Sermon
Our Heavenly Inheritance - Frank Brancato 12/13/15
Publisher transcript
Transcript
-
I want to invite your attention to the book of First Peter
1 Peter 1 chapter mention
-
chapter 1, and we want to begin reading there in verse 3.
-
First Peter chapter 1 beginning in verse 3.
1 Peter 1 chapter mention
-
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 to an inheritance
-
Incorruptible and undefiled. And that does not fade away
-
reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God,
-
through faith for salvation, ready to be revealed in the last
-
time. For a little while.
-
Today, I want to talk on the subject of Heaven as our
-
inheritance last Lord's day. We talked about heaven as a
-
place. We talked about the idea or we
-
asked ourselves. The question, what will Heaven
-
be like? And John the Revelator divinely
-
inspired by the Holy Spirit. Gave us a beautiful picture of
-
this heavenly Jerusalem, this, holy city in heaven one day.
-
But I want to talk about one of the greatest promises and all
-
the Bible and that is that that place is being reserved for us.
-
If we're faithful unto death, I want to talk about the Heavenly
-
place as our inheritance before. We do though, at this time let
-
us pray. Last Lord's Day, John gave us a
-
beautiful description from the Revelation letter of what heaven
-
is going to be like and just as a reviewed, remember some of the
-
things he talked about about At this Grand Place, you remember
-
that? He said as he pictured, as he
-
saw as he pictured Heaven. He said the foundations of the
-
walls were massive. In fact, he said that 12
-
foundations are 12 names of the Apostles of the Lamb were on the
-
twelve foundations in heaven. Then he said that there was
-
Gates and he said that those Gates were identical and I think
-
there's a picture there. There is a symbol there that
-
everyone must meet the same exact Acquirements in order to
-
get in. You know, I realize people today
-
have all manner of ideas are all manner of things that they think
-
that will get them to heaven or whatever kind of life that they
-
live. It doesn't really matter because
-
all roads lead to heaven, but John the Revelator picture that
-
they were identical Gates, the symbolism.
-
Their Scholars. Tell us is everyone has to enter
-
in identically all the same, but then there was an angel.
-
And the angel, stood at each gate showing that That you can't
-
do it your own way. You can't get in your own way,
-
and then John said that the gates were made of pearl.
-
You know, there was a beautiful symbolism there.
-
That one scholar said it really pictures all of those that enter
-
into heaven. After they've had terrible
-
trials in life. And the reason for that is a
-
pearl is the result of the oysters response to suffering.
-
That a beautiful picture, it doesn't make any difference.
-
If you have trials in your life, if you've had difficulties in
-
your life because when you get to heaven, it will be worth it
-
all, it'll be the greatest and grandest place ever imagined.
-
It was a city Foursquare. And that meaning that the
-
length, the breadth and the height are all equal and John
-
said that, each one of those measurements, each one of those
-
distances measured twelve thousand furlongs and you Member
-
that a furlong is 1/8 of a mile. So, twelve thousand furlongs is
-
1,500 miles. Do you see the picture?
-
It's like going from Dallas to New York City from New York
-
City, to Bismarck, North Dakota from Bismarck North Dakota to
-
San Francisco, and San Francisco back to Dallas.
-
But because it's a city Foursquare, you got to go up,
-
straight up, 1,500 miles and do it all over again.
-
You want to know how big Heavens going to be.
-
It's going to be big enough. I guarantee you that in fact
-
that is 500 quintillion cubic feet.
-
That's 500 with 18 zeros, that's how big heaven will be.
-
John said that there was a wall and the wall was forty-four
-
cubits or 218 feet. The width of the wall is not
-
does not matter in his, it is not measured, it is not
-
mentioned because no one will have to be.
-
The enemy will never be able to get to us ever again.
-
John said it was a city of pure gold like transparent glass.
-
He said it was a wall of Jasper and Gates of Pearl and a street
-
of gold. I can't imagine how beautiful
-
Heaven Must Be. But folks, the question is this
-
the question is what do we need to do to get there and who's
-
going to get in? That's really the question
-
before we pick up our lesson and verse 3 about this inheritance,
-
please turn in your Bibles to First Peter chapter 1, we got to
1 Peter 1 chapter mention
-
read verses 1 and 2 to understand who the promises made
-
to. Because that's what he's saying
-
in verses 3 on, he's talking about An inheritance that is
-
reserved and it says in heaven for you.
