“16 The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs — heirs of God and coheirs with Christ — if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.”
In the previous devotionals, Paul spoke of our relationship to God as both slaves and sons. In these verses, Paul provides additional evidence that we are God’s sons. Not only does God the Father tell us we are His sons, but the Spirit of God “testifies” (“bears witness” ESV, KJV) to this fact. The Spirit of God makes it known that we are God’s children.
The writer of Hebrews communicates a beautiful picture of our brotherhood with Jesus and our sonship under God the Father.
“For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying: I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters; I will sing hymns to you in the congregation. Again, I will trust in him. And again, Here I am with the children God gave me. Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death — that is, the devil — and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.” — Hebrews 2:11-15
As God’s children, we are heirs! Heirs of whom? Heirs of God Himself. What do Christians inherit? God! The greatest gift of all. We as Christians get to inherit God in all His infinite glory. As those who are saved in Christ, we inherit eternal life with God, and salvation from the damnation of our sinful deeds for eternity. The text also says that we are heirs with Christ, God the Son. In fact, we know from John 14:3 that God the Son is preparing a place for us in this inheritance.
“If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.” — John 14:3
Back in Romans, verse 17 ends with a qualifier to the inheritance of God for Christians. “and if children, also heirs — heirs of God and coheirs with Christ — if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.” (v. 17 underline added) This status as sons and daughters of God, whilst being a free gift from God, is not without expectations. If we are truly the sons of God, we will act like it by fulfilling our sonship duties! We will submit ourselves in obedience to God, which sometimes means suffering here and now, as Christ suffered.
“This saying is trustworthy: For if we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.” — 2 Timothy 2:11-13
It is important for us as Christians to remember that none of this is made possible by our own doing. Our salvation, our freedom from the slavery of sin, our finding a new master in Jesus Christ, our adoption as sons of God, our inheritance, our obedience, and our longsuffering is all orchestrated and enabled by God, and only God, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
““And now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.”” — Acts 20:32
“But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us —not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy — through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.” — Titus 3:4-7
Notice in both of these passages that it is only by God’s grace and mercy that we have any inheritance whatsoever. Praise God for His grace and mercy!
Another thing, this inheritance from God does not apply only to the nation God has chosen to be His people, Israel. This inheritance is for all people who repent and believe, regardless of background or ethnicity. This was a new concept for the emerging Christians in Paul’s day. The Jewish converts to Christianity believed in Jesus as the Messiah, and expected that He would fulfill the promises made to the nation of Israel. That is true, and Jesus has done this in part, and He will complete the promises to Israel in the future. However, salvation and the inheritance of God is not for the Jews only, but also for the Gentiles. (More on this in Chapter 9)
“The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” — Ephesians 3:6