Series: Towards Maturity

1 John 3:1; Gal.4:6-7; Rom.8:15-17

The kind of relationship we now have with God is one of a son and heir. So to understand the inheritance we have, we must first take a look at what Christ's inheritance involves:

Christ's inheritance

• A name superior to every other (Phil.2:9-10).
  
• Everything in heaven and on earth (Col.1:15-20).
  
• The kingdom (Matt.25:34; Luke 22:29; James 2:5).
  
• Us (1 Kings 8:51,53; Titus 2:14; Eph.1:18).
  

Our inheritance

• The name of Jesus (John 14:13-14; Rev.3:12).
  
• Everything in heaven and on earth (Eph.1:22).
  
• The kingdom (Matt.25:34; Luke 22:29; Col.1:12).
  
• The Lord (Psalm 16:5; 73:26).

Two Sons

Luke 15:11-31

This parable is not about one son, but two sons.

The Prodigal Son

• had a change of heart from being rebellious, to becoming humble and submissive.
• was willing to forgo his rights as a son, just so he could be in relationship with his father again.

The Older Brother

• was very conscious of his length of service to his father.
• had a double portion inheritance, yet never used it.
• had the responsibility of a firstborn son to go after the younger brother yet never did.
• lived as a servant of the house, not as a firstborn son.
• the robe and ring given to the younger son were symbols of the firstborn - the older brother obviously never used them.
• did not honor his father when asked to join the celebration - although outwardly good, had a rebellious heart.
• despised his brother and was angry with his father - in God's eyes, hatred is as murder (1 John 3:15).
• was self-righteous and self-centred - he wanted all the attention.
• did not receive back the prodigal as his own brother.

What the prodigal did was totally wrong, but he "came to his senses". The older brother, however, continued in his error. Many Christians have the same approach to God as the older brother - striving to become good enough to be accepted as sons, when sonship is already theirs in Christ.

Gal.3:26-29; Eph.1:18-21; 2:6; 1 John 3:1- 2

We can fall from enjoying the blessings of God's grace in our lives as His sons in two ways:

The Father's will for us, however, is:

We have special privileges that come from being a son (Heb.4:16; 10:19; Eph.3:12), but was also have matching responsibilities (Eph.6:10-18; 1 Thess.5:17; Matt.16:18-19; 2 Cor.5:18-20).

Our Father's desire is for us to grow into mature sons - sons just like His firstborn Son, Jesus!

Rom.8:29; 1 John 3:1-3

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