I thought you would call me ‘Father’

I myself said,

“‘How gladly would I treat you like my children
    and give you a pleasant land,
    the most beautiful inheritance of any nation.’
I thought you would call me ‘Father’
    and not turn away from following me.

– Jeremiah 3:19 (NIV)

inheritance (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

noun

in·​her·​i·​tance | \ in-ˈher-ə-tən(t)s , -ˈhe-rə- \

Definition of inheritance

1 : something that is or may be inherited
2
a : the act of inheriting property
b : the reception of genetic qualities by transmission from parent to offspring
c : the acquisition of a possession, condition, or trait from past generations
3
a : TRADITION
b : a valuable possession that is a common heritage from nature

The word inheritance is mentioned 219 times in the Bible and something remarkable can be observed by its use. If we are to understand the Kingdom of God and how we inherit it we must first understand the concept of inheritance. An inheritance cannot be bought by the one who seeks to acquire it and neither can it be legally taken by force from its rightful owners. Inheritance by legal terms requires that the person inheriting whatever is theirs to fully posses it and and the powers over it only when the current owner dies.

This is why we enter into the inheritance of the Kingdom of God through faith and never by our works, as no amount of labour qualifies us to take possession of our inheritance. Jesus points us towards the manner in which we take hold of our inheritance of the Kingdom, by God restoring us to sonship through the work of the cross.

In Hebrews 9:15-17 Paul describes this as follows:
¹⁵ For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

¹⁶ In the case of a will,^[d] it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, ¹⁷ because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. (NIV)

Throughout the history of mankind from Adam to the present day we see our Father orchestrating an amazing divine purpose by giving us our inheritance even before we were entitled to it. This is illustrated in the story of the prodigal son, who demanded his inheritance and left his home, only to squander it and yet still the Father ran to him when He saw the son whom he thought was dead and gone. He then gives him the signet ring after giving him new clothes and cleaning him up, and calls a celebration.

For us to inherit the Kingdom and all its benefits the ‘death’ of the rightful owner had to occur for it to be legal. As Paul describes so aptly we could not receive the inheritance without that happening. How amazing then that we are restored to a place of righteousness by faith through grace which we do not merit in order to enjoy the full benefits of our inheritance both now and for all eternity! No wonder Jesus exhorts us to ‘seek first’ the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all that we need and more will be added to us.

According to the definition of inheritance we inherit the genetic traits, possessions and property of the living owner upon their death. Christ did not come to show us how to work for our inheritance, but rather to acquire it and then produce good fruit as we operated in our authority as heirs of the kingdom, as kings and a royal priesthood, fully equipped with the character, power and resources only available to heirs.

He thought we would call Him Father and we are to respond to Him as children. When Jesus tells us that we must become as children, it is not just in having the characteristics of childlike trust and behaviour but also encompasses the realization that we are indeed to grasp that we are restored to sonship, and children are not slaves or servants (do understand that children serve in a manner of speaking, by virtue of mirroring the characteristics and traits of their father in their actions which include dominion and trusteeship of His properties which are essentially theirs).

Romans 8: 14-17 (NIV)
⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.^[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,^[g] Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

May we indeed cry out “Abba, Father!” Be blessed! Be restored!