Heir by Position, Pauper by Practice #2

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

“Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:7 KJV).

Saints, we in Christ are spiritual winners and heirs by position, but we can choose to be spiritual losers and paupers by practice!

Read Ephesians 2:1-3: “And you [Christians] hath he [Father God] quickened [given life], who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air [Satan], the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience [unbelievers]: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling [satisfying, accomplishing to the very end!] the desires of the flesh [outward sins] and of the mind [inward sins]; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

By nature, sinful man is proud. He is his own authority, thinking whatever he pleases and doing anything he feels like doing. Yea, he is spiritually “dead,” or “alienated [separated] from the life of God” (Ephesians 4:18). This condition and attitude originated in Satan and were passed on to Adam in Genesis chapter 3, with Satan being the first arrogant creature (see 1 Timothy 3:6; cf. Isaiah 14:12-14) and Adam willingly following him in his autonomy (“self-rule”). Our genetic link to Adam ensured we inherited that sin nature. In Jeremiah 17:9, we find God’s classic description of human nature: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” King David’s inspired words are, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5).

An exceptionally unflattering assessment of our human heart and its products is found in the words of the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 15:18-20 and Mark 7:20-23. That which comes out of man’s heart (soul) corrupts him. Among those sins we have “evil thoughts” (Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:21), “pride” (Mark 7:22), and “foolishness” (Mark 7:22). Unless we are mature and wise Christians, these very iniquities will render us spiritual losers and paupers by practice….