I. We are Heirs

A Contextual reminder

1. Our Relationship to God

     a. We are exiles

b. We are heirs 1: 3-13

c. We are Children 1:14-2:3

d. We are Priests 2:9-10

e. We are a nation 2:9-10

2. Our Relationship to the World. 2:11-4:6

3. Our Relationship to the Church. 4:7-5:11

II. We are Heirs

A. The Cause of Our Inheritance 1:3

VERSE

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

1. It is a matter of the Father's mercy.

a. Grace is getting what we don't deserve.

b. Mercy is the reason for grace: compassion for the sinful and needy. (See Hebrews 5:2).

c. The father's mercy (eleos) is the basis for our being chosen by Him to be His children and thus to be heirs of the living hope. Titus 3:5.

2. The Christian Rebirth

a. God "regenerated" us (angenneisas: aorist participle, thus a single action in the past that culminated in our baptism.)

b. Look at verse 23. The seed of the re-birth is the Word of God

c. But----the re-birth takes place in the water and the Spirit--see Acts 2:38; Jn. 3:5; Tit. 3:5.

d. In baptism God makes us children of God and thus as children in His family.

3. Christ's Resurrection

a. Look at the word dia. (through the means of the resurrection our rebirth was made possible.).

b. Source of power Jesus Christ

c. Basis of Merit a new birth: Romans 6:3-4

d. Assurance of hope: I Cor. 15:17-21.

verse

4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away,reserved in heaven for you,

III. Characteristics of our Inheritance

1."Living Hope": because Jesus has already entered into our inheritance and ever lives, since He is our hope, our hope continues to live also. Heb.7:25.

2. We have an "Imperishable Inheritance"

a. The inheritance of Israel (Canaan) was perishable.

(1) Kleironomia: which is property, possession which is inherited by a family (see Acts 7:5; Deut. 15:4 and Heb.11:8).

(2) The land of Israel was partially destroyed when invaded by the enemy.

(3) The land of Israel will eventually be entirely destroyed and is not imperishable - 2nd Peter 3:10; Matt. 24:35, 19-20.

b. Inheritance of Christians is "Imperishable"

(1) "Imperishable" (aphtharton) means "indestructible"

immortal, used of God in Romans 1:23 in contrast to created things.

(2) Christians inheritance is heavenly not earthly or material. Heb. 11:10-16; 13:14; Matt. 5:5; Gal. 3:18; Col. 3:24; Eph. 1:14,18 and Matt. 6:19-21

(3) Christians will have imperishable bodies to inherit the heavenly land. I Cor. 15:42, 52.

3. " We have an undefiled Inheritance"

a. The inheritance of Israel was defiled by sin. Num. 35:34; Lev. 18:27-28; Isa. 24:3-5.

b. Christian Inheritance will not be defiled by sin.

(1) The word amianton is without spot.

(2) No sin will defile our inheritance 2 Peter 3:13.

(3) No ugliness will spoil the beauty. Rev. 21:4, 27; 22:3.

4 "It is an Unfading Inheritance"

a. Beauty of Canaan faded. Jer. 8:13; Isa. 24:4; 40: 6-7, as does everything connected with sinful man.

b. Beauty of Christian Inheritance will never fade.

(1) Amaranton: the fabled "amaranth" or the mythical flower of Milton's Paradise Lost, whose bloom never fell or never faded.

(2) The flowers in the crown of glory Christians receive will never fade. 1st Peter 5:4.

5. The Condition and Place of our Inheritance!

a. It is "Reserved in heaven"

(1) Teteireimenein: "reserved" is to be kept in custody, watched and cared for, lake a sentinel guarding a treasure.

(2) Greek: perfect passive participle (meaning that God has from the beginning guarded and preserved our reward and still does. Matt. 25:34--"inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world."

b. Reserved in "heaven"

(1) Israel's inheritance was earthly and material.

(2) Our inheritance is heavenly and thus not of this earth. Heb. 11:16; Matt. 5:5,12;

(3) Those who look for hope on earth will be disappointed., 2 Peter 3:10; there is only one hope, Eph. 4:4-5 and only one city, Rev. 22:14-15 and neither is on earth.

 verse

5. "who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time".

a. "Protected ....for......salvation"

(1) Phrouroumenos: used of protection of a city by an armed guard, 2 Cor. 11:32.

(2) Israelites were protected by God as they marched across the wilderness toward their promised land and He protected them as they went in to conquer the land.

b. Protected "by the Power of God."

1. Power of the gospel. Rom. 1:16

2. Power of the Holy Spirit. Eph. 3:16

3. Power of the angels. Heb. 1:14; Psa. 34:7

4. Power of the resurrection. Eph. 1:18-19.

5. Power of God's providence. Rom. 8:28-29

6. Power of Christ's love. Jn. 10: 27-29.

c. Protected "through faith."

