BelongingSampel

Heirs

If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (v. 29 NIV)

What does it mean to be an heir? When my adoptive parents died, as their only living child, I became an heir of their estate and a co-heir of what they inherited from their parents—what was theirs became mine. I inherited what they accumulated during their life here on earth.

Paul writes to the Galatians and tells them that because they are in Christ, they are all children of God through faith (v. 26). When we believe in Christ, we are baptized into his death and raised to new life (Rom. 6:3–4). We have been clothed with Christ (v. 27). Our life resembles Christ’s character. And one of the greatest gifts is that we belong to him.

We belong to Christ, in his life, death, and resurrection. Paul goes on further to explain that because we belong to Christ, we are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. God made a promise, a covenant with Abraham. He promised that he would bless him and make him into a great nation. All peoples would be blessed through him (Gen. 12:2–3). Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise. And because we are a part of Abraham’s seed and grafted into the line of Abraham, we are heirs to that promise and co-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17). We belong to him and what he has belongs to us as his heirs. What a beautiful promise!

As you pray, give thanks that you are Christ’s heir!