"If children, then heirs"

[Romans 8:14-17]

Look at Romans 8:17:
“If we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”

We are children of God and also heirs. Who are the children of God? The children of God are those who are led by the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit.
Look at Romans 8:14:
“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”

The children of God, through the Spirit of adoption, the Holy Spirit, cry out to God, “Abba, Father.”
Look at Romans 8:15:
“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'”

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
Look at Romans 8:16:
“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”

So, who is the “heir” (v. 17)?

First, the only-begotten Son, Jesus, is the heir of God the Father.
In Matthew 21:33-39, we find the parable of the wicked tenants in the vineyard. In this parable, when the owner of the house saw that the time to gather the fruits was near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect the fruit. Afterward, he sent more servants, but eventually, he sent his son, saying, “They will respect my son.” But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him and take his inheritance.” So, they threw the son out of the vineyard and killed him. In this parable, the owner of the house is God the Father, and the son, who is the heir, is Jesus Christ.

Second, the children of God are heirs of God.
As children of God, who are led by the Holy Spirit, we will inherit God’s kingdom.
Look at Matthew 25:34:
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.’”

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. He will gather all the nations before Him and separate them, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats (vv. 31-33). To those on His right (the sheep), He will say, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world” (v. 34).

Third, the children of God are co-heirs with Christ.
That is why Jesus Christ is not ashamed to call us “brothers.”
The reason is that we, together with Jesus Christ, have God the Father as our Father.
Look at Hebrews 2:11-12:
“Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says, 'I will declare Your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing Your praises.'”

Here, “the one who makes people holy” refers to Jesus, and “those who are made holy” refers to us, the saints who believe in Jesus. “Of the same family” means that both Jesus and we, the saints, share the same God the Father. Jesus, as the natural Son of God, is God's Son, while we, as adopted children, are children of God.

Apostle Paul says, “If we are children, then we are heirs, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him” (Romans 8:17).

Here, “to share in His glory” refers to the glory that we, as saints, will inherit. This glory is a fullness and completeness that we will experience in the afterlife, as if seeing God face to face.
Look at Hymn 85, verse 1:
“Just thinking of the Savior brings me joy, how much more will it be when I see His face?”

This glory is also a glory that we experience partially in this life, like looking into a mirror. In this way, we reveal God’s glory while we live on earth. In order to share in His glory, we must also suffer with Him (Romans 8:17).
Look at Acts 14:22:
“They strengthened the disciples and encouraged them to remain true to the faith. ‘We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,’ they said.”

In order to enter God’s kingdom, we must go through many hardships. Yet, the Bible tells us that the many hardships we face are a grace of God [(Philippians 1:29): “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him”].

Believing in Jesus Christ is also a grace from God.
Look at Ephesians 2:8-9 (Modern Bible translation):
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Also, look at John 1:12:
“Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”

The suffering we endure for Jesus Christ is also a grace from God.
Look at Hymn 310, verse 3:
“Why has the Holy Spirit been given to me, to move my heart and make me believe in Jesus? I do not know.”

The saints who went before us rejoiced even in suffering for the sake of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Look at Acts 5:41-42:
“The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.”

In Acts 4, the apostles were imprisoned for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ (v. 3), and they were warned and threatened not to speak or teach in Jesus' name (vv. 17, 18, 21), but they did not stop preaching the gospel (vv. 33; 5:42).

According to tradition, all the apostles, except for John, were martyred. The apostles did not avoid persecution and suffering, but rather rejoiced. The Bible tells us that anyone who wants to live a godly life will face persecution.
Look at 2 Timothy 3:12:
“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

The laws of this world are different from the laws of the Kingdom of Heaven. As citizens of Heaven, we are more likely to face difficulties and persecution rather than acceptance and respect in this world. A spiritually mature believer not only expects such difficulties, persecution, and suffering but also rejoices and relies on the Lord to endure and overcome, just like the apostles, continuing to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ without stopping.

We are children of God, heirs of God, and co-heirs with Christ.
Therefore, we must also suffer with Christ in order to be glorified with Him. When we suffer for Christ, we must cry out to God, calling Him "Abba, Father," as led by the Holy Spirit. Surely, God the Father will help us, protect us, save us, and ultimately grant us victory. Furthermore, we should consider the suffering we endure for Christ as grace and rejoice in it, because after suffering, we will receive glory with Christ. Meanwhile, like the apostles, we must continue to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ without ceasing, no matter the persecutions we face.
Therefore, when the Lord returns, we hope that all of us, entering the afterlife, will receive the full and complete glory with Jesus Christ and enjoy it abundantly.

(Verse 1)
After all the hardships and labors have passed, when we rest peacefully in the glorious heaven,
with the Lord beside me, I will live, and it will be a glory that shines forever.

(Verse 2)
By the Lord's boundless grace, I will arrive at the house He has prepared,
and there I will see the Lord, and it will be a glory that shines forever.

(Verse 3)
When I meet the friends who have gone before me, my heart will be filled with joy,
because the Lord will welcome me, and it will be a glory that shines forever.

[Chorus]
Glory, glory! The glory I will enjoy,
by grace, I will see His face, and it will be a glory that shines eternally. Amen.

[New Hymn 610 "After All the Hardships and Labor Have Passed"]