Finding Jesus in the Bible…So We Can Follow Him in Life
Bible Reading Plans
- Plan One: New Testament Only
- Plan Two: New Testament + Psalms
- Plan Three: New Testament + History
- Plan Four: The Entire Bible – Year 1 of 3, Year 2 of 3, Year 3 of 3
Don’t know which plan? Go to A Christ-Centered Bible Reading Plan: Quick Start.
Extras
Verse of the Day, Audio Capsule, and Video Minute
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Christ Is God
Chapter 37 – The Inheritance of Christ
The Bible clearly speaks of Jesus as an heir – specifically, “the heir of all things.”
Hebrews 1:1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,
Hebrews 1:2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
The idea of Jesus being the heir of all things is rooted in the Old Testament – specifically, the messianic promises. Here is one of the most well-known references to the Son being the heir of everything.
Psalm 2:7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Psalm 2:8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
When a king dies, his son ascends to the throne…because the son is the heir.
Psalm 45:16 In place of your fathers will be your sons;
You shall make them princes in all the earth.
The son takes the place of the father by receiving all that was the father’s.
And this is why Jesus said:
Matthew 16:27 “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.
Matthew 16:28 “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
Note that Jesus said He would come “in the glory of His Father” – not come “in the glory of the Son.” That is the way it is when a king’s son receives his inheritance from his father. The son has a certain glory as the heir apparent. But it would not be right for the son to come in his father’s glory while the father is still alive.
But can God die? This question sounds ridiculous, but let’s not be hasty in answering it.
If the Bible teaches us anything about life, it teaches us that death is not the cessation of existence. If death means no longer existing, then, no, God cannot die. But if death is like a seed becoming a plant, a tadpole becoming a frog, or a caterpillar becoming butterfly – then, yes, God can die. It’s called metamorphosis.
When “the Word became flesh” (John 1:14), that was a metamorphosis. The angel of the Lord became Jesus, the child of Mary. Another metamorphosis occurred when Jesus Christ rose from the dead to sit at the right hand of God. And a final metamorphosis occurred when Christ ascended to the throne of God in the Second Coming. These were changes in form, not cessations of existence.
You and I will change in form when we die – not cease to exist. The only people who believe death is cessation of existence are atheists.
You may recall that I showed you in Chapter 27 “From Angel of the Lord…to Lord!” how Jesus inherited the name “Lord” when He was raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of God.
Hebrews 1:3 …When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Hebrews 1:4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
Hebrews 1:5 For to which of the angels did He ever say,
“YOU ARE MY SON,
TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU”?…
In the same fashion, Jesus inherited the names “God” and “Father” when He came again.
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