Page 9 - Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2010

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Let us look at another pair of significant if’s. This time let us look at Paul’s epistle to the Romans:

“…YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION BY WHOM WE CRY OUT, ‘ABBA FATHER.’
THE SPIRIT HIMSELF BEARS WITNESS WITH OUR SPIRIT THAT WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD,

AND CHILDREN THEN HEIRS OF GOD,
AND JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST

INDEED WE SUFFER WITH HIM,
THAT WE MAY ALSO BE GLORIFIED TOGETHER.”

Rom. 8:15-17

These two if’s are very significant since they single out the different stipulations and conditions
between a believer becoming (1) an heir of God, and (2) a joint heir with Christ. Paul is not endorsing
the idea that all children of God, as heirs of God, are automatically guaranteed to also be joint heirs
with Christ. The two If’s each have their own stipulations and conditions enumerated for each category.
All born again believers become children of God by means of receiving the spirit of adoption (the new
birth). As children of God, Paul states that they become “heirs of God.” The second if states the
stipulation and condition to heirs of God becoming joint heirs with Christ. It is obtained if we suffer with
Him that (in order that) we may be glorified with Christ. It is not heirs of God that will be glorified with
Christ, but rather only the joint heirs of Christ who choose to suffer with Christ. This is not the common
teaching in the Body of Christ. Most Christians expect to be glorified together with Christ simply
because they have believed in Christ. Listen to how the apostle Paul makes a distinction in this area:

“FOR TO YOU IT HAS BEEN GRANTED ON BEHALF OF CHRIST,
NOT ONLY TO BELIEVE IN HIM, BUT ALSO TO SUFFER FOR HIS SAKE.”

Phil. 1:29

If you only embrace half of what has been granted unto us as believers, namely believing in Him, then
we will only be heirs of God as children of God in eternity. To be a joint heir with Christ requires that we
embrace the second half of what has been granted to us, which is to also suffer for His sake. This
leads to being glorified together with Christ in eternity with a better inheritance than children of God. As
children of God we become sons and daughters of God. There is a name and a place offered to God’s
people that is better than that of sons and daughters:

“FOR THUS SAYS THE LORD: ‘TO THE EUNUCHS WHO KEEP MY SABBATHS, AND CHOOSE WHAT PLEASES
ME, AND HOLD FAST MY COVENANT, EVEN TO THEM I WILL GIVE IN MY HOUSE AND WITHIN MY WALLS A

PLACE AND A NAME BETTER THAN THAT OF SONS AND DAUGHTERS…’ ”
Isa. 56:4-5

You only need to read Revelation Chapter 3:12-13 to see what this place and name is that has been
promised to this overcoming church. It is the Bride of Christ reigning in New Jerusalem:

“HE WHO OVERCOMES, I WILL MAKE HIM A PILLAR IN THE TEMPLE OF MY GOD, AND HE SHALL GO OUT
NO MORE. AND I WILL WRITE ON HIM THE NAME OF MY GOD AND THE NAME OF THE CITY OF MY GOD,

THE NEW JERUSALEM WHICH COMES DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN FROM MY GOD (see Rev. 21:2).
AND I WILL WRITE ON HIM MY NEW NAME.

HE WHO HAS AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO THE CHURCHES.”
Rev. 3:12-13

Earlier we looked at this if in which Paul stated very simply that suffering with Christ is the key to

reigning with Him:

“… WE ENDURE (SUFFER), WE SHALL ALSO REIGN WITH HIM.” 2 Tim. 2:12

“…AND CHILDREN THEN HEIRS OF GOD, Paul, here in Romans, is merely elaborating on the
AND JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST simple statement he made in 2 Timothy. These two
INDEED WE SUFFER WITH HIM, if’s have revealed to us a distinction that will last for
THAT WE MAY ALSO BE all eternity between heirs of God and joint heirs with
GLORIFIED TOGETHER.” Christ. It is a distinction between the destiny of the
Rom. 8:15-17
Body of Christ and the Bride of Christ.