Who are God’s Rightful Heirs

Full Episode Transcript

Brother Richie Juatco:  An inheritance is money, property, or something valuable that is passed on to an heir. But an inheritance is not given to just anyone who claims to be an heir. There must be proof that you are truly the one named as an heir and meet the requirements to receive it.

What about God’s inheritance? Who are God’s chosen people? Who does the Bible say are God’s children? And what is the inheritance that God has promised to them? 

Stay with us. This is what we’ll be studying today, here on The Message. 

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Who Are God’s Rightful Heirs?

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The Message

Brother Richie: Hi. Thank you for joining us. I’m Brother Richie Juatco. 

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Brother Mark Vasquez

Minister of the Gospel

Brother Richie Juatco

Minister of the Gospel

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Who Are God’s Rightful Heirs?

Brother Mark Vasquez: And I’m Brother Mark Vazquez. 

Today, many people sincerely believe that they will receive God’s promised inheritance. However, simply claiming to be an heir of God, or believing that one is an heir, is not enough. There must be proof. 

What should that proof be based on? It must be based on God’s own written words. Just as a person’s last will and testament, it serves as the legal document that identifies the rightful heirs, God’s will is found in the Bible. The Bible contains God’s testament, both the Old Testament and the New Testament. And it is through these scriptures that we can find the evidence of who will receive His promised inheritance.

So let’s first start by asking if there is even such a thing. Brother Richie, is there a special inheritance from our Creator? 

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Is there a special inheritance from God?

Brother Richie: Let’s find out. Let’s read what is written in the Holy Scriptures, His words.

We’ll read here in Psalm 33. We’ll read from verse 12. Here it says, 

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. 

[Psalm 33:12 New International Version] 

Brother Richie: Here, the Bible makes clear that God has “people He chose.” What is one of the reasons God has a chosen people? We read, “people he chose for his inheritance.” So there’s no doubt that God has set aside an inheritance for a certain chosen people. 

Brother Mark: And this is what everyone would want to have for themselves.

Brother Richie: Of course. 

Brother Mark: But the obvious question now is, “Who are those chosen? Who are the people who will inherit God’s inheritance?” 

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Who will receive God’s inheritance

Brother Richie: So let’s find out. We’ll read from what’s written in the book of Romans. Romans chapter 8. We’ll read from verses 16 to 17. And this is what it says, 

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

[Romans 8:16-17 New King James Version]

Brother Richie: The Bible mentions here heirs of God. So how does the Bible describe the heirs of God? We read, “we are children of God, and if children, then heirs.” It makes perfect sense that those that will receive the inheritance of God are God’s children. God is the Father. Right, Brother Mark? 

Brother Mark: God is the Father. A father usually is the one that prepares his children’s inheritance. 

Brother Richie: That’s right. And for those that God chooses to be among His children, who do they join as heirs? Well, we read, “we are children of God… heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.”

Brother Mark: But Brother Ritchie, when it comes to that verse that we just read, why are God’s chosen people joint heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ? 

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Why are God’s chosen people joint heirs with Christ?

Brother Richie: That’s a good question. For us to really get a better understanding of why those that God chooses, if He’s going to choose them to be His heirs, well then they are going to be joint heirs with Christ. We’ll be able to understand that here in Hebrews, chapter 1. We’ll read verses 1 to 2. Here it says, 

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

[Hebrews 1:1-2 New King James Version]

Brother Richie: Here the Bible teaches the different ways God speaks to His people in the different dispensations of time. What was mentioned? We read that, “God… has in these last days spoken to us by His Son.” Now the Son of God being referred to here is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Brother Mark: So how is it that the Bible describes the Lord Jesus Christ’s relationship with God? Brother Richie: Well, we read that, “His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things.” Therefore, Christ is the ultimate heir, or the one who will inherit all things that God created. This is the reason why the people God chooses will join the Lord Jesus Christ as God’s children and be joint heirs with Him, or joint heirs with Christ. 

Brother Mark: So what type of inheritance is this? What type of inheritance does God have for His people who are joint heirs with Christ? 

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What type of inheritance does God have for His chosen people?

