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Understanding Our Spiritual Birthright in Christ

The concept of a spiritual birthright in Christ refers to the privileges and inheritance believers receive through their union with Jesus Christ. This birthright is rooted in the biblical understanding of adoption, new birth, and co-heirship with Christ [1, 5, 6].

The New Testament describes believers as being "predestined for adoption as children through Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 1:5) [4]. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines adoption as the act of giving someone the name, place, and privileges of a son who is not a son by birth, distinguishing between natural, national (referring to Israel), and spiritual adoption [5]. Spiritual adoption is an act of God's grace that brings individuals into His redeemed family, making them partakers of divine blessings [5]. This status is contrasted with the traditional understanding of birthright, which in ancient times referred to the advantages accruing to the eldest son, including respect, authority, and a double portion of inheritance [9]. Through spiritual adoption, believers receive a new status as children of God, granting them an inheritance together with Christ [1, 5].

This spiritual birthright is intrinsically linked to the "new birth" or regeneration. Torrey's Topical Textbook explains that the corruption of human nature necessitates this new birth, without which no one can enter heaven [6]. This transformation is effected by God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, often through the instrumentality of the Word of God and the resurrection of Christ [6, 7]. The Apostle Peter states that God, "by His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3) [7]. This new birth is described as a new creation, newness of life, and a spiritual resurrection [6]. Matthew Henry, commenting on Colossians 2:13, notes that a state of sin is a state of spiritual death, and through Christ, believers are "quickened together with him," implying a spiritual resurrection [14].

Central to understanding this birthright is the concept of union with Christ. This union is described in various ways: Christ being in believers, and believers being in Christ [10]. It includes union with the Father and is maintained through faith, abiding in Christ, and His word abiding in believers [10]. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 3:27 explain that through baptism into Christ, believers "put on Christ," thereby becoming sons by adoption through virtue of Christ's own Sonship [16]. This union means that believers are identified with Christ in His death, resurrection, and ascension [15, 18]. As Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 3:10 notes, to know Christ is more than knowing a doctrine about Him; it involves being brought to the Redeemer Himself and experiencing "the power of his resurrection," which assures justification and raises believers spiritually with Him [15].

The incarnation of Christ is foundational to this spiritual birthright. Christ, being both God and man, took on human nature, identifying with sinful people to redeem them [2, 17]. His human nature was necessary for His mediatorial office [8]. The virgin birth, as described in Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:35, highlights the unique nature of Christ's humanity, conceived by the Holy Spirit [11, 12]. This divine-human nature of Christ allows for the hypostatical union, where two natures are united in one person without mixture or confusion [2]. Adam Clarke, commenting on 1 John 5:20, emphasizes that the Son of God came in the flesh, making Himself an offering for sin, and giving believers a spiritual understanding to know the True God and receive eternal life through Him [13].

As children of God through adoption and new birth, believers are co-heirs with Christ. Romans 8:17 states, "And if we are children, we have a right to a part in the heritage; a part in the things of God, together with Christ; so that if we have a part in his pain, we will in the same way have a part in his glory" [1]. This means sharing in both Christ's sufferings and His glory, confirming the depth of the spiritual inheritance [1]. The ultimate goal of this spiritual birthright is to confirm believers' hearts "without blame, in holiness, before God and our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, with all his saints" (1 Thessalonians 3:13) [3].

