MESSAGE IN 1PETER – NUMBER 2 – MERCY HAS WORKED AN INHERITANCE FOR YOU RESERVED IN HEAVEN – 1Peter 1:3-4
[1]. WISHES AND EXPECTATIONS
One common feature of human beings is the use of the word “wish.” “I wish I could this or that thing . . .” Allied with this are a number of expectations that accompany daily living. If we had no expectations then we would be the most boring people living just dull lives. Those with expectations look forward in hope to a holiday at some new place; the seeing of a grandchild; the realisation of one’s first marital home, and so on. All these hopes are legitimate but many of them peak, then decline. They are earthly hopes. Sometimes after months of hopeful expectation, the realisation can be but one of anti-climax, hopes dashed, and failure. That can be the nature of earthly hope.
I feel sorry for some people, and a few I have known. Some plan their future then set themselves up in business, hoping to become established and to make a living from their effort and hopes. Then tragedy strikes, be it because of Government laws and restrictions, or ill health, or fraud, climatic disaster or a number of other reasons. The hopes built up over time then crash and are swept away leaving broken people, and even embittered people. If our hope is ONLY in earthly things, we can be devastated.
But there is a hope that transcends any earthly experience. Peter refers to it as a “living hope.” Therefore we must conclude that, by comparison, all earthly hopes are dead hopes. This hope is a spiritual one, a heavenly one, an infused/imparted one, and an eternal one. We are going to look at two verses from 1Peter 1.
{{1Peter 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great MERCY has caused us to be born again to a LIVING HOPE through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain AN INHERITANCE which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, RESERVED IN HEAVEN for you.”}}
[B]. POINT 1 – LOOKING AT MERCY
There are four points I have given in capital letters in those verses. The first one is MERCY. It is most interesting that Peter selects the word “mercy” as the key to all God’s goodness to us. If it was Paul, I think he would have chosen love or grace and peace, especially the latter one as it was grace that captivated Paul, as God was so gracious to the one who persecuted the church. John of course would have chosen love.
Mercy is related to kindness. It reminds me of the captives of war who pleaded with the enemy not to be killed. They pleaded, “Mercy! Mercy!” from those who had now the authority over them. They wanted kindness to be shown to them.
The first instance of mercy in the Old Testament is in this verse – {{Exodus 25:17 “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide.”}} The Ark of the Covenant with the Mercy Seat represented the presence of God with His people Israel, and where God’s glory was found. It was contained in the Holy of Holies.
The Ark of the Covenant with the Mercy Seat was constructed of acacia wood and gold. The Ark of the Covenant was made of wood completely overlaid with gold inside and out. The Mercy seat was fully of gold. The Types in the bible are very important. Gold stands for divinity as it is the untarnished metal, eternal and pure and precious. The wood stands for what is of earth, the earthly quality.
Every single thing in the Tabernacle spoke of the Lord Jesus Christ. We must do a study again on all that. It is so encouraging. The Ark of the Covenant speaks of the Lord Jesus on earth. The wood represents His humanity and the gold represents His divinity. As the wood was completely enclosed inside and out by the gold, so the Lord was completely the divine One, but with His full humanity enclosed in His Person. Thus Jesus was the God-Man, fully God and fully Man.
The Mercy Seat was fully of gold. The atoning blood of sacrifice was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat and that spoke of the sacrifice. The greatest sacrifice was that of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The Mercy Seat was not constructed of wood but of gold. It had to be gold for no One but God Himself could have atoned for sin. That is all so wonderful. The types in the Tabernacle are all so wonderful.
God extends His merciful kindness to us who should have been dispatched as evil sinners, not worthy of any consideration from God. However His mercy prevails over sin, typified in the Mercy Seat and it is that mercy that had special significance for Peter. Grace had special significance for Paul, and love had special significance for John. Those attributes of God are so precious to us who are saved, but you sinners, remember God is also a God of wrath and judgement, so you need to repent and come to the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation.
Maybe it is no surprise that mercy is so important to Peter. When he denied the Lord three times, he fled into the darkness and was cut to the quick so very deeply. Maybe he thought the Lord had abandoned him and was ashamed of Peter. BUT NO! After the resurrection, the Lord sought him out, appearing to Peter and all was forgiven and restored. Such mercy! Such mercy to Peter! He never forgot that, so it is little wonder that mercy is at the top of Peter’s list.
