Preface:   Because we are sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, we become heirs to His promises, for an eternal inheritance, which is permanent and undefiled.

This is specifically the New Testament Doctrine of Inheritance. That is, where the Old Testament Doctrine of Inheritance (HTML) (PDF) (WPD) deals with things which look forward to the inheritance fulfillments of Old Testament covenants to Abraham, to the Jews and to David—that is, what they are heirs to—this New Testament Doctrine of Inheritance looks at the inheritance that we as believers will enjoy.

1.     Jesus Christ is the heir of all things. Hebrews 1:1-2: "In the past, God [the Father] spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways. But in these last days [New Testament times], He has spoken to us by His Son, Whom He has appointed the Heir of all things, because of Whom [Jesus Christ], He [God the Father] has also designed the ages [dispensations]." This inheritance begins at the point of the Millennium.

2.     Heirship is based on personal faith in Christ.

        1)     Titus 3:7 "That being justified by His grace, we might become heirs on the basis of the confidence of eternal life."

        2)     Revelation 21:7 "He who overcomes [victory of salvation for eternal life as in 1 John 5:4,5] shall inherit these things. Furthermore, I will be His God; and he will be My son."

3.     Salvation is the qualification for heirship,

        1)     Col. 1:12 We give thanks to the Father, who has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.

        2)     Eph. 1:11 In Christ also we have been chosen to an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His own will. (MKJV)

4.     Heirship is based on sonship.

        1)     The son becomes the heir. Sonship occurs at the moment of faith in Christ.

        2)     "But as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to those who believe on His name." (John 1:12).

        3)     This fulfills the concept of heirship found in Romans 8:16-17. "The Spirit bears witness with our [human] spirit that we are the children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ."

        4)     Gal. 3:26-29 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

        5)     Therefore, salvation is the qualification for inheriting from God. Col. 1:9-14

5.     Heirship is based on positional sanctification and resultant adoption.

        1)     The Church Age believer is royal family of God; so, not only are we sons by birth, but because of positional sanctification (union with Christ), God has adopted each one of us Roman style, i.e., aristocracy naming his heir.

        2)     Positional sanctification is the means of forming the royal family of God in the Church Age through the baptism of the believer by the Holy Spirit into Christ at salvation. This baptism provides equal privilege under the computer asset of predestination.

        3)     The Roman custom of adoption emphasizes the fact that we are not only sons by regeneration, but we are sons by adoption, which makes us heirs of God. "In whom also we have received an inheritance, having been predestined with reference to a predetermined plan [protocol plan of God] from Him who works all things in conformity with the purpose of His will." Ephesians 1:11

6.     We have an inheritance because we share the destiny of Christ. The true doctrine of predestination is that we share Christ's destiny. Eph. 1:11 We also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.

7.     Heirship is based upon the death of another. Rom. 5:18

8.     The Holy Spirit, at salvation, provides the signature guarantee of our inheritance. "Who is the guarantee of our inheritance, for the release of your assets for the praise of His glory." (Ephesians 1:14).

9.     The believer's inheritance is secure forever. "We have an inheritance which is incorruptible and undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you who are guarded by the power of God through faith [doctrine] resulting in a deliverance, ready to be revealed in the last time." (1Peter 1:4).

10.   To inherit from God, a person must possess the life of God, that is, salvation resulting in eternal life. In fact, heirship demands eternal life

        1)     Titus 3:5-7 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

        2)     1 John 5:11–12 And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. See also 1 Cor. 15:50

11.   Heirship means to share the destiny of Jesus Christ, who is the heir of all things (God) - Eph. 1:11 Rom. 8:17.

12.   As joint-heirs with Christ, we also share Christ's election. Heb. 9:15 And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

13.   Our heritage is related to the doctrine of Eternal Security. 1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

14.   Our attitude toward our inheritance should be one of thanksgiving. "Constantly being thankful to the Father who qualified us for a share of the inheritance of the saints." (Colossians 1:12).

15.   The invisible assets of our inheritance. These are found in our very own portfolio provided by God the Father, prepared in eternity past, and given to us at the point of salvation. The indwelling Holy Spirit is the down-payment of our inheritance "Who is the guarantee of our inheritance for the release of your assets for the praise of His glory." Ephesians 1:14

16.   We can know the glory of our inheritance. Eph. 1:18

17.   God can only treat heirs in love, mercy, and kindness.

18.   The content of our inheritance is great spiritual blessing. God provides everything in our inheritance. Eph 1:3

19.   Abraham's inheritance is the pattern and illustration of the heritage of believers. Rom. 4:9-16

A related study would be Old Testament Inheritance (or Heirship) (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). What occurs historically in the Old Testament is a shadow of the things to come in the New Testament.