Christ in Us Our Hope of Glory

Major denominations are trying to figure out how non-Christians might be saved apart from Jesus Christ. But can it be done?

A fundamental tenet of all Christianity proclaims that none can inherit eternal life except through Jesus Christ. Therefore it came as a great surprise when two major Christian denominations expressed the possibility of salvation apart from accepting Christ as Savior. In a Midnight Call report of September 1998, the Presbyterian Church considered how non-Christians, including Jews, Muslims and Buddhists, might be destined for eternal life. The following month, Pope John Paul II stated that "through the practice of what is good in their own religious traditions, and following the dictates of their consciences, members of other religions positively respond to God's invitation and receive salvation in Jesus Christ, even though they may not recognize Him as their Savior " ( The Christians News & Views Newsletter, Vol. 4, Number 10, October 1998, emphasis added throughout).

In this article, we'll read how Christ was the sole inheritor of eternal life. And we'll unlock the mystery of how it is possible for all mankind to become coheirs with Christ.

Inherit the Kingdom of God

God revealed prior to Jesus' birth that His Son would be the "horn of salvation" who would remember the promise of His holy covenant which God gave to Abraham (Luke 1:68-73 [68] Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
[69] And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical.;
[70] As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
[71] That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
[72] To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
[73] The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

See All...). The promise God gave to Abraham was about inheritance and about salvation (Hebrews 11:8-9 [8] By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
[9] By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

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In Matthew 25:34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
See All..., Christ said those who would be blessed of the Father would inherit the Kingdom. God's Kingdom will be on the earth, therefore Christ promised that the meek will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
See All...).

The statements above indicate many will inherit God's Kingdom. Yet, paradoxically, ScriptureThe divinely inspired writings of both the Old and New Testaments. The term Scripture is used in the New Testament to refer to both the Hebrew Bible (Luke 24:44-45) and the new apostolic writings accepted as inspired (2 Peter 3:16; 1 Timothy 5:18). also indicates that Jesus Christ is the sole inheritor. Both indicators are true. Understanding this paradox will absolutely prove how and why salvation comes by no other name than Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ-Sole Inheritor

As we look into the ScripturesThe divinely inspired writings of both the Old and New Testaments. The term Scripture is used in the New Testament to refer to both the Hebrew Bible (Luke 24:44-45) and the new apostolic writings accepted as inspired (2 Peter 3:16; 1 Timothy 5:18)., take special notice of who God gives claim to His Kingdom. From the cradle to the grave, God's Word depicts Jesus Christ as the possessor of His Kingdom.

Before Jesus was born, Luke 1:33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
See All... relates the prophecy spoken by the angel Gabriel to Mary, "And He [Jesus] will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." Before His death, Christ told Pilate, " My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
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Many scriptures are very convincing concerning Christ's sole inheritance. The account in Luke 19:12He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
See All... describes the analogy of Jesus Christ (a nobleman) going to a far country "to receive for himself " a kingdom. When Christ spoke about some of His disciples seeing the Kingdom of God in a vision, He defined it as "His kingdom" (Matthew 16:28Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
See All...). Also in Colossians 1:13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
See All..., the Kingdom is called "the kingdom of the Son of His love." We read in 2 Peter 1:11For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
See All..., "…the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

God appointed Jesus Christ as heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
See All...). He is the official heir to God's Kingdom. And Christ rewards us, for "…from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ" (Colossians 3:24Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
See All...). He cannot reward us with an inheritance that doesn't belong to Him. But the Kingdom of God does belong to Christ, as we have just seen.

What About God?

Lest we misunderstand Christ's role in the plan of God, it is important to highlight the fact that God is the one who gives the Kingdom to Christ . That's why we find the term "kingdom of Christ and God" also used in the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:5For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
See All...). As explained in 1 Corinthians 15:27-28 [27] For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
[28] And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

See All..., all things have been put under Christ, but it is understood that God is not under the authority of Christ. God is the One who put all things under the feet of Christ.

Christ will rule until the last enemy, death, is destroyed. "Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all" (1 Corinthians 15:28And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
See All...). Christ will at that time deliver the Kingdom to the Father (verse 24).