Just to end this lovely consideration of mercy, we will see what is the very last mention of “mercy” in the bible, and this is that mention - {{Habakkuk 3:2 “LORD, I have heard the report about You and I fear. O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years. In the midst of the years make it known. IN WRATH REMEMBER MERCY.”}}
WOW. Isn’t that so glorious. The Old Testament closes with the remembrance of mercy in wrath. That is what the very first mention also was about – the Mercy Seat, where the wrath of God was appeased by the sprinkling of blood. It is all so marvellous. Then the Old Testament passes into the New Testament and the first mention of mercy is here – {{Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”}} The Lord of mercy pronounces mercy.
The great problem with Nebuchadnezzar was his lack of mercy. God appointed Nebuchadnezzar as His servant to punish Judah for its sin, but the Babylonian king showed no mercy during the wrath of God that Babylon was appointed to carry out, and as a result, God showed no mercy to Babylon, over-throwing them. Nebuchadnezzar needed to have shown mercy in wrath but instead, ruthlessly violated the people. God spoke this of evil Judah and the Babylonians – {{2Chronicles 36:16-17 “but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, until there was no remedy. Therefore He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and HAD NO COMPASSION on young man or virgin, old man or infirm; He gave them all into his hand.”}}
[B]. POINT 2 – LOOKING AT A LIVING HOPE
We return to our verse - {{1Peter 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great MERCY has caused us to be born again to a LIVING HOPE through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain AN INHERITANCE which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, RESERVED IN HEAVEN for you.”}} This time we are looking at a LIVING HOPE.
It is interesting to note in these two verses, four important points where the first is that the origin of this living hope lies in the mercy of God that is described as being “great” (great mercy). We just considered that one. Three powerful words characterise God’s motivation towards us. They are love, grace and mercy. Of these, one is very prominent in other parts of scripture - “God IS love.” It is never said that way of the other two (though God is merciful and God is gracious). Thus we have grace and mercy flowing from the love of God, that love being the source of everything else relating to us. We noted earlier how important to Peter, mercy was.
It is the mercy of God that causes us to be born again. God’s mercy towards us devised salvation through the death of the Son of God on the cross, so that through the operation of the Holy Spirit who convicts of sin, we might be born again through faith. We have come from dead bondage into a living hope – a hope that is alive.
Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,
Jesus, I come! Jesus, I come!
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee!
Out of my sickness into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee!
A living hope encompasses many joyful aspects. One is salvation itself (redemption, justification, reconciliation), but there are others just as powerfully motivating in growth (for living means growth). These are an eternal inheritance in heaven or in Jesus’s presence; another is expectation as the early church had in expectation of the Lord’s coming for His people – the Rapture. Hope is not a nebulous feeling but a settled confidence, a full assurance. A living hope is one that includes all those aspects but is continuing to multiply and grow stronger.
There is something wrong with a Christian who is not growing. We can straight away conclude that person does not have a living hope, but a stagnant hope or worse still, a dead hope because there was never one there in the first place. If you are one who honestly knows yours is not a thriving, living hope, then it is most likely you have neglected God’s word, the bible, or have neglected spending time with God. If you have never given your life wholly to Jesus Christ then you must do that so you enter into His hope.
There is a difference between a living hope and living in hope. The Christian must know the future for him and her. We know where we are going. We live in hope. We hope for the Lord’s return when He comes in the air and catches His people up. It is coming fast so be prepared.
We note that all Christian hope would be futile without the resurrection. That is basic because all our faith would be futile if Christ’s bones still lay in some obscure Palestine tomb. The new birth that spawned this living hope finds its authority and efficacy only through the resurrection. Christ is the First fruits.
[C]. POINT 3 – AN INHERITANCE AWAITS US
Who usually receives an inheritance? Well on the death of a parent it is usually a son or daughter who inherits according to the parent’s wishes. We speak about an earthly inheritance. That is our gift as a parent’s offspring.
That is earthly. However there is a heavenly inheritance that awaits us, one not too many of us think much about. It will come from the good pleasure of our Saviour and is reserved for His children in the faith. Billions will share in that inheritance. We have such a kind and gracious Father who has gifts abundant and wishes to share with His own.
Before we go any further don’t for one second start thinking in a greedy sense of what material blessings you can get. It has nothing to do with that, lust and greed. This sort of attitude comes from the prosperity doctrine. Our inheritance is pure and from a divine Father.
