fair isaac / What does our precious heritage mean to us?

What does our precious heritage mean to us?



"Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (MATTHEW 25:34.)

1. What different heritages have people received?

ALL humans inherit something. For some inheritance implies material comfort. For others, a life of poverty. In some cases, previous generations, from what they have suffered or heard, convey a legacy of intense hatred to another ethnic group. However, we all have something in common. We have all received from the first human being, Adam, the inheritance of sin. Over time, that inheritance leads to death (Ecclesiastes 9: 2, 10, Romans 5:12).

2, 3. What inheritance did Jehovah make possible in the beginning for the descendants of Adam and Eve, and why did they not receive it?

2 Jehovah, as a loving heavenly Father, offered mankind a very different inheritance in the beginning: eternal life in perfection in Paradise. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, had a perfect beginning, without sin. Jehovah gave the planet Earth to humans (Psalm 115: 16). He prepared the garden of Eden as a sign of what the whole globe might be and entrusted our first parents with a wonderful and rewarding mission. They had to multiply, take care of the Earth and its varied fauna and flora, and extend the limits of Paradise to cover the whole world (Genesis 1:28, 2: 8, 9, 15). Their descendants would also participate in that mission. This was the wonderful heritage they could convey to them.

3 Now to enjoy all this, Adam and Eve and their descendants had to cultivate a good relationship with God. They owed Jehovah love and obedience, but Adam and Eve did not give thanks to what God had given them and disobeyed his commandment. They lost their heavenly home and the glorious prospects God had set before them. Therefore, they could not pass them on to their offspring (Genesis 2:16, 17; 3: 1-24).

4. How can we get the inheritance that Adam lost?

4 Jehovah disposed mercifully that the offspring of Adam and Eve should have the opportunity to receive the inheritance that Adam had lost. As? At his appointed time, his own Son, Jesus Christ, delivered his perfect human life on behalf of the descendants of Adam and thus bought them all. However, they do not receive the inheritance automatically. They have to earn God's favor by exercising faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus and demonstrating that faith through obedience (John 3:16, 36, 1 Timothy 2: 5, 6, Hebrews 2: 9, 5: 9). ). Does our course in life demonstrate that we appreciate that provision?

The inheritance is transmitted through Abraham

5. How did Abraham show that he valued his relationship with Jehovah?

5 In the fulfillment of his purpose for the earth, Jehovah dealt especially with Abraham. He told this faithful man to leave his country and move to the land that he himself would show him. Abraham obeyed willingly. When he arrived, Jehovah told him that it would be his descendants who would inherit the land, not himself (Genesis 12: 1, 2, 7). How did Abraham react? He was willing to serve Jehovah wherever and as he indicated so that his descendants could receive the inheritance. He served the Lord for a hundred years in a land that was not his own until his death (Genesis 12: 4; 25: 8-10). Had we done it? Jehovah said that Abraham was his "friend" (Isaiah 41: 8).6. (a) What did Abraham demonstrate by being willing to sacrifice his son? b) What valuable legacy could Abraham pass to his offspring?

6 Abraham had long waited for the birth of his son, Isaac, and loved him intensely. Isaac must have been a young adult when Jehovah told Abraham to take it and offer it as a sacrifice. He did not know that he was going to prove what God Himself would do in giving His Son as a ransom; however, he obeyed and nearly sacrificed Isaac, but the angel of the Lord stopped him (Genesis 22: 9-14). Jehovah had already told him that his promises would be fulfilled through Isaac. Therefore, it is clear that Abraham had faith that, if need be, God could raise Isaac from the dead, even though a resurrection had never happened before (Genesis 17: 15-18, Hebrews 11: 17-19). Since Abraham did not even retain his son, Jehovah promised him: "By your offspring all the nations of the earth will be blessed" (Genesis 22: 15-18). These words indicated that the offspring mentioned in Genesis 3:15, the Messianic deliverer, would come through the lineage of Abraham. This was a valuable heritage to convey.

7. How did Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob demonstrate that they valued his inheritance?

7 Abraham did not understand the transcendence of what Jehovah was doing at that time; nor did her son Isaac or his grandson Jacob understand it, who were "heirs with him of the very promise." But they all had confidence in Jehovah. They did not settle in any of the kingdom cities of the earth, for they sought something better: "The city which has true foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Hebrews 11: 8-10, 13-16). However, not all the descendants of Abraham appreciated the valuable inheritance they could receive through him.

