One of the terms Paul uses a few times to refer to beliers in the New Testament is “heir.” To be an heir, or a co-heir, has to do with our identity shift. When we think of heir, we think of receiving something later, but Paul is reminding us we become someone different now. Being an heir changes how we see ourselves, how we define ourselves and ultimately how we live. We no longer have to chase approval because we have become sons and daughters of God. Our identity is in Christ. Like the early believers, we need to be drawn out of the old mentality and shifted into a new one that sees ourselves with an eternal perspective. You don’t have to earn an identity in the Kingdom of God. You’ve already been given the highest one. Stop measuring yourself by your output and start living from the Spirit’s input in your life.
Here are some Bible verses on being an heir:
1. So listen carefully, my dear brothers and sisters, hasn’t God chosen the poor in the world’s eyes to be those who are rich in faith? And won’t they be the heirs of the kingdom-realm he promised to those who love him?
James (Jacob) 2:5 TPT
2. So as a gift of his love, and since we are faultless— innocent before his face— we can now become heirs of all things, all because of an overflowing hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:7 TPT
3. And if [we are His] children, [then we are His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His spiritual blessing and inheritance], if indeed we share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory.
Romans 8:17 AMP
4. And if you belong to Christ [if you are in Him], then you are Abraham’s descendants, and [spiritual] heirs according to [God’s] promise.
Galatians 3:29 AMP
5. Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.
Galatians 4:7 NLT
Photo by DENGYING TAN on Unsplash
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 