-
The question is, who are the you beginning in verse 1.
-
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ to the pilgrims of the
-
dispersion in pontus, galatia Cappadocia, Asia and bithynia
-
now. Who are they?
-
He said, they're elect according to the foreknowledge of God the
-
father in sanctification of the spirit for obedience.
-
It's and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.
-
He says, grace to you, and peace, be multiplied, that's who
-
he's talking about. What is he talking about?
-
He's talking about being elect of God, he's talking about
-
Divine election. Now, let me just say this, this
-
is the easiest way that I can describe to you about Divine
-
election. Number one.
-
Peter says, we are elect the saved.
-
We are elect according to the foreknowledge of God.
-
And the Bible also talks about the idea of being predestined or
-
predetermined for salvation. Let me clarify that the Bible
-
does not mean this. When it says that God,
-
predetermined by his foreknowledge, who was going to
-
heaven, he didn't mean that it was this guy's in, and this
-
guy's out. He's in and she's out, it was
-
talking about a specific kind of people.
-
And those people are obedient Christians by his foreknowledge.
-
Those that are obedient Christians, are the elect of
-
God. But let's go further because
-
Peter says more, he said that our election is through the
-
sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, the holy spirit, this is
-
how it works by revealing to us. Us through the word of God.
-
What we need to do, it brings us along to our obedience to the
-
gospel. Now, watch this because you
-
can't have summation without this.
-
The Holy Spirit through the word of God, brings us to the
-
sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.
-
And that folks is the cleansing from sin, and that happens at
-
baptism. Who are the elect of God?
-
Peter says, I'm going to give you some real encouraging stuff
-
here about your inheritance. Who's it going to the elect of
-
God? Who are the elect of God?
-
Obedient Christians who are obedient Christians, those that
-
were baptized for the remission of sins and live Faithfully unto
-
death. But will go further than that.
-
All three that are in the godhead are working together for
-
our salvation. All three.
-
You know, the Bible says that there are three that bear record
-
In Heaven, There is God, the Father, there is God, the son
-
and there's God the Holy Spirit. And when the Bible says, and
-
these three are one, it doesn't mean one person, it means three
-
personage is all working together.
-
They are the same purpose and in reference to your salvation in
-
mind. There are all working together
-
in the godhead like this. Number one, God provides the set
-
purpose or the point. That that's what he said, it
-
says elect. According to the purpose,
-
according to the foreknowledge of God, he set the purpose, he
-
made the plan, and that's why Jesus, when he was hanging on
-
the cross. After about six hours, and after
-
the Bible says, knowing all things, must be fulfilled.
-
He said, I thirst, they put the sour vinegar into his lips, then
-
what did he say? It is finished.
-
That's the purpose. That's the plan.
-
That's God's part. It is finished.
-
And then he says, father into your hands, I commit my spirit.
-
So, all three in the godhead are working for our Salvation.
-
How God sets the purpose? What else?
-
The holy spirit separates the sinner from the sphere, where he
-
dwelt in his sins, to the sphere.
-
Where the elected ones are now? How is that possible?
-
Not Oculus Li not directly. Romans 1:16 says for I am not
-
ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto
-
salvation to everyone that believeth to the Jew first and
-
also to the Greek. See the point God, provided the
-
plan. The Holy Spirit leading us
-
through the word of God. Brings us to the place starting
-
where we are in sin and bringing us, to our obedience to the
-
gospel. And then Jesus Christ provides
-
the cleansing for man, through his own precious blood.
-
Now, All of this is the Divine part.
-
And, you know, a lot of people in the world they don't deny the
-
Divine Park. A lot of people say, yeah, I got
-
get all that. I know God did all that.
-
I know Jesus did that, and I know the Holy Spirit through the
-
word reveals to us what we got to do.
-
I know all that. The question is, what is your
-
part? What is the human part?
-
The human part is obedience obedience to the gospel.
-
Now, our Heavenly inheritance is for us prepared.
