Romans 8:1–17

“Joint-Heirs with Christ” 

At a time when Church members in Rome lacked unity and were divided on several important issues, Paul wrote to them about how they could follow the Spirit to access the Atonement of Jesus Christ to overcome their fallen nature. Paul promised that if they did this, they would be joint-heirs with Jesus Christ of all that Heavenly Father has. As you study, seek to increase your desire to follow the Spirit and receive all that Heavenly Father has. 

Gendered language in scripture. The scriptures sometimes use language like “men” or “sons” when referring to blessings God offers (see, for example, Romans 8:14). Be sure that students understand that our Heavenly Father’s eternal promises of receiving all He has apply to both men and women (see Doctrine and Covenants 25:1).

Student preparation: Invite students to read Doctrine and Covenants 76:50–70 and to come prepared to share why they would want to receive the blessings described in these verses.

Possible Learning Activities

What do you want to inherit?

Before asking the following questions, consider showing or talking about some of the significant objects, traits, or gifts you have inherited from your ancestors.

• If you could choose anyone to inherit something from, who would you choose? Why?

• What would you want to inherit from this person?

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Saints in Rome about the inheritance Heavenly Father offers to each of His children. Read Romans 8:16–17, 32, and mark what Heavenly Father offers to us. It may be helpful to know that an heir is “a person entitled to inherit physical or spiritual gifts” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Heir,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

• What words or phrases did you mark?

• What do you think it means to be a joint-heir with Jesus Christ?

One of the truths these verses help us understand is that Heavenly Father desires to bless us with all that He has (see also Doctrine and Covenants 76:55; 84:38).

Referring to the inheritance Heavenly Father desires to bless us with, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of the First Presidency, taught:

It is beyond my power of thought to imagine all that this promise entails. But I do know it is grand, it is divine, it is eternal, and it is worth all of our efforts in life.

(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Four Titles,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 60)

Take a moment to think about what it might mean to inherit all that Heavenly Father has, and consider what questions you might have about this truth. Consider what characteristics, attributes, and other blessings you would like to inherit from Heavenly Father. As you continue studying today, look for truths that can help you better understand the inheritance Heavenly Father desires to bless you with and what you can do to qualify for it.

Learning more about Heavenly Father’s inheritance

Display on the board the following chart. Consider whether it would be helpful to have the students study the following verses on their own, in small groups, or as a class.

Create the following chart in your study journal:

Blessings Heavenly Father wants us to inherit	What we can do to qualify for this inheritance

In our dispensation, the Lord has revealed more about the inheritance Heavenly Father desires to give us. As part of a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith and recorded in what is now Doctrine and Covenants 76, the Lord described those who would someday inherit the celestial kingdom.

Study Doctrine and Covenants 76:50–70 as well as more of Paul’s teachings in Romans 8:1, 5–9, 13–14, including the Joseph Smith Translation for Romans 8:8–9, located in the footnotes. As you study, add to your chart the promises you read about and what the verses say you can do to qualify for those promises. Remember that even though some of these verses use words like “sons” and “men,” God’s promises apply equally to all Heavenly Father’s children (see Doctrine and Covenants 25:1). It may also be helpful to know that the word “carnal,” mentioned in Romans 8, refers to someone who focuses on worldly or temporal things. It can also refer to the appetites of the flesh (see Guide to the Scriptures, “Carnal,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

When students have finished studying, consider inviting volunteers to add some of their insights to the chart on the board. Use questions such as the following to have a meaningful discussion about what the students are learning.

• Which verses from your study were most meaningful to you? Why?

• What did these verses help you better understand about the inheritance God desires to give you? What can you do to qualify for that inheritance?

In the chart you made in your study journal, review what you wrote, including the blessings Heavenly Father wants you to inherit.

• What do these promised blessings help you understand about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

• What role does the Savior play in helping us to receive this inheritance? (see Doctrine and Covenants 76:69).

How can it impact your life?

Think for a moment about how understanding the inheritance that Heavenly Father desires to give you can impact your life and the choices you make.

Display the scenarios and the instructions that follow the scenarios. Instead of having students write a note to the person in a scenario they choose, the class could be divided into small groups, and each group could be given one of the scenarios. Students could then use the questions that follow the scenarios to discuss how to help the people in the scenarios.

