In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 11:13-14

Imagine you had a wealthy relative who willed her fortune to you. This woman knew you existed, but you had never heard of her! One day, a lawyer appears at your door with the details of your new fortune, but you think it might be a scam. The lawyer insists that you check your bank account. The money belonged to you from the moment the relative signed paperwork, but you weren’t aware for quite some time afterward.

Our inheritance of eternal life through Jesus is similar. It has always belonged to us, even before we were struck by the realization of our great fortune in receiving such a gift. Recognizing this profound gift can require some verification in order for us to emotionally engage. Let us look at some scriptures that play the role of the convincing lawyer.

1 Corinthians assures us, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; He was buried, and He rose again the third day…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).  Next, John confirms, “As many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become His children, even to those who believe on His name” (John 1:12).  This is how you know your inheritance is real: if you have accepted Jesus’ gift, you are confirmed as God’s child and a legitimate heir.

Fact-check your inheritance using scripture. Then, have faith that what you read is true. Finally, allow yourself the emotional response that comes with the acceptance of such a gift. Celebrate your inheritance!

 

Resource reading: Romans 10:1-13