Discipleship is the test to reveal how we will rule and reign with Christ. It is training time for reigning time. Right now we are determining what reward we will receive at the Bema Seat of Christ after we are caught up to be with Christ in the air.
We glanced at three specific warnings this morning, concerning our inheritance, in 1 Corinthians 6:9-12, Galatians 5:16-25, and Ephesians 5:5-11. In each case, Paul lists specific activities or works of the flesh that can strip a believer of eternal inheritance when those activities become a lifestyle. I am reminded of an old axiom, Sow a thought, reap and act. Sow an act, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a lifestyle. We know that we are new creatures in Christ, with a new nature empowered by the Holy Spirit. But, we also know that our old Adamic nature, our flesh nature is a powerful enemy to who we are in Christ. Giving in to the flesh in the long term can and will strip us of eternal inheritance. As 1 Corinthians 15:50 clearly states...Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Romans 6:11-17: 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Romans 6 instructs us that we are the ones who decide whether to die to self or to be a slave to our flesh. Whoever we yield to will be our master. So, we are the ones in charge of our inheritance.
Romans 14:17, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, and 2 Corinthians 5:6-11 explain there is no escape from our accountability to Christ for how we served him in this life. The building materials we use are solely up to each individual. If we us good eternal building materials (gold, silver, and precious stones), we receive an eternal reward. If we choose poor building materials of temporal value, from serving Christ from selfish motives (wood, hay, and stubble), it will be burned away, but the individual will be saved, even by the fire.
The Five Crowns available to all who faithfully serve Christ:
The Incorruptible Crown given for a life of temperance: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
The Crown of Righteousness reserved for all who love and anticipate the imminent return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at the rapture: 2 Timothy 4:7-8
The Crown of Life is given to those who live a life of self-sacrifice even unto death: Revelation 2:10
The Crown of Rejoicing is reserved for all believers who invest their lives in others, sharing the gospel, and assisting immature believers to maturity: 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
The Crown of Glory is rewarded to all believers who humbly take on leadership responsibilities in the body of Christ. 1 Peter 5:1-4
2 Timothy 4:2: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
In reading Romans 8:16-23, we see that passive inheritance is entering the kingdom of God by birth...heirs of God This is our position in Christ. We are declared righteous by the finished work of Christ. Active inheritance occurs when we seek to be conformed to Christ through living lives of faithful obedience. All of us who are members of the body of Christ will receive our final and eternal reward of the adoption of our bodies at the rapture. Our mortal corruptible bodies will become immortal and incorruptible! Amen & Amen. Oh, that will be glory for us all! 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, 1 Corinthians 15:50-54
We shall get a glimpse into the glory of the kingdom next Sunday!
