Shared Inheritance

The close of the section dealing with the fraternity between Christ's people and Himself underscores the marvelous relationship into which those people have been placed through the grace of adoption. They have become the children of God, and that relationship means that they have been been placed in the legal position of being heirs along with Christ. Thus, all that Christ has deserved through His life and death must be conferred as well upon all of His people. The assurance of this shared inheritance is confirmed by the witness of the Holy Spirit. Christ's people not only inherit along with Christ, but they also gain some sense of His sufferings through their fellowship with Him, and they have the prospect of being glorified together with Him.