And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. Romans 8:17a
One of the joys of being an aunt has been attending my 9-year-old nephew’s baseball games over the years. I love watching my nephew Owen play one of his favorite sports and cheering him on. Along with watching Owen play, my other favorite part of going to his games is seeing the dads in the crowd cheer on their sons, sometimes encouraging them to keep going, sometimes offering advice as they play their sport. You see, when we talk about fathers' roles, we often focus on their responsibility to love, protect, and discipline, but they also play an important role in encouraging their children as they grow, learn, and live their lives. As our Heavenly Father, God also encourages us to keep going as we seek to know Christ, make Him known to everyone around us, and honor Him by the way we live our lives.
One of the greatest ways God encourages us is through His word, and Romans 8 is no exception. Romans 8 is all about the new lives that we followers of Christ have in light of the Holy Spirit and the Spirit’s work in our lives. The encouragement begins with the very first verse in Romans 8, which we studied together several weeks ago: “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” (verse 1). This truth offers us deep encouragement. Because of what Christ has done for us, our pasts and our mistakes do not define us once we have placed our faith in Him. This remarkable truth makes all the difference! God’s encouragement in His word to us continues throughout this passage of Scripture. After explaining to us that, if we have placed our faith in Christ, we are “children of God” in verse 15, Paul wrote about the implications of being children of God: we are heirs. He wrote, “Since we are His children, we are His heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory” (verse 17). Do not miss the truth from this passage of Scripture. If we have placed our faith in Christ, we are His heirs. That means we have an inheritance. Specifically, our inheritance is eternal life with Him forever. There is no greater inheritance than this. If we have placed our faith in Christ, then our future and our eternities are secure.
The truth that we have an inheritance from God of eternal life forever with Him is perhaps the greatest source of encouragement from God for us to have here on this earth. If we hold on to this truth and look to Him, we can persevere and keep going through every up and down that we face in this life. This is the encouragement that God has given us to hold on to. Will you look to His encouragement of eternal life today?
Write down on a notecard Romans 8:17, God’s encouragement to you in His word, and place it where you will see it often. Whenever you see the verse, focus on the truth and encouragement that can be found in this verse. Let God’s encouragement sink into your heart and mind and spur you on to keep walking with Him and following Him every single day.
“God, as I remember Your encouragement to me in Your word, guide me…”
Romans 8:9-17
9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) 10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”[f] 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
©2026 Sagebrush Church
