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WORDS USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PROMISE AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO EACH OTHER
Have you ever studied the relationship of words in the Bible? Or, even the relationship of subjects through the words they share? For example, whenever “promise” appears in a text, what other words are most commonly used with it? If you were to examine one of those other words with the thought of seeing what words are most commonly used with it would be even more enlightening. With that thought in mind, have you ever noticed that the words most commonly used in the same passage with promise are hope, called, heir, inheritance and elect? A study of the promise of Abraham is not complete without also studying its relationship to these words and their relationship to each other. The relationship of these words clearly show that the Messianic fulfillment of the Abrahamic promise is the the central theme throughout the New Testament. The promise clearly shapes all doctrine in the New Testament.
CONSIDER THE RELATIONSHIP OF:
(This is a review of the verses where these words are found, which ones are used in the same passage, and what their common use means.
1. Promise to Hope, Called, Heir, Inheritance and Elect
2. Heir to Hope, Called, Inheritance and Elect
3. Hope to Called, Inheritance and Elect
4. Called to Inheritance and Elect
5. Inheritance to Elect
I. Promise
A. Heir, ROM.4:13-16; GAL.3:29; 4:1,7,28-30; TIT.3:7; HEB.1:2; 6:17; 11:7,9
1. The promise makes one heir through the Gospel.
2. One is heir through the spiritual promise (the old physical law cannot be mixed with the Gospel ).
3. Only Abraham's seed are heirs according to the promise. The only one’s who are now Abraham’s seed are Christians. No one else. Not Jews; not Arabs; not Muslims; not disobedient believers.
4. In Eph. 1:13, 18 the following words are shown to be definitely related: promise-hope-calling-inheritance.
B. Hope, ACTS 26:6,7; ROM.4:16,18; 5:2; 8:20,24,25; 12:12; 15:4,13; 1 COR.13:13; 15:19; 2 COR.3:12; 10:15; GAL.5:5; EPH.1:12,13,18; 4:4; COL.1:5,23,27; 1 TH.2:19; 5:8; 2 TM.1:1; TIT.1:2; 2:13; 3:7; HEB.3:6; 6:11,13,18,19; 7:19; 1 PT.1:3,13,21; 3:15; 1 JN.3:3.
1. Paul's preaching was the message of the hope of Israel (which he interpreted to be the Gospel of Christ). The hope of Israel was the fulfillment of the Abrahamic promise - Jesus Christ.
2. The only hope is through the promise.
3. The only hope given through the promise is life in heaven.
C. Called, Rom. 9: 7-9, 26; Heb. 9: 15; 11: 8,9,18
1. Those who are called through the promise are sons of God.
2. One must be called to be the seed. (cf. 2 Thessalonians. 2: 14)
3. Those who are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
4. All are called by the Gospel (2 Th. 2:14)
D. Inheritance, ACTS 7:5; 20:32; 26:18; GAL.3:18; EPH.1: 11,13,14,18; 5:5; COL.1:12; 3:24; HEB. 1:4; 9:15; 11:8,9; 1 PET.1:4; 1:5-10
1. The promise + Gospel = inheritance.
2. The promise + hope + calling = inheritance.
3. The inheritance is eternal in heaven.
E. Elect. 1 Tim. 4: 8 and Titus 5:21
II. Heir
A. Hope, Rom. 4:13,18; 8:17,20,24; Tit. 3:7; Heb. 6: 11, 17; 1 Pet. 3:7,15
1. One's hope as an heir is salvation.
2. Hebrews 6:11,17 demonstrates that being an heir and having hope comes through the promise.
3. 1 Peter 3:7, 15 ties together heir-inherit-hope-called.