What About Us?

Up to this point, we have seen that Jesus Christ is the recipient of God's Kingdom from the Father. But where does this leave the rest of us? Why is Christ the sole inheritor? How can He share it with us?

How you and I receive inheritance involves a mystery that few understand. This mystery proclaims once again why salvation can come only through Jesus. But in order to understand this mystery, we must recognize why, technically speaking, we are not qualified to receive inheritance but Christ is.

Death Negates Inheritance

Let's look at inheritance from a human standpoint. We all recognize that a child's promised inheritance from a parent would be useless if the child were to die before receiving that inheritance. From God's point of view, that's why you and I could not receive the inheritance: we are worthy of eternal death. And the dead cannot receive anything!

Romans 6:23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
See All... tells us, "the wages of sin is death." In explaining how we died, Paul wrote that the commandment, which was meant to bring life, brought death because sin deceived us and killed us (Romans 7:10-11 [10] And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
[11] For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

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He explained further that it was not the commandment that caused death . Rather it was sin- breaking commandments (verse 13). James writes a similar statement, "Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death" (James 1:15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
See All...). We understand then, that because we deserve death and are looked upon by God as being as good as dead, we cannot receive an inheritance, of and by ourselves. This brings us to the intriguing question: How can we be delivered from death and receive an inheritance?

Quoting Paul again, "Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God- through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:24-25 [24] O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
[25] I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

See All...). Eternal life is a gift through Jesus Christ. Along with Paul, the apostle Peter understood that "there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
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Abraham and His Seed

Jesus Christ is the only person, albeit the only begotten Son of God, who never sinned (2 Corinthians 5:21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
See All...; 1 Peter 2:22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
See All...; 1 John 3:5And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
See All...). He, unlike all mankind, does not deserve the death penalty. Therefore, He is the only one qualified to inherit God's Kingdom.

With this in mind, it should come as no surprise to discover that the promise to inherit the Kingdom of God was given to only one of Abraham's descendants. Writing about the subject of inheritance (Galatians 3:18For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
See All...), the apostle Paul made the following assertion, "Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, 'And to seeds,' as of many, but as of one , 'And to your Seed,' who is Christ" (verse 16).

Paul here specifically called attention to the fact that God did not mean many seeds. He meant only one Seed. Inheritance comes to the one Seed, Jesus Christ. Verse 19 of Galatians 3 substantiates this point when he says, "…till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made…." Again we read of only one Seed-Christ!

Jesus Christ in Us Makes Us Alive

We read above where Paul said that Jesus Christ would deliver us from death. Herein lies the mystery. How does Christ accomplish this deliverance and insure our inheritance? Understanding this mystery is the only way to completely understand salvation through Jesus Christ and what God requires of us if we are to be saved.

Remember that God considers us dead because of our sins. Why, then, can we share in Christ's inheritance? Notice the scripture containing one of the greatest keys in the entire BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ.: Paul "became a minister…to fulfill the word of God, the mystery … which is Christ in you, the hope of glory . Him we preach…that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus" (Colossians 1:25-28 [25] Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
[26] Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
[27] To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
[28] Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

See All...).

The mystery of inheritance is Christ in us! If we are "in Christ," we have now actually become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
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Notice what an oft-memorized scripture, Galatians 2:20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
See All..., states, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me ; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." The very mind and actions of Jesus Christ are being duplicated within us. This is also explained in Galatians 4:19My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
See All..., Philippians 1:20, Romans 8:9-10 [9] But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
[10] And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

See All... and 2 Corinthians 4:11For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
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It now naturally follows that since we have Christ's new name, we are rooted and built up in Him, His life is shown in us and Jesus Christ is magnified, formed and living in us, then we can be inheritors with Him. Paul concludes the same when he writes, "if you are Christ's, then are you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:29And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
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It is only because Christ is in us that we share His inheritance. Despite what any theological source dictates, recognition of Christ living His life in us is a precursor to salvation.

