A note from the desk of the Pastor:

“Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”

Colossians 3:24

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

In the Roman world, the concept of an enslaved person’s “inheritance” was a legal absurdity. A doulos (servant) was viewed as property, not a person—incapable of owning an estate, let alone inheriting one. Yet, in Colossians 3:24, the Apostle Paul shatters this cultural wall by dropping a radical paradox directly into the laps of first-century workers: “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance.” By jamming together two fiercely contrasting terms—reward (a wage earned through labor) and inheritance (a gift granted strictly by birthright)—The Apostle untangles the true nature of the Christian life. He reminds us that an earthly ledger never determines our ultimate value, because the Gospel has transformed penniless servants into full heirs of the Living God.

The word “inheritance” in this verse is translated from the Greek word “klēronomia.” In the original language, the term strictly applied to an inheritance of property and substance received only by free-born or legally adopted children. The servant had no claim to an inheritance unless adopted by their masters later in life. Thus, when the Apostle tells them they will receive an inheritance, he is not simply making a promise but also redefining their identity. The Apostle’s words provided comfort to the servants in a terrible natural situation that was not going to change, but they also expressed a core theological concept. The theological concept is that eternal salvation made those chosen before the foundation of the world into legally adopted sons and daughters of Christ. It made the elect children of God joint heirs with Jesus Christ. This was necessary for inheriting eternal life.

The language of the text does present a tension point. The Apostle uses the words “reward” and “inheritance” together to describe what is promised to the servant. The term “reward” implies something earned by merit, labor, or other means. In contrast, “inheritance” by definition is not earned but is granted due to family status or the favor of one who dies. Thus, it begs the question, if it is a “reward,” how can it also be an “inheritance?” The gift of eternal life is infinitely greater than any earthly wage human labor could ever earn, making it fundamentally an inheritance of grace. Yet, the Lord calls it a reward because He steps in to perfectly compensate the servant who was denied justice and compensation in this lifetime.

Ultimately, the message of Colossians 3:24 leaves us with a profound shift in perspective: we do not work for an inheritance; we work from one. The legal transaction that secured your eternal estate was fully paid at the cross, freeing you from the exhausting trap of trying to earn your worth or buy God’s favor through your daily labor. When the pressures of this life leave you feeling unappreciated, underpaid, or overlooked by earthly supervisors, remember who handles your final ledger. Step into your daily routine with the quiet confidence of a son or daughter, knowing that God has already guaranteed you the family estate.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah