness. No other attribute of his can be displayed apart from that holiness, and therefore he can't deviate from absolute adherence to his established law and justice. Nevertheless, according to scripture, he chose a people out of Adam's fallen, sinful race to adopt as his own, even before the world was made. Well, what motivated him to do this? Well, it's because for reasons found only in himself, he set his love upon them.

Turn with me to 1 John, 1 John 3. 1 John 3 and 1. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. Well, be not discouraged here, ladies. This passage is not gender-specific, but this word sons appears to derive from ancient language roots, and it actually means, or at least in those ancient tongues, it means to beget. So this could be read the begotten or the offspring, the generation, the born again, or simply the children of God. And his love toward these children, the adopted, must be fully expressed.

But a holy God cannot have fellowship with, let alone adopt, a sinner as his child. Nor can he compromise his law in order to make that adoption. Sin demands punishment. According to law, that sentence being death to the lawbreaker and those to be adopted have no ability to make restitution for themselves under the law.

How then shall the two be joined together in a legal covenant in a relationship as parent and child? Only one way. One who is willing, fit, and able must intercede and pay the child's debts that the adoption might be consummated according to law and to the satisfaction of the father.

Thus, the father sent his son, Christ Jesus our Lord, who willingly came to do his will and took on himself our flesh, proved himself fit before the law by his life. So he was willing, he was fit, because he was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. these points that Alan made so well in his message Sunday. Christ was not a sinner, but he was made sin for us by imputation. He was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin. He is wholly harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners. He knew no sin.

So, he had no sin of his own, no sin debt of his own to pay for, therefore he might take upon his shoulders the debt that we owed and make payment, so that in the place of these to be adopted, he might therefore assume all of their debt, all the debt of Adam's race that the father chose to adopt, in love, Ephesians says, and make full and complete payment of that debt in their place, that none of the children should be found owing a single farthing, according to the law. And this he did by the sacrifice of himself, both his body and his soul, on Calvary's cross, suffering their condemnation, which they justly deserved, unto death, receiving in himself the full penalty that the law required of them, dispensed and meted out without mercy by God the Father. We know that he was not only willing and fit to pay that debt, but he was also able because he was resurrected from the dead, ascended up to glory, and is now seated at the father's right hand. Now that sentence has been executed and justice has no more claims against the children, adoption may proceed lawfully without hindrance.

Now, typically, The newly adopted child assumes the name of his adoptive parent. Pursuant to that, the father has given his adopted race his own name, the Lord Our Righteousness, according to Jeremiah. Which brings me to my sixth point, which becomes the subject and focus of tonight. The newly adopted child now has rights and privileges of the natural born child, namely, the legal right to receive and to claim an inheritance from the parent. So I've entitled this message, The Inheritance of the Saints. Now, an inheritance is a blessing or possession coming as a gift, which does not come to one as a payment or a compensation.

And it's generally understood, especially in scripture, to be imparted to the child or the benefactor. In other words, it's by birthright. You might note that in Abram's vision found in Genesis 15, his complaint to God was that he had no child and that his servant was to be his heir apparent at the time of his death. Well, that of course wasn't the Lord's will for Abram because they wouldn't have pictured the Lord's promised son in scripture.

The heir of the inheritance must also be legally able to receive and claim his inheritance in order for it to pass into and remain in his possession. The Lord gave very specific instructions to Israel in several passages of the Old Testament as to how inheritance should be administered and distributed by law.

The inheritance there, for the most part, was a genealogical transaction, typically passed through the males of the family, as the women were usually supported by their husbands. but particular emphasis was placed on the firstborn son of the family. He was given the position of honor, authority, and rule over the household upon the father's death, including the priesthood of the house as leader in the right worship of God, and it was incumbent upon him to uphold and protect the name and the reputation of the family. As the firstborn, he also received a double portion of the inheritance above his brothers. Now the overriding concept and type of Christ promoted in that firstborn is not simply that he happened to be first in the queue, first in line, but that he is the one who is superior to and surpasses all of his brothers, and is therefore worthy to receive honor, respect, and adulation.

Turn with me to the book of Psalms, Psalm 89. Psalm 89, we'll read verses 20 through 29. This is concerning our Lord. And the writer says, I have found David my servant. With my holy oil have I anointed him, with whom my hand shall be established. My arm also shall strengthen him.

