The Inheritance of the Saints
W. Jay. Colossians 1:12-14 Giving thanks to the Father, which has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:… I. THE INHERITANCE. 1. It is our common state, just as there is a common salvation. An earthly inheritance is impaired by division, but here the number of possessors really adds to the happiness of the individual partaker. Though one star differeth from another in glory, all shine. 2. How shall we estimate the inheritance? Compared with this what is that of the worldling, of the Jews in Canaan, of Adam before the fall, of the angels? Angels can never know the pleasures of reconciliation. 3. What are we to think of the state of blessedness that is intended to display the value of that blood which purchased it? 4. The possessors are saints, holy beings, for "without holiness no man can see the Lord." They are partakers of God's holiness, but are encompassed with infirmities till they join "the spirits of just men made perfect;" then they will be presented "faultless before the throne." 5. The region. Hell is darkness, and so is the world. But the Church is light, and its members children of the light. And yet while here they are only able to survey the glimmering of the day. Now they walk by faith, mistake appearances for realities, are baffled in their inquiries, unable to discern their privileges and true friends. But it will not be always so, for heaven is all light — perfect, endless light. II. THE MEETNESS FOR IT. Man is both guilty and depraved. Two things are necessary for his restoration — justification and sanctification, the one delivering from condemnation, the other bringing us into .communion with God; the one is a change of our state, the other of our nature; the one is derived from Christ's righteousness, and is instantaneous; the other from the Holy Spirit and is gradual. The one gives us a title to our inheritance, the other gives us meetness for it. 1. The nature of this meetness. The renewing of the Holy Spirit; giving us new views, principles, and habitudes. How is a man made meet for any earthly station? Take a youth: he is apprenticed, begins with the elementary parts and rises to the more difficult, till he reaches the knowledge of the whole, and then launches away for himself. A child learns to walk by walking; a musician learns to play by playing. So we are made meet for heaven by doing its work and enjoying its pleasures now. The work of heaven is to praise and serve God, and its happiness to be in communion with Him. This we enjoy now. 2. Its necessity. A man suddenly gains a fortune for which he is not qualified; the consequence is that "the prosperity of fools destroys them." The French, living so long under tyranny, were not prepared for the sudden enjoyment of liberty, and so ran mad. The higher the destination of a man, the more he needs meetness. God does not exclude the unregenerate from heaven, they exclude themselves. "Except a man be born again," etc. The impossibility does not arise from God's decree, but from the nature of things. The devil would be a tor ment to himself in heaven. Happiness does not arise merely from the excellence of the object, but from being right suited to it. 3. The author of it is God. The very operation shows this, "He that wrought us for this selfsame thing is God," etc. If we are a "building" we are "His workmanship;" if fruitful, "in Him is our fruit found;" if a tree, "of His planting." 4. Its sureness — "hath made us." III. THE PRAISE. "Giving thanks." This is — 1. Deserved. God has infinite claims on our gratitude. 2. Distinguishing; more for spiritual than temporal mercies. 3. Practical. "Thanksgiving is good; thanks-living is better." 4. Never ending (W. Jay.) Parallel Verses KJV: Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: WEB: giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;