Heaven as an Inheritance Matthew 25:34

This post discusses the meaning of heaven as an inheritance.

When Jesus discussed the judgment day, he described heaven as a kingdom, an inheritance, Matthew 25:34: “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

Thus, as members of the family of God, heaven remains an unearned gift of God. Jesus said the children of God will receive heaven as an inheritance in eternity as a gift of grace from God.

Unfortunately, some children imagine that they deserve the inheritance due to their position as a member of the family. Parental grace does not enter their thinking. Likewise, Christians may have this warped view and imagine they deserve heaven. Instead, we should view this eternal abode in heaven as a gift of undeserved grace.

John the Baptist dealt forcefully with this erroneous view in the minds of his Jewish listeners, Luke 3:8: “Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.”

Obviously, the children of Abraham imagined that they didn’t need to bear fruits showing repentance. John the Baptist pointed out that God valued the present state of their heritage as no better than stones. Today, we must also view any heritage in God’s kingdom as a gift, not something we deserve. Instead, once we enter the kingdom of God—the church— heaven becomes a gift as part of our heritage.

The Apostle Paul made clear that salvation is by grace and not works, Ephesians 2:8-9:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Note that the Apostle does not mention an earned salvation because of being in the family.

 What do we learn about heaven as a heritage?

1.We receive heaven as a gift as part of our heritage.

2.Belonging to the church by itself does not earn us a place in heaven.

3.As a member of the family of God, heaven remains a gift of God not something earned.

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