Unleashed: Born Rich

March 10th, 2026
by Chris Bower

Born Rich: Understanding Your Spiritual Inheritance in Christ

In the late 1800s, Hetty Green was known as the richest woman in America, worth about $7 billion in today's money. Yet despite her incredible wealth, she lived like a pauper - owning only one dress, refusing to heat her home, and eating cold food to save money. The Guinness Book of World Records labeled her the greatest miser that ever lived.
This raises a profound question: How many Christians who are incredibly rich in Christ live like spiritual paupers?

What Does It Mean to Be Born Rich in Christ?

According to Ephesians 1:7, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace."

The passage continues in verse 8, explaining that God "lavished" these riches upon us - meaning He provides an abundant, full supply without holding back.
We are born rich because we are blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing. We have access to all of heaven's riches through our adoption into God's family.

The Evidence of Our Spiritual Wealth

Our spiritual riches are evident in several ways:

We are chosen in Him
We are adopted through Jesus Christ
We know the mystery of His will
We have obtained an inheritance (verse 11)
We are sealed with the Holy Spirit (verse 13)

How Do I Know I'm Saved? The Seal of the Holy Spirit

Being sealed with the Holy Spirit is like having God's signet ring pressed upon us. In ancient times, kings would authenticate documents with their seal. When we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, it's God's authentication of our salvation.

Galatians 4:6 tells us that "God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying Abba, Father."

The Holy Spirit confirms our salvation with an inner witness - even if you're the quietest person in the world, the Holy Spirit is shouting "Abba" on the inside.
The devil doesn't question your salvation because he sees that seal on you and recognizes the authority of God's signature through the Holy Spirit.

Why Should We Give Thanks?

Ephesians 1:16-17 emphasizes continuous thanksgiving because we have "the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him."

While atheists say there is no God to know and agnostics claim God cannot be known, believers have been given the spirit of wisdom and revelation specifically so we can know Him.

Thanksgiving keeps us from taking God for granted. Romans 1:21 warns that although people knew God, "they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him," which led to rebellion and futile thinking.

What Are the Benefits of Being in God's Family?

Psalm 103:1-2 reminds us to "bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."

We've been adopted into the family of God, not some struggling family, but the richest family in the universe.

God Forgives All Your Iniquities

The word "iniquity" doesn't just refer to sins we've committed, but to the twisted, perverse nature within us that causes us to bend toward sin in the first place. God deals with the root, not just the fruit.

God Heals All Your Diseases

God is Jehovah Rapha (Yahweh Rapha) - the God who heals spirit, soul, and body. In Exodus 15, after delivering Israel from Egypt and parting the Red Sea, God revealed Himself as their healer when they encountered bitter water at Marah.

Don't Forget What You Already Own

William Randolph Hearst, one of the world's richest men, once sent an agent around the world to find a specific piece of art he desperately wanted to own. After months of searching, the agent reported back: "I found it - it's in a storage building that you own." Hearst had forgotten what he already possessed.
Similarly, we often forget the spiritual riches that already belong to us as children of God. We need to remember our inheritance and live accordingly.

How Can I Experience God's Presence?

Ephesians 1:18 speaks of "having the eyes of your heart enlightened.

This verse inspired the worship song "Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord" - a prayer for experiencing God in uncommon ways.

Isaiah 6:1 describes seeing "the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of his robe filled the temple."

When ungodly things in us die (like King Uzziah), we can see the Lord high and lifted up. The angels cried "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory." If the earth is filled with His glory, shouldn't we be experiencing it?

We Are Part of Each Other's Inheritance

Not only do we have a rich inheritance in God, but we are part of His glorious inheritance. We're also part of each other's inheritance - we need each other because our inheritance is the real, alive, powerful church of Jesus Christ.
This means it's important that you are okay - spirit, soul, and body. Your wellbeing matters to God, to the church, and to those around you.

Life Application

This week, challenge yourself to live like the spiritually rich person you are in Christ. Stop living like a spiritual pauper when you've been adopted into the richest family in the universe. Begin each day by acknowledging your spiritual wealth and thanking God for the riches of His grace that He has lavished upon you.

Ask yourself these questions:

Am I living like someone who has been sealed by the Holy Spirit and adopted into God's family?
What spiritual riches am I forgetting that I already possess in Christ?
How can I cultivate a heart of continuous thanksgiving to stay close to God?
Am I experiencing God's presence in uncommon ways, or am I settling for spiritual mediocrity?