Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel."
Text: Ephesians 3:6
THE CONCEPT OF BEING FELLOW HEIRS
This concept had full theological content. Paul wrote that he had deep spiritual truths revealed to him by the Spirit of God. He expounded this concept of being heirs of God in his epistle to the Galatians in some depth.
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have
put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there
is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female;
for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s seed,
and heirs according to the promise.
GALATIANS 3:26-29
This concept of being heirs of God may be summarized in the following ways:-
1. The basis of becoming heirs- Faith
a) Through faith in Christ
b) Through a faith expressed in baptism
2. The Person through whom this is made possible- Christ Jesus
a) The work of Christ on the Cross
b) The ramifications of redemption in Christ
3. The Concept of being “Abraham’s seed”
a) Through Christ
b) Gentiles are fellow heirs in Christ
i) No distinction between ethnic races (Jew and Gentile are equal)
ii) No distinction between sexes (Male and female have equal standing)
iii) No distinction between social classes (Slaves and free-born are equal)
FULL AND POWERFUL RAMIFICATIONS
Paul was concerned that all believers understood the full ramifications of what it means to be redeemed by Christ. Gentiles were not to be treated as second-class citizens. They had all the rights and privileges of all who are called “sons of God”. As such, they are truly fellow heirs in Christ Jesus.