Message Nine

Children of God, Sons of God, and Heirs of God

Scripture Reading: Rom. 8:14, 16-17, 21, 23

Rom. 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Rom. 8:16-17  The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God. And if children, heirs also; on the one hand, heirs of God; on the other, joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him that we may also be glorified with Him.

Rom. 8:21  In hope that the creation itself will also be freed from the slavery of corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Rom. 8:23  And not only so, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan in ourselves, eagerly awaiting sonship, the redemption of our body.

I.      Being children of God is our initial, or primary, relationship with God; we need to grow to become sons of God, and then we need further growth unto maturity in order to become heirs of God¡ªRom. 8:14, 16-17, 23.

Rom. 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Rom. 8:16-17  The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God. And if children, heirs also; on the one hand, heirs of God; on the other, joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him that we may also be glorified with Him.

Rom. 8:23  And not only so, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan in ourselves, eagerly awaiting sonship, the redemption of our body.

II.    ¡°The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God¡±¡ªv. 16:

Rom. 8:16  The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God.

A.    As believers in Christ the Son of God, we have been born of God the Father, the source of life, to be children of God with the life and nature of God¡ªJohn 1:12-13; 3:15; 2 Pet. 1:4.

John 1:12-13  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of God, to those who believe into His name, Who were begotten not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 3:15  That everyone who believes into Him may have eternal life.

2 Pet. 1:4  Through which He has granted to us precious and exceedingly great promises that through these you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption which is in the world by lust.

B.     The greatest wonder in the entire universe is that human beings could be begotten of God and sinners could be made children of God¡ªl John 2:29¡ª3:1; Rom. 5:19; 8:16, 21, 23.

1 John 2:29-3:1 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness has been begotten of Him. Behold what manner of love the Father as given to us, that we should be called children of God; and we are. Because of this the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

Rom. 5:19  For just as through the disobedience of one man the many were constituted sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the many will be constituted righteous.

Rom. 8:16  The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God.

Rom. 8:21  In hope that the creation itself will also be freed from the slavery of corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Rom. 8:23  And not only so, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan in ourselves, eagerly awaiting sonship, the redemption of our body.

C.     The Spirit witnesses with our spirit that we who were once children of the devil are now the children of God¡ªJohn 8:44; 1 John 3:1-2, 10; Rom. 8:16:

John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks it out of his own possessions; for he is a liar and the father of it.

1 John 3:1-2 Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and we are. Because of this the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been manifested what we will be. We know that if He is manifested, we will be like Him because we will see Him even as He is.

1 John 3:10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest. Everyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, neither he who does not love his brother.

Rom. 8:16 The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God.

1.      Even when we are weak or backsliding, we still have the deep conviction that we are children of God, for once we have been born of God, we have eternal life and are His children forever¡ªJohn 1:12-13; 3:6, 15; 10:28-29.

John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of God, to those who believe into His name, Who were begotten not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

John 3:15 That everyone who believes into Him may have eternal life.

John 10:28-29 And I give to them eternal life, and they shall by no means perish forever, and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them out of My Father¡¯s hand.

2.      The Spirit witnesses with our spirit; the two spirits are one and witness together that we are children of God¡ªRom. 8:16:

Rom. 8:16 The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God.

a.      Such a witnessing testifies to us and assures us that we are children of God, who possess His life¡ªl John 3:1-2.

1 John 3:1-2 Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and we are. Because of this the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been manifested what we will be. We know that if He is manifested, we will be like Him because we will see Him even as He is.

b.      The Spirit witnesses to our most basic and elementary relationship with God, namely, that we are His children, not that we are His sons or His heirs; therefore, this witnessing of the Spirit begins from the time of our spiritual birth, our regeneration¡ªJohn 1:12-13; 3:3, 5-6; Rom. 8:16.

John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of God, to those who believe into His name, Who were begotten not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 3:3  Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:5-6  Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Rom. 8:16 The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God.

D.    As the children of God with the life and nature of God, we can live God, be the same as God in life, nature, and expression, and walk in a manner that is worthy of God, thus fulfilling the purpose of God¡¯s creation of man¡ªEph. 5:1-2, 8; Matt. 5:48; 1 Thes. 2:12; Gen. 1:26.

Eph. 5:1-2  Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children; And walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.