The enemy shall not exact upon him, nor the son of wickedness afflict him. And I will beat down his foes before his face and plague them that hate him. But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him. and in my name shall his horn be exalted. I will set his hand also in the sea and his right hand in the rivers. He shall cry unto me, thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. My mercy will I keep for him forevermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. His seed also will I make to endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven. Now let's go back to our text in Hebrews 1. Let's look at verses 5 and 6.

Again, for unto which of the angels said he at any time, thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee. And again, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, and let all the angels of God worship him. Christ Jesus is said here to be the first begotten or the firstborn of the Father. And also in Psalm 2, verse 7, he decrees, thou art my son, thus proving his deity and his Godhead, his oneness with the Father.

In Romans 8.29, he's referred to as the firstborn among many brethren. And in Colossians, he's the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature, and that one who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things, he might have the preeminence. Due to the essence of his being as God, God who came in the flesh, who was and is and will ever be, and due to his accomplished substitutionary work, which allowed him to legally adopt a people, he surpasses, he excels above all others. He's the chiefest among 10,000.

And Philippians says, wherefore, because of that, God hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name, and every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Christ Jesus is the preeminent one and Lord over all.

How then does all this pertain to our inheritance as children of the King? Look here again in verse 1 and 2 of Hebrews. Hebrews 1 here. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things. Turn with me now to Romans 8. Romans 8, verse 14.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. There's that word again, the children of God. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.

And if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. So then, as Christ is appointed heir of all things, then those whom he has adopted to himself are also joint heirs with him of all things. We are, according to Galatians 4, seven heirs of God through Christ. Then what are these all things that we are to inherit?

Verse 14 of our text says that we are heirs of salvation. Now salvation is of the Lord and it's freely given to his elect. And beneath the banner of salvation are to be found many of the things which are our portion in Christ. We know from Ephesians 1 that we have inherited all spiritual blessings to include holiness and acceptance before God. We receive redemption from the curse of the law, the forgiveness of sins, repentance of dead works of the law in order to earn God's favor, and faith to believe on Christ by the hearing of the gospel message through the work of the Holy Spirit, who is the down payment of our inheritance to be fully revealed in glory, all to the praise of God's grace. All of these things are to be found only in Christ.

We know from Romans 5 that that same spirit given to us has shed abroad in our hearts the love of God, that we're justified before God by Christ's death in our stead, and we have inherited joy in God through him. And we know from Romans 8 that we've inherited a calling unto glorification, for we shall be conformed to Christ's sinless image. We know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Turn with me to Matthew 5.

This is the beginning of the Lord's Sermon on the Mount. And we're going to see here a description of some of the things of our inheritance. And you might notice here that as we go through these, the adopted are blessed and of the Lord and given gifts. But these attributes of the blessed are traits or evidences that are not naturally found in them that are given to them by the Lord.

Okay, verse one, and seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain, and when he was set, his disciples came unto him, and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who, through the spirit's work in them, realize their spiritual bankruptcy. And as we've heard many times, they become mercy beggars. They shall inherit the kingdom of heaven.

Verse four, blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are they that mourn over their sin, their sins against God. They are grieved at heart because of it. They shall inherit the comfort of the Spirit, knowing that their sins are paid for. They are redeemed in the Lord.

Verse six, blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. These are they who seek diligently after the Lord, who is all righteousness, through his written word, personal studies, through the hearing of the gospel message, that they might eat and drink of him unto salvation. They shall inherit the fullness of Christ. Verse seven, blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. These are they who, because of divine grace in the heart, show care and compassion for others in both temporal and spiritual matters. They indeed have already received and shall have yet greater mercies revealed unto them unto eternity.

Verse 8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. These are they for whom Christ died to pay their sin debt. Those who are therefore pure in the sight of God, though yet unrealized in themselves for a time in this flesh, who will in that next life be truly pure in body, mind, and heart, they shall see God, now in his word, then face to face with Christ Jesus. In verse 9, blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.

These are they for whom peace has been made between God and them through Christ, which has been revealed to them and in them by the Holy Spirit through the hearing of the gospel, and which is manifested to the world through their peaceable spirit toward others, as becomes trophies of his grace, who are thereby shown forth to be his children. Verse 10 and 11.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. These are they who preach, support, or otherwise attend faithfully to the doctrine of Christ as it's revealed in scripture and are in any manner persecuted or ill-spoken of as a result. They shall inherit the kingdom of heaven and great shall be their reward there.