-
And it says those that are begotten of God.
-
So in other words, we talked about the elect who are the
-
elect those that are begotten of God.
-
Now the word begotten. According mr.
-
Thayer means to produce again begat again or be get a new.
-
In fact, they are further said, this it is a metaphor.
-
What's a metaphor? The word?
-
Begotten, it's a metaphor. Meaning to thoroughly change the
-
mind of one. So that he lives a new life and
-
one that's conformed to the will of God.
-
Now, does that sound like to you that you can do anything you
-
want to do? And be the begotten of God?
-
That tells me according to Thayer that, if I am begotten of
-
God, everything about my life is changed.
-
All of it. Every bit of it.
-
Every single bit of it. Now.
-
How are you? Begotten, in John chapter 3.
John 3 chapter mention
-
Remember when Jesus was having a conversation with Nicodemus. and
-
he tells Nicodemus, Except you be born again.
-
You cannot enter the kingdom of God.
-
You cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.
-
Nicodemus says, how is that possible?
-
How can a man when he is old be born again?
-
Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?
-
And Jesus says, you have to be born again and it's a matter of
-
being born of water and the spirit.
-
So who are those that are begotten, they are the ones that
-
are born again. And Jesus says, the born-again
-
ones are the ones that have been born of water and the spirit,
-
but let's go further. In Matthew chapter 18, the
Matthew 18 chapter mention
-
disciples come to Jesus. And they said tell us master who
-
is going to be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven in that
-
kind of like, man. In other words, when the kingdom
-
is established, and Jesus is with the, with his disciples,
-
that's kind of like it's kind of a human tendency isn't it?
-
Who's going to get to be greatest?
-
What's the pecking order? Who's number one?
-
But Jesus said he took a little child.
-
He placed a little child in the midst of them, and he says,
-
except ye be converted and become as little children, you
-
cannot see the kingdom of God. He said Born Again.
-
In John 3, he said little children in Matthew 18.
-
Now, he said, in John 3, that being born again is being born
-
of water and the spirit. So all I got to do is find out
-
what it's like, or how you are born of water and the spirit,
-
and I know exactly who Peter was talking about when he said,
-
begotten. In Romans, chapter 6, beginning
Romans 6 chapter mention
-
in verse 3, the Apostle Paul said know ye not that.
-
So many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized
-
into his death. Therefore we are buried with him
-
by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised from the
-
dead by the glory of the father. Here it is.
-
So we also should walk in newness of life.
-
Now, don't you see that the similarities between those three
-
terms there? Born Again, little children, New
-
Life. If you've done that, you're born
-
of water and the spirit, that's when you're baptized into Jesus
-
Christ, for the remission of sins.
-
You are begotten of God. Now, if you are begotten of God,
-
then you have a wonderful wonderful.
-
Wonderful blessing in verse 3. Let's go to our text now.
-
Let's go to verse three of our text.
-
Peter says, 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.
-
Now the words, blessed be there. It's a eulogy.
-
You know, to eulogy is somebody dies.
-
Somebody dies and somebody gets up and eulogizes their life.
-
So he begins, he's going to talk about this great promise of an
-
inheritance in heaven, and he begins by praising God, in a
-
eulogy Blessed. Be he Praises.
-
God and gives him the praise and tells God how great he is.
-
What a wonderful picture there, he said blessed be.
-
Now there's more, it's not just praising God, it's also marking
-
a transition and that is this. The transition is very
-
important. He's going to change the theme
-
now to that of patients and that of Hope now Patience and hope
-
are two things that the child of God needs to endure the
-
hardships of life. I'm going to tell you you
-
cannot, you cannot go through the trials of life.
-
Without hope. You can't.
-
People put on the good face. People have the concept of this
-
great picture of heaven. People have all manner of things
-
that they think about. But I'm going to tell you you
-
cannot continue to live a faithful life through the trials
-
of life without patience and Hope.
-
He's going to talk about something that's so great.
-
It's going to motivate you. The child of God to endure
-
Affliction to endure the trials and live faithfully and the
-
death. That's how great Heaven is.
-
That's how great. This is now.
