The Word of God's Grace vs. God's Inheritance
Acts 20:32: "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified"
Eph. 1:14: "Who is the pledge of our inheritance"
1 Pet. 1:4: "Unto an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, reserved in the heavens for you"
|
Item |
The Word of God's Grace |
God's Inheritance |
|---|---|---|
|
Basic Meaning |
The Triune God Himself, after passing through incarnation, human living, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, given to the saints for their enjoyment; the concrete expression and means of conveying divine grace |
The Triune God Himself and all that He has, all that He has accomplished, and all that He will do for His redeemed people; the divine inheritance that saints legitimately receive, including all blessings related to eternal life |
|
Essential Nature |
• Dynamic, living word • Tool for building up and sanctification • Expression of divine grace • Concrete manifestation of truth and reality |
• Static, eternal inheritance • Object to be enjoyed and received • Substantial content of divine grace • Concrete manifestation of the Triune God's riches |
|
Primary Functions |
Building Function: Provides nourishment of divine elements, edification and equipment of divine knowledge Sanctifying Function: Separates believers from the world unto God through the word of truth Guiding Function: Enables saints to gain inheritance among all the sanctified |
Supply Function: Serves as the substance and riches of saints' life Enjoyment Function: Provides eternal blessings and satisfaction Goal Function: Becomes the ultimate goal of believers' building up and sanctification |
|
Means of Obtaining |
• Requires continuous receiving and digesting • Daily hearing and receiving • Being constituted and transformed by the word • Being built up in the truth |
• Legitimately obtained right at regeneration • Received by faith, not by works • Lawful inheritance purchased by Christ's precious blood • The Spirit as pledge and guarantee |
|
Time Dimension |
Present: Daily speaking to saints, continuous work of building up and sanctification Process: Continuously functioning throughout Christian life Eternal: Continues as means of building up and sanctification |
Present: Partaking and enjoying in God's New Testament jubilee (foretaste and firstfruits) This Life: Daily partaking and enjoying our inheritance Eternal: Full enjoyment in the coming age and eternity |
|
Practical Examples |
Biblical Examples: • Paul's daily speaking of the word of grace in Ephesus for three years • The Lord Jesus sanctifying disciples with the word of truth • Sanctifying the church through washing with water in the word Modern Applications: • Constitution through Life-study messages • Daily Bible reading and receiving truth supply |
Biblical Examples: • Christ as the portion allotted to all saints (Col. 1:12) • The Spirit as foretaste and pledge of inheritance (Eph. 1:14) • Incorruptible inheritance reserved in the heavens Modern Applications: • Daily enjoyment of divine life's riches • Sharing inheritance among saints |
|
Application Principles |
Individual Level: • Daily receiving God's word supply • Being constituted and transformed by truth • Being sanctified in the word Corporate Level: • Sharing God's word among saints • Mutual building up and supply • Being constituted together by truth |
Individual Level: • Drawing upon inheritance riches by faith • Daily enjoying divine life • Expecting eternal fullness Corporate Level: • Gaining inheritance among all sanctified ones • Corporately enjoying divine inheritance • Corporately entering into inheritance riches |
|
Mutual Relationship |
As Means: The means and tool for gaining inheritance As Process: Dynamic process of building up and sanctification As Condition: Receiving the word of grace as condition for gaining inheritance As Instrument: Vessel for conveying inheritance riches |
As Goal: The purpose that the word of grace aims to achieve As Result: Ultimate result of building up and sanctification As Content: The substance that the word of grace conveys As Blessing: The riches that sanctified ones will gain |
|
Important Distinctions |
• Active function of building up, sanctifying, and supplying • Requires continuous receiving and constitution • Form of living word and truth • Functions for building up all believers • Emphasizes dynamic building process |
• Passively enjoyed and obtained • Legitimate right already obtained at regeneration • Form of substantial life and riches • Only sanctified ones can obtain it • Emphasizes static rich content |
|
Related Scriptures |
John 17:17: "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth" Eph. 5:26: Sanctifying the church through washing with water in the word 1 Thess. 5:23: Complete sanctification |
Col. 1:12: "Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you for a share of the allotted portion of the saints in the light" Rom. 8:23: The Spirit as firstfruits and redemption of body |
Core Relationship Summary:
The Word of God's Grace and God's Inheritance have an inseparable relationship of means and goal, process and result, instrument and content:
- 1. The word of grace is the only way to gain inheritance - Through receiving and being constituted by God's word, believers can be built up and sanctified
- 2. Inheritance is the rich content of the word of grace - What the word conveys and supplies is precisely the substance of divine inheritance
- 3. Sanctification is the connecting point - The word of grace brings sanctification, and sanctified ones can gain inheritance
- 4. Both complement each other - Experienced as foretaste in this life, fully realized in eternity
Practical Significance:
Believers need to daily receive the supply of God's word of grace (such as Bible reading, Life-study messages, etc.), be constituted and sanctified by truth, thereby enjoying God's rich inheritance, from the firstfruits and foretaste in this life to the full enjoyment in eternity.
*Please refer to April 2025 International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training General Topic: Oneness and the Vital Aspects of Acts Chapter 6 Grace in Acts
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