This important mystery bears repeating. We could not receive eternal inheritance because we sinned and brought upon ourselves eternal death. Dead men and women receive no inheritance. But Jesus Christ is the special begotten Son of God who was prophesied to receive the Kingdom, did not sin and did not reap eternal death! Therefore He is the only Seed of Abraham eligible to receive eternal inheritance. However, since Christ is in us, we can be "heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ " (Romans 8:17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
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Inheritance and God's Spirit

Some of us may be familiar with parents who have given their full inheritance to one child, leaving the other children with nothing. No doubt, in the eyes of the parents, the one had qualified for the inheritance and the others had not. If the other children had the same character traits, all the children would have shared the inheritance.

God makes it possible for us to have the same character traits as Jesus Christ. He has literally given us the mind to think and act like Jesus Christ. "And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'AbbaAn ancient nation bordered by Rueben in the North, Edom in the south, and the Dead Sea to the west and the desert to the east; the descendants of the firstborn son of Lot and his eldest daughter (Genesis 19:30-37)., Father!' Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ" (Galatians 4:6-7 [6] And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, AbbaAn ancient nation bordered by Rueben in the North, Edom in the south, and the Dead Sea to the west and the desert to the east; the descendants of the firstborn son of Lot and his eldest daughter (Genesis 19:30-37)., Father.
[7] Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

See All...) . The Spirit of God is given to us through Christ when we repent and are baptized for the remission of our sins as Peter stated on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
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The good newsThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament . for all mankind is that we can be blessed with inheriting God's Kingdom through Jesus Christ ! When we have faith in Christ and live according to God's laws, as Christ did, with the Holy Spirit in us, that Spirit is one of promise which guarantees our jointly inheriting His Kingdom (Ephesians 1:13-14 [13] In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
[14] Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

See All...).

Satan's Deceptive GospelThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament .

Now, doesn't it seem an oddity that, through the power of Christ's mind in us, we can actually attain an eternal inheritance at the resurrection from the dead, and yet some say it is not only unnecessary but also impossible to keep the very laws that Christ kept?

In this lawless world, it becomes necessary to remember a truth Jesus expounded in the Sermon on the Mount. Only the righteous will possess the Kingdom (Matthew 5:10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
See All...). The Spirit of God, the mind of Christ in us, not only guarantees inheritance, it also convicts us of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
See All...). Paul made it extremely clear that through Christ " the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:1-4 [1] There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
[2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
[3] For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
[4] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

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Satan has deceived the world into thinking that Christ obeyed the law in our stead. That's why the "gospel of Christ" has been so misunderstood by the world today. Did Christ obey the law for us? Are we no longer obligated to obey the Ten Commandments?

Absolutely not! Faith in Christ does not void God's law! "On the contrary," Paul clarified in Romans 3:31Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
See All..., "we establish the law." Jesus Christ did not obey the law for us; we obey the law of God through Christ in us ! Through the Holy Spirit, Christ empowers us to live the way of love for God and love for neighbor that is embodied in God's laws (Romans 13:8-10 [8] Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
[9] For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
[10] Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

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The major difference between the Old and New Covenants is that through His Spirit, God places His laws in our hearts and minds rather than on tables of stone (Hebrews 8:7-13 [7] For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
[8] For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
[9] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
[10] For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
[11] And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
[12] For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
[13] In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

See All...). Without God's Spirit, we have no chance to obey God, no chance of an immortal resurrection, no chance to inherit God's Kingdom, no chance for salvation. On the other hand, we can yield to the conviction of God's Spirit, obey Him and live for all eternity.

Blessings Through Christ

When God told Abraham, "In you all the nations shall be blessed" (Galatians 3:8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
See All...), He really meant it. Through the one Seed of Abraham, Jesus Christ, the blessing of salvation would be possible for all. And so we have the blessing pronouncements by Christ Himself in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-11 [3] Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
[4] Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
[5] Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
[6] Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
[7] Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
[8] Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
[9] Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
[10] Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
[11] Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

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"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake."

All these blessings would come through the one speaking these words—Jesus Christ. So let us be acutely aware that God has centered His entire plan of salvation in Christ. Without Him as our Lord and Savior, there is no chance for salvation, "for in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power" (Colossians 2:9-10 [9] For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
[10] And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

See All...). UN