1st Epistle of Peter ch1 vs1 – 13.
There IS life after death!
Atheists, evolutionists, and many continue to say “When I
die it’s over…I will make the best of it here and now”.
As believers, we need to warn them that they will soon
confront their Creator.
All will be required to give an account of their lives to
God.
There are two ways of approaching unbelievers on this matter
– explaining the terrors of an endless Hell, or the endless beautiful Heaven.
The speaker would be concentrating on the latter this
evening.
The context of Peter’s letter is addressing Christian people
who are going through difficult times.
vs4) tells us that there is a glorious inheritance awaiting
all who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
Peter also encouraged them by saying although they were
scattered, rejected, and nothing to the world, yet they were all loved by God.
Each were chosen, and in the family of God.
“…who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in
heavenly places in Christ” –
Ephesians ch1 vs3.
Although they were persecuted, driven out, fleeing, and lost
their earthly inheritance, yet Peter encouraged them with the things to come –
vs4) “…an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,
reserved in heaven for you”.
How very different from those people who reject Christ and
are left behind!
vs3) tells us that by God’s “abundant mercy” believers are
born again, into a “living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
dead”.
Hope is a lovely word!
It is the expectation and the desire coming together.
Hope in The Lord Jesus Christ is expecting all His promises
and desiring to be with Him…
“… Even so, come, Lord Jesus” – Revelation ch22 vs20.
A “living hope”, is not an earthly hope – it will come to
pass.
The unbelievers “hope” dies with them.
The believers “living hope” goes with us.
Any earthly inheritance can go at anytime. It can be stolen
or lost, but as believers our inheritance - gained through personal repentance
and trust in the sinless life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ - will
NEVER perish or deteriorate.
Many things in this world does, all due to sin and God’s
judgement upon our world - but our
inheritance is pure, lovely, clean, true, and without defilement.
God is holy, and will only share this inheritance with
others who are holy.
To us, this is impossible.
But a way has been made for anyone to be holy – through
Jesus Christ!
By His wonderful grace, love and mercy, we can be washed
clean by His cleansing blood given at the Cross, and clothed in His
righteousness… you will be declared by God to be as holy as His Son!
So many people today get bored of things.
No matter how much we may enjoy our favourite meal or music,
etc, we become bored with them when we have them too often… believers will have
no such experiences in Heaven!
We will have what God intended from the beginning – being
with God and for God.
Our inheritance is vs4) “reserved in heaven for us”, kept by
God.
How much do you trust people with your money or goods?
God is keeping our inheritance, and no-one can take it away.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth
and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up
for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves do not break through nor steal”. – Matthew’s Gospel ch6 vs19
– 20.
There is no point having an inheritance safe and secure if
you do not arrive to collect it … receive the blessings Jesus Christ has gained
for you.
You must have faith. Do not die in your sins without
personal faith in Christ and His work on the Cross for you.
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and
broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in
thereat; Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto
life, and few there be that find it”. –
Matthews Gospel ch 7 vs13 – 14.
Repent, ask forgiveness of Christ, and trust yourself to
Him.
Faith is a daily relationship with Christ, through the Holy
Spirit.
All these things are to the praise of The Lord Jesus Christ.
The speaker concluded by wanting all those present to be meeting
together, for this eternal inheritance in Heaven.
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