1. God's protection is not unconditional.

2. God protects us when we trust in His power and love to protect. Rom. 1:16; 8:28.

A. The Revelation of Our Inheritance 1:5b.

1. "Salvation:" here used as a synonym of our inheritance---means "deliverance or preservation" Gingrich-Danker on soteria.

a. But it means much more:---

Present salvation: freedom from sin. Matt. 1:21, Titus 3:5.

b. Future salvation: enter into the inheritance where one will be preserved fore eternity. I Tim. 4:8; Mark 10:30.

B. "Revelation" of our salvation.

a. The "Manner" of this "Revelation."

(1) Apokaluptia: unveiling - aorist passive participle(thus a single, instantaneous unveiling).

(2) Christ's coming is also called an "unveiling" (noun apoxalpsis, "coming")---1st Peter 1:7; 13.

(3) The Christian's glory will be revealed when Christ's glory is revealed at his final coming. Rom. 8:18-19; 1st Peter. 4:13.

(4) The unveiling will occur in a "twinkling of an eye" and "at the last trump: when Christ returns and the dead are rasied. I Cor. 15:51-54.

C. The "time" of our salvation will be revealed.

(1) "Ready" to be revealed.

a. "Prepared" to be revealed (hetoimadzo) Matt. 25:41; Mark 1:3.

(2) "Ready in the sense it could occur at any moment. Matt. 24:42. (speaking about Jerusalem, but the point is valid).

(3) "In the last time"

a. Notice, this is not the last days. The last days were over 2000 years ago. Jesus came in the "Last days." See Hebrew 1:2. The Church was established in the "Last days." See Isa. 2:2-4.

b. This is the last of time. The entire 25^th chapter of Matthew and also 2^nd Thess. 6,7,9,10ff.

1. All of this will happen at the last trump. 1^st Cor. 15:52.

D. The Joy when Our Salvation will be Revealed.

(1) Christian's should rejoice in anticipation of their coming salvation even when suffering while waiting. Matt. 5:10-12.

(2) The present sufferings are not worth comparing to the coming glory. Rom. 8:17-18.

E. Trials of Heirs 1:6-9

VERSE

      "6In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,

1. Joy of trials: because of the coming salvation mentioned above. 1:6

2. Potentiality of trials: "If necessary"

a. Trials do not always occur but they often do happen.

b. Christian's are called to suffer for Jesus as well as believe in Him. Phil. 1:29

3. Duration of the trials: "for a little while."

(1) You will have tribulation for 10 days, not forever: (Rev. 2:10).

(2) The woman is persecuted by the dragon for 3 1/2 times(half of the complete number of 7), not the full 7 times. (Rev.12: 13-14).

(3) All trials pass; they do not last forever. (1st Peter 5:10).

4. Difficulty of the trials. "You have been distressed."

a. Greek lupeo. "To grieve, pain, become sad, sorrowful or
distressed." Aorist participle indicates that the difficulties in trials come to completion; they do not continue forever. Same word used in 1st Thess. 4:13 concerning one's grief or sorrow for the dead.

b. Aorist participles also usually indicate action that precedes the action of the main verb,which is to rejoice. Heb. 12:11 confirms this idea.

"All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful but sorrowful; yet those who have been trained for it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."

5. Variety of trials: "various trials."

a. Greek poikilois, literally "many colored"

b. Kinds of trials. physical affliction, 2 Cor. 12; sickness, accidents, economic, problems, death, emotional and mental conflict, persecution, etc.

6. Meaning of "Trials."

a. Greek, peirasmos, means "test, trial, temptation, enticement.

b. Same word translated "trial" in Jas. 1:2-3 is translated "temptation" in Jas. 1:13-14 (noun and verb from the same Greek stem.)

c. Every trial is both a temptation and a trial. Satan uses trials to overthrow our faith; God uses them to test and strengthen us. Thus Paul's thorn in the flesh (2nd Cor. 12) was a "messenger of Satan" yet God used it to help Paul.

7. Value of Trials: testing of faith. I Pet. 1:7

a. "Proof of your faith" from dokimion Greek, which Gingrich-Danker define as "1. testing, means of testing;....Jas.1:3....2. genuine without alloy (esp. of metals) the realness of your faith.

b. Trials act as a furnace to test, purify and strengthen our faith.

c. Jas. 1:3 - says that such trials can produce quality of endurance.

d. The end of tested faith: "praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ." See 1st Peter 5:10.

8. Faith of Heirs. 1st Pet. 1:8-12.

1. Love of faith. 1:8

a. We walk by faith and not by sight. 2 Cor. 5:7.

b. We love because He first loved us. 1st John. 4:19

2. Joy of faith. 1:8b-9

a. While we do not see Him now, we joyously anticipate seeing him one day. Psa. 42:1-2; 1st John 3:2.

b. Our conviction that one day we will appear in glory with Him enables us to rejoice even in the midst of suffering. Romans 8:18.

