The first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word spiritual inheritance may be money, possessions, or property. Or do you think of it being something intangible because it’s spiritual?
In short, our spiritual inheritance is an opportunity for those who believe that Jesus died to cover our sins, where our souls get to have everlasting life with God and Jesus in heaven. It’s a gift that will never spoil or be robbed from us. How we obtain this is through our faith and belief that God created Jesus for us as the way. Because most of us cannot see the spiritual realm or the existence of our inheritance, it appears immaterial. I hope and encourage you to believe and trust that it exists by the end of this read and what you get to experience here and now is inexpressible joy.
I am going to break this into sections. First, I will define the word inheritance and bold the text that stuck out to me from the definition. Then I will unpack the definition into the 5W’s and H (Who, What, Where, When, Why, & How) using 1 Peter 1:3-9 NIV. I will also share with you a vision I had regarding an inheritance.
If you prefer to watch the video on this topic you can catch the show here –Upscaled & Fully Equipped– link to Episode #1, Eternal Inheritance.
Definition of Inheritance
According to Dictionary.com Inheritance:
Something that is or may be inherited; property passing at the owner’s death to the heir or those entitled to succeed; portion, birthright; something, as a quality, characteristic, or other immaterial possession, received from progenitor or predecessor.
Let’s look at, is or may be. Accepting Jesus Christ is a matter of choice, so there is a potential that exists and for you to maybe accepted into your heart.
We have an opportunity that God has provided to us through his son Jesus. The option is to be reconciled back to God. The maybe is up to us and where we are in our doubts or faith to believe what God has for us.
Property passing at the owner’s death – Christ had to die so that there could be heirs.
For the gift of inheritance to be passed on and available for us, Jesus had to be sacrificed. He died at the cross and was resurrected.
Otherwise, there would be no property-gift to be passed, no covering of our sins or reconciliation.
Immaterial possession – for the purposes of defining an eternal inheritance, he (God the Father and Jesus the son) had to possess this gift before, during, and after Jesus’ resurrection in order for it to be passed. Jesus possessed this opportunity as soon as God sent him to Mary which was the gift of eternal life by way of Jesus’ life and death.
Progenitor -God and Jesus serve as a direction or model. They are also related and recognized as one (John 10:30) who originated this inheritance. There are no other way to God the Father than by Jesus (John 14:6).
Predecessor a person who precedes another in position – Jesus has served as our predecessor. He is an example of how we are to live. Jesus ran the race -he lived, ministered, shared love, displayed forgiveness, exercised kindness, took persecution, and died. His life, death, and resurrection were not just to cover our sins, but also to lead by example. He is showing us the way to live righteously while here on earth.
Spiritual Inheritance Verse and Definition
The inspiration for this topic comes out of 1 Peter 1:3-9 NIV. Follow along as I apply the 5 W’s and H to help explain the verses. Let’s start with,
WHAT (v.3) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has GIVEN US NEW BIRTH INTO A LIVING HOPE…
He is providing us with an opportunity to partake in this new birthing. No, we are not rebirthed from our mother’s womb but rather a spiritual birth, a conversion of our spirit. He never forces us into anything, and we get to chose to believe and accept, or not. Through God’s mercy on us, he gives us a living hope through this new birth, just as he rebirth Christ both physically and spiritually.
Let’s look at the second half of verse 3 for,
HOW (v.3) …THROUGH THE RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ from the dead and into
As mentioned earlier, this came through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
WHAT (v.4) an inheritance that can NEVER PERISH, SPOIL OR FADE.
Think for a minute how temporary the things of this world are. Imagine how things spoil, go bad, go missing, get taken away. Now understand how this particular inheritance can never be taken from you; it will last forever. I find this facinating.
WHERE (v.4) This inheritance is KEPT IN HEAVEN…
WHO (v. 5) for YOU…
You, the beneficiary, the one inheriting the asset, receiving a benefit, designated recipient, the one who accepts and believes.
HOW (v. 5) THROUGH FAITH
Again, how is this inheritance possible- through faith.
WHAT are SHIELDED BY GOD’S POWER
The byproduct of our faith is to inherit his provision of protection, his power shields us.
By receiving his protection does not mean we get to go through life without trials or grief. Oh no, no, no. We need God’s power and protection to shield us especially when we go through them.
Are you curious yet and wondering when you get to receive your inheritance?
