Heirs Through Satisfied Law

“¹⁶The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷and 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.” “³For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”– Romans 8:16-17 & 3-4 (ESV)

We have been recognized as living led by the Spirit. And as such we have been adopted as children of God. And as we are children of God, we are heirs with Jesus to the Kingdom of God. What a wonderful thing to have as my identity. I am a child of God and heir to Heaven. But, see in verse 17. We are heirs yes, but in that we will suffer. We will be persecuted as Jesus, our brother was persecuted.

Here is the thing, we will be persecuted, yes, but that persecution is from man, not from God. You see, we have been justified through our faith in Him. We have been set free from the burden that sin has on our lives. As Jesus came and took that burden away. God sent Jesus to appear as us, human, as an offering for sin, condemned our sin, and satisfied the law of sin for us. Jesus stepped in for us with God and satisfied our payment for the sin in our lives. He dismissed the case against us with prejudice to satisfy the law.

I am so grateful that I do not have to concern myself with the consequence of sin, death. I am free from sin and can lead my life focused on the work God has for me and that the Holy Spirit guides me in thanks to the grace afforded me through Jesus Christ. The law was satisfied and I get to live. And I get to live as an heir to Heaven with Jesus, my brother.

How do you qualify as heir to Heaven? Are you getting there for being a good person? What if you realized that it is because your sin has been satisfied by the grace of Jesus and the love of God?

God Sent Jesus to Demonstrate His Care

It is known that God cares for man. He made us in His image and gave us dominion over all the earth. He made us in that we were just below the angels in the grand scheme of things. We know this as it is written in His Word that is truth. Yet, the LORD found it important to do more for us. He sent Jesus to demonstrate to us that He cares for us.

“⁹But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” – Hebrews 2:9 (ESV)

I am glad to be reminded of the care God has for man. He sent Jesus, His only son, to die for me that I might not have to experience death for the sins I have committed. God did that for me. Jesus, where He came to live in this world with me, His brother, He came specifically to die for me. God demonstrated the ultimate caring for me in that Jesus came to die so that I would not have to.

I know what you might be thinking, but I am going to die, everyone dies. And yes, you are correct in that we all die physically in this world. The LORD sent Jesus that we might not die spiritually. My body will no longer be needed at some point and when that time comes, the LORD will take me to be with my brother, Jesus, in heaven where I will experience glory like I can only imagine. The LORD did that for me and for you, if we would only accept it and live it out.

“¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” – John 3:16-17 (ESV)

God demonstrates His love and care for you and me through is sending of Jesus for our sake. Jesus died so we would not have to.

What is your belief in the care of the LORD for you? Do you look at Him and wonder how He demonstrates His care for you? What if you looked at His sending Jesus to die for you as the ultimate demonstration of care for you?