I HOPE I GET WHAT?S COMING TO ME
Pastor Larry Starett
August 25, 2002 AM Service
1 Peter 1:3-4
Introduction:The little boy wasn’t getting good marks in school. One day he quite surprised the teacher. He tapped her on the shoulder and said, "I don’t want to scare you, but my daddy says if I don’t get better grades somebody is going to get a spanking!"
We all have something coming to us. For some, what we have coming is scary. For others, what we have coming is thrilling. In our text this morning, we are going to see how Peter describes the hope we can have.
I. It is a living hope (v. 3)
A. Because it is grounded on the living Word of God (1 Peter 1:23)
B. Because it was made possible by the living Son of God who arose from the dead.
C. A ?living hope? is one that has life in it and therefore can give life to us.
D. Because it has life, it grows and becomes greater and more beautiful as time goes on. E. Time destroys most hopes; they fade and then die. But the passing of time only makes a Christian?s hope that much more glorious.
F. We must take the time to understand the word hope as it is used here.
1. It is not like the way we often use the word. "I hope the preacher doesn?t preach too long this morning." "I hope my husband takes us out to dinner after the service." Etc.
2. The word hope here actually means expectation. Many of the young people came here this morning with the hope of receiving a trophy. They knew they had won it, and they were filled with the expectation of finally getting it.
3. Many people hope for salvation in the way we first used the word. But the Bible teaches us that salvation can be our confident, sure expectation.
4. ILL.: A little boy was standing at the foot of the escalator at a large department store, intently watching the handrail. He never took his eyes off the handrail as the escalator kept going around and around. A salesperson saw him and finally asked him if he was lost. The little fellow replied, ?Nope. I?m just waiting for my chewing gum to come back.?" That?s hope.
II. It is an inheritance (v. 4)
A. As the children of the King, we share His inheritance in glory (Rom. 8:17?18; Eph. 1:9?12). Fathers leave an inheritance to their children, not vice versa. God is the giver here.
B. We are included in Christ?s last will and testament, and we share the glory with Him (John 17:22?24).
C. Note the description of this inheritance, for it is totally unlike any earthly inheritance.
1. For one thing, it is incorruptible, which means that nothing can ruin it. Many years ago, our house burned, and many of the pictures and other memorabilia that we had were ruined by flame, smoke or water.
2. Because it is undefiled, it cannot be stained or cheapened in any way. My son was at a Sports Awards banquet just last Spring. He got a trophy for his skill in playing soccer. But before he even made it back to his seat, he banged the trophy against a chair, and part of it broke. He kept the trophy, but it wasn?t like the others that were given that night.
3. It will never grow old because it is eternal; it cannot wear out, nor can it disappoint us in any way. I must admit that many of the trophies that I won as a child, I eventually just tossed into the trash can because they had lost any significance to me. I mean, what adult wants to be remembered as the "Finger Painting Champion of First Grade"?!
4. Finally, the inheritance is reserved (literally "kept") in heaven for you.
a. Who is keeping it? Answer: God is.
b. It is very important that we understand some basic facts about this inheritance that gives us such hope for this life and the life to come.
III. Crucial Considerations
A. You don?t automatically get this inheritance.
1. Romans 6:23 tells us that "the payment for sin is death."
2. The only inheritance you get automatically is death and hell.
B. This inheritance is offered to you as a free gift.
1. Romans 6:23 also tells us that "the gift of God is eternal life."
2. There is an escape from our natural inheritance.
C. You can?t do anything to earn this inheritance.
1. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that we are saved by faith, not by any works that we do.
2. Many people came to Jesus to find out what they could DO to inherit eternal life. His answer? "Believe on Me."
D. This inheritance can be had for the asking.
1. Romans 10:9 tells us that if we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we will be saved.
2. Acts 16:31 confirms this: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved."
E. Since you can?t do anything to EARN this inheritance, once you have it, you can?t do anything to LOSE it either.
1. Our text this morning says our inheritance is "reserved in heaven". This literally means that it is being kept or guarded.
2. It is being guarded in heaven, so nothing outside of heaven can affect it.
3. It is being reserved in heaven "for" you, not reserved in heaven "by" you.
Conclusion: I ask you a very important question this morning: do you just hope you are saved, or is your salvation your confident, sure expectation? If you are not sure you are saved, you can make it sure before you leave. And if you are sure you ARE saved, let me challenge you to have the same response that Peter did in v. 3 of our text, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!"
