From Hebrews: “Christ the Double Heir”
Orientation
The search for inheritance often leads to confusion, assuming it is earned by lineage, law, or moral effort.
- Inheritance is not a reward for our performance or a birthright based on ancestry.
- The promises of God are not abstract blessings up for grabs, but are secured in a Person.
- There is no alternative route to God's promises outside of Christ.
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16)
— Galatians 3:16
Clarification
Righteousness is not about moral improvement, but is the legal qualification to inherit, given freely in justification.
- Justification declares us righteous based on Christ's finished work, joining us to Him.
- The Everlasting Covenant secures all promises, not by our performance, but by Christ's blood and resurrection.
- Israel's earthly destiny and the Church's heavenly destiny are distinct, both fulfilled in Christ as the Double Heir.
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5)
— Romans 4:5
Structure
Christ uniquely fulfills all God's promises as the Seed of Abraham and the Heir of all things, making Him the sole ground of inheritance.
- As the Seed of Abraham, Christ fulfills the earthly promises made to the patriarchs for Israel.
- As the Heir of all things, Christ possesses ultimate authority and secures the heavenly inheritance for the Church.
- Through justification, believers are joined to Christ and thus qualified to share in His inheritance.
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (Hebrews 1:2)
— Hebrews 1:2
Weight-Bearing Prose
Christ is the Double Heir. This is the core theological assertion. He is the singular Seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:16), fulfilling every patriarchal promise for Israel’s literal, earthly destiny. He is also the appointed Heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2), possessing all authority and securing the heavenly inheritance for the Church. These two inheritances—earthly for Israel, heavenly for the Church—are distinct but not in conflict; both are held by Christ and dispensed according to God’s purpose. The Church does not replace Israel; Israel’s promises remain irrevocable (Romans 11:28-29). Righteousness, in Pauline categories, is not moral virtue but the legal qualification to inherit. This qualification is imputed through justification by faith (Romans 4:5-8), which establishes our union with Christ. The Everlasting Covenant (Hebrews 13:20) was made with Christ as the Seed, securing all divine promises. Therefore, inheritance is not conditional upon our works but is received by being ‘in Christ,’ the Heir.
Integration
Your inheritance is secure because it is held by Christ. You do not qualify by your lineage, your law-keeping, or your moral progress. You qualify because God has justified you, declaring you righteous in His Son. This is your resting place. Christ is your qualification. Christ is your inheritance. The pressure to earn or to distinguish between earthly and heavenly promises is removed, for all is summed up in Him. Your assurance is not in your ability to grasp these distinctions, but in God’s faithfulness to His promises, which are yes and amen in Christ. He is the Double Heir so that you might be a co-heir, not by effort, but by grace through faith. Look to Christ, the author and finisher. Here there is no hierarchy, only the shared portion of those found in Him.