Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the King James Version ( KJV ). Ephesians 1:1-12 read as follows:
"PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ."
The phrase "in whom also we have obtained an inheritance," in verse eleven ( above ), has a cross-reference to Romans 8:17. Romans 8:12-17 read as follows:
"12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 and 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."
The Greek word ( Greek [ 2818 ] ) for the word "heirs," in verse seventeen ( above ), is defined as follows:
"a sharer by lot, i.e. an inheritor (lit. or fig.)." [ See ABINGDON'S STRONG'S EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE OF THE BIBLE, STRONG, JAMES, S.T.D., LL.D., ABINGDON PRESS, NASHVILLE, Copyright, 1890, by JAMES STRONG, MADISON, N.J., ( A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek/New Testament with their Renderings in the King James Version, p. 55. ). ]
If you, the reader, will notice, an inheritance is a right of a Christian ( see Acts 2:38, 41, and 47; 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39, for example ); 11:19-30 ( especially verse 26, for example ), Romans 6:1-4 ( especially verses 3 and 4, for example ), Galatians 3:26, 27, Colossians 1:1-23 ( especially verse 20, for example ), and Revelation 1:1-5 ( especially verse 5, for example ), for example ), as is implied in verse seven ( above ). However, this right of inheritance is conditional upon our willingness to suffer with Christ ( as we read in verse seventeen, above ).
Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, and 151, John 17:1, 3, and 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ). If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:
<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>.
NOTE: Please read the Thursday, July 23, 2015 entry to this weblog to find additional facts regarding our right, as Christians, to suffer in the kingdom of heaven.
NOTE2: As of Saturday, March 19, 2016, Ephesians 2:18 ( NCV ) reads as follows: "18 Yes, it is through Christ we all have the right to come to the Father in one Spirit." Thus, as Christians, we also have this right ( see also John 10:9, for example ). The statement, in the Thursday, July 23, 2015 entry to this weblog, that we have no rights in the kingdom of heaven except to suffer for Christ, is not correct, to the degree that we have more than one right as Christians. The positive aspect of this observation is that I am growing "in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" ( see 2 Peter 3:18; NCV, for example ).
NOTE2: As of Saturday, March 19, 2016, Ephesians 2:18 ( NCV ) reads as follows: "18 Yes, it is through Christ we all have the right to come to the Father in one Spirit." Thus, as Christians, we also have this right ( see also John 10:9, for example ). The statement, in the Thursday, July 23, 2015 entry to this weblog, that we have no rights in the kingdom of heaven except to suffer for Christ, is not correct, to the degree that we have more than one right as Christians. The positive aspect of this observation is that I am growing "in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" ( see 2 Peter 3:18; NCV, for example ).