Sources

  1. Romans “Romans 8:17 (BBE) — And if we are children, we have a right to a part in the heritage; a part in the things of God, together with Christ; so that if we have a part in his pain, we will in the same way have a part in his glory.”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Incarnation — That act of grace whereby Christ took our human nature into union with his Divine Person, became man. Christ is both God and man. Human attributes and actions are predicated of him, and he of whom they are predicated is God. A Divine Person was united to a human nature (Acts 20:28; Rom. 8:32; 1 Cor. 2:8; Heb. 2:11-14; 1 Tim. 3:16; Gal. 4:4, etc.). The union is hypostatical, i.e., is personal; the two natures are not mixed or confounded, and it is perpetual.”
  3. I Thessalonians “I Thessalonians 3:13 (DRC) — To confirm your hearts without blame, in holiness, before God and our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, with all his saints. Amen.”
  4. Ephesians “having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire, -- Ephesians 1:5”
  5. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Adoption — The giving to any one the name and place and privileges of a son who is not a son by birth. (1.) Natural. Thus Pharaoh's daughter adopted Moses (Ex. 2:10), and Mordecai Esther (Esther 2:7). (2.) National. God adopted Israel (Ex. 4:22; Deut. 7:6; Hos. 11:1; Rom. 9:4). (3.) Spiritual. An act of God's grace by which he brings men into the number of his redeemed family, and makes them partakers of all the blessings he has provided for them. Adoption represents the new relations into which the believer is introduced by justification, and the privileges connecte”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: New Birth, The — The corruption of human nature requires -- Joh 3:6; Ro 8:7,8. None can enter heaven without -- Joh 3:3. Effected by God. -- Joh 1:13; 1Pe 1:3. Christ. -- 1Jo 2:29. The Holy Spirit. -- Joh 3:6; Tit 3:5. Through the instrumentality of The word of God. -- Jas 1:18; 1Pe 1:23. The resurrection of Christ. -- 1Pe 1:3. The ministry of the gospel. -- 1Co 4:15. Is of the will of God -- Jas 1:18. Is of the mercy of God -- Tit 3:5. Is for the glory of God -- Isa 43:7. Described as A new creation. -- 2Co 5:17; Ga 6:15; Eph 2:10. Newness of life. -- Ro 6:4. A spir”
  7. I Peter “I Peter 1:3 (BSB) — Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Human Nature of Christ, The — Was necessary to his mediatorial office -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 2:17; Ga 4:4,5; 1Co 15:21; Ro 6:15,19. Is proved by his Conception in the Virgin's womb. -- Mt 1:18; Lu 1:31. Birth. -- Mt 1:16,25; 2:2; Lu 2:7,11. Partaking of flesh and blood. -- Joh 1:14; Heb 2:14. Having a human soul. -- Mt 26:38; Lu 23:46; Ac 2:31. Circumcision. -- Lu 2:21. Increase in wisdom and stature. -- Lu 2:52. Weeping. -- Lu 19:41; Joh 11:35. Hungering. -- Mt 4:2; 21:18. Thirsting. -- Joh 4:7; 19:28. Sleeping. -- Mt 8:24; Mr 4:38. Being subject to weariness. -- Joh 4:6. ”
  9. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Birthright — the advantages accruing to the eldest son. These were not definitely fixed in patriarchal times. Great respect was paid to him in the household, and, as the family widened into a tribe, this grew into a sustained authority, undefined save by custom, in all matters of common interest. Thus the "princes" of the congregation had probably rights of primogeniture. (Numbers 7:2; 21:18; 25:14) (Gradually the rights of the eldest son came to be more definite: (1) The functions of the priesthood in the family with the paternal blessing. (2) A "double portion" of t”
  10. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Union With Christ — As Head of the Church -- Eph 1:22,23; 4:15,16; Col 1:18. Christ prayed that all saints might have -- Joh 17:21,23. Described as Christ being in us. -- Eph 3:17; Col 1:27. Our being in Christ. -- 2Co 12:2; 1Jo 5:20. Includes union with the Father -- Joh 17:21; 1Jo 2:24. Is of God -- 1Co 1:30. Maintained by Faith. -- Ga 2:20; Eph 3:17. Abiding in him. -- Joh 15:4,7. His word abiding in us. -- Joh 15:7; 1Jo 2:24; 2Jo 1:9. Feeding on him. -- Joh 6:56. Obeying him. -- 1Jo 3:24. The Holy Spirit witnesses -- 1Jo 3:24. The gift of the Holy Spirit is an ev”
  11. Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 1:18: BIRTH OF CHRIST. (Mat 1:18-25) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise--or, "thus." When as his mother Mary was espoused--rather, "betrothed." to Joseph, before they came together, she was found--discovered to be. with child of the Holy Ghost--It was, of course, the fact only that was discovered; the explanation of the fact here given is the Evangelist's own. That the Holy Ghost is a living conscious Person is plainly implied here, and is elsewhere clearly taught (Act 5:3-4, &c.): and that, in the unity of the Godhead, He is distinct bot”
