A Series on 1 Peter 1
A Series on 1 Peter “Living in the Hope of Our Inheritance”
Living Our Unchangeable Inheritance
1 Peter 1:3-9
April 11, 1999
“Everything that is done in this world,” says Luther, “is done by hope” (Table Talk). For example, in the spring of the year, school children and teens look forward to Spring vacation. People suffering from cabin fever because of wintry weather are anxious to get out and about. Those with green thumbs page through seed catalogs and start their new plants. High school seniors might even take time out to select a college, or, start job hunting in earnest. Everything that is done in this world is done by hope.
The apostle Peter presents us with another kind of hope that he calls “a living hope.” For the next few weeks we will center our focus on Peter’s epistle of living hope. Today we begin with setting our focus on “Living Our Unchangeable Inheritance.”
1. A Living Hope (read vv 3-5). Peter would invite the whole Christian church to join in a hymn of praise for the unique blessings God has showered on it. These blessings he calls a “living hope.” It begins in God’s great mercy and is given through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
It is very popular these days for people to cling to the belief that man is basically good and will do good if given the right opportunities for education and work. But, consider this: About the turn of the century, Horace Mann, a prominent educator from Boston, prophesied that crime in our country would in time virtually disappear. Why? Because, he maintained, there would be more and larger schools that would be tax-supported. So what happened? Even though schools have become tax-supported and larger, crime has certainly not disappeared. In fact, many schools themselves have become crime-ridden centers of hopelessness. Even so, we should have nothing but praise for patient teachers and administrators who stick it out in these less than desirable conditions. Such hope as that of Horace Mann’s falls far short of the hope Peter speaks of.
Recognizing the corruption of the human nature, there are still such things as “living hopes.” Scripture records that shortly after the birth of Christ an old man by the name of Simeon “was waiting for the consolation of Israel. … It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (Lk 2:25-26). Simeon’s hope was living because it came from God and not from his own wishful thinking.
Then, there are the many people who came to Jesus with the hope that he would cure their loved ones. Jairus, whose 12-year-old daughter was dying, is such a one whose hope in Christ would not be disappointed. Even while the Savior was on his way to Jairus’ daughter, a woman came up from behind him with the hope of just being able to touch the hem of his garment and when she did, her bleeding of 12 years stopped (Lk 8:40-48).
Hope always has a goal. The Living hope Peter describes has as its goal “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade—kept in heaven” for all. The word, “Inheritance” reminds us of lessons our Lord taught his disciples. One of the best-known, is the parable of the Prodigal Son. Remember how the younger son asked for his share of the inheritance even before his father’s death? But, then, we are told, “he squandered his wealth in wild living” (Lk 15:13). “Easy come, easy go.” That happens a lot with wealth that is not earned, unless, of course, a person happens to be frugal.
It cannot be emphasized enough that the inheritance prepared and held in heaven for us, is not earned. Matthew talks about “the kingdom prepared for you” (Mt 25:34). He does not say, “the kingdom you prepared.” Christ talks about this in the parable of the sheep and the goats. Some people mistakenly conclude that the works of mercy performed by the righteous, Matthew speaks of, pays their way into heaven. They read the words of Jesus ,“Take your inheritance, … For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me” (Mt 25:35-36). But they miss the words that reveal God’s truth that these good works are not there to earn heaven. They simply provide evidence of true faith in those who, having received God’s mercy in Christ, are merciful to others, especially to those in need (Lk 6:36). But the heavenly inheritance is theirs because they are members of the Father’s family. The words “the kingdom prepared for you,” when overlooked, turns the grace of God into a work to earn salvation. But, thank God it’s not that way. To do such acts of kindness because there is simply a need is Living Our Unchangeable Inheritance, “prepared for us.”
But, did you know that there would be no unchangeable inheritance without the resurrection of Christ. While Luke does mention that the risen Lord “gave many convincing proofs that he was alive” (Acts 1:3), he continues with the assumption that Theophilus and others believe it without question. So also Paul (Rom 1:4) and Peter (1:3) begin their epistles with the same assumption. This faith, generated by the Holy Spirit (1:2, 12), is what is guarded by God’s power at work in us.
2. A joyous hope (read vv 6-9). And so, there truly is a joyous hope. This hope is often joined by “grief in all kinds of trials.” It is important to understand that this is not talking about the kind of pain and suffering that is common to all humanity. Peter is talking only about that which God allows. He says, “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed”(4:14). How can that be, we might ask? Peter continues and says, “for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” The Christians Peter sent this letter to were being persecuted for being Christian. Although many people are persecuted, it is not always because of the name of Christ.
The divine purpose for allowing such trials is to purify faith. It’s “Of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire,” Peter says. He is making the point that even a precious a metal like gold needs refinement. The faith God gives is even more precious because it shields the believer from eternal harm, regardless of what is happening in one’s earthly life. Even so, faith still needs refinement and purification. And when God does this, believers can greatly rejoice to know that God is still protecting them.
Already in this life we enjoy a taste of “inexpressible and glorious joy.” In other words, there is no adequate way to describe how a person can find joy and hope in the midst of trials and tribulations. The proverb says it well, “Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy” (Prov 14:10). Even before his crucifixion, our Lord assures his disciples, “You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. … Now is the time of your grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. … Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” (Jn 16:20, 22, 24).
My friends we have a living hope in the resurrected Christ. He is our inheritance and gift from God. That will never change. It is because of this living hope, into which we have been born again, that we are Living Our Unchangeable Inheritance. Amen.