Some of those who despised inheritance

8. How did Esau prove that he did not appreciate the value of his inheritance?

8 Esau, the eldest son of Isaac, did not value his birthright. He did not appreciate sacred things. Therefore, one day when he was hungry he sold his birthright to his brother Jacob. In exchange for what? From a stew of lentils and bread (Genesis 25: 29-34; Hebrews 12: 14-17). The nation by which the promises God made to Abraham would be fulfilled descended from Jacob, to whom God changed the name to Israel. What opportunities did this unique legacy give you?

9. From what release were the descendants of Jacob, or Israel, due to their spiritual inheritance?

9 During a time of famine, Jacob and his family moved to Egypt. There they multiplied and became a numerous people, but they were also enslaved. However, Jehovah did not forget the covenant he had made with Abraham. At the appointed time, he freed the children of Israel from slavery and notified them that he would bring them to "a land flowing with milk and honey," which he had promised to Abraham (Exodus 3: 7,8; ​​Genesis 15:18 -21).

10. What other extraordinary events took place on Mount Sinai in relation to the inheritance of the children of Israel?

10 When the children of Israel were on the way to the Promised Land, the Lord gathered them to Mount Sinai. There he said to them, "If you strictly obey my voice and truly keep my covenant, then you will certainly become my special possession among all other peoples, for the whole earth belongs to me. And you yourselves will become for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation "(Exodus 19: 5, 6). Once all agreed voluntarily and unanimously, Jehovah proceeded to give them His Law, which he had not done with any other people (Psalm 147: 19, 20).

11. What were some of the valuable aspects of the spiritual heritage of the children of Israel?11 The nation received a magnificent spiritual inheritance. She worshiped the only true God, who had freed her from Egypt. He witnessed impressive events when he received the Law on Mount Sinai. His inheritance was enriched when he received other "sacred formal statements from God" through the prophets (Romans 3: 1, 2). Jehovah appointed his servants to be his witnesses (Isaiah 43: 10-12). The Messianic Descent had to come through that nation. The Law pointed to these offspring, identifying them and helping the people to recognize their need for it (Galatians 3:19, 24). In addition, he would be given the opportunity to serve alongside that Messianic offspring as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Romans 9: 4, 5).

12. What did the Israelites not experience even though they entered the Promised Land? Because?

12 True to his promise, the Lord led the Israelites into the Promised Land. But as the Apostle Paul later explained, because of their lack of faith that land did not prove to be a true "resting place" for them. The people did not enter into the "rest of God" because they did not perceive the purpose of God's rest day, which began after the creation of Adam and Eve, and did not act in harmony with it (Hebrews 4: 3-10).

13. What did Israel lose as a nation because it did not value its spiritual heritage?

13 Natural Israel could have supplied the full number of those who would accompany the Messiah in his heavenly Kingdom and form a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. But he did not appreciate his valuable heritage. Only a remnant of natural Israelites accepted the Messiah when He came. Consequently, only a small number of them succeeded in forming part of the predicted kingdom of priests. The Kingdom was taken away from natural Israel and was given to a nation that bore its fruit '(Matthew 21:43). To which nation?

Celestial inheritance

14, 15. (a) How was it begun to bless the nations through the "seed" of Abraham after the death of Jesus? b) What do members of the "Israel of God" receive as their inheritance?

14 The nation to which the Kingdom was given is "the Israel of God," the spiritual Israel, made up of 144,000 followers of Jesus Christ begotten by spirit (Galatians 6:16, Revelation 5: 9, 10, 14: 1-3 ). Some of these 144,000 were natural Jews, but most came from the Gentile nations. In this way the promise that Jehovah made to Abraham began to be fulfilled that through his "offspring" all nations would be blessed (Acts 3:25, 26; Galatians 3: 8, 9). In that initial fulfillment, Jehovah God anointed people of the nations with holy spirit and adopted them as spiritual sons, brothers of Jesus Christ. Thus they also became a secondary part of that "offspring" (Galatians 3:28, 29).

15 Before his death, Jesus presented to the future Jewish members of that new nation the new covenant, which he would validate with his own blood. By faith in that sacrifice that would validate the covenant, it would "perpetually perfect" those who were brought into it (Hebrews 10: 14-18). They could be 'declared righteous' and forgive sins (1 Corinthians 6:11). So, in that sense, they would be like Adam before he sinned. However, these would not live in an earthly paradise. Jesus said He would prepare them a place in heaven (John 14: 2, 3). They would renounce their hope of living on earth in order to receive "a reserved inheritance in heaven for them" (1 Peter 1: 4). What would they do there? Jesus explained: "I make a covenant with you ... for a kingdom" (Luke 22:29).

