Heirs of God
A Sermon on Romans 8:17
Originally preached March 17, 1961
Scripture
17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Sermon Description
There is a glorious inheritance which awaits the children of God. As heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, the magnanimity of what is theirs in Christ far exceeds their imaginations. But how can they be sure of this inheritance? Christians are used to promises broken by sinful people and hopes dashed by circumstances beyond their control. Why then is the hope of their future inheritance secure? Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones has an answer to these most important questions. In his sermon on Romans 8:17 titled “Heirs of God,” he follows the apostle Paul in grounding the hope of inheritance in the immutable, or unchanging, plan of God. It is because of God’s power that inheritance is secure. The Christian can have the utmost confidence and assurance that God will work in such a way as to bring His promises to pass. They need not worry about trials or circumstances thwarting God’s purposes. What is more, they do not even fear their own ability to forfeit their future hope. Dr. Lloyd-Jones labors to encourage the Christian in the absolute security of their inheritance because their heavenly Father cares for them. Listen as he calls to consider the One promising the indescribable glory that awaits.
Sermon Breakdown
- We are heirs of God. This means our inheritance is absolutely certain and safe because God cannot lie or change.
- God pays special attention to us as his heirs. He cares for us, disciplines us, and continues this care without ceasing.
- Nothing can rob us of our inheritance - not ourselves, the world, the devil or anything else. We are kept by the power of God.
- As heirs of God, we can enjoy God himself even now. He reveals secrets to us and gives us a foretaste of the inheritance.
- We are joint heirs with Christ. We only become heirs through union with Christ. The promises are made to him and come to us through him.
- Christ has already received the inheritance and conquered every enemy. His name is on the inheritance with us, making it absolutely certain.
- We should not be depressed or uncertain. We can read our title clear. We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.
Sermon Q&A
What is the Meaning of Being Heirs of God According to Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
What does it mean to be "heirs of God" as mentioned in Romans 8:17?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, being "heirs of God" means we have an absolutely secure inheritance that cannot be taken away. He explains that "because we are heirs of God, the things that have been promised us and the things which are coming to us because we are heirs are things which are absolutely safe." Unlike human promises which can change, God "cannot lie" and "cannot change." Lloyd-Jones references Titus 1:2 which speaks of "God that cannot lie" and James 1:17 which describes God as "the father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
Why does the Apostle Paul specify that believers are "joint heirs with Christ"?
Lloyd-Jones explains that Paul specifies we are "joint heirs with Christ" to provide additional assurance of our inheritance. He states: "I believe we are not only heirs of God, we are joint heirs with Christ. It means this, you see, the devil will come to us and tempt us, and he'll try to shake our confidence." Being joint heirs with Christ means our inheritance comes through Christ, who is "the only begotten son of God" who has "always pleased God." Since Christ has already conquered every enemy and received the inheritance, and we are in Him, our inheritance is absolutely certain.
How does God care for believers as His heirs?
Lloyd-Jones teaches that God gives special attention to believers as His heirs. He states: "the first emphasis is this, that we are heirs of God...there is always this special attention paid to the heir." This special care includes: 1. Numbering the hairs on our heads (showing His detailed knowledge of us) 2. Providing chastisement and discipline when needed (Hebrews 12:6-10) 3. Using divine power to ensure we reach our inheritance (Ephesians 1:18-20) 4. Continuing His work in us until completion (Philippians 1:6) 5. Protecting us from all external forces that might try to rob us of our inheritance (John 10:28-29)
What is the difference between earthly inheritance and our spiritual inheritance in Christ?
Lloyd-Jones contrasts earthly and spiritual inheritance by pointing out that earthly possessions are temporary and vulnerable: "You can't hold on to anything in this world. Moth and rust, insidiously, without observation, creep in." By contrast, our spiritual inheritance is described in 1 Peter 1:3-5 as "incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation." Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that unlike earthly inheritance which can be stolen or corrupted, our inheritance in Christ is eternally secure and protected by God Himself.
How do believers experience their inheritance in the present?
According to Lloyd-Jones, believers experience a foretaste of their inheritance even in this life. He explains: "The fact that we are heirs of God implies of necessity that we are given the enjoyment of God himself even while we are in this life and in this world." This includes: 1. Being let into divine secrets that the world doesn't understand 2. Receiving revelations of God's glory 3. Experiencing the Holy Spirit as a "seal" and "earnest" (down payment) of our future inheritance 4. Having a special relationship with God as His friends (like Abraham was "the friend of God") 5. Finding satisfaction in God that surpasses worldly pleasures (referencing Psalm 73:25)
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.