Sermon Tone Analysis

Psalm 44:20–22 (ESV)

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

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

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

Slide

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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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,

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,

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,

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.

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,

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.