What is our inheritance? At the outset I will say, this has nothing to do with mansions in heaven and what you can get. It is spiritual and eternal. Your inheritance is eternal. Firstly let us look at the word in the New Testament as it applies to us.
(a). {{Acts 20:32 “and now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and TO GIVE YOU THE INHERITANCE among all those who are sanctified.”}} The verse speaks of the “among all those who are sanctified,” and means those who are holy – been declared holy – they will share the joy and privilege of heaven together, the holy members of the Bride. How gracious is God!
(b). {{Acts 26:18 “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.”}} I just want to look at the bigger story here and say that the inheritance we receive among all the sanctified ones, is Jesus Christ Himself. He is our only chief delight. He is our inheritance! Do you understand that? Christ is our inheritance.
(c). {{Ephesians 1:11 “In Him also we HAVE OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.”}} Yes, we will be members of one another in heaven, an inheritance granted by the Lord. The Lord predestined that – predestination always means a blessing. The inheritance is a blessing.
(d). {{Ephesians 1:14 “who is given as A PLEDGE OF OUR INHERITANCE, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”}} Here Paul speaks about the Holy Spirit as being the pledge of the future promise of our inheritance. It is like God saying to us, “You have an inheritance and here is the Holy Spirit as a down payment for the heavenly inheritance you will receive.”
(e). {{Ephesians 1:18 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are THE RICHES OF THE GLORY OF HIS INHERITANCE in the saints”}} His inheritance is glorious, the riches of His inheritance. We do not deserve any of that. How God has blessed us as saints. Rich blessing awaits us. Be humble, and praise the Lord for what He has done.
(f). {{Colossians 3:24 “knowing that from the Lord you will receive THE REWARD OF THE INHERITANCE. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”}} The heavenly inheritance is looked upon as a reward. We will be rewarded. For what? So gracious is God to do that to the ones who are no more than sinners saved by grace. This is the kindness of God (the mercy of God).
We have defined the treasures of this living hope. It is an inheritance about which much could be said and speculated. Peter merely summarises with four points - imperishable, undefiled, unfading, and reserved in heaven for us. And we can be sure too, that there will be no heights then decline, and no anti-climax; no fading, or any decline in its true value.
As for me, the inheritance I want is communion with the Lord, to see Him as He is, and to be like Him when we see Him in heaven. That is a reward far in excess of what we truly deserve.
[B]. POINT 4 – LASTLY, WHAT IS RESERVED IN HEAVEN FOR US
{{1Peter 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great MERCY has caused us to be born again to a LIVING HOPE through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain AN INHERITANCE which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, RESERVED IN HEAVEN for you.”}}
In the context Peter says we have an inheritance reserved (stored up) in heaven for us. It has to be reserved. We could not possibly be able to bear it here in this sin scene. It would be too much for us. Only when we are removed forever from the presence of sin, can we know and appreciate God’s reserved inheritance. What is so wonderful about entering heaven? I tried to capture that in a poem and here is just the first and last paragraphs:
In heaven from earth, His full matchless worth,
We’ll sing when our race is run.
The children of grace will see His dear face
More glorious than the sun.
Our constant story - to Him be glory;
Will be of victory won.
May You be adored, blesséd risen Lord,
For You are the worthy One.
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Our Saviour we love, our dear Lord above;
To Him our whole lives we bring.
He is our delight, the joy of our sight;
With gladness, our hearts they ring.
It won’t be long now; before Him we’ll bow,
And His praises we will sing.
Our joy overflows; the praise to Him grows!
Majesty unto the King.
Can we recall times when we have really looked forward to a certain promised event with great expectation, only to find at the last moment, a cancellation or change of plans has occurred? How disappointed we were. Paul says that love does not fail or disappoint (1 Corinthians 13:8). God’s mercy which flowed from God’s love, will not disappoint. This living hope can not disappoint because its roots lie with a merciful God.
Because hope flowed from the mercy of God, and mercy stemmed from the love of God, then the aspects of love should be the aspects of hope. Thus in the following verse we may conclude that hope will bear up under opposition; keep believing when faith is under attack for it must endure through the most adverse circumstances.
{{1Corinthians 13:7 “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”}}
This life contains many disappointments, and stresses, and injustices as I very well have experienced. Be assured that our confidence lies in this imparted living hope that God has given to us through His great mercy.
ronaldf@aapt.net.au