3. Confirmation of faith in our hope. 1:10-12

VERSE

10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries,

11seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things into which angels long to look. "

A. Prophetical Predictions 1:10-11

1. What the Prophets predicted: "salvation" and "grace" from forgiveness of sins to eternal glory.

a. Person of Christ

* His eternal preexistence and Deity. Isa. 9: 6 and Micah 5:2.

* Time of His birth: Roman Empire - Daniel 2:44

* Place of Birth - Bethlehem. Micah 5:2

* Lineage of His birth. Son of David. 2nd Samuel 7:12; 16 and Psalms 89:3.

* Perfect Character of life - Isa. 11:1-6 and 53: 9,11.

* Wisdom of His teaching. Isa. 11:1-2.

* Miraculous work. Isa. 35:5f; 61:1ff.

b. Suffering of Christ.

* Betrayal by a close friend for 30 pieces of silver. Psa. 41:9, Jn. 13: 18 and Zech. 11:12-13.

* Silence during His trial. Isa. 53:7.

* Crucifixion: pierced feet and hands predicted at a time the crucifixion was not known or practiced. Psalms 22:16 and Zech. 12:10.

* Atoning death. - Isa. 53: 5-6, 11-12.

* Dividing lots for His cloths. Psa. 22:18.

* His death with the wicked. Isa. 53:9

* His burial with the rich. Isa. 53:9.

Some Comments about Prophetic Odds.

c. Odds of 8 prophecies of Christ's suffering being fulfilled in one person: 1 to 10 to the 17th power. This number would be 1 with 17 zeros after it. This number of silver dollars would cover the entire state of Texas 2 feet deep. Mark one of those silver dollars with an X and scatter it among the myriads of coins over Texas. The odds of your selecting at random on the first try that coin marked with an X is the odds for these prophecies to be fulfilled in one person. Evidence that demands a verdict by, McDowell, p. 167.

d. Odds of 48 prophecies of Christ's being fulfilled in one person: 1 to 10 to the 157th power or one with 157 zeros after it. Evidence that Demands a Verdict, p. 167. To see the enormity of this number imagine that the earth has 100 billion people living on it (it actually has about 5 billion it). Guess how many earths of 100 billion inhabitants it would take to total 10 to the 157th power? What if the galaxy contained a hundred trillion earths, each with 100 billion people? One hundred trillion times one hundred billion will be only 10 to the 25th power. Not, lets assume that our universe has 100

trillion (1 with 14 zeros after it) galaxies, each with a hundred trillion earths each with a 100 billion people. This would still be only 10 to the 39th power. A hundred trillion universes, each with 100 trillion galaxies, each with a hundred trillion planets, each with a billion people will still only 10 to the 53rd power. Now what do you think the chances are of predicting 48 specific items of the nature of the Biblical prophecies about Christ and they being fulfilled in one person? If we had the people in 100 universes, each with 100 trillion galaxies, each with 100 trillion earths, each with 100 billion inhabitants, there would not be enough people to find that one person. And yet, this has already happened. The only answer is that the Bible is God's Word, that Jesus is God's son and that the Bible promise of our eternal inheritance is just as certain as the more than 200 prophecies already fulfilled in Jesus.

A. The Apostolic Proclamation of the Gospel. 1:12

(1) The Apostles were eyewitnesses of what they proclaim. Such historical testimony by such men of integrity gives us assurance of the truthfulness of their record. 2 Peter 1:16-19.

(2) The Holy Spirit guaranteed the truth of what the apostles taught: "by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven." Jn. 14:26.

(3) Angelic attention accompanies their proclamation: "things into which angels long to look." The angels were used to do the will of God with both the prophets and the apostles (Rev. 17:1-18). We are now a little lower than the angles (Heb. 2:5-10) but one day will be placed over the angels.

The Hope of Faith: 1st Peter 1:13

VERSE

"13Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

A. Prepared Hope: "gird up your minds for action"

(1) "roll up the selves of your mind." - Barclay

(2) Be prepared to leave when Jesus comes; your minds must

be prepared for action.

(3) Example of the Israelites in Exodus 12:11.

"Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your lions girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall it it in haste. It is the Lord's Passover."

(4) Example of the waiting servant in Lk. 12: 35-37. "Be dressed in readiness."

B. Watchful Hope: "keep sober in spirit"

(1) Greek word, neiphontes- "to be sober, temperate, dispassionate, circumspect."

(2) 1st Thess. 5:6 - "so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be sober."

(3) The mind must be alert and not clouded or dulled with alcohol or drugs.

C. Concentrated Hope: "fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

(1) The Lord's coming must be at the center of all our plans.

(2) Our hope is on the eternal glory.

(3) the grace of our salvation will be revealed when Jesus comes. 1st Peter 1:7.