When does a believer become an heir with the Father and the Son?
A believer becomes an heir with the Father and the Son at the moment of believing. Paul teaches that unlike Roman or Greek practice requiring years of tutoring, the moment one becomes a believer, they are immediately placed as an heir, from day one, as a joint heir with Christ.
Les explains that in the Roman and Greek culture, a child born to the husband and wife was put under tutors, educated and trained to come in at an equal level with the father, and when reaching that point went through the rites of adoption. The Hebrew equivalent was the Bar Mitzvah at age 14, but that was not the same category because Romans and Greeks were in the secular world preparing a co-worker in the business. Paul teaches that the moment we become a believer, we do not go through years of tutoring and training; we are immediately placed as an heir with the Father and the Son. This was the predestinated position for a believer, not to heaven or hell, but to be with Christ from day one as a joint heir in the process of the adoption. He also says in Ephesians 1:11 that we have obtained an inheritance and are joint heirs with Christ, meaning there are other parties, and in the secular economy, if the other half passes off the scene, the heir ends up with it.
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
More Questions
Do Christians become heirs with Christ immediately at salvation?
Paul teaches that the moment a person becomes a believer, he or she is immediately placed as an heir with the Father and the Son, without going through years of tutoring and training as in Roman adoption.
Why does God give believers the position of adopted sons?
The believer's glorious position as an adopted son and joint heir is entirely by virtue of the grace of God, not by anything earned or trained for.