16. What wonderful mission do anointed Christians have before them?

16 Those who rule in the heavens with Christ, among other things, will help to remove from the earth all vestiges of rebellion against the sovereignty of Jehovah (Revelation 2:26, ​​27). As they are the secondary part of Abraham's spiritual offspring, they will participate in blessing with perfect life people of all nations (Romans 8: 17-21). What a precious inheritance of his! (Ephesians 1: 16-18).

17. What aspects of your heritage do the anointed enjoy while they are still on Earth?

17 But the inheritance of the anointed followers of Jesus is not only future. Jesus helped them to know Jehovah, the only true God, so that no one else could do it (Matthew 11:27, John 17: 3, 26). He taught them in word and example what it meant to "trust in Jehovah" and what it meant to obey Him (Hebrews 2:13, 5: 7-9). Jesus entrusted to them the knowledge of the truth regarding God's purpose and assured them that the holy spirit would help them to understand it better (John 14: 24-26). He recorded in his mind and in his heart the importance of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:10, 33). Jesus also entrusted them with the mission of being his witnesses and of making disciples in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and even the most distant part of the earth (Matthew 24:14, 28:19, 20, Acts 1: 8).Valuable heritage for a large crowd

18. How is Jehovah's promise today fulfilled that all nations will be blessed through the "seed" of Abraham?

18 All members of spiritual Israel, that "little flock" of heirs of the Kingdom must have been selected (Luke 12:32). For decades, Jehovah has drawn attention to the gathering of a large crowd of others from among the nations. In this way the promise made to Abraham is fulfilled, that through his "offspring" all nations would be blessed. These blessed people also render sacred service to Jehovah with joy and acknowledge that their salvation depends on having faith in the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ (Revelation 7: 9, 10). Have we accepted the kind invitation of Jehovah to be part of this happy community?

19. What legacy do people expect from the nations they are blessing now?

19 What valuable inheritance does Jehovah offer to those who do not belong to the small flock? No, it is not an inheritance in the heavens. It is the one that Adam could have passed on to his descendants: the prospect of living forever in perfection in a paradise that will eventually encompass the entire planet, a world in which "death shall be no more, neither shall there be more crying or crying nor pain "(Revelation 21: 4). It is to us, therefore, that the inspired Word of God tells us: "Trust in the Lord and do good; He resides in the earth, and in everything he deals with fidelity. Also delight exquisitely in the Lord, and he will give you the requests of your heart. And only a little more time, and the wicked one will no longer be [...]. But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and will truly find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace. The righteous themselves will possess the land, and they will dwell forever on it "(Psalm 37: 3, 4, 10, 11, 29).

20. How do the "other sheep" enjoy much of the spiritual heritage of anointed Christians?

20 The "other sheep" of Jesus have an inheritance in the terrestrial realm of the celestial Kingdom (John 10: 16a). Although they will not be in the heavens, they receive much of the spiritual inheritance enjoyed by the anointed ones. Through the collective body of the anointed, "the faithful and discreet slave," the other sheep can understand the precious promises of the Word of God (Matthew 24: 45-47; 25:34). The anointed and the other sheep know and adore together the one true God, Jehovah (John 17:20, 21). Together, they give thanks to God for the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, and together they serve Him as one flock under one Shepherd, Jesus Christ (John 10: 16b). All are part of the same loving world brotherhood. They share the privilege of witnessing Jehovah and His Kingdom. In fact, if we are dedicated servants and baptized of Jehovah, all this is part of our spiritual inheritance.

21, 22. How can we all prove that we value our spiritual heritage?

21 How much do we value this spiritual heritage? Do we value it enough that the most important thing in our lives is to do God's will? Do we demonstrate it by following the advice of his Word and his organization to attend regularly all Christian congregation meetings? (Hebrews 10:24, 25.) Is this inheritance so valuable to us that we continue to serve God despite the difficulties? Do we appreciate it so much that it strengthens us and allows us to resist any temptation to follow a procedure that could lead us to lose it?

22 Let us all greatly value the spiritual inheritance we have received from God. Let us keep our eyes fixed on the Paradise before us and take full advantage of the spiritual privileges that Jehovah offers us now. If we truly build our lives around our relationship with Jehovah, we will demonstrate convincingly how much we value that spiritual heritage. Let us be among those who declare, "I will certainly exalt thee, O my God the King, and I will bless thy name unto time indefinite, even for ever" (Psalm 145: 1).

Can you explain?

• What inheritance would Adam have passed if he had been loyal to God?

• How did the offspring of Abraham treat the inheritance he could have received?

• What does the inheritance of the anointed followers of Christ include?

• What is the legacy of the great crowd, and how can you show that you truly value it?

[Pictures on page 20]

Abraham's offspring received the promise of a valuable inheritance

[Pictures on page 23]

Do we value our spiritual heritage?