-
He says that this is a living. Hope, I want you to get this
-
picture here. We're begotten of God, and we
-
now have a living hope not just a hope, but a Living.
-
Hope Thayer says, that means, it will never die.
-
That's a promise that will never die will clarify that a little
-
bit later. So in other words, when we are
-
born again, We are born again, we are now a living hope.
-
We now have a Living Hope in our life that helps us.
-
Now notice none of that would be possible without this, and
-
you'll remember this from First Corinthians 15 on our Wednesday
-
night studies. None of this is possible.
-
Peter says, without the resurrection of Jesus Christ
-
from the day, do you remember all those in First Corinthians
-
15 that were being discussed in reference about?
-
Paul says there are some even though there's evidence that
-
proves that Jesus Christ was had raised from the dead.
-
What was the evidence? All the people that had seen the
-
resurrected Christ, you got all this proof And Paul said,
-
there's still some. It say there's no resurrection
-
of the Dead. Ron Paul said if there's no
-
Resurrection we are all men most pitiable or miserable.
-
You know why? Because if there is no
-
resurrection of the Dead, there is no hope.
-
Ever heard the phrase. What if this is as good as it
-
gets, what if this is it? What if this is it?
-
Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
-
So I'm First Corinthians chapter 15, Paul clearly points.
1 Corinthians 15 chapter mention
-
Out that if Jesus Christ is not raised, then we have no hope of
-
a resurrection for ourself. And if there is no, hope we have
-
nothing, we have nothing to keep us on the straight and narrow
-
way. But look at First Peter chapter
1 Peter 1 chapter mention
-
1 and verse 40, to talk about the inheritance for a little
-
while, The Inheritance here. It's Incorruptible, it's
-
undefiled, it does not fade away, and it's reserved in
-
heaven. For you.
-
Those that are begotten. Born Again, baptized Christians
-
living Faithfully unto death. Those are the ones that have a
-
place in heaven. Reserved, you know, because of
-
this great thing. We actually lay claim to The
-
Inheritance not because we deserve it.
-
Please don't misunderstand me. We lay claim not to the fact
-
that we stake our claim in heaven because we've earned it
-
or deserved it or we even have it coming to us but we lay claim
-
to what the promise. In other words, the Bible tells
-
us what we must do to be saved. And if we do that, we lay claim
-
to the promise. Not because we're worthy because
-
we are not And that promise, watch it.
-
It's an inheritance Incorruptible, it's undefiled
-
and will not fade away and it's reserved in heaven for you.
-
Now it's upon these promises that they and us can build our
-
hopes on, you know, Paul ties together.
-
The idea of children and heirs Let's talk about the inheritance
-
Park. You know, my kids.
-
If Tina, and I have anything when we die.
-
It will go. To The Heirs or the inheritance.
-
That they will receive from us. And the reason for that is,
-
there's a connection between children and heirs.
-
Now notice what Paul says regarding children and heirs in
-
Romans chapter 8, beginning in verse 16, watch this, the spirit
Romans 8 chapter mention
-
Bears, witness with not to, and not miraculously, but with our
-
spirit that we are the children of God.
-
So that's the point right there. Where the children of God, who
-
are the children of God, those that are begotten and we talked
-
about what that means. So, if we are children, then
-
Paul says, we are heirs. let's continue reading and for and
-
Romans 8, if children then heirs Heirs of God and Joint heirs
-
with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, that we may be
-
glorified Together. Now I got to add a little Point
-
here. There's a comparison here.
-
And there's an idea here. That we are Heirs of where the
-
children of God. but if we stop being a faithful, child of God,
-
then we don't have the promise of an air anymore.
-
We don't have the promise of our Eternal inheritance in heaven.
-
My kids are good kids, not perfect kids, but they're good
-
kids. But let me just tell you this,
-
if one day they go off the reservation and decide to live a
-
life, that is not conducive of a child of God.
-
And if they, all of a sudden, become bad kids, you know, what,
-
me and Tina are going to spend their inheritance.
-
Cut him off. Why not?
-
But they're not. There, they're faithful
-
children. They're good kids.
-
So when me and Tina are gone, what are they?
-
They're an air of whatever we have.
-
That's the same spiritual picture.
