AN INHERITANCE


A. "BLESSES BE THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WHICH ACCORDING TO THE ABUNDANCE OF HIS MERCY HATH BEGOTTEN US AGAIN UNTO A LIVELY HOPE...TO AN INHERITANCE INCORRUPTIBLE AND UNDEFILED, AND THAT FADETH NOT AWAY" - I PETER 1:3-4
  1. My dear Christian friends:
    1. There is something waiting here, that ought to make our hearts glad
    2. An inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled and that fadeth not away
  2. How the Bible exhibits God's wonderful promises:
    1. "A new heaven and a new earth" - 2 Pet. 3:13
    2. "Joint heirs with Christ" - Rom. 8:17
    3. "Heir of righteousness" - Heb. 11:7
    4. "Heirs together of grace" - I Pet. 3:7
    5. "Heirs of the kingdom" - Jas. 2:5 B. AN INHERITANCE
  3. Our first parents inherited:
    1. The earth made for them to enjoy forever
    2. "The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's, but the earth hath He given to the children of men" - Ps. 115:16; Gen. 1:28-30; Deut. 32:8; Jer. 27:5-6; Ps. 8:4-6
  4. But the fall of man:
    1. Hath made a vagabond of man - Gen. 3:23-24; 4:14
    2. Said Jacob to Pharaoh, "The days of the years of my pilgrimage...are a few" - Gen. 47:9
    3. Paul writes about the saints, that they confess that they are pilgrims and strangers in this present world - Heb. 11:14-16
  5. The plan of redemption:
    1. Promised a Redeemer, who would restore the first dominion, lost by our first parents
    2. "And thou, O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion" - Mi. 4:8
    3. This has been the lively hope of all the saints in all ages - beginning with Adam and all the way to our day - Heb. 11:14-16
    4. "We are looking for a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" - 2 Pet. 3:13; Is. 65:17; 66:22 C. NATURE OF THE INHERITANCE OF THE SAINTS
  6. It is very notable:
    1. That the inheritance awaiting the redeemed is most attractive - I Cor. 1:9-10
    2. It is a land wherein dwelleth righteousness - 2 Pet. 3:13
  7. Peter uses these descriptive words:
    1. "An inheritance incorruptible" - It is beyond the reach of death; no grave is ever dug on this estate
    2. "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death; neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be anymore pain; for the former things are passed away" - Rev. 21:4
    3. "And undefiled" - this old earth has been defiled in a thousand ways by its inhabitance; the prophet Isaiah says, "The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances, broken the everlasting covenant" - Is. 34:5; Jer. 2:7
    4. Nothing defiling will ever enter the New Inheritance - Rev. 20:27: Is. 35:8-10
    5. "An inheritance...that fadeth not away" The prophet Isaiah cries, "We all fade as a leaf" - Is. 64:6
    6. But Ezekiel, looking forward to the earth made new, says, "And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaves shall not fade" - Ez. 47:12
    7. And Peter is looking forward to receiving a crown of glory that fadeth not away - I Pet. 5:4
  8. What a challenge of such an inheritance:
    1. To put away every soul defiling sin out of our lives - Eph. 4:31; I Cor. 5:13; Deut. 19:13
    2. Paul says, "Let us therefore, cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light" - Rom. 13:11-14
    3. "Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot and blameless" - 2 Pet. 3:14
    4. We must make sure that we wear the robe of Christ's righteousness, that we have put aside the filthy rags of our own righteousness - Is. 61:10; Rev. 19:7-8; Zech. 3:3


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