  12. Luke (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Luke 1:35: Holy Ghost--(See on Mat 1:18). power of the highest--the immediate energy of the Godhead conveyed by the Holy Ghost. overshadow--a word suggesting how gentle, while yet efficacious, would be this Power [BENGEL]; and its mysterious secrecy, withdrawn, as if by a cloud, from human scrutiny [CALVIN]. that holy thing born of thee--that holy Offspring of thine. therefore . . . Son of God--That Christ is the Son of God in His divine and eternal nature is clear from all the New Testament; yet here we see that Sonship efflorescing into human and palpable”
  13. 1 John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 John 5:20: We know that the Son of God is come - In the flesh, and has made his soul an offering for sin; and hath given us an understanding - a more eminent degree of light than we ever enjoyed before; for as he lay in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him unto us; and he hath besides given us a spiritual understanding, that we may know him who is true, even the True God, and get eternal life from him through his Son, In whom we are by faith, as the branches in the vine, deriving all our knowledge, light, life, love, and fruitfulness from him. And it is through this r”
  14. Colossians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Colossians 2:13: The apostle here represents the privileges we Christians have above the Jews, which are very great. I. Christ's death is our life: And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, Col 2:13. A state of sin is a state of spiritual death. Those who are in sin are dead in sin. As the death of the body consists in its separation from the soul, so the death of the soul consists in its separation from God and the divine favour. As the death of the body is the corruption and putrefaction of it, so sin is the c”
  15. Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 3:10: That I may know him--experimentally. The aim of the "righteousness" just mentioned. This verse resumes, and more fully explains, "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ" (Phi 3:8). To know HIM is more than merely to know a doctrine about Him. Believers are brought not only to redemption, but to the Redeemer Himself. the power of his resurrection--assuring believers of their justification (Rom 4:25; Co1 15:17), and raising them up spiritually with Him, by virtue of their identification with Him in this, as in all the acts of His redeeming work”
  16. Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 3:27: baptized into Christ-- (Rom 6:3). have put on Christ--Ye did, in that very act of being baptized into Christ, put on, or clothe yourselves with, Christ: so the Greek expresses. Christ is to you the toga virilis (the Roman garment of the full-grown man, assumed when ceasing to be a child) [BENGEL]. GATAKER defines a Christian, "One who has put on Christ." The argument is, By baptism ye have put on Christ; and therefore, He being the Son of God, ye become sons by adoption, by virtue of His Sonship by generation. This proves that baptism, where it an”
  17. Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 8:3: 8:3 our sinful nature: See study note on 6:19. • in a body like the bodies we sinners have: Jesus identified with sinful people so that he could be their representative and redeem them. Paul also implies that Jesus’ incarnate nature was not exactly like ours; born of a virgin through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus did not inherit a sinful nature from Adam. • a sacrifice for our sins: In the Greek Old Testament, this phrase frequently describes a sin offering, and three of the eight New Testament occurrences also have this meaning (Heb 10:6, 8; 13:11). Christ w”
  18. Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 1:20: in Christ--as our "first-fruits" of the resurrection, and Head, in virtue of God's mighty working in whom His power to us-ward is made possible and actual [ALFORD]. when he raised him--"in that He raised Him." The raising of Christ is not only an earnest of our bodies being hereafter raised, but has a spiritual power in it involving (by virtue of our living union with Him, as members with the Head) the resurrection, spiritually of the believer's soul now, and, consequently, of his body hereafter (Rom 6:8-11; Rom 8:11). The Son, too, as God (though”
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