Now consider how the truths you have studied today could impact the teenagers in the following scenarios:

1. Estelle has experienced a lot of difficulties in her life and feels discouraged. She wonders if continuing to attend church and keep the commandments is worth it.

2. Calvin loves the amazing technology the world has to offer. He spends most of his time playing video games, using social media, or watching videos.

3. Liz often struggles with feelings of low self-worth and wonders if anybody really cares about her.

Choose one of the previous scenarios (or think of a different scenario). Write a brief note to the person in the scenario you chose, sharing truths and scriptures you have studied in this lesson that would help the person with their situation. The following questions might be helpful for you to consider as you write your note:

• What does it mean to you that we can receive all that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have?

• How could understanding this inheritance help the person in the scenario you chose?

• What have Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ done to make it possible for us to receive these blessings?

• What are a few simple things the person from your scenario could begin doing that would help them in their situation?

Invite willing students to share their explanations with the class. Thank students for their efforts, and testify of Heavenly Father’s love for them and His desire to give them these blessings. Encourage them to follow the Spirit daily as they strive to qualify for these blessings.

Commentary and Background Information

How can remembering our inheritance help us?

President Elaine S. Dalton, former Young Women General President, shared a story about a king that illustrates this lesson:

[The king] had an unshakable knowledge of his identity. As a young man, he was kidnapped by evil men who had dethroned his father, the king. These men knew that if they could destroy him morally, he would not be heir to the throne. For six months they subjected him to every vile thing life had to offer, and yet he never yielded under pressure. This puzzled his captors, and after doing everything they could think of, they asked him why he had such great moral strength. His reply was simple. He said, “I cannot do what you ask, for I was born to be a king” [see Vaughn J. Featherstone, “The King’s Son,” New Era, Nov. 1975, 35].

Like the king’s son, each of you has inherited a royal birthright. Each of you has a divine heritage.

(Elaine S. Dalton, “Remember Who You Are!,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 121)

What kind of effort is required in order to follow the Spirit continually and receive all that Heavenly Father has?

While serving as a member of the Seventy, Elder Bruce C. Hafen explained:

If we desire “all that [the] Father hath” [Doctrine and Covenants 84:38], God asks all that we have. To qualify for such exquisite treasure, in whatever way is ours, we must give the way Christ gave—every drop He had: “How exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not” [Doctrine and Covenants 19:15]. Paul said, “If so be that we suffer with him,” we are “joint-heirs with Christ” [Romans 8:17; emphasis added]. All of His heart, all of our hearts.

(Bruce C. Hafen, “The Atonement: All for All,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 98)

Why did Paul teach that we need to become the sons of God when we are all His children?

Although every person is literally a spirit child of heavenly parents, Paul’s teachings about “the Spirit of adoption” and becoming “the sons [and daughters] of God” (see Romans 8:14–15) help us understand that we can be spiritually reborn, or adopted, as Christ’s sons and daughters in the gospel covenant (see Guide to the Scriptures, “Covenant,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

King Benjamin’s people experienced this type of spiritual rebirth, causing Benjamin to observe, “And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you” (Mosiah 5:7). Becoming the sons and daughters of Jesus Christ through spiritual rebirth is essential for qualifying for all that Heavenly Father has (see Mosiah 27:25–26).

Supplemental Learning Activities

Using the Aaronic Priesthood Quorum and Young Women Themes

Invite students to search the Aaronic Priesthood Quorum Theme and the Young Women Theme (ChurchofJesusChrist.org) and identify truths that are similar or related to those taught in Romans 8:1–17.

Some truths students might find include: we have a divine nature and destiny; as disciples of Jesus Christ, we strive to become like Him; and disciples of Christ strive to become more like Him each day.

Invite students to share what the similarities between the themes and Romans 8:1–17 highlight about the importance of these truths in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Invite students to share their testimonies of how these truths inspire them to follow the Savior more closely.

Gospel Topics, “Becoming Like God,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org

If students would benefit from better understanding the Church’s teachings about humanity’s divine potential to become like God, invite them to ask questions about the doctrine that we can become like Heavenly Father and receive all He has (see Romans 8:16–17). Write their questions on the board, and invite them to search for answers by studying the Gospel Topics essay “Becoming Like God,” which can be found in the Gospel Library app or on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Invite students to share what they found.