One of the most breathtaking truths in the New Testament is this:
Jesus did not inherit glory because He lacked deity.
He inherited glory because He completed redemption as the God-Man — so that everything He inherited, we would share in union with Him.
This is the heartbeat of Scripture after the resurrection.
It is the mystery behind the phrase “in Christ.”
It is the reason Jesus became human in the first place.
If Jesus was always God, then what exactly did He “receive” or “inherit” after the resurrection? The answer reveals why His exaltation is also our exaltation.
Let’s explore this step by step.
1. Jesus Did Not Inherit Deity — He Always Had It
Before the incarnation:
- He was eternally God (John 1:1).
- He shared the Father’s glory (John 17:5).
- All things were made through Him (Col. 1:16).
- Angels worshiped Him (Heb. 1:6).
So when Scripture speaks of Jesus inheriting something, it does not mean He became God or gained divine attributes. It means He received Messianic glory, Second Adam authority, and resurrection honors—as the representative human, the true Son, the victorious Messiah.
This distinction is everything.
2. Jesus Became Something New in the Resurrection
On Easter morning, Jesus did not stop being God.
He did not return to being “just divine.”
He rose as:
- the glorified human,
- the resurrected Son,
- the Second Adam,
- the head of a new humanity,
- the firstborn from the dead (Col. 1:18).
His resurrection wasn’t only about victory over death.
It was about inaugurating a new creation, a new humanity, a new kingdom order.
Everything He inherits, He inherits as the resurrected human King—so that He can share it with those united to Him.
3. What Jesus Inherited After His Resurrection
The New Testament gives a precise list of what Jesus inherited when He rose and ascended.
These are not abstract ideas—they are concrete glories, honors, and offices.
Let’s walk through them.
1. A More Excellent Name — “Lord” (Phil. 2:9–11; Heb. 1:4)
The name He inherited is Son, according to Heb 1:4 (Read Sonship).
This name is given to Him in His humanity after redemption is accomplished.
And in union with Him:
We share His name (Rev. 3:12).
We belong to the Lord who bears the Name above every name.
2. All Authority in Heaven and Earth (Matt. 28:18)
Jesus always had divine authority.
But now He holds Messianic authority as the risen Man, the new King of creation.
Remember, the authority over earth to have dominion was given to man and Adam lost dominion. Jesus regains it — infinitely greater than before.
And because we are in Him:
We reign in life through Him (Rom. 5:17).
We are seated with Him (Eph. 2:6).
3. The Throne of God (Heb. 1:3; Rev. 3:21)
Jesus sits at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
This is the moment of His enthronement:
- after atonement,
- after purification,
- after victory,
- after resurrection.
And what does He say to the believer?
“To the one who overcomes, I will grant to sit with Me on My throne.” (Rev. 3:21)
He sits—and we sit with Him now.
4. The Inheritance of All Nations (Psalm 2 fulfilled in Acts 2, Heb. 1)
God promised the Messiah:
“Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations
as Your inheritance.”
Jesus inherits:
- the nations
- the ends of the earth
- the kingdoms of the world
- the right to rule all creation
And because we are in Him:
We are co-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17).
Whatever He receives, we receive with Him. As discussed in Romans, we reign with Christ but executing justice to the people through love and the fruits of the spirit. The gospel can be summarized by expressing the justice of God.
Read more
- The Gospel Is Justice Served
- Is the Gospel About Justice or Righteousness? Yes.
- Living The Justice Of God Through Love: Rom 12:9
- The Gospel: God’s Justice Story in a World of Flaws
5. Immortal, Glorified Humanity (Rom. 6:9; Phil. 3:21)
Jesus always had divine immortality.
But now He possesses glorified human immortality—the new form of humanity destined for God’s future.
And in union with Him:
We will share His resurrection body (Phil. 3:21).
We will be clothed with immortality (1 Cor. 15:53–54).
Getting the divine resurrection body is in the future, yes, but as Rom 8:11 says we have life giving spirit in our mortal bodies (Read The Life-Giving Spirit in Our Mortal Bodies: Rom 8:11).
6. The Spirit Without Measure (Acts 2:33)
The risen Christ receives the Spirit in overflowing fullness to pour Him out on His people.
“Having received from the Father the promise of the Spirit,
He poured Him out…”
And we receive the same Spirit:
- the Spirit of adoption
- the Spirit of power
- the Spirit of the Son
God’s own life in us.
7. Universal Lordship Over Every Power (Eph. 1:20–22)
Jesus is raised:
- far above angels
- far above rulers
- far above authorities
- far above every name
This is His enthroned supremacy.
And in union with Him:
All things are under His feet—and we are His Body (Eph. 1:22–23).
His victory is ours. We get to use this Name of Jesus for reigning on earth, to serve justice so that earth will be as it is on heaven.
8. The Role of Judge (John 5:22–27; Acts 17:31)
God appointed a man—Jesus—to judge the world.
This is part of His royal inheritance.
And incredibly:
We will judge angels and the world (1 Cor. 6:2–3).
Not because we are great— but because we are in the One who is.
9. Heir of All Things (Heb. 1:2)
Everything God owns— which is everything—belongs to Jesus as the resurrected Son.
And in union with Him:
We inherit all things with Him (Rom. 8:17; Rev. 21:7).
This is staggering grace.
4. Why Did Jesus Receive These Glories?
One reason:
So He could share everything with us.
Jesus didn’t become God.
He didn’t get promoted into deity.
He became:
- the Head of a new humanity
- the true human King
- the victorious Second Adam
- the firstborn among many brothers
And everything He receives as the victorious human King is now shared with those who are united to Him.
This is why union with Christ is the center of Paul’s theology.
Jesus inherits,
and we inherit with Him.
Jesus reigns,
and we reign in Him.
Jesus is seated,
and we are seated with Him.
Jesus is glorified,
and His glory is given to us (John 17:22).
5. What We Receive Through Union With Christ
Everything Christ receives in His resurrected humanity,
we receive by grace through union with Him.
Here’s the full list.
Because Christ Was Raised, We Receive:
- His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21)
- His Spirit (Gal. 4:6)
- His victory over death (Rom. 6:9–11)
- His authority over darkness (Luke 10:19, Eph. 2:6)
- His access to the Father (Eph. 2:18)
- His inheritance of all things (Rom. 8:17)
- His glory (John 17:22)
- His resurrection life (Col. 3:4)
- His heavenly seat (Eph. 2:6)
- His kingdom (2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 22:5)
We do not become God.
But we become what humanity was always meant to be—
glorified image-bearers sharing in the Son’s life, joy, authority, and glory.
6. The Heart of It All: Jesus’ Inheritance Becomes Ours
This is the story:
Jesus inherits as the true Man
so that we may inherit as His brothers and sisters.
Everything He won,
He won for us.
Everything He received,
He received as our representative.
Everything He enjoys,
He invites us into.
He is the firstborn of a new creation—
and we are the family that follows Him into resurrection glory.
This is why salvation is not primarily about moral improvement.
It is about a new identity, a new creation,
a new humanity united to the risen Christ.
The gospel is bigger than forgiveness.
It is the restoration of humanity through union with the glorified God-Man.
Conclusion:
What Jesus Received, We Receive.
What Jesus Became, We Become.
Where Jesus Is, We Are.**
He became the exalted human King
so we could share in His kingship.
He inherited the universe
so we could inherit with Him.
He sat down at the right hand of God
so we could be seated with Him in the heavenly places.
His story is our story.
His inheritance is our inheritance.
His glory is our glory.
This is the miracle of the gospel:
Union with the risen Christ changes everything.
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