Those led by the Spirit are also co-heirs with Christ. Everything really belongs to Christ, but by grace we share in what is His if we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory. The Greek construction of the sentence, "we are co-heirs with Christ," does NOT mean that there is any condition set forth to be co-heirs with Christ, i.e., IF we do this, we will get that. No, it states a fact. Children of God ARE co-heirs with Christ!
There is no doubt that those who are led by the Spirit share Christ's glory, just as there is no doubt that those who are led by the Spirit, who are IN Christ, will suffer some form of persecution because of the willing decision we have made. It is saying that despite the fact that Christians presently suffer, they are assured a future entrance into their inheritance.
If we are to share in Christ's glory, then we must accept the fact that we must also share in His suffering, because to belong to Christ is to suffer the persecutions of the world. "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted," (2 Timothy 3:13). The sons of God are led by the Spirit of God, and as sons, we take the risks as well as reap the benefits.
John 1:12-13: "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."
1 Corinthians 6:17: "But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit."
2 Corinthians 3:17-18: "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, Who is the Spirit."
Galatians 3:26-27: "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."
Galatians 4:4-7: "But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit Who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.' So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir."
Galatians 5:22-25: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."
Ephesians 2:4-6: "For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and Will--to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves."
Ephesians 4:20-24: "You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him in accordance with the Truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
Colossians 1:21-23: "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation--IF you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the Gospel. This is the Gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant."
Colossians 3:2-4: "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, Who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."
1 Peter 1:13-16: "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He Who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.'"
2 Peter 1:4: "Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the Divine Nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."
1 John 3:24: "Those who obey His commands live in Him, and He in them. And this is how we know that He lives in us: We know it by the Spirit He gave us."
Revelation 21:6-8: "He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be His God and He will be My son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.'"