Eph. 5:8  For you were once darkness but are now light in the Lord; walk as children of light

Matt. 5:48  You therefore shall be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.

1 Thes. 2:12  So that you might walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Gen. 1:26  And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of heaven and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.

E.     The children of God have been regenerated of God the Spirit to become God-men, belonging to the species of God to see and enter into the kingdom of God¡ªJohn 3:3, 5-6:

John 3:3  Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:5-6  Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

1.      God has a good pleasure to make us, His children, the same as He is in life and nature but not in the Godhead¡ªEph. 1:5, 9; 5:1-2, 8; 1 John 1:5; 4:8, 16.

Eph. 1:5  Predestinating us unto sonship through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Eph. 1:9  Making known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Himself,

Eph. 5:1-2  Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children; And walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.

Eph. 5:8  For you were once darkness but are now light in the Lord; walk as children of light

1 John 1:5  And this is the message which we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

1 John 4:8  He who does not love has not known God, because God is love.

1 John 4:16  And we know and have believed the love which God has in us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God and God abides in him.

2.      Because we have been born of God, we are the same as God in life and nature but not in the Godhead¡ªRom. 8:2, 10, 16; 2 Pet. 1:4.

Rom. 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life has freed me in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and of death.

Rom. 8:10  But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is life because of righteousness.

Rom. 8:16  The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God.

2 Pet. 1:4  Through which He has granted to us precious and exceedingly great promises that through these you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption which is in the world by lust.

3.      As children of God, we are God-men, we belong to the species of God, and we are in the kingdom of God, the realm of the divine species¡ªJohn 1:12-13; 3:3, 5:

John 1:12-13  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of God, to those who believe into His name, Who were begotten not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 3:3  Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:5  Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

a.      Our second birth caused us to enter into the kingdom of God to become the species of God¡ªvv. 3, 5-6.

John 3:3  Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:5-6  Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

b.      Now as children of God with the life and nature of God, we are God-men in the kingdom of God¡ªvv. 3, 5; Rom. 8:16; 14:17.

John 3:3  Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:5  Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Rom. 8:16  The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God.

Rom. 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

III.  ¡°As many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God¡±¡ª8:14:

Rom. 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

A.    God¡¯s eternal purpose is to have many sons for His corporate expression; the New Jerusalem is the aggregate of the divine sonship for the eternal, corporate expression of the Triune God¡ªEph. 1:5; Rom. 8:14; Gal. 3:26; 4:7; Rev. 21:7:

Eph. 1:5  Predestinating us unto sonship through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Rom. 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Gal. 3:26  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Gal. 4:7  So then you are no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, an heir also through God.

Rev. 21:7  He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be God to him, and he will be a son to Me.

1.      According to the revelation of the entire New Testament, God¡¯s economy is to produce sons by dispensing Himself in His Divine Trinity into His chosen and redeemed people; Christ¡¯s redemption brings us into the sonship of God¡ªEph. 1:5, 7, 10; 3:9; Rom. 8:11, 14.

Eph. 1:5  Predestinating us unto sonship through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Eph. 1:7  In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of offenses, according to the riches of His grace,

Eph. 1:10  Unto the economy of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth, in Him;

Eph. 3:9  And to enlighten all that they may see what the economy of the mystery is, which throughout the ages has been hidden in God, who created all things,

Rom. 8:11  And if the Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.

Rom. 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

2.      God¡¯s economy is to make us sons of God, inheriting the blessing of God¡¯s promise, which was given for His eternal purpose to have sons for His corporate expression¡ªHeb. 2:10; Rom. 8:29.

Heb. 2:10  For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and through whom are all things, in leading many sons into glory, to make the Author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Rom. 8:29  Because those whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brothers;

B.     The central thought of the book of Romans is that in His salvation God is making sinners His sons with His life and nature so that they may become constituents of the Body of Christ for His corporate expression¡ª3:23; 8:14, 29; 12:4-5.

Rom. 3:23  For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Rom. 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Rom. 8:29  Because those whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brothers;

Rom. 12:4-5  For just as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, So we who are many are one Body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

C.     We, the believers in Christ, are first children of God, and then we gradually grow up to become sons of God¡ªGal. 3:26; 4:6:

Gal. 3:26  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Gal. 4:6  And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father!

1.      Sons are the children of God who are in the stage of the transformation of their souls¡ªRom. 8:14; 12:2.

Rom. 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Rom. 12:2  And do not be fashioned according to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and well pleasing and perfect.

