Why Your Spiritual Inheritance is Secure

Spencer R. Fusselman, D.Min

We’ve all heard the jokes about family inheritances. In his sermon on Hebrews 9, Pastor Steve shared the humorous story of a young boy who walked up to his grandfather and asked, "Grandpa, can you make a sound like a fog-horn?" The grandfather chuckled and asked why. The boy replied innocently, "Because Grandma says as soon as you croak, we're all going to Disneyland!"

It’s a funny story, but it anchors a solid legal and spiritual truth: A last will and testament has zero power while the person who wrote it is still alive.

A wealthy billionaire could write a will today leaving you a mansion, a fleet of cars, and his entire fortune. But if you walk into the bank tomorrow to cash that check while he is still breathing, they will laugh you out of the building. The promises inside a will are unlocked by only one event: the death of the person who wrote it.

In Hebrews 9:15–28, the author uses this exact legal framework to show us why the New Covenant of Jesus Christ completely overrides the old religious system—and why your eternal inheritance is securely locked in.

The Powerlessness of the Old Checklist
In the first century, Jewish Christians were under intense societal pressure and persecution. As things got harder, many were tempted to walk away from the invisible grace of Jesus and retreat to the familiar Levitical system—the physical temple, the animal sacrifices, and the rigid religious rules.

Pastor Steve reminded us that we face that exact same temptation today. When life gets stressful or our consciences feel guilty, we instinctively fall back on religious rule-keeping. We think, "If I just read my Bible more, pray longer, or try harder, I'll clear my conscience and earn God's favor."

But the Old Covenant was never designed to save you. Laws and rules (even traffic laws) simply prove we are all natural lawbreakers! The Old Testament law was an external mirror designed to expose our sin, but it had no power to change our hearts. The blood of bulls and goats could temporarily cover a sin, but it could never wash away the guilt staining a human conscience.

Everything changed when Jesus Christ stepped onto the stage of human history. Through His death on the cross, Jesus did what animal sacrifices could never do: He permanently activated the New Covenant.

Because the Testator died, the will is now in full legal effect! Look at the incredible spiritual inheritance that Christ's death has unlocked for you:
Total Forgiveness: God didn't just cover your sins; He washed you completely clean. The record of debt that condemned us was nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14).
An Inward Transformation: Instead of demanding obedience from cold stone tablets, God replaced your stubborn heart of stone with a responsive heart of flesh that actually wants to please Him (Ezekiel 36:26).

The Permanent Resident: Under the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit only visited people temporarily for specific tasks. But through the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit has taken up permanent residence inside of you, acting as the down payment and guarantee of your eternal inheritance (Ephesians 1:13–14).
Direct Access: You no longer need an earthly priest to speak to God for you. The veil of the temple was ripped from top to bottom! You have direct, bold access into the throne room of grace.

The Three Appearings of Our High Priest
To anchor our confidence in this finished work, Pastor Steve highlighted an inspiring thread in Hebrews 9—the three appearings of Jesus Christ:

He HAS Appeared (The Past): Verse 26 tells us that Jesus appeared once at the end of the ages to put away sin by sacrificing Himself. He didn't come to manage our sin; He came to obliterate it. His sacrifice was "once for all."

He NOW Appears (The Present): Verse 24 reveals that Jesus has entered the true heavenly sanctuary and is now appearing in the presence of God for us! Right now, you have a resurrected, eternal Advocate standing before the Father. When the enemy tries to bring up your past, Jesus points to His shed blood and declares, "Paid in full."

He WILL Appear (The Future): Verse 28 promises that to those who eagerly wait for Him, Christ will appear a second time—not to deal with sin again, but to bring complete, eternal salvation and lead us into our heavenly home.

Stop trying to earn an inheritance that has already been purchased and unlocked for you. The Testator has died, the blood has been applied to the heavenly mercy seat, and the will is active. Step off the exhausting treadmill of religious performance, rest in the clean conscience provided by the blood of Jesus, and live your life eagerly watching the skies for the return of your King!

Stop Working for an Active Will: If you are trying to earn God’s love or forgiveness through your religious performance, stop today. Remind yourself that the Testator has died and the New Covenant blessings are already legally yours by faith.

Check Your Spiritual Speedometer: Notice when you are judging yourself or others by external religious checklists. Let the strictness of God's moral standard drive you to humility and dependency on His grace, rather than pride or self-condemnation.

Rely on the Resident Spirit: Don't treat the Holy Spirit like a visitor who only shows up on Sundays. Start your day tomorrow by consciously acknowledging His permanent residence in your heart and asking Him for the strength to walk in obedience.

Use Your Bold Access: The veil is torn! Stop hesitating in your prayer life. Spend time today talking to God directly, boldly, and honestly, without feeling like you need to "clean yourself up" before you approach Him.

Live Like You're Eagerly Waiting: Hebrews 9:28 says Christ is returning for those who "eagerly wait for Him." Take a look at your earthly goals this week. Where is your treasure stored? Shift your focus from building an earthly kingdom to eagerly anticipating your heavenly home.