Sometimes it hits me with quiet force: we are the inheritance God cherishes, not because of what we’ve achieved or how well we’ve played the game, but simply because of who He is and what He has done through Christ. When Paul writes about “the glory of His inheritance in the saints,” it’s not just theology or a fancy phrase—it’s an invitation to recognize our immeasurable worth in God’s eyes, anchored in grace, not performance. And that changes everything we think about our place in the body of Christ and the purpose we carry.
God’s Inheritance? Us. Seriously.
Think about this for a minute: an inheritance usually means something we get after someone else passes on—a transfer of wealth or possessions. In the natural, it’s often about money, land, or treasured family heirlooms. But here, the Apostle Paul flips the script. He tells us the saints—those called out by grace—are God’s inheritance. That’s a mind-bender.
We’re not talking about God inheriting stuff as much as we are about His own soul delighting in His people. You might say, “But doesn’t God own everything already?” Sure, all creation is His by right. But to single out the saints as His inheritance speaks to something intimate and personal. Out of the entire universe, He calls us His prized possession. That’s a level of affection and value beyond any human interpretation.
And here’s the kicker: it’s not because we’re perfect or have earned a spot on some celestial leaderboard. Nope. We are His inheritance because of grace. Paul nails this in Ephesians 1:18-19, where he prays that believers might “know the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.” The emphasis is on “toward us”—God’s power expressed through grace toward undeserving saints is the basis for this inheritance.
Inheritance Worth Fighting For
Now, this isn’t just some passive ownership. If you’re familiar with Scripture, you know inheritance carries a weight of responsibility—and sometimes conflict. The idea of inheritance is threaded through the Bible with hints of struggle: siblings disputing over birthrights, enemies trying to steal what isn’t theirs, and the constant tension between the flesh and spirit over who claims the prize.
Yet God’s view? It’s profoundly different. He sees us as victorious heirs and joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). Not only that, but the inheritance to which we belong is tied to resurrection power, eternal life, and glory. And no, it’s not because we’ve been good little Christians earning brownie points. It’s because God’s grace has reckoned us righteous and adopted us into His family. To be the inheritance entrusted to the Father means that our sanctification, our very transformation, is the glory that reflects His handiwork.
I’ve wrestled with this a lot. How often have I felt “not enough” or a work in progress too flawed to be an inheritance? Yet the Spirit whispers differently: “You are my possession, refined by grace, cherished in love.”
The Glory Isn’t Just for the Future
There’s a common trap in grace theology—thinking that glory is some distant prize that only kicks in when we reach heaven. But Paul encourages us to grasp the now reality of being God’s inheritance. It’s not just a future hope but a present identity. And here’s the thing: if the glory of His inheritance lives in us today, doesn’t that demand a radical shift in how we live, how we see ourselves, and the world around us?
This inheritance includes the fullness of Christ’s life and resurrection power that courses through us now. Grace isn’t a hand-me-down gift that sits in the attic until needed; it’s an active, pulsing source of strength to walk in newness of life. Our very scars and failures become part of this glory because grace doesn’t erase the past—it redeems it.
When we internalize this, it makes every trial less heavy and every victory sweeter. The Apostle’s gaze pulls us beyond what we see to the reality that we are a holy treasure, a living display of Christ’s triumph.
Living as God’s Inheritance: The Practical Side
Okay, this sounds awesome in theory, but what does it look like practically? How do we carry this inheritance day-to-day? It starts with the mindset Paul exhorts—an awareness that we dwell corporately and individually as God’s prized possession. That awareness breeds:
– Confidence without arrogance. When you know you’re the Father’s inheritance, you walk with boldness, not pride. You recognize your value and your need for grace simultaneously.
– Joy in imperfection. The saints aren’t perfect, but they’re perfecting. God’s grace covers the mess while working powerfully to shape us. That’s glorious.
– A hunger for holiness without works-righteousness. You want to please the Father because you are loved, not to earn it. There’s freedom in that!
– Love that spills over. If we are the Father’s inheritance, then we represent Him on earth. Loving one another becomes a declaration of that glory.
It’s also a strong encouragement to consider our corporate identity. Scripture says the saints collectively are His inheritance (Ephesians 1:18). We aren’t a random grab-bag of individuals but a positioned, treasured family. The Church, flawed as she may be, is the living, breathing display of God’s richest inheritance.
Grace Redesigned: Not Our Goodness, But His Glory
If you come from a place of grace, this is no surprise: glory is never about what we do but what He’s done. And what He’s done is breathtaking. It is impossible to underplay how significant it is for God to view us as an inheritance. Not through the lens of our achievements or religious devotion, but by Christ’s finished work.
This calls us to lay down any false measure of worth we try to create and embrace the radical truth of our identity in Him. When Paul calls us “the glory of His inheritance,” I believe he’s inviting us to bask in that worth, to live as what we truly are—holy, loved, and treasured, not because of who we are but because of whose we are.
For those days when you feel like you’re less-than or forgotten, may this truth anchor you: God’s own glory is displayed in you.
For a daily boost of faith and reassurance, check out an uplifting Scripture verse for each day. It’s a simple way to keep the truth alive amid life’s chaos.
When you get back down to brass tacks, the glory of His inheritance in the saints is about relationship first, reward second, and grace always. We are more than sons and daughters; we are the Father’s prized treasure, entrusted with His glory on earth as a testimony of His extravagant love.
And that, my friend, is worth celebrating every day.