An Incredible Inheritance

An Incredible Inheritance

Part One

Peter in his first letter to believers begins by reminding us of our incredible inheritance in Jesus Christ and encouraging us to walk out that that Christ has worked in us.

If we’re born again, to live as though we’re born again.

By God’s mercy towards us we have a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus.

‘We have an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.’

Maybe your heart says but I mess up so often. Yes but it’s an inheritance that’s reserved for sinners whose sins, by faith in Jesus Christ, are all washed away in His precious blood. And ‘who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.’

By God’s power we are being guarded, through faith, unto a salvation that will be revealed when Jesus returns to claim us as His own, and take us to share His inheritance forever!

Yes you may be grieved by various trials and temptations but there’s a reason for them: ‘that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:’

Those hard things you’re going through, they have a wonderful purpose, to strengthen your faith and glorify your Saviour!

‘Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.’

That’s it isn’t it. We may never have seen Jesus and yet when we think of all He has done for us, of His great love toward us, we too can rejoice, even in our suffering, with a joy and peace that just can’t be put into words.

So don’t live today looking at yourself but rather keep your eyes on your Saviour.

Trust in the power of God to keep and guard you safe in Him until that glorious day and seek by His grace to live a life that glorifies Him; rejoicing in all He is and has done and is moment by moment doing in you.

Gaze at your Saviour, think of His great love for you, until you too are so filled with love and wonder that your heart sings and you are also filled with this unspeakable joy!

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1 Peter 1:1-9

Part Two

‘Wherefore…’

Wherefore because, as God’s children, we have an incorruptible inheritance – ‘wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;’

What does ‘gird up the loins’ mean?

In those days when they were about to work or run they would tie up their flowing clothes with a belt.

Because of all Christ has done for us we’re to do the same with our minds. We’re to take those wandering thoughts and distractions that would hinder us in running our race to heaven and focus our minds on Jesus.

No longer conforming our minds to the things we previously lusted after but setting our affections on things above.

‘But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.’

What does it mean to be holy?

This Greek word has the sense of being consecrated or set apart for God.

God is Holy, He is completely set apart in His purity and we too are to be set apart from the world in the way we think, speak and act.

How are we to do this?

By controlling our minds and what we let into them and turning our thoughts away from the world to Jesus.

By controlling what we let into our mind we affect what comes out of our mind in our actions and words.

Yes it will be a battle but remember, we don’t need to fight these battles alone, we have endless supplies of grace to draw from and we have the Holy Spirit in us to help us.

‘If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.’

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1 Peter 1:13-16, Col 3:1-3

Part Three

Redeemed!

What a precious word to sinners that have been saved by God’s amazing grace!

The price has been paid, the debt cancelled, nothing to pay – redeemed!

‘Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation receivedby tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:’

Purchased by the precious blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ our Saviour!

Purchased to live for God’s glory here on earth and purchased to share Jesus’ inheritance in heaven.

‘What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.’

Moments by moment throughout each day we are making choices, will we choose to serve God and glorify Him or will we choose to serve ourselves or sin?

‘Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.’

Right where we are, in what God has called us to do in this moment, abiding with God that He may be glorified in us.

Friends, if we’re born again, we have the Holy Spirit within us to help us. Don’t push Him away for a moment of temporary pleasure but listen to His still small voice.

Abide in your Saviour, His grace is sufficient to carry you through.

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1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 Cor 7:23-24