4. God's Great Mercy in Our Inheritance

God’s Great Mercy in our Inheritance

1Pe 1:3-5  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  (4)  to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,  (5)  who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Introduction: This is a spontaneous doxology by Peter proclaiming God’s inherit worthiness to receive all glory, honor, and praise as both Creator and Father, and highlights the following phrase, ‘His abundant mercy’. Abundant here means super abundant, infinite, knowing no height, depth, or breadth. It is as limitless as God is limitless. This infinite, abundant mercy stands in contrast to the implied but just as infinite judgement. Wherever mercy is displayed it is always in the face of certain judgement. There is nothing more certain than the righteous judgement of God against those who practice sin and wickedness. It is just as the writer to the Hebrews said, ‘It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.’

Judgement is terrifying and it is singular in it’s expression – that eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord. But His abundant mercy has many expressions. It is not just in His saving us to a living hope but giving us an inheritance and protecting us through His power. It is that power of God which created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. The same power that raised Christ Jesus from the dead is used to keep you until that final day where we will look no longer with the eyes of faith but will behold Him face to face.

In His abundant mercy He made known the agency of it – through the resurrection of Christ from the dead. He, Christ Jesus, endured the singular wrath of God so that God’s abundant mercy might be shown to those whom He chose before the foundation of the world. Peter reminds us of Christ’s atoning work as a recurring theme throughout his letter: 1:19; 2:24; 3:18. What Christ has done on our behalf makes even common words become rich in depth and full of meaning.

God’s Abundant mercy is displayed in:

In saving us to a living Hope

In causing us to have an inheritance

In protecting us by His power

I.God’s Great Mercy in our Inheritance

Inheritance defined generally by Webster is an estate derived from an ancestor to an heir by succession or in course of law; or an estate which the law casts on a child or other person, as the representative of the deceased ancestor. This is a common word that we are all familiar with. There is the understanding that where there is an inheritance there is an heir or heirs to inherit.

Aspects of inheritance

When we consider inheritance we don’t look only at what is received. We also look at the heir(s). The must be qualified to inherit. In ancient times it went to those direct descendants or to one appointed. Here we see the abundant mercy of God in that He has qualified us as heirs in and through the saving work of Christ Jesus. Not only were our sins forgiven and the guilt of them expunged from the legal record but have been imputed with Christ’s righteousness.

2Co 5:21  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

In this verse we see the glorious imputation of His righteousness to us and the utter horror of our sin and it’s guilt transferred to Him. 1Pe 3:18  For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

Not only have we been reconciled but we have been brought into the household of God.

Eph 2:19  Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

As members of the household of God we are children and as children of God heirs.

Rom 8:16-17  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,  (17)  and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Col 1:12-14  giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.  (13)  He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,  (14)  in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

We are the objects of God’s special love. Whenever we read ‘beloved’ it is not just the term of endearment from the writer of the letter to the church, but it is God’s term he uses for His children. We are His beloved, corporately but individually too.

The Christians inheritance-

What is this inheritance? The text does not give any details as to what it is. But a text we read earlier gives us a hint of the expanse of it. Rom. 8:17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Jesus speaking of the final judgement says this: Mat 25:31-34  “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.  (32)  Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  (33)  And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.  (34)  Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

We know from Scripture that it involves a place. Joh 14:2-3 "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. (3) "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

We can read Rev. 21 and 22 and be overwhelmed in the splendor of it all.

Scripture tells that our inheritance is not yet but we have been given a token or a down payment of our inheritance now in the Holy Spirt.

Eph 1:13-14  In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,  (14)  who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

God’s word - Psa 119:111 I have inherited Thy testimonies forever, For they are the joy of my heart.

Ultimately our inheritance in not in a place, our inheritance is God Himself. Psa 16:5-6  O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot.  (6)  The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.

This reflects the future heavenly reality. Rev 7:9-10  After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,  (10)  and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

These were not overtaken by the glory of heaven itself but the glory of Him who sits on the throne.

The Quality

Peter uses three words in describing the quality of our inheritance. In each case he uses a combination of a – not plus the primary Greek word. Meaning not perishable, not corruptible, not fading away. In two of these words it is the only place in the NT that they are used.

Imperishable - Everything of this world is subject to perish; rust, rot, aging, mold, erosion, corrosion, and decay take their toll on everything. Empires and kingdoms rise and fall, dynasties are wrecked and governments are corrupted. Our inheritance has nothing in it that can cause it to decay or become corrupt, it never perishes from within or from without.

Undefiled – We look at the inheritance of many and see that it was gained in unrighteous means. We need to look no further than our current political class and those who have attached themselves to them to see that their wealth comes from the backs and labors of others. Their children who will one day inherit will inherit the unrighteous mammon of the cronyism and corruption that occurs in our government today But, our inheritance stands in stark contrast to that, it is undefiled; it was won for us by the perfect obedience and perfect sufferings and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. In heaven, nothing can defile because nothing that defiles can enter there. All will be perfect in a perfect environment.

Will not fade away - One builds a beautiful new home but it is not long till aging causes some of its beauty to fade. The most beautiful of people see their beauty fade as age takes over and the vanity of many have kept the best of plastic surgeons in business and rich.

There is no fading to our inheritance; it will pristine beauty has not diminished and shall never diminish in the ages to come.

The Assurance of It – reserved in heaven for you.

The word reserved is a perfect passive meaning that it is an action completed in a specific point and time with ongoing consequences. Passive indicating that it is an action done to the subject. Literally it means to keep an eye on, to keep something in view, to hold firmly, to attend carefully, or to watch over it (watchful care - Jesus' prayer to His Father for His disciples - Jn 17:11). It speaks of guarding something which is in one’s possession. It means to watch as one would some precious thing. The idea is to observe attentively, to heed, to keep watch over and to retain in custody. In this case we ourselves are not guarding but guarded by God.

1 Peter 1:4 says the inheritance is reserved for us, whereas 1 Peter 1:5 assures us that we are reserved for the inheritance! In this life an heir may die before an inheritance is divided. But the same grace that preserves the heavenly inheritance preserves us as heirs to enjoy it. God’s election of His people can never be frustrated. Those who were chosen in eternity past are saved in time now and kept for eternity to come. The believer in Christ is eternally secure.

III.God’s Great mercy shown in His Preservation

It is kept for us by the power of God and there is no power greater than his power. His power is such that no man can prevail against him. 1Sa 2:9 "He keeps the feet of His godly ones, But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; For not by might shall a man prevail..

Not one of his saints can ever be cast down so as to be lost for the Lord is upholding us in his mighty hand. Psa 37:23-24 The steps of a man are established by the LORD; And He delights in his way. (24) When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.

This protection is a continuous protection. It is unto salvation that is ready to be revealed at the last time. 1 Peter 1:5 Who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

What he has begun he continues and will continue to perform until it will not need to be performed any more. Php 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

This protection is so complete that he will be able to present us before his glory with exceeding joy. Jude 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

This keeping is certain because no one has the ability to pluck even one of his sheep from his hand. Joh 10:27-29 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; (28) and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. (29) "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

This keeping is certain because he is able to do even more than we ask. Eph 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,

Paul had complete confidence that God would keep him for his inheritance. 2Ti 4:18 The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

This keeping is certain because it is through faith in God and His power and keeping ability. 2 Timothy 1:12 I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Application: We, in this life, are surrounded by uncertainty in our circumstances. It presses in on us as we labor in our work, marriage, and parenting. We are burdened for the souls of those whom we love. At times we are pressed on all sides. But we have the blessed assurance that what God has promised He will do. Num 23:19  "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?