-
We have, if you're a faithful child, then you're an heir.
-
And that helps us to live Faithfully.
-
What's the nature of the inheritance, though?
-
He said it's undefiled, interesting word.
-
Undefiled one scholar defined it as this it is, undefiled is
-
Immortal, it is undying, it is imperishable.
-
It is unstained, and it is pure. Now, the word undefiled In this
-
passage is the exact same word that's found in James chapter 1
James 1 chapter mention
-
and verse 27. When it pictures a pure
-
religion, Don't you see the difference?
-
Or don't you see the connection? We have something.
-
That is undefiled, if our religion is undefiled and here
-
it is James 1:27, pure and undefiled religion before God.
-
And the father is this to visit the orphans and widows in their
-
trouble, and keep oneself unspotted from the world.
-
So, if I keep myself undefiled, what do I have?
-
I've got an inheritance that is undefiled to What else?
-
The word undefiled was used to describe Jesus to it.
-
Hebrews 7:26 for such a high priest was fitting for us.
-
Who is Holy harmless undefiled separate from Sinners and has
-
become higher than the heavens? That's the inheritance that we
-
have because of Jesus Christ. Now, you know, the Jews,
-
understood about an Earthly Promised Land an Earthly Canaan,
-
they understood that, but I think there's, I think there's a
-
picture here too. They understood about a promised
-
land. They understood about a literal
-
place of Canaan on this earth. Now, that was, that faded away
-
it was gone. You know why?
-
Because part of the Earth, But the Heavenly inheritance is
-
different. It will never fade away.
-
It's the Heavenly Jerusalem in Revelation chapter 21.
Revelation 21 chapter mention
-
Now you know this is a great passage here because In
-
Revelation, 21 and 27, it talks about those that are going to
-
get in. Folks please listen to these
-
words. This is what John the Revelator
-
said recorded here those that are going to get in But there
-
shall by no means enter into it, anything that defiles the words
-
of Lord, by the way, or causes and Abomination.
-
Oral I get this but only those that are written in the Lamb's
-
Book of Life. Begun.
-
Born again. Washed in the blood.
-
Baptized for the remission of sins.
-
And name written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
-
Those get in that inheritance will never fade away.
-
You know, it's a Peter understood the brevity of man's
-
life. He talked about man's life as
-
being grass or flower that Withers.
-
And that's in contrast to the word of God In This Very
-
epistle. First Peter, 1 24 25.
-
It says, all flesh is as grass and all the glory of, man, as
-
the flower of grass, the grass withers and the flower Falls
-
away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.
-
So, in other words, in verse 4, he firmly Establishes that God's
-
people have something that is infinite and inheritance that
-
will never pass away. The passing of all the ages of
-
time. One man said will never change
-
our inheritance or the beauty of the moment that we receive it.
-
Have you ever stopped to consider that it will never stop
-
being as beautiful as it is when we see it for the first time?
-
You know what else is? Great?
-
if I make heaven, it will never be taken away. if I get in,
-
it'll never be taken away. It will never pass away.
-
Peter says this place. is reserved in heaven for you now,
-
God is preserving The Inheritance that reservation is
-
in heaven. Not on this Earth.
-
You remember, last week, we talked about a Doctrine That
-
teaches that Jesus Christ is going to come back and it's
-
going to establish an Earthly Kingdom.
-
It's going to refurbish the Earth that everybody that's in
-
heaven is in heaven and nobody else is getting in.
-
And this is going to be the place where the Lord is going to
-
establish Earthly Kingdom. All you got to do is find out
-
what the Bible says, it's Reserve, where it's reserved in
-
heaven for you. Jesus Christ is not going to set
-
foot on this Earth ever again, when he comes back, the Bible
-
says, we will meet him. We're in the air and ever.
-
So, go to be with the Lord for eternity, we're in heaven.
-
So it's not a matter of the Lord coming back to be with us.
-
It's a matter of us. Going to live with him in him.
-
And it's reserved John 14, 1 and 2.
-
Jesus said, let not your heart be troubled you believe in God
-
believe also in me in my father's house are many
-
mansions. If it were not.
