The Word of God's Grace vs. God's Inheritance
Acts
20:32:
"And now I commend you to God and to the word of
His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among
all those who are sanctified"
Eph.
1:14:
"Who is the pledge of our inheritance"
1 Pet. 1:4: "Unto an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, reserved in the heavens for you"
Item |
The
Word of God's Grace |
God's
Inheritance |
Basic Meaning |
The Triune God
Himself, after passing through incarnation, human living, crucifixion,
resurrection, and ascension, given to the saints for their enjoyment; the
concrete expression and means of conveying divine grace |
The Triune God
Himself and all that He has, all that He has accomplished, and all that He
will do for His redeemed people; the divine inheritance that saints
legitimately receive, including all blessings related to eternal life |
Essential Nature |
• Dynamic,
living word • Tool
for building up and sanctification • Expression
of divine grace • Concrete
manifestation of truth and reality |
• Static,
eternal inheritance • Object
to be enjoyed and received • Substantial
content of divine grace • Concrete
manifestation of the Triune God's riches |
Primary Functions |
Building
Function: Provides
nourishment of divine elements, edification and equipment of divine knowledge Sanctifying
Function: Separates
believers from the world unto God through the word of truth Guiding Function: Enables saints
to gain inheritance among all the sanctified |
Supply Function: Serves as the
substance and riches of saints' life Enjoyment
Function: Provides
eternal blessings and satisfaction Goal Function: Becomes the
ultimate goal of believers' building up and sanctification |
Means of Obtaining |
• Requires
continuous receiving and digesting •
Daily hearing and receiving • Being
constituted and transformed by the word • Being
built up in the truth |
• Legitimately
obtained right at regeneration • Received
by faith, not by works • Lawful
inheritance purchased by Christ's precious blood • The
Spirit as pledge and guarantee |
Time Dimension |
Present: Daily speaking to saints, continuous work of
building up and sanctification Process: Continuously functioning throughout Christian
life Eternal: Continues as means of building up and
sanctification |
Present: Partaking and enjoying in God's New Testament
jubilee (foretaste and firstfruits) This Life: Daily partaking and enjoying
our inheritance Eternal: Full enjoyment in the coming age and eternity |
Practical Examples |
Biblical Examples: •
Paul's daily speaking of the word of grace in Ephesus for three years • The
Lord Jesus sanctifying disciples with the word of truth • Sanctifying the church through washing with water in the word Modern Applications: • Constitution
through Life-study messages • Daily
Bible reading and receiving truth supply |
Biblical Examples: • Christ
as the portion allotted to all saints (Col. 1:12) • The
Spirit as foretaste and pledge of inheritance (Eph. 1:14) •
Incorruptible inheritance reserved in the heavens Modern Applications: • Daily
enjoyment of divine life's riches • Sharing
inheritance among saints |
Application Principles |
Individual Level: •
Daily receiving God's word supply • Being
constituted and transformed by truth •
Being sanctified in the word Corporate Level: •
Sharing God's word among saints • Mutual
building up and supply • Being
constituted together by truth |
Individual Level: • Drawing
upon inheritance riches by faith • Daily
enjoying divine life •
Expecting eternal fullness Corporate Level: • Gaining
inheritance among all sanctified ones • Corporately
enjoying divine inheritance • Corporately
entering into inheritance riches |
Mutual Relationship |
As Means: The
means and tool for gaining inheritance As Process: Dynamic
process of building up and sanctification As Condition: Receiving
the word of grace as condition for gaining inheritance As Instrument: Vessel
for conveying inheritance riches |
As Goal: The
purpose that the word of grace aims to achieve As Result: Ultimate
result of building up and sanctification As Content: The
substance that the word of grace conveys As Blessing: The
riches that sanctified ones will gain |
Important Distinctions |
•
Active function of building up, sanctifying, and supplying • Requires
continuous receiving and constitution • Form
of living word and truth • Functions
for building up all believers • Emphasizes dynamic building process |
• Passively
enjoyed and obtained • Legitimate
right already obtained at regeneration • Form
of substantial life and riches • Only
sanctified ones can obtain it • Emphasizes static rich content |
Related Scriptures |
John 17:17: "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word
is truth" Eph. 5:26: Sanctifying the church through washing with
water in the word 1 Thess. 5:23: Complete sanctification |
Col. 1:12: "Giving thanks to the Father, who has
qualified you for a share of the allotted portion of the saints in the light" Rom. 8:23: The Spirit as firstfruits and redemption of
body |
Core
Relationship Summary:
The Word of God's
Grace and God's Inheritance have an inseparable relationship of means and goal, process and result, instrument and content:
1.
The word of
grace is the only way to gain inheritance - Through receiving and being
constituted by God's word, believers can be built up and sanctified
2.
Inheritance is
the rich content of the word of grace - What the word conveys and
supplies is precisely the substance of divine inheritance
3.
Sanctification
is the connecting point - The word of grace brings sanctification, and
sanctified ones can gain inheritance
4. Both complement each other - Experienced as foretaste in
this life, fully realized in eternity
Practical Significance:
Believers need to daily receive the supply of
God's word of grace (such as Bible reading, Life-study messages, etc.), be constituted and sanctified by truth, thereby enjoying God's rich inheritance, from the firstfruits and
foretaste in this life to the full enjoyment in eternity.
*Please refer to April
2025 International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training General Topic:
Oneness and the Vital Aspects of Acts Chapter 6 Grace in Acts
No comments:
Post a Comment