Message Five

Heirs of Salvation,
Partners of Christ as God’s Appointed Heir

Scripture Reading: Heb. 1:2, 9, 14; Rom. 8:17; Heb. 2:1-4

1. The Son is God’s appointed Heir of all things— Heb. 1:2:
   1. In His economy God has not only a great operation but also tremendous riches:
      1. God has appointed the Son to be both the Operator and the Heir.
      2. God has given the Son the authority to do everything in His purpose and the right to inherit all things in His operation.
   2. Since the Son is the Heir of God, all that God the Father is and has is His possession—John 16:15:
      1. The Son was appointed by the Father—Heb. 1:2.
      2. The Son was anointed by the Father with the Spirit—Heb. 1:9.
      3. The Son was begotten of God in resurrection to be the Firstborn—Acts 13:33; Rom. 1:3-4; Heb. 1:5.
      4. The Son, in His exaltation, was inaugurated as Lord and Christ to administrate God’s operation—Acts 2:36.
      5. The Son was designated the legal Heir to inherit everything in God’s economy—the earth, the kingdom, the throne, and all things—Psa. 2:8; Dan. 7:13-14; Luke 1:32; Matt. 11:27.
2. We are saved to be the Son’s joint heirs, sharing in His inheritance—Heb. 1:14; Rom. 8:17; Gal. 4:7; Eph. 3:6; Titus 3:7:
   1. As the many sons of God and the many brothers of Christ, we have been saved to be the Son’s joint heirs—Heb. 2:10; John 20:17; Rom. 8:29; Gal. 4:7.
   2. In God’s salvation we are not only born of God to be His sons but also made “heirs of God” and “joint heirs with Christ”—Rom. 8:17:
      1. We are not heirs simply because we are children of God; rather, there is a condition for us to be heirs:
         1. After being born as children, we need to grow in life to become mature sons—John 1:12-13; Rom. 8:16, 14.
         2. We also need to pass through suffering that we may be glorified to become legal heirs—Rom. 8:17.
      2. In order to become the Son’s joint heirs, we need to be born as children of God, grow into maturity, and be legalized.
   3. As the Son’s joint heirs, we not only inherit salvation but also inherit all things with Him— 1 Cor. 3:21-22.
   4. As the Son’s joint heirs, we are with Him joint owners of the universe.
   5. The joint heirs are the partners of the appointed Heir—Heb. 1:9:
      1. Since the firstborn Son is God’s appointed Heir and we as the many sons of God are His joint heirs, we are His partners.
      2. In God’s economy the Son is the One appointed by God to accomplish God’s plan, and we are the Son’s partners in the divine interest—Heb. 3:14.
      3. The Son was anointed by God, and we share with Him this anointing for the fulfillment of God’s purpose—2 Cor. 1:21.
      4. Christ is our Joshua, and we are His Calebs, His partners, comrades, and companions— Num. 14:30.
      5. We are Christ’s partakers and partners— Heb. 1:9; 6:4:
         1. When we enjoy Him, we are His partakers.
         2. When we follow Him, we are His partners.
         3. Being a partaker is for the purpose of being a partner.
3. The “so great a salvation” mentioned in Hebrews 2:3 is able to save us to such an extent that it brings us into partnership with the Son in His appointment; thus, we share in whatever He inherits:
   1. Salvation is nothing less than the wonderful person of Christ Himself—Luke 2:30; 3:6; 19:9:
      1. Christ Himself, as the most profound, marvelous, unlimited, immeasurable One, is our salvation.
      2. For us to be heirs of salvation means that we inherit this profound, marvelous, unlimited, and immeasurable Christ.
   2. “So great a salvation” is great in what Christ is:
      1. As the Son of God—Heb. 1:2a.
      2. As the Son of Man—Heb. 2:5-9.
      3. As the Captain of salvation—Heb. 2:10.
      4. As the High Priest—Heb. 2:17; 3:1; 4:14; 5:10; 6:20.
   3. “So great a salvation” is great in what Christ has done, is doing, and will do:
      1. He made purification of sins—Heb. 1:3; 7:27.
      2. He tasted death for us—Heb. 2:9.
      3. He destroyed the devil and released us from slavery—Heb. 2:14-15.
      4. He is sanctifying us—Heb. 2:11.
      5. He is able to help us—Heb. 2:18.
   4. “So great a salvation” is great in its extent:
      1. It makes us partners of God’s appointed Heir—Heb. 1:2, 9.
      2. It brings us into glory—Heb. 2:10.
      3. It will make us to possess the coming inhabited earth with the firstborn Son—Heb. 2:5.
      4. It will save us to the uttermost—Heb. 7:25.
   5. Concerning “so great a salvation” we should give heed to it, not drift away from it, and not neglect it—Heb. 2:1-4.