-
So I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you 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 listen Peter,
-
nor the Lord talked about an Earthly Kingdom or any kind of a
-
millennium. Peter and Jesus make it clear or
-
inheritance is in heaven. I want to make a point here.
-
Have you ever said? I know?
-
Because I have I have Have you ever said?
-
I just want to get in any way I can.
-
And I just want to squeak in. I just want in.
-
I just want to sneak in squeak in barely make whatever I just
-
want to I've said that. That's unscriptural.
-
Because if I get in in the common vernacular, we're going
-
to blow the doors off. The Bible says, in second Peter
2 Peter 1 chapter mention
-
chapter 1 and verse 11. Listen for an entrance will be
-
supplied to you. How barely know it says
-
abundantly Abundant entrance. Into the Everlasting Kingdom, it
-
says. So, if I make Heaven, it's kind
-
of like this. You're in school.
-
You have a b, c, d, or F. And I remember in college, some
-
of the classes are difficult. We would say, well, we got, if
-
you got a deal, we'd say, well, you got a D4 done.
-
At least it's done. It's behind it.
-
You got through it, you got your barely made.
-
Okay, that's not what heaven's like at all.
-
It's not a matter of getting a DC or whatever or barely making
-
it it's past her faith. If you make it in, you made it
-
in abundantly. But if you didn't make it in,
-
you don't make it at all. And that's the point.
-
Because we deserve it. No, because if we're faithful
-
unto death, we lay claim to the great promise that God made and
-
it was all possible, only through the resurrection of
-
Jesus Christ. Verse 5.
-
First Peter wanted 5. This is also very encouraging to
-
me because this is something else.
-
Here we are kept who are kept by the power of God, through faith
-
for salvation, ready to be revealed.
-
In the last time that word kept comes from the original, Greek
-
word. That means this, it's by
-
watching and guarding to preserve one for the attainment
-
of something, that's according to Thayer.
-
Here's the question though. Who are those that are Guided by
-
are guarded by the mighty power of God, who are those?
-
Because here's the thing, whoever they are, we're going to
-
have something great. We're going to have the
-
inheritance who are they, who are those that are kept by the
-
power of God. Who are those that have the
-
benefits of a Living? Hope verse 3, who are those?
-
That have an inheritance Incorruptible verse 4 and who
-
are those that are under God's Garden?
-
Where the NIV says, Is shielding.
-
That's verse 5. Who is it?
-
It's got to say it again. Those that are begotten.
-
Born again. Christian's baptized into
-
Christ. Now once again, we have to make
-
it very clear. There is no security that's
-
imposed on anyone. And security is not a promise
-
that is separate and apart from Human participation.
-
In other words, the Divine part of the Divine, part of election,
-
we talked about that. But I got a part 2.
-
You've Got A Part 2. We have a part and if we do our
-
part, guess what? We are kept by the power of God.
-
Waiting for that inheritance one day.
-
Now I got to make a point here when we talk about this, it
-
doesn't mean at all. It does not mean that man can
-
never fall. I am not saying any kind of a
-
doctrine of eternal security and I am not preaching a Doctrine as
-
a tenant of Calvinism of perseverance of the Saints.
-
I'm not saying that at all. I'm not saying that we have a
-
promise and a hope regardless of what we do no matter what.
-
And I'm not saying that a man could not. all because he can
-
Paul reminds us that it's very possible to attain the knowledge
-
of the Lord, but turn from the Commandment of god, notice also
-
in 2nd Peter chapter 2 beginning in verse 20, For if after they
-
have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge
-
of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are again, entangled in
-
them and overcome. The latter end is worse for them
-
than the beginning. For it would have been better
-
for them, not to have known the way of righteousness than having
-
known it to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
-
But it has happened to them. According to the true proverb, a
-
dog returns to his own vomit and a sow.
-
Having washed to her wallowing in the mire.
-
What does that mean? That means, if I stop being a
-
faithful child, I don't have the inheritance just like I made
-
that little crude analogy with my own kids.
-
Jude verse 21. Here's a responsibility that we
-
have, keep yourself in the love of God.
-
Looking for mercy and of our Lord, Jesus Christ, unto eternal
-
life. So, the sum of the entire matter
-
is this, there's a Divine factor and there is a human factor
-
regarding our salvation and the next phrase.
