Romans 8:17

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. AND IF CHILDREN, THEN HEIRS, [ kai (G2532) kleeronomoi (G2818)] - 'heirs also.' HEIRS OF GOD - of our Father's kingdom (compare Galatians 4:7, "and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ"), AND JOINT-HEIRS [ sungkleeronomoi (G4789 )] WITH CHRIST - as "the First-born among many brethren" ...

17._And if children_, _etc. _By an argument, taken from what is annexed or what follows, he proves that our salvation consists in having God as our Father. It is for children that inheritance is appointed: since God then has adopted us as his children, he has at the same time ordained an inheritance for us. He then intimates what sort of inheritance it is — that it is heavenly, and therefore incorruptible and eternal, such as Christ possesses; and his possession of it takes away all uncertainty: and it is a commendation of the exellency of this inheritance, that we shall partake of it in common with the only-begotten Son of God. It is however the design of Paul, as it will presently appear more fully, highly to extol this inheritance promised to us, that we may be contented with it, and manfully despise the allurements of the world, and patiently bear whatever troubles may press on us in...

10-17 If the Spirit be in us, Christ is in us. He dwells in the heart by faith. Grace in the soul is its new nature; the soul is alive to God, and has begun its holy happiness which shall endure for ever. The righteousness of Christ imputed, secures the soul, the better part, from death. From hence we see how much it is our duty to walk, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. If any habitually live according to corrupt lustings, they will certainly perish in their sins, whatever they profess. And what can a worldly life present, worthy for a moment to be put against this noble prize of our high calling? Let us then, by the Spirit, endeavour more and more to mortify the flesh. Regeneration by the Holy Spirit brings a new and Divine life to the soul, though in a feeble state. And the sons of God have the Spirit to work in them the disposition of children; they have not the spirit of b...

Verse 17. _AND IF CHILDREN, THEN HEIRS_] For the _legitimate_ children can alone inherit the estate. This is not an estate to which they succeed in consequence of the death of a former possessor; it is like the promised land, _given by God himself_, and divided among the children of the family. _HEIRS OF GOD_] It is neither an _earthly_ portion nor a _heavenly_ portion; but GOD _himself_, who is to be their portion. It is not heaven they are to inherit; it is GOD, who is infinitely greater and more glorious than heaven itself. With such powers has God created the soul of man, that nothing less than _himself_ can be a sufficient and satisfactory portion for the mind of this most astonishing creature. _JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST_] Partaking of the same eternal glory with the glorified human nature of Christ. _IF SO BE THAT WE SUFFER WITH HIM_] Observe,

AND IF CHILDREN - If adopted into his family. THEN HEIRS - That is, he will treat us as sons. An heir is one who succeeds to an estate. The meaning here is, that if we sustain the relation of sons to God, that we shall be treated as such, and admitted to share his favors. An adopted son comes in for a part of the inheritance, Numbers 27. HEIRS OF GOD - This expression means that we shall be partakers of that inheritance which God confers on his people. That inheritance is his favor here, and eternal life hereafter. This is an honor infinitely higher than to be heir to the most princely earthly inheritance; or than to be the adopted son of the most magnificent earthly monarch. AND JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST - Christ is by eminence the “Son of G

EXPOSITION ROMANS 8:1 (_c_) _The blessed condition and assured hope of such as are in Christ _Jesus. The summary of the contents of this chapter, which follows the Exposition, may be referred to in the first place by the student, so as to assist comprehension of the line of thought. ROMANS 8:1 THERE IS THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION TO THEM WHICH ARE IN CHRIST JESUS. (The additional words of this verse in the Textus Receptus have but slight support, having probably been supplied from Romans 8:4. They are out of place here.) "Nunc venit ad liberationem et libertatem. Non autem ponit adversativam δὲ, _autem,_ sed conclusivam a!ra, erg

AND IF CHILDREN, THEN HEIRS,.... Children, whether natural or adopted, are heirs to their parents, and according to the Roman laws, which some think the apostle here respects, whether male or female; but according to the Jewish laws c, females did not inherit only in case of want of male issue; for though Job's daughters inherited with his sons, this was a peculiar case; and the Jewish writers say d, it was מתוך חשיבתן ויופין, "on account of their worth and beauty"; yet adopted children among them, whether male or female, were equal to natural children in possessing the inheritance; however, the apostle includes both here, who are all one in Christ Jesus, and are all the children of God by faith in him, and so HEIRS OF GOD: either efficiently, he makes them heirs; they are not so by nature, nor do they become such by the works of the law; but God his rich grace adopts them into his fami...

This precious chapter reminds us of the description of the land of Havilah, «where there is gold, and the gold of that land is good.» Romans 8:1. _There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,_ There is no condemnation to them; that is gone, and gone for ever. Not only is part of it removed, but the whole of it is gone: «There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.» This is their legal status before God, in Christ Jesus, without condemnation; and this is their character: Romans 8:1. _Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit._ Their daily conversation is according to their new spiritual nature, and according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit; and not according to their fleshly nature, and the guida

CHAPTER 8 _ 1. In Christ; no Condemnation but Deliverance. (Romans 8:1 .)_ 2. Flesh and Spirit. (Romans 8:5 .) 3. The Body and the Spirit. (Romans 8:9 .) 4. Sons and Heirs of God. (Romans 8:12 .) 5. The Time of Travail and Groaning; the Future Redemption. (Romans 8:18 .) 6. The intercession of the Spirit. (Romans 8:26 .) 7. The Saints Calling; the Challenge and the Assurance. ...

So Christian men stand toward life and death (Romans 8:1); how _toward God?_ ROMANS 8:14. Justified (Romans 8:3) and sanctified (Romans 8:6), they are SONS AND HEIRS OF GOD, while they are led by God's Spirit. Romans 8:15 f. Christ's spirit of sonship replaces the old spirit of servitude engendering fear (_cf. Romans 2:8_ f., also Hebrews 2:15;...