As always, before I sat down to write, I had no clue what today’s subject would be. But getting quiet, the words instantly came, “Share and share alike”. The Holy Spirit wastes no time letting me know what to teach about. Have you given any thought to exactly what that means for you?

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:14-19 about our inheritance in Christ Jesus:
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 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.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

You’ll notice in verse 17 it says IF, and pay close attention to that word “IF”, for the promise only applies to “CHILDREN OF GOD”. It doesn’t apply to those who hear it, but do not take on Christ Jesus, but rather “CHILDREN of God”. I cannot stress that enough, for our salvation hinges on “IF”. And “IF” children, then heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. Why is that so important?

Christ Jesus said in John 16:12-15,
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Jesus said ALL THINGS the Father has is mine.  He didn’t say He expected at some point to “inherit” all things, for they ARE already His own. Jesus in not the “heir”, but the “owner”. But “we”, the “children of God” are to inherit from Christ Jesus as heir, and joint-heir. When? When Christ Jesus dies? No, He has already died and was resurrected to live forever and die no more. But when WE die, we become heirs and more importantly, JOINT-HEIRS with Christ Jesus. Here’s what I want you to get: “Joint-heirs” means “share and share alike”. That means all God’s children inherit everything God has. WE ALL INHERIT IT ALL! That means YOU inherit everything Jesus has. But I do, too. We ALL do! How can that be? That is the magnificence of God!

But wait; there’s MORE! So many “children of God” are concerned with the “hereafter”, and so they’re “here after” everything they can get from God. Our relationship with God the Father is contingent upon receiving Christ Jesus as LORD and Savior, submitting ourselves completely to walk in His will for us. We are no longer “our own”, but we are bought with a price, that is, the very blood of Christ Jesus. Our sins are forever gone, never to be thrown back in our faces. He heals all our diseases. (more on “heals” later) He gives us His Holy Spirit in this life as the down payment, or the “earnest” of our salvation, to show us and the world that we are now “Children of God”. That makes us different from the rest of the world. That also makes us hated by the world. And that’s why Paul wrote in Romans 8:18, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

Jesus said in Luke 9:23-26,
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.

And again in Matthew 10:32-39,
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Am I showing you all this to discourage you from following Christ Jesus? NO! I’m showing you this because most preachers only will tell you about the “benefits” to entice you, but not to prepare you for the cost you will have to pay in this life, in order to be “CHILDREN OF GOD”. The Apostle Paul taught his followers that they would be persecuted for the Word of God and the testimony of Christ Jesus. He followed Jesus, and counted it all joy for the prize of salvation set before him. Christ Jesus paid an extremely high price for our salvation, and the free gift is to all who count the high cost and jump in with both feet anyway.

There is no such thing as “cheap grace” that is being taught today, meaning you can pray the sinner’s prayer and you’re in. You CANNOT accept Christ Jesus and remain living as you did before. You must become a NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST. My job is not to just tell you about the “benefits”, but to help you become a DISCIPLE of Christ Jesus, just like the twelve that followed Jesus. You can read about the multitudes that followed Jesus around, listening to His teachings. But when Jesus was crucified, only His faithful few were there. There were only about 120 still following Jesus when the day of Pentecost came, and they received the Holy Spirit, the down-payment of their salvation. And those people literally turned the world upside-down with their testimony for Christ Jesus. Or should I say, they turned the world right-side up! And that’s what YOU and I are supposed to be doing.

Listen, if we aren’t changing the world for Jesus, then we aren’t worth what Jesus paid for us. Yeah, I know, that’s a hard word! But not if you’re “walking the walk”, and not just “talking the walk”.
Do YOU want to be a JOINT-HEIR with Christ Jesus? It isn’t a ride in the air-conditioned limo while Jesus bears your cross. It’s YOU taking up your own cross and following Jesus. Count the cost! Do you have what it takes to be a disciple of Christ Jesus? It isn’t all roses and “bless me, bless me”, and enjoying the “benefits”, although that’s a part of it. Sometimes you must bear the thorns as well. ALL of Jesus’ followers endured persecution for the Kingdom of God. But ending up as a joint-heir with Christ Jesus will make you look back and say, “It was worth it!”

Or, you can simply go the way of the world and “unsubscribe” and take the easy way out. Your choice. I hope you choose wisely so you can share and share alike with Christ Jesus.