Heirs of the Kingdom

By Ethan Tidwell

Romans 8:17 says "And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." This is talking about Christians “children of God” and that the Spirit is with us that are children of His. Some outside of the body of Christ may think that “heirs” is an unfair thing, that those are handpicked and directly chosen by God, they may be confused by other passages like (1 Pet. 2:9) which mentions “You are a chosen people” chosen and heirs refer to those who chose to obey “elect”.

Chosen heirs, if we are heirs then we would suffer for Christ, those who aren’t willing to choose to serve someone wouldn’t want to suffer for them either. As heirs that means we have a responsibility, to what? To keep God’s law and not stray from it, that way we can be glorified with Christ. A good heir keeps the ideals and laws of a former king who was respected and good, one who ruled wisely and lovingly. We are not to change anything that God has ordained but to keep it and abide by it. If we “were chosen by force” then James 2:5 wouldn’t apply to us (“Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”) If we indeed are forced to be heirs than we wouldn’t love Him, because it wouldn’t be out of love that we serve Him and sincere.

Galatians 4:7 “Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Romans 6:18). “And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” We have freedom like nobody else does. Free from sin. Those who are slaves of sin are also dead in it, consumed by it, some are defined by their own sins. Those who have righteousness are bound by it and a servant of it, for righteousness is good and godly just like God. No longer selfish, by fulfilling our own desires but by being bound by and for goodness. Those who are righteous have heaven as a final reward.

Meditate on this:

Matthew 22:37-39  

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Peace and Orderliness

By Jeff Curtis

When men who are respected for their knowledge and their godly lives take on the burden of leadership in a congregation, experience has demonstrated that peace and order follow. When able men refuse to hold the office, experience suggests that one of two results is to be expected. (1) The church may turn into a charismatic leader who will rule with an iron fist. Some Christians prefer to keep church affairs at arm’s length. Someone else can make the decisions. The community life for the church is, for their money and to come into the church building for a joyful and entertaining experience. (2) When effective leaders fail to step forward, the second possibility for the church is that it may descend into bickering. When chaos envelops such a church, it doesn’t mean that members have abandoned the teachings of Christ. Rather, it means the church has no direction.

Without access to the economic incentive of a paycheck or to the sword the governments can wield, chaos in human affairs is the expected outcome. Elders in a church have nothing remotely resembling a paycheck or a sword to ensure good order. They don’t want either of them. Individual Christians will inevitably have different ideas about priorities the church ought to adopt. Overseers in the church are charged with listening. They sort through ideas and preferences that Christians bring to the table, combine them with their own observations, and set the church on a course that invites everyone’s participation.

How can churches live at peace? We have already referred to Paul’s solution: “But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another” (1Thessalonians 5:12-13).

The apostle Paul went on to explain that affairs turn out for good when someone is in charge. He continued, “We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone” (1Thessalonians 5:14). Such things are essential for a strong community of faith. They require careful consideration, and the kind of judgment good men gain from experience. Paul suggested that they will be forthcoming only when responsible leaders step forward to use the gifts the Holy Spirit has given them.

Meditate on this:

1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil.