An Inheritance I Can Count On

Rev. Delwyn and Sis. Lenita Campbell
Peter and Paul - The Epistles  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Knowing your heritage

Inheritance refers to your future

Last week, we looked at our future inheritance of eternal salvation, showing how its value surpasses the most esteemed earthly elements.
1 Peter 1:6–7 ESV
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 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 honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Heritage brings with it, an expectation concerning the present

Heritage brings with it, an expectation concerning the present

In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare wrote concerning the power of a name, saying, “What’s in a name? A rose, called by any other, would smell just as sweet.” And yet, their names, Montague and Capulet, carried with them, expectations in that present that were terribly fulfilled. In like manner, some argue that you don’t have to be called a Christian to be one, but yet, People tend to understand that the name means “to be identified with Christ” and, according to the Bible, with that name, come expectations "not of fear but of power and love and self-control” ().
Our Lord Jesus Christ was known by what He did - the lie that He lived, the death that He died, and the resurrection that He attained in fulfillment of the Promise.
(ESV)
25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
In the Large Catechism teaching on the Apostles’ Creed, Dr. Luther explains what this means :

It explains that He became man [John 1:14], was conceived and born without sin [Hebrews 4:15], from the Holy Spirit and from the virgin Mary [Luke 1:35], so that He might overcome sin. Further, it explains that He suffered, died, and was buried so that He might make satisfaction for me and pay what I owe [1 Corinthians 15:3–4], not with silver or gold, but with His own precious blood [1 Peter 1:18–19]. And He did all this in order to become my Lord. He did none of these things for Himself, nor did He have any need for redemption. After that He rose again from the dead, swallowed up and devoured death [1 Corinthians 15:54], and finally ascended into heaven and assumed the government at the Father’s right hand [1 Peter 3:22]. He did these things so that the devil and all powers must be subject to Him and lie at His feet [Hebrews 10:12–13] until finally, at the Last Day, He will completely divide and separate us from the wicked world, the devil, death, sin, and such [Matthew 25:31–46; 13:24–30, 47–50].

When we call God “Our Father,” we have an expectation of Him.

When we call God “Our Father,” we have an expectation of Him.

Rooted in the promises of the Lord’s Prayer, and the claims made in the Sermon on the Mount, we expect God to treat us as His children, as His Only-Begotten Son told us. As a result of the Spirit’s work in us through the Gospel,
1 Peter 1:8–9 ESV
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, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Luther taught us about how this is declared in the Creed, saying in LC Creed 1:23,

Wherever we escape from disaster or danger, we ought to remember that it is God who gives and does all these things. In these escapes we sense and see His fatherly heart and His surpassing love toward us [Exodus 34:6]. In this way the heart would be warmed and kindled to be thankful, and to use all such good things to honor and praise God.

When we call God “Our Father” we declare an identification with Him through His Only-begotten Son.

McCain, P. T. (Ed.). (2005). Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions (pp. 400–401). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.

When we call God “Our Father” we declare an identification with Him through His Only-begotten Son.

Likewise, when we call God our Father, we are declaring that we are His children, and that we share in those family traits that link the Father and the Son. God’s Word calls us “begotten again” and bids us to walk in the grace that comes to us at the revelation of Christ. It is a path that appears to others, to be self-chosen, yet no one can walk it without Christ, though all admire its pathway.
1 Peter 1:14–16 ESV
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Holiness defines God because it describes God. He calls us to that same description - a description that identifies us as distinct from those around us in the world, and yet does not lead us to dismiss or demean them, but instead, leads us to love them, as Our Father loves them. Not only does God call us to this; by the power of the Holy Spirit, He empowers us to this. We therefore confess:

It explains that He became man [John 1:14], was conceived and born without sin [Hebrews 4:15], from the Holy Spirit and from the virgin Mary [Luke 1:35], so that He might overcome sin. Further, it explains that He suffered, died, and was buried so that He might make satisfaction for me and pay what I owe [1 Corinthians 15:3–4], not with silver or gold, but with His own precious blood [1 Peter 1:18–19]. And He did all this in order to become my Lord. He did none of these things for Himself, nor did He have any need for redemption. After that He rose again from the dead, swallowed up and devoured death [1 Corinthians 15:54], and finally ascended into heaven and assumed the government at the Father’s right hand [1 Peter 3:22]. He did these things so that the devil and all powers must be subject to Him and lie at His feet [Hebrews 10:12–13] until finally, at the Last Day, He will completely divide and separate us from the wicked world, the devil, death, sin, and such [Matthew 25:31–46; 13:24–30, 47–50].

38 Neither you nor I could ever know anything about Christ, or believe on Him, and have Him for our Lord, unless it were offered to us and granted to our hearts by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the Gospel [1 Corinthians 12:3; Galatians 4:6]. The work of redemption is done and accomplished [John 19:30]. Christ has acquired and gained the treasure for us by His suffering, death, resurrection, and so on [Colossians 2:3]. But if the work remained concealed so that no one knew about it, then it would be useless and lost. So that this treasure might not stay buried, but be received and enjoyed, God has caused the Word to go forth and be proclaimed. In the Word He has the Holy Spirit bring this treasure home and make it our own. 39 Therefore, sanctifying is just bringing us to Christ so we receive this good, which we could not get ourselves [1 Peter 3:18].

This confession is expressed, not only in our words, but in our conduct. Our lives relate to our declared faith as an apple relates to the declared identity of the tree that bore it. If one can call a tree an apple tree that bears only thorns and thistles, then one can call a person a Christian who lives as if Christ were not risen at all, but like the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates, only spoke well and died horribly. The Scriptures show that is not the case, however:
1 Peter 1:17–19 ESV
And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

Our heritage directs us to the certainty of our foundation, not to the fragility of ourselves

We do not call people to follow us, but to follow Christ. We ask people, not to hear our testimonies concerning our changed lives, but to hear the Gospel of Christ, and to look to Him for the results they see in us.
1 Peter 1:22–25 ESV
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
My life, though beloved by those who love me, is insignificant in terms of eternity, for it lacks the power to save others. My life, and your life likewise, is significant because it is the life of Christ that I declare, whose life now empowers mine and yours as Christians. So Christ sends us into the world, not to represent ourselves, but Him, who is “the living an abiding Word of God.” It is Christ alone who lives the life that we declare is “mighty to save.” Faith in Christ alone secures that eternal life that we desire, that hope to which we cling. Without that faith, the despair that partners death is our ever-present companion, for nothing else in existence offers victory over death, hell, and the grave.
That’ why we don’t sing about us; we sing about Jesus. I can’t handle your praise, and I can’t be your rock, but...
I love to praise Him - I love to praise His name...
He’s my Rock, my Rock my Sword, my Shield. He’s my Wheel in the middle of a wheel. I know He’ll never, never let me down. He’s just a Jewel that I have found...
I know that He can handle it. He can handle the burdens that I bring to Him, that you bring to Him. He can handle your family, He can handle your neighborhood. He can handle the Democrats and the Republicans. I know that He can handle it.
And that is Good News, saints!
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