2.      The sons of God not only have been regenerated in their spirit and are growing in the divine life, but they are also living and walking by being led by the Spirit¡ª8:14.

Rom. 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

D.    The sons of God have received the spirit of sonship with the sonship; they have the life, the position, the right, the privilege, and the blessings of a son¡ªv. 15; Gal. 4:5-6.

Rom. 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery bringing you into fear again, but you have received a spirit of sonship in which we cry, Abba, Father!

Gal. 4:5-6  That He might redeem those under law that we might receive the sonship. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father!

E.     All the sons of God will be brought into glory; this is our destiny¡ªHeb. 2:10; Rom. 8:21:

Heb. 2:10  For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and through whom are all things, in leading many sons into glory, to make the Author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Rom. 8:21  In hope that the creation itself will also be freed from the slavery of corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

1.      Glorification is the step in God¡¯s complete salvation in which He will completely saturate our body with the glory of His life and nature according to the principle of His regenerating our spirit through the Spirit¡ªvv. 21, 23, 30.

Rom. 8:21  In hope that the creation itself will also be freed from the slavery of corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Rom. 8:23  And not only so, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan in ourselves, eagerly awaiting sonship, the redemption of our body.

Rom. 8:30  And those whom He predestinated, these He also called; and those whom He called, these He also justified; and those whom He justified, these He also glorified.

2.      This is the last step of God¡¯s complete salvation, wherein God obtains a full expression, which will ultimately be manifested in the New Jerusalem in the coming age¡ªRev. 21:2, 7, 10-11.

Rev. 21:2  And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Rev. 21:7  He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be God to him, and he will be a son to Me.

Rev. 21:10-11  And he carried me away in spirit onto a great and high mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, as clear as crystal.

IV.  ¡°If children, heirs also; on the one hand, heirs of God; on the other, joint heirs with Christ¡±¡ªRom. 8:17; Gal. 3:29; 4:7; Titus 3:7; Eph. 1:11, 13-14, 18; 1 Pet. 1:3-4:

Rom. 8:17  And if children, heirs also; on the one hand, heirs of God; on the other, joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him that we may also be glorified with Him.

Gal. 3:29  And if you are of Christ, then you are Abraham¡¯s seed, heirs according to promise.

Gal. 4:7  So then you are no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, an heir also through God.

Titus 3:7  In order that having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Eph. 1:11  In whom also we were designated as an inheritance, having been predestinated according to the purpose of the One who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

Eph. 1:13-14 In whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation, in Him also believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of the promise, Who is the pledge of our inheritance unto the redemption of the acquired possession, to the praise of His glory.

Eph. 1:18  The eyes of your heart having been enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

1 Pet. 1:3-4  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has regenerated us unto a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, Unto an inheritance, incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, kept in the heavens for you,

A.    Christ is the Heir of all things, and we, the children of God, are destined to be joint heirs with Christ, for we are heirs with Him to inherit God in His glory as our inheritance¡ªHeb. 1:2; Rom. 8:17; Acts 26:18:

Heb. 1:2  Has at the last of these days spoken to us in the Son, whom He appointed Heir of all things, through whom also He made the universe;

Rom. 8:17  And if children, heirs also; on the one hand, heirs of God; on the other, joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him that we may also be glorified with Him.

Acts 26:18  To open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.

1.      As the designated Heir, Christ will inherit all things in God¡¯s economy, including the earth, the kingdom, and the throne; all that God is and has is for Christ¡¯s possession¡ªHeb. 1:2; Psa. 2:8; Dan. 7:13-14; Luke 1:32; Matt. 11:27; John 16:15.

Heb. 1:2  Has at the last of these days spoken to us in the Son, whom He appointed Heir of all things, through whom also He made the universe;

Psa. 2:8  Ask of Me, / And I will give the nations as Your inheritance / And the limits of the earth as Your possession.

Dan. 7:13-14  I watched in the night visions, / And there with the clouds of heaven / One like a Son of Man was coming; / And He came to the Ancient of Days, / And they brought Him near before Him. And to Him was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom, / That all the peoples, nations, and languages might serve Him. / His dominion is an eternal dominion, which will not pass away; / And His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.