B. Called, Heb. 11: 7, 8, 18; 11: 9; 1 Pet. 3:7, 9
1. The manner in which one is now heir is demonstrated through Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
2. The heir is called to the grace of life.
3. The heir is called to inherit a blessing.
C. Inheritance, Heb. 11: 7, 8 - the heir is called to his inheritance.
D. Elect, Romans 8: 17, 33; Titus 1: 1; 3: 7; 1 Peter 1: 2; 3: 7.
NOTE: Among the Heirs are groups called "Remnant" and "little Flock." These are the disciples converted from among the Jews.
NOTE: Elect: Isaiah 42: 1; 45: 4; 65: 9, 22; Romans 9:11 (4-13); 11:5, 7 (11-36). The Remnant are all Jewish converts to Christianity. The Little Flock are the apostles of Jesus. ALL Christians are now, however, considered the Firstfruit of Israel.
NOTE: Remnant: (cf. Luke 12:32) Isaiah 10: 22, 23; Hosea 1: 10; Isaiah 7: 3; 37:31-32; 46: 3-13; Jeremiah 22: 3-6; Romans 9: 27; 11: 5.
III. Hope
A. Called, Acts 28:20; 1 Cor. 15:9,19; Gal. 5:5,13; Eph. 4:1,4; Heb. 3:6; 1 Pet. 3: 9, 15; 1 Jn. 3: 1, 3.
1. The Christian is to wait for the hope (implying it is not received now).
2. Christians are called to liberty
3. The hope of Israel is the same hope which the Christian is given in the Gospel.
4. The hope to which the Christian is called tied to the resurrection.
5. The calling is one in which the Christian is to walk.
6. There is only one hope offered by the calling of the promise.
7. Christ, as Father over his own house, gives hope only to His house.
8. The heirs of the hope are called sons.
9. The hope purifies.
B. Inheritance, Eph. 1: 14, 18; 1 Pet. 1: 3, 4
1. The Holy Spirit of Promise is the guarantee of the Inheritance.
a. His work guarantees the integrity of the Gospel.
b. His work guarantees the fulfillment of the promise.
c. His work guarantees the receipt of the inheritance.
d. His work guarantees the full cleansing of one's soul.
2. The inheritance which the Spirit offers is one unto which one must be called and then is given the hope of the promise.
3. The heir is begotten to a living hope/inheritance.
4. The heir is begotten to an inheritance in heaven.
C. Elect. Rom. 8:20-33; 1 Tim. 5:3, 21; Titus 1:1,2; 1 Pet. 1:2, 3.
IV. Inheritance
A. Called, Col. 3: 15, 24; Heb. 9: 15; 11:8, 18
1. The heir is called in one body.
2. The heir is called to the reward of the inheritance.
3. Those who are called receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
4. To demonstrate the relationship of being called and the inheritance which one receives, compare Abraham in Hebrews 11:8.
5. All who accept the calling become the Firstborn of God. The significance is that the Firstborn received the birthright/inheritance. Only now all Christians are Firstborn of God for all receive the birthright.
B. Elect, Colossians 3:12, 24; 1 Peter 1:2-4
V. CALLED, Romans 8:28-33; Col. 3:12-15; 1 Peter 2:6-9.
A. Inheritance. Colosians 3: 15-24; Hebrews 9;15; 11: 8; 1 Peter 1: 4-15.
B. Elect. Romans 8:28-33; Colossians 3: 12-15; 1 Peter 1: 2, 15; 2: 6-9.
VI. INHERITANCE/ELECT. Colossians 3: 12, 24; 1 Peter 1: 2-4.
NOTE: Every category is named and discussed by Peter in his first epistle. This strongly proves that, contrary to critics, Peter and Paul preached the same Gospel.
CONCLUSION: There is only one type of:
HOPE - CALLING - HEIR - INHERITANCE - ELECTION - PROMISE
The Gospel teaches that the hope and calling of the Gospel is to make one a spiritual heir and give to them the inheritance that is available only to the elect of God through the Messianic fulfillment of the Abrahamic promise. The heirs are those who accept the calling of the Gospel. Anyone may become an heir and there is only one inheritance.
Larry K. Henry
Deacon/Webmaster
Smithville church of Christ
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