Brother Richie: So let’s stay here in the Book of Hebrews, but now we’ll go to chapter 9. We’ll read the answer here in verse 15,

And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

[Hebrews 9:15 New King James Version]

Brother Richie: This verse, again, is regarding the Lord Jesus Christ and those God has chosen or called to be His people and join Christ. How is Christ described? We read that, “He is the Mediator of the new covenant.” So this is the reason people need to go through Christ in order to be among those God calls to be His heirs or His children. 

Brother Mark: So what type of inheritance does God have for His children? 

Brother Richie: Well, we read, “those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” So the inheritance waiting for God’s chosen people is, as we read, “the eternal inheritance” or life everlasting. 

Brother Mark: Brother Richie, and to our viewers, this is the greatest inheritance that anyone can receive and it is reserved only for God’s chosen people. 

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Who are God’s Rightful Heirs?

Brother Richie: That’s right. Now, we understand that learning that the people God chooses are considered His children, it helps us understand why they are promised His inheritance. But, Brother Mark, it doesn’t really help us identify who they are, right? 

Brother Mark: Because there might be some who just want to claim that they’re the child of God. So, can anyone just claim to be God’s child? Claiming to be among the children of God is just as easy as claiming to be among the heirs or chosen people of God.

Brother Richie: That’s right. So how is it that we really will be able to identify God’s chosen people? 

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How do you identify God’s chosen people?

Brother Mark: Well, let’s continue to learn, here in the Holy Scriptures. Let’s read here in the Book of 1 Peter. We’ll read 2 and the verse is 9,

But God chose you to be his people. You are royal priests. You are a holy nation. You are a people who belong to God. All of this is so that you can sing his praises. He brought you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

[1 Peter 2:9 New International Reader’s Version]

Brother Mark: These verses are clearly referring to God’s chosen people. Why are we so sure? We read, “God chose you to be his people.” And how are they described? We read, “You are royal priests. You are a holy nation. You are a people who belong to God.” 

Brother Richie: Now, Brother Mark, how did God choose those people to be His? 

Brother Mark: First off, we read, “He brought you out of darkness.” So they are people who used to be in darkness, but God rescued them. 

Brother Richie: Now, after removing them from darkness, where is it that God brings them? 

Brother Mark: We read here, “into his wonderful light.” 

Brother Richie: Now, where is that, where God brings all the people that He chooses, so that they can receive His inheritance? 

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Where can God’s chosen people be found?

Brother Mark: Let’s read that together, here in the Book of Colossians. We’ll read Colossians 1:12 up to verse 14. 

and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

[Colossians 1:12-14 New International Version]

Brother Mark: Here, the Bible again mentions God’s chosen people. How so? We read, “the Father… has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.”

Brother Richie: Now, Brother Mark, how else is the kingdom of light, how else is that called, where God brings people that He’s choosing? 

Brother Mark: We also read that God “brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” Again, the son that God loves is referring to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why does God bring His chosen people to His son, the Lord Jesus Christ? We read, “in whom we have redemption.” What does that mean? We read, “the forgiveness of sins.”

Brother Richie: Brother Mark, how is the Lord Jesus Christ able to give redemption or cleanse the sins of the people that God is choosing?

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How is Christ able to cleanse or redeem God’s chosen people?

Brother Mark: Let’s read how the Lord Jesus Christ is able to do that. We’ll read that together in the Book of Hebrews. We’ll read Hebrews, 9. We’ll read 22 and also read verse 14,

Indeed, according to the Law almost everything is purified by blood, and sins are forgiven only if blood is poured out. Since this is true, how much more is accomplished by the blood of Christ! Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself as a perfect sacrifice to God. His blood will purify our consciences from useless rituals, so that we may serve the living God.

[Hebrews 9:22 & 14 Good News Translation]

Brother Mark: Here we learned that “almost everything is purified by blood.” How about the forgiveness of sins? We read here, “sins are forgiven only if blood is poured out.” 

Brother Richie: Now, Brother Mark, is it just any blood? Can any blood be used to forgive sins or redeem a person from their sins? 

Brother Mark: The Bible is actually very specific. The Bible says here, “the blood of Christ!” What privilege is given to people who are redeemed, paid for, purchased, or purified by Christ’s blood? We read here, “His blood will purify our consciences from useless rituals, so that we may serve the living God.” So, since the only way to be able to serve the living God is by being purchased or redeemed first by Christ’s blood, that is the reason why they are God’s people. 