I see there are three events to WHEN this inheritance came to be. Firstly, it came when Jesus died on the cross for us. Of course, this was before we were born into this world. Secondly,
the full-blown inheritance will occur as it is disclosed in verse 5,
WHEN (v. 5) until the coming (the redemption) of the salvation that is ready revealed in the last time.
The third event was when we believed and accepted Christ to be our Savior. We were marked as God’s possession and received an immediate inheritance Eph. 1:13-14.
WHO (v. 6) In all this YOU greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
(v. 7) These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
(v. 8) Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are…
WHAT …FILLED WITH inexpressible and glorious JOY,
WHEN (v. 9) for you ARE RECEIVING the result of your faith,
I appreciate that we get to be filled with joy right here and now in this life -we don’t have to wait. To me, this demonstrates his love for us and his mercy on us. Just having the hope within us can help us get through this life.
WHY the SALVATION OF YOUR SOULS.
Your soul’s salvation is the most crucial aspect, and the main point I am trying to drive home. He wants us to be with him.
There are only two options for our soul –heaven or hell.
I encourage you to grab onto the eternal life of living with God, the Father, and his son Jesus. In the end, there is an opportunity if you have never accepted Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. But first, let me share with you an example he showed me.
A Vision Of Inheritance
I want to transition into the vision God gave me during the time I was writing this out. This vision, or analogy, is an example of what this opportunity looks like.
Follow me here and lose the idea for just a moment that nothing is free. Imagine someone is offering to turn over to you a fully paid house or car. The house is completely furnished and move-in ready. Same with the car. The car’s title has been completely taken care of. There is no bank loan, only a full tank of gas and you can take immediate ownership by simply accepting the keys.
There is one thing, you leave the keys on the table, you turn down the offer, decline, and walk away. You continue to live with a limited mindset, overwhelmed, hopeless, and not understanding your purpose for existence. You continue to walk or ride the bus, choosing to accept poverty, even though the newly furnished house and the brand new car are available.
What I believe God is asking through this example is do you believe what he has for you? Do you believe he has a better life for you with a plan and a purpose?
He has laid before us this free gift of eternal life, but we have to pick up the key to accept it for our own. No one else can do it for you.
One cool thing that happens after you believe and accepted Christ to be your Savior, your name is registered and documented into the Book of Life (Revelations 20:12). Like how our names, vehicles, homes are reported and verified with the DMV, the bank, the county, etc. The Book Of Life holds a record of our name and can never be written out.
Our time is limited -we are just a vapor– here for a short time and then gone. Gone to where? The choice is yours and there are only two options.
One last vision I want to leave you with. Imagine you are standing in the middle of a river that comes from His (God’s) throne, filled with baskets and boxes of goodies (good and perfect gifts). They are running right past you within arm’s reach. Do you pick them up or let them pass? They are coming from God’s throne -they are good, they are perfect…
…well, don’t just stand there! Pick it up – the time is now!
So hey, listen, you may not understand or believe everything I’m saying -yet. There may be apprehension if God could ever forgive you for what you have done or continue to do. But know this, he loves you, he wants you near him, he forgives you when you seek and ask for it, and when you chose to turn yourself toward him. When we accept his son he reassures us that we become new: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17.
You get to partake in this newness by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Here is how.
Receiving Spiritual Inheritance
Will you do me a favor? If this is your first time accepting Jesus to be your Lord and Savior will you reach out to me and let me know? It is so important to have people pray and support you during this time because there is nothing more enjoyable to Satan than to come and steal this promise from your heart.
Keep in mind, from the spiritual perspective, the old you is gone –goodbye to your predestined eternal life in hell- and be welcomed into the eternal Book of Life in heaven. The new you is here; start living in abundant waters where the goods flow freely.
Although the spiritual you is new, keep in mind there is work to be done with old mindsets. This is where I love helping my clients. Especially ones who struggle with bad, unsafe, unhealthy habits, who are overwhelmed, feel unhealthy, and just plain’ol stuck.
If this resonates with you, you are welcome to schedule here for a free discovery health call. If you are struggling with making healthy choices and are ready to gain more energy in your life and tired of feeling hopeless let’s see if the one-on-one mentorship is a good fit.
Until then, welcome to the Kingdom sister! I look forward to hearing from you.
You can reach me via email at Amber@UpscaleForLife.com or on Facebook Messenger or on Instagram private message.
