Verse 17
Being an adopted child of God makes us His heirs (cf. 1 Peter 1:3-4). We inherit with Jesus Christ our brother (Romans 8:29). We inherit both sufferings, as His disciples now, and glory, most of which lies in the future (cf. 1 Peter 4:13). The phrase "if indeed" seeks to render the first class condition in the Greek that in this case we could translate "since." Just as surely as we share His sufferings (Gr. sumpaschomen, any sufferings we may experience because we live for Him, not just those connected with our bearing verbal witness for Christ) now, we will share His glory in the future. This is a reference to the glorification that every believer will experience at the end of his or her life (Romans 8:18-25). Our glory then will be somewhat proportionate to our suffering for His sake as His disciples now (cf. 1 Peter 4:12-19).
The New Testament teaches that the amount of inheritance the children of God receive will vary depending on our faithfulness to God (Luke 19:11-27). However, there is no doubt that all Christians are the heirs of God and will inherit glorification as well as many other blessings (cf. 1 Peter 1:3-12). [Note: For a study of the variable factors involved in inheriting, see Zane C. Hodges, The Hungry Inherit.]
"All regenerate men have God as their inheritance, or as Paul puts it, are ’heirs of God’ (Romans 8:17; Galatians 4:7). That heirship is received on the basis of only one work, the work of believing. But there is another inheritance in the New Testament, an inheritance which, like that of the Israelites, is merited. They are also heirs of the kingdom and joint-heirs with the Messiah (2 Timothy 2:12; Romans 8:17)." [Note: Dillow, p. 55.]
This verse is not teaching that experiencing glorification, the third stage of every believer’s salvation, depends on our suffering for Jesus’ sake. God will eventually glorify every Christian, those who take a stand for the Lord and those who do not (Romans 8:29-39).
"Such passages leave no room at all for a ’partial rapture!’ All the saints will share Christ’s glory." [Note: Newell, p. 317.]
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