Eternal Glory - 1. Our Inheritance - 1 Peter 1:3-5

20 If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, 21 would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart. 22 Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.

1 Peter 1:1–9 (ESV)

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Introduction

1 Peter 1:3–5 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

As we come to the conclusion of our series on the Last Things our hearts and minds are directed toward Heaven. There will be, God willing, five sessions on this as we seek by God’s grace to see something of the glory that lies ahead of us.

1. Our Inheritance - 1 Peter 2:3-5

2. A Great Multitude - Rev 7:9-17

3. We Shall All Be Changed - 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

4. A New Heaven and a New Earth - Revelation 21:1-8

5. The New Jerusalem - Revelation 21:9-27

Today our inheritance

1 Peter 1:3–5 ESV

Who do you think most deserves to go Heaven? Could be people you know, know of, have heard of, alive or dead.

The Benefactor v3a

The Inheritor v3b

The Inheritance v4

The Certainty v5

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1. The Benefactor v3a

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1 Peter 1:3 (ESV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

a. God

1 Peter 1:3 (ESV)

3 Blessed be the God

All praise to God.

b. God and Father

1 Peter 1:3 (ESV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

God has revealed himself in his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Through Jesus, all the elect share in his sonship. Through him they call God their Father, for they are his children. Peter and Jude (A. A Living Hope (1:3))

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2. Inheritors v3b

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1 Peter 1:3 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

a. Mercy

1 Peter 1:3 (ESV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Ephesians 2:4–5 ESV

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

b. Born Again

1 Peter 1:3 (ESV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1 Peter 1:23 ESV

23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;

Peter and Jude A. A Living Hope (1:3)

Just as we are passive in natural birth, so we are in spiritual birth. That is, God is active in the process of begetting us, for he causes us to be born again

c. Living Hope

1 Peter 1:3 (ESV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Peter and Jude A. A Living Hope (1:3)

What is hope? It is something that is personal, living, active, and part of us. In verse 3, it is not something that pertains to the future (compare Col. 1:5; Titus 2:13). Instead, it brings life to God’s elect who are waiting with patient discipline for God’s revelation in Jesus Christ.

Titus 2:12–13 ESV

12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

d. Resurrection

1 Peter 1:3 (ESV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Peter and Jude A. A Living Hope (1:3)

What is the basis for our new life? Peter tells us that “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” God has made us alive and has given us living hope. Without the resurrection of Christ, our rebirth would be impossible and our hope would be meaningless.

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3. The Inheritance v4

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1 Peter 1:4 (ESV) — 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,

Peter, however, places the word inheritance in the context of life. In the preceding verse (v. 3), he mentions the resurrection of Christ and the new birth which we receive through him. Instead of death there is life. Through the resurrection of Christ, we are recipients of the inheritance God has stored for us in heaven. Paul writes, “We are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:17). Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Epistles of Peter and the Epistle of Jude (Vol. 16, p. 42). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

Romans 8:16–17 (ESV) — 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Ephesians 1:13–14 (ESV) — 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:18 (ESV) — 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

Hebrews 9:15 (ESV) — 15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

What do we inherit? Peter is unable to describe in positive terms the inheritance that is waiting for us. Ironically, because of its great value, he can describe it only in negative terms. He chooses three adjectives to tell us what our possession is not, and implies that these words reveal the true nature of the inheritance. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Epistles of Peter and the Epistle of Jude (Vol. 16, p. 43). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

a. Imperishable v4

1 Peter 1:4 (ESV) — 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,

Our treasure is not subject to death or destruction; it can never perish. Moreover, it is not limited by time, but is eternal.

b. Undefiled v4

1 Peter 1:4 (ESV) — 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,

It can never be spoiled, corrupted, or polluted. It remains free from any blemish and is pure (compare Rev. 21:27).

Revelation 21:27 (ESV) — 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

c. Unfading v4

1 Peter 1:4 (ESV) — 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,

Earthly possessions are subject to constant variation and change, but our eternal inheritance is safely guarded by God in heaven. Not only is our salvation kept safe, but also, Peter declares, we, the possessors of this inheritance, are protected by God’s power.

d. Kept v4

1 Peter 1:4 (ESV) — 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,

1 Peter (1. Salvation’s Character (Verses 3–9))

But the inheritance here is unique because it is kept in heaven. The word ‘kept’ is a perfect participle which confirms the fact that the inheritance already exists and is being guarded in a safe place.

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4. The Certainty v5

1 Peter 1:5 (ESV)

5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

a. Guarded

1 Peter 1:5 (ESV)

5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

2 Corinthians 11:32 ESV

32 At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me,

1 Peter 1. Salvation’s Character (Verses 3–9)

Psalm 34:7 (ESV)

7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

b. Through Faith

1 Peter 1:5 (ESV)

5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Ephesians 6:16 ESV

16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

It is a serious misunderstanding to think of God’s omnipotence as filling our faith with power and making it able to overcome all our foes. It is still more serious to suppose that omnipotence produces faith in us... Nowhere do the Scriptures confuse grace and omnipotence. Faith is kindled and is preserved and made strong by grace alone. Grace alone reaches into the heart and the soul and works spiritual effects; and this grace always uses the Word... as its means. Omnipotence has a different function; it does not operate in or upon our faith but above, over, around us, upon our enemies. It kept Daniel in the lions’ den, the three men in the fiery furnace, set bounds for Satan in afflicting Job, freed Peter from Herod’s prison, preserved Paul amid dangers, hardships, persecutions, etc. Great and wonderful is this protection of omnipotence, without which we should soon be overwhelmed. The Interpretation of the Epistles of St. Peter, St. John, and St. Jude (The Great Doxology, v. 3–12)

c. Salvation

1 Peter 1:5 (ESV)

5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Conclusion

Romans 8:15–17 ESV

15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Colossians 1:12–14 ESV

12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

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