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Who are God’s Rightful Heirs?

Brother Richie: That’s right. So no one can be among God’s chosen people unless given the right to serve God. And one does not have the right to serve God unless redeemed or purchased by Christ’s blood.

Brother Mark: Now, we are able to identify who the chosen people of God are, that are considered His children, and have the promise of His inheritance. They are the people purchased by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Brother Richie: So, now the question is, “Who are they? Who are the ones that our Lord Jesus Christ redeemed?” He paid for their sins. He cleansed their sins. He purchased with His blood. 

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Who did Christ redeem with His blood?

Brother Mark: Well, let’s read what the Lord Jesus Christ purchased with His blood. Let’s read that together in the Book of Acts. We’ll read 20 and the verse is 28,

Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood. 

[Acts 20:28 George M. Lamsa’s Translation] 

Brother Mark: According to what is written, it is the “church Of Christ” that is God’s chosen people. Why are we so sure that it is the Church Of Christ? What did the Lord Jesus Christ do for His church or for the Church Of Christ? We read, “he has purchased with his blood.”

Brother Richie: So, therefore, those inside the Church Of Christ are considered—by God—as His children and joint heirs with Christ, that are promised God’s inheritance.

Brother Mark: The members of the Church Of Christ were rescued by God from the darkness of this world and brought to His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and received the forgiveness of sins and the right to serve God. 

Brother Richie: That’s right. So, anyone who is not a member of the Church Of Christ, yet claims to be a child of God or among God’s people, will not have a legitimate claim and, unfortunately, will not receive God’s inheritance.

Brother Mark: So, Brother Richie, and for our viewers, since this is the case and this is the truth written in the Holy Scriptures, how can people who are not members of the Church Of Christ be included among God’s heirs, or His chosen people, so that they can receive the promised inheritance? 

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How can people outside the Church be included as God’s heirs?

Brother Richie: You know, that’s the question I’m sure a lot of people, they want to know the answer to. And that is something that we want to share, because we want to give people hope. If someone is not in the Church Of Christ, then what can they do? Let’s read what is recorded here. So, this will be the instruction and the guidance we need. This is in Ephesians 3, the verses 6,

The truth now revealed is that the Gentiles can be fellow heirs of God with Israel. They are eligible to be united in the same body—Christ’s Church. They can all now receive all the blessings God promises in the Great News about Christ.

[Ephesians 3:6 Last Days Bible]

Brother Richie: Here, the Bible mentions the Gentiles, who are not originally among God’s people like ancient Israel. But what opportunity was presented to them? We read, “the Gentiles can be fellow heirs of God with Israel.” How is that possible? We read that, “They are eligible to be united in the same body.” So, being eligible gives them the opportunity to be heirs of God, or children of God, but there is something they still have to do. 

Brother Mark: So there is hope, but what is it that they have to do? 

Brother Richie: Well, we read, “be united in the same body.”

Brother Mark: But what’s that body that someone should be united in? 

Brother Richie: We read, very clear. It is “Christ’s Church.” Therefore, the Gentiles that became heirs of God, or God’s people, were not all the Gentiles, but rather the Gentiles that united in Christ’s Church or the Church Of Christ.

Brother Mark: So, Brother Ritchie, if someone decides to take this invitation, and they decide to be part of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, what blessing do they receive once they unite in or enter into the Church Of Christ? 

Brother Richie: Well, we did read that, “They can all now receive all the blessings God promises in the Great News about Christ.” They were included to receive God’s promised inheritance, because they united in the body or Church Of Christ. 

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Who are God’s Rightful Heirs?

Brother Mark: Is it simply just one claiming that they’re in the body? How does one prove that he or she is united in the body of Christ or the Church Of Christ? 

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How can one prove they are truly a member of the Church Of Christ?

Brother Richie: Oh, that’s good too, because some might say, “I’m already inside.” I claim that. But according to the Bible, how can we tell if someone is really inside the Church Of Christ? We’ll read here in Colossians 3:15. It says, 

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

[Colossians 3:15 New International Version]

Brother Richie: Here, the Bible clarifies who actually has united inside the Church Of Christ. Who are they? We read that they are “members of one body.” 

