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Acts 20:32
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

Acts 26:18
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Romans 8:16-17
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Ephesians 1:11-14
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Galatians 3:29
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Ephesians 3:6
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

John 14:2-3
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Hebrews 11:16
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Matthew 25:34
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

2 Corinthians 1:20
For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

1 Peter 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

1 Corinthians 2:9-10
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

2 Peter 1:4
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Colossians 3:23-24
And whatsoever ye do, do heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Psalms 37:34
Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

These are all passages that talk of receiving an inheritance or reward in heaven. Eternal life is given to all equally, but inheritance and reward speak of differing amounts. When you inherit something, it is usually unique for you. So when a loved one dies, they leave an inheritance for those in their will. That inheritance usually differs from member to member and is usually based on how they acted and behaved while their beneficiary lived. A good son will get a better inheritance than a "bad" son. Or a good servant better than an unfaithful one. I have no idea what the inheritance is, but I believe it has to do with the Kingdom. There are parables that speak of ruling over cities and greater responsibility based on how we are responsible and faithful in our time on the earth. The free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus (Romans 6:23), but your reward or inheritance is based on what you do with your life while on this earth.

JM

Well said.

-ksen

Hear, Hear, Amen:)

Becky

Nice. But that didn't answer the question ...

If we die while squandering our inheritance (eternal life), where would that leave us?

Unless you're saying that we can't possible squander our inheritance?

After reading through these passages, I still don't follow you. Our inheritance IS eternal life, is it not?

Also, through this viewpoint, you seem to be laying a support for one of my earlier claims (from a couple of days ago) that no man is cut off from the glory of our Lord (but let's not start on that again ;o).

Johnny, thanks for typing out all the passages on rewards and inheritance. Good post. Thanks again.