-
In verse 5, it talks about through faith for Salvation
-
through faith for salvation or the King James says, through
-
faith unto salvation. And we talked about the word
-
faith, a lot. But the word faith in this
-
passage is found in three other places in this chapter, it's
-
found here in verse 5. It's found in verse 7 and it's
-
also found in verse 9. It is defined by mr.
-
Thayer as follows it is a strong and welcome conviction of belief
-
that Jesus Is the Messiah through whom we obtain Eternal
-
salvation in the kingdom of God. Now, Peter is emphasizing the
-
human Park, the human factor, it's not imposed on us, nor is
-
it salvation that cannot be affected by the lives that we
-
live? Rather our Salvation depends on
-
the faith that we're talking about.
-
Now, let's go to the words of Jesus. in the same book that
-
John pictured, heaven Revelation 2 and 10.
-
Do not fear. Any of those things which you
-
are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to
-
throw some of you into prison. and you will be tested and you
-
will have tribulation how long ten days.
-
But be faithful unto death. And I will give you a Crown of
-
Life. I love what Joe hisle said, 20
-
years ago. I heard him say this, he said
-
the picture there the figure there of 10 days.
-
Is one short lifetime. You know, I think we could
-
pretty much do about anything for 10 days.
-
I think we can endure just about anything for 10 days.
-
When you look to where the end is and whatever you're going
-
through is going to end. You can say yourself, okay, ten
-
days and 9 days and 8 days, and I'm almost there.
-
You can do that and you get through it.
-
Ten days is nothing. Now compared to Eternity.
-
One short lifetime is also nothing.
-
There's a condition, all of the things, all that, great promise.
-
There's a condition, and Jesus said, be faithful unto death,
-
and I'll give you a Crown of Life.
-
Finally, in verse 5, it says that all this and we just talked
-
about is going to be revealed in the last time now.
-
The word revealed here comes from the word Apocalypto and it
-
means the Salvation and Glory, that awaits the believer.
-
According to we Vine, the word is also found in Romans chapter
Romans 8 chapter mention
-
8, beginning in verse 18. I love this passage for.
-
I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy
-
to be compared with the glory that shall be, what revealed in
-
US. For the for the earnest
-
expectation of the creation eagerly awaits for what the
-
revealing of the sons of God. Now it's going to be revealed
-
when in the last time you know that phrase last time it's the
-
same phrase that the Bible talks about when it talks about in the
-
last day. and when Paul said, I fought a good fight.
-
I finished my course. I've kept the faith.
-
Henceforth. There is laid up for me a crown
-
of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge shall
-
give me at that day. What day?
-
And not to me, only. But to all those that love his
-
appearing. How do you demonstrate that?
-
You love the Lord? Jesus said, if you love me, keep
-
my Commandments. if you love me, keep my words, folks, if we do
-
that, if we are begotten of God Baptized into Christ for the
-
remission of sins. We contact the blood of Jesus.
-
He supplied that on the cross, for us, our sins are washed
-
away, where added to the body of Christ and we live a faithful
-
life under unto death. Guess what?
-
We're being kept by the power of God and a great, you think
-
you're alone, you think you feel alone kept by the power of God.
-
It's reserved appear that heritance in heaven for you.
-
I don't know about you folks but I want to go.
-
I want to go. Now, I understand, you know,
-
Paul said to live is Christ to die is gain.
-
What he meant was, it would be game for me to go.
-
But to live is for Christ, the work that needs to be done.
-
So we need to work until time shall be no more.
-
We, our lives are taken from this Earth.
-
But just to know that in heaven, there's a great place revealed
-
and will be revealed to us on the last day.
-
And finally, if we looked at verse 6 of this passage, it even
-
helps us through the trials of life, it's going to get us
-
through anything. That comes our way, what the
-
promise of the inheritance. We thank you for listening to
-
our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.
-
Road in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional
-
information or you would like to receive a free Bible
-
correspondence, course by mail. Please email us at info at True
-
Church of Christ Bakersfield.com.
-
Our service times are on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and
-
Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Please make plans to join us.
-
We would love for you to be our honored guest.