Luke 1:32  He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of David His father,

Matt. 11:27  All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one fully knows the Son except the Father; neither does anyone fully know the Father except the Son and him to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

John 16:15  All that the Father has is Mine; for this reason I have said that He receives of Mine and will declare it to you.

2.      Christ, the firstborn Son of God, is the appointed Heir of God, and we, the many sons of God, have been saved to be joint heirs with Christ¡ªRom. 8:17.

Rom. 8:17  And if children, heirs also; on the one hand, heirs of God; on the other, joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him that we may also be glorified with Him.

B.     An heir is one who is of full age according to the law (the Roman law is used by Paul as an illustration) and who is qualified to inherit the father¡¯s estate¡ªGal. 4:7:

Gal. 4:7  So then you are no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, an heir also through God.

1.      In order to become heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, we need to grow in life unto maturity¡ªv. 7; Heb. 5:14¡ª6:1; 2 Pet. 1:5-7.

Gal. 4:7  So then you are no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, an heir also through God.

Heb. 5:14-6:1  But solid food is for the full-grown, who because of practice have their faculties exercised for discriminating between both good and evil. Therefore leaving the word of the beginning of Christ, let us be brought on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith in God,

2 Pet. 1:5-7  And for this very reason also, adding all diligence, supply bountifully in your faith virtue; and in virtue, knowledge; And in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control, endurance; and in endurance, godliness; And in godliness, brotherly love; and in brotherly love, love.

2.      Heirs of God are the sons of God who are fully matured in every part of their being and thus are qualified as legal heirs to claim the divine inheritance¡ªRom. 8:17, 21, 23.

Rom. 8:17  And if children, heirs also; on the one hand, heirs of God; on the other, joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him that we may also be glorified with Him.

Rom. 8:21  In hope that the creation itself will also be freed from the slavery of corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Rom. 8:23  And not only so, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan in ourselves, eagerly awaiting sonship, the redemption of our body.

C.     We become heirs of God through the Triune God¡ªthe Father, who sent forth the Son and the Spirit; the Son, who accomplished redemption for sonship; and the Spirit, who carries out the sonship within us¡ªGal. 4:4-7.

Gal. 4:4-7  But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under law, That He might redeem those under law that we might receive the sonship. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father! So then you are no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, an heir also through God.

D.    The condition for us to be heirs is that we grow in life to become sons and then pass through suffering so that we may be glorified to become legal heirs¡ªRom. 8:17:

Rom. 8:17  And if children, heirs also; on the one hand, heirs of God; on the other, joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him that we may also be glorified with Him.

1.      Genuine growth in the divine life requires suffering¡ª1 Pet. 2:19-21; 3:14, 18; 4:1, 12-13, 19; 5:1, 9; 2 Pet. 1:5-7.

1 Pet. 2:19-21  For this is grace, if anyone, because of a consciousness of God, bears sorrows by suffering unjustly. For what glory is it if, while sinning and being buffeted, you endure? But if, while doing good and suffering, you endure, this is grace with God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered on your behalf, leaving you a model so that you may follow in His steps;

1 Pet. 3:14  But even if you suffer because of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not be afraid with fear from them, nor be troubled,

1 Pet. 3:18  For Christ also has suffered once for sins, the Righteous on behalf of the unrighteous, that He might bring you to God, on the one hand being put to death in the flesh, but on the other, made alive in the Spirit;

1 Pet. 4:1  Since Christ therefore has suffered in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same mind (because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin),

1 Pet. 4:12-13  Beloved, do not think that the fiery ordeal among you, coming to you for a trial, is strange, as if it were a strange thing happening to you; But inasmuch as you share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice exultingly.

1 Pet. 4:19  So then let those also who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing to a faithful Creator.

1 Pet. 5:1  Therefore the elders among you I exhort, who am a fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory to be revealed:

1 Pet. 5:9  Him withstand, being firm in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being accomplished among your brotherhood in the world.

2 Pet. 1:5-7  And for this very reason also, adding all diligence, supply bountifully in your faith virtue; and in virtue, knowledge; And in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control, endurance; and in endurance, godliness; And in godliness, brotherly love; and in brotherly love, love.

2.      The more we suffer with Christ, the more we grow and the faster we are matured to be joint heirs with Christ¡ªRom. 8:17.

Rom. 8:17  And if children, heirs also; on the one hand, heirs of God; on the other, joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him that we may also be glorified with Him.