Destined to Inherit

Paul saw Abraham obeying while he was being called forth to a place he was destined to inherit. That is why he said, “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Heb. 11:8-10).

It is a false exegesis to reason from a hypothetical promise and draw an absolute conclusion. For example, we do not make a decision in order to be regenerated. That is an act of the Sovereign God at His time, when He sends the Holy Spirit who accomplishes it. Also, holding on to our personal view of objective faith (the Bible itself) does not mean that we will be saved forever. It is subjective faith that happens to us and gives us the ability to express ourselves when it comes to our relationship to God. Conversion is not regeneration—one can be converted a dozen times a year and still not be regenerated. The correct promise is one planned and carried out to completion by the sovereign God. The Father appointed His Son to execute His purpose, fulfill His promises, and redeem His chosen ones. Thus, the subjectivity of faith has meaning and significance only as a product of grace. Only believers have permanent access and standing before God.

Both objective and subjective reconciliation are of God—objective reconciliation involved Christ, and subjective reconciliation indebted the Holy Spirit. The Father appointed His Son to execute His purpose, fulfill His prophecies, and redeem the elect. The Holy Spirit was appointed by the Father to regenerate the chosen ones, justify the elect, and produce the objective Scriptures.

Paul’s theology must be diligently studied, or a great blessing will be missed by most Christians. Study the following passage of Scripture: “For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited [logidzomai, meaning reckon, count, credit, or place on one’s account] to him as righteousness. Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account. Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the Father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised” (Rom. 4:3-12).

Due to the greatness of our subject’s size, we are forced to use more Scripture in laying the proper foundation. Since God has condescended to speak through unworthy mouths, why do people seldom perceive the weakness of the speakers? Too many preachers, infatuated with themselves, interpose their personalities between their congregations and the truth. They are more concerned with their own success than they are the truth. Christ said, “For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him” (Luke 8:17, 18).

Let us not miss the point of the careless hearing of the Jews which caused God to remove His word from them. That is still going on today. The Jews are scattered all over the world. There were 400 years between Malachi and the coming of Christ. During this time, no messages were proclaimed by the priesthood. Read Malachi 2:1-9. Also, read the letter to the assembly at Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-22, especially note verse 20. Christ was not in the assembly, but He was standing on the outside and knocking. That is what the assemblies will look like before Christ comes to establish the kingdom. The political changes and developments of Daniel’s great visions have apparently occurred. Is the “big change” about to take place? (See Lev. 26 ff.)

The important questions are as follows:

1. How would you like to be a member of an assembly where every member sincerely did his best to be submissive in every area as a Christian?

2. How would you like to belong to an assembly that put forth every effort to be a New Testament assembly?

3. How would you like to belong to an assembly where the following verses of Scripture are manifested?

John 13:34—“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

Philippians 2:3-4—“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Galatians 6:1-2—“Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”

I Thessalonians 5:12-13—“But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.”

I John 3:18—“Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”

Christ said, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides” (Mark 4:24). The Lord not only gave instructions as to preaching, but He also gave instructions as to hearing what is preached. Thus, the art of attention is as difficult as that of homiletics. What is worth hearing should be heard rightly and heeded. Hearing is not for favorite fragments, but for “the whole purpose of God” (Acts 20:27). David said, “My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am afraid of Your judgments” (Ps. 119:120).

As important as “how we hear” and “what we hear” are to Christians, we must not overlook “who we hear.” The matter is comparatively immaterial whether a great orator is speaking or not. Like the Shepherd Himself is known as the authority (completed Scriptures), the undershepherd is known by the messages and life style of the elder. “Follow me as I follow Christ” is his motto. Christ spoke with authority and went before the sheep, but He led them—

1. out of a life of sin into the joy of acceptance,

2. out of organized human religion into total dependence on Jesus Christ outside the camp bearing Christ’s reproach,

3. from infantile feebleness into manly strength,

4. out of the narrow views of human religion into the limitless expanse of spiritual knowledge,

5. out of fleshly activity into spiritual activity,

6. from being wearied by fools to the point of exhaustion, and

7. from reverential fear to a patient waiting for Jesus Christ.

It has been said, “It is a serious thing to preach”; but it can be equally said, “It is a serious thing to hear.” The truth is either “a fragrance of Christ to God” (II Cor. 2:15) or “an aroma from death to death” (II Cor. 2:16). Paul said, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God” (II Cor. 2:14-17).

All of the success on the part of the pastor/teacher depends on those who hear. Many hear only the preacher; they do not hear the voice of Christ. Those who profess to be sheep are recognized by those who profess to be undershepherds.

Foregoing the privilege of rank, Christ condescended to become the Son of Man in order that the chosen sons of men could become the sons of God by grace. The true undershepherds seek to follow the example of the Chief Shepherd in speaking God’s words of truth, going before the sheep, and leading them out of the same things Christ led those out of who followed Him.

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The NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE—UPDATED EDITION is the source of all Scripture quotations in this message, unless otherwise noted.