Now, one could search through the scriptures and make a voluminous list of the things of our inheritance. But the truth is they are all just portions of our portion. Now let me expand on that a little bit by going back to the Old Testament to draw a parallel here for some of my final points. Now let's go back to the book of Numbers. Numbers chapter 3. We'll begin with verse 5 and read through 13. Numbers 3, 5.

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, bring the tribe of Levi near and present them before Aaron the priest that they may minister unto him. And they shall keep his charge and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation to do the service of the tabernacle. And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation and the charge of the children of Israel to do the service of the tabernacle. And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel. And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office.

And the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel, instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel.

Therefore the Levites shall be mine, because all the firstborn are mine. For on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. Mine shall they be. I am the Lord. Turn over to verse 44, the same chapter. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle, and the Levites shall be mine. I am the Lord.

Note here that the Levites are chosen out of all Israel according to the will of God, and he asserts his right to do so in verse 13, because they are his by payment of their redemption price. He purchased them by the blood of an innocent victim, sacrificed in their stead, that is, that Passover lamb. And in verse nine, he instructs that they shall all be wholly given unto Aaron the high priest. God the Father has chosen to adopt a people to himself out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation.

And to that end, he has wholly given them into the care of his son as their great high priest, who offered up his own body and soul as their sin-bearer, the innocent one, that Lamb of God, sacrificed in the stead of the guilty, that their sin-debt should be expunged, and that they might be then presented holy and unblameable and unreprovable in God's sight, wearing the robe of Christ's imputed righteousness. The redeemed of God are referred to in 1 Peter as a royal priesthood, and in Revelation 5 as kings and priests unto our God. What then of our inheritance? Turn over a few pages to Deuteronomy 10. Deuteronomy 10, verse 8.

At that time, the Lord separated the tribe of Levi to bear the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister unto him, and to bless in his name unto this day. Wherefore, Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren. The Lord is his inheritance, according as the Lord thy God promised him. I say that even as the Levites of old had no physical inheritance of property in Israel, we as a priesthood unto our God have no inheritance in or of this world.

For the Lord is our inheritance. He is our reward. He told Abram, I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward. He is our part and our portion. Our inheritance is not about streets of gold or a family reunion in heaven. All things of temporal value shall fade away, including earthly relationships, when we realize our inheritance.

Turn with me to Matthew 6. Verse 19 of Matthew 6. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Now, turn to Luke 14. I apologize, folks. I'm having you turn to a lot of scriptures. Luke 14. Verse 26. If any man come to me and hate not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters Yea, in his own life also he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

So our question should be, where is your heart? Where is your treasure? Obviously, these things of earth pass away. These are not to be things that we should set our hearts upon. Turn with me now to John 17, and let's see a little bit more about our inheritance. What is our true inheritance? As you know, this is our Lord's prayer to the Father as high priest of His people. Verse 1, these words spake Jesus and lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come.

Glorify thy son, that thy son also may glorify thee. As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Verse 24 of the same chapter. I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me, for thou lovest me before the foundation of the world.

This is our true inheritance, to be with and to know Christ Jesus our Lord. His presence and the knowledge of him is our inheritance. All of these other things They are but portions of our portion, who is Christ. They are all found in Him, who is all the fullness of the Father in a body, the fullness of the Godhead bodily, as a result of His finished cross work. And we are complete in Him. If we have Him, do we not have all? we have all things were joint heirs with him. Our eternal enjoyment and our attention shall be in beholding and worshiping our Savior King.

So I would present to you something of a paradox. Whereas in this world, one cannot fully realize an inheritance until the benefactor passes from this life The redeemed in Christ even now fully possess all of their inheritance, all things, in him. But we will not fully realize them until we pass from this life. Then shall we realize the longing of our hearts to be like him, free from all sin, and above all, to see him face to face and rejoice in him for all eternity.

For Christ was given to his people for all eternity to see, to walk with, to behold his glory, to fellowship with, and to enjoy forevermore as their inheritance. And we were given to him as his inheritance. And all these things can only be attributed to God's grace in Christ toward us. Salvation is of the Lord. And to go along with that as a final hymn, face to face, page 511.