Brother Mark: So, how are people given this opportunity to be eligible or become members of the body or Church Of Christ? 

Brother Richie: Well, we read, “you were called to peace.” So, we see that the one or people have to be called by God, because God does the choosing, or calling, or bringing of people into the Church to be His children or His heirs. 

Brother Mark: But does that mean that people should just join any church that is called Church Of Christ? How would we know which Church Of Christ people should join? 

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Which is the true Church Of Christ?

Brother Richie: Oh, that’s a good question, because we do know that there are a lot of churches that have the name Church Of Christ. So, how is it that we would know which one to join? We’ll read here in what’s recorded, 2 Peter, chapter 1, verse 10-11. We’ll also read 19,

So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And we have a more reliable word of prophecy, which you would do well to follow, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 

[II Peter 1:10-11 New Living Translation & II Peter 1:19 Modern English Version] 

Brother Richie: Here, Apostle Peter is addressing those called inside the Church Of Christ. 

Brother Mark: And what was his instruction? 

Brother Richie: Well, we read, “dear brothers and sisters, work hard.” What should they work hard to do? He said, “prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen.” Therefore, those inside the true or genuine Church Of Christ should work hard to prove that they themselves are true and genuine. 

Brother Mark: How would one know which church is the genuine Church Of Christ? 

Brother Richie: Well, we did read, Apostle Peter said, “we have a more reliable word of prophecy.” So, the true Church Of Christ can be identified by the prophecies written in the Bible.

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Who are God’s Rightful Heirs?

Brother Richie: So, just as any random person cannot rightfully claim to be among God’s heirs, or His children, or chosen people, without the basis of God’s own written words, it’s the same situation with the Church Of Christ. Just any church with the name Church Of Christ cannot rightfully claim to be the true genuine Church Of Christ, without the basis of being the fulfillment of God’s own prophecies written in the Bible.

Brother Mark: God is the One that specified that His chosen people are those He calls in the Church Of Christ. He is also the One that specifies what part of the world the Church Of Christ will come from, what time period it will re-emerge, and who He will use to preach the truth about the Church Of Christ. 

Brother Richie: So, this is the reason why Apostle Peter said to the members of the Church Of Christ, “we have a more reliable word of prophecy, which you would do well to follow, as to a light that shines in a dark place.” The members of the true Church Of Christ should always hold on to and follow the reliable word of God’s prophecy about their calling. Now, is this Church Of Christ, that you are hearing this message from, is this the true genuine Church Of Christ? We would love the opportunity to prove this to you. 

Brother Mark: We invite and encourage you to come and visit a congregation near you. Or if you want, ask us a question now by clicking the link in the description and inquire how to listen to the basic teachings of the Bible. 

Brother Richie: And if you’re already going through those lessons, or wherever you are in your spiritual journey, make sure that your journey does not stop here. 

Keep watching and growing with us and stay constantly tuned in to The Message. 

On behalf of all of us here at The Message, we are very grateful for you joining us in this episode. But before we conclude, please join us for a short prayer.

Brother Mark:  Our loving Father in heaven, thank You very much. You made Your message known to all of us. You have a great inheritance that You will give to your chosen people and we have faith this is for Your people inside of the Church Of Christ.

Thank You that You have made this message made known, and now that we have friends and visitors that are joining us who are also watching this program. They are also eligible to be able to join the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. So we pray that You will help them to make the decision to also become members of the Church Of Christ, so that all of us will be able to receive Your promised inheritance, and we will be able to receive the promised salvation. 

So please may You take away any kind of obstacle. Help us to be able to do Your will in heaven to join and also stay members of the Church Of Christ, to not only receive Your promised inheritance but also to have the right to glorify and praise Your holy name. 

Our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ, we thank You because You are also inviting us to be united with You. So Lord Jesus, may You continue to be merciful to us as Your servants. May You teach us to be more humble and obedient so we can do Your will and the will of our Father in heaven. 

Father in heaven, we have faith that You will bless all of us to continue to grow in our faith. You will bless those who lead and guide us. We pray all of these things, Father, in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Amen. 

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