The Guarded Inheritance (Second Sunday Of Easter 2023)

THE GUARDED INHERITANCE

Text: 1 Peter 1:3 – 9

1 Peter 1:3 - 9:   “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  (4)  and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,  (5)  who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  (6)  In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials,  (7)  so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.  (8)  Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,  (9)  for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (NRSV).

The story is told about three unlikely men who guarded a missionaries home. “Tears glistened in the eyes of the Salvation Army officer Shaw who was a medical missionary who had just arrived in India, as he saw three shackled lepers. The Army was taking over this particular leper colony. These three men had manacles and fetters binding their hands and feet, cutting their diseased flesh. Captain Shaw turned to the guard and said, “Please unfasten the chains.”

“It isn't safe,” the guard replied, “these men are dangerous criminals as well as lepers!”

“I’ll be responsible. They’re suffering enough,” Captain Shaw said, as he put out his hand and took the keys, then knelt and tenderly removed the shackles and treated their bleeding ankles and wrists.

About two weeks later Captain Shaw had his first misgivings about freeing these criminals; he had to make an overnight trip and dreaded leaving his wife and child alone. His wife insisted that she wasn’t afraid with God being there. The next morning when she went to the front door, she was startled to see the three criminals lying on her steps. One explained, “We know the doctor go. We stay here all night so no harm come to you.” That’s how these dangerous men responded to an act of love. Christ came to set fettered people free.” (James S. Hewett. Ed. Illustrations Unlimited. Nashville: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1988, pp. 118 - 119). In today’s world, it may seem unlikely that criminals would show appreciation.

We know that Christ died for His enemies as well as His friends to set them all free from the bondage of sin. Those who truly believe in Jesus are heirs to the gift of eternal life.

We have a living hope, a guaranteed inheritance and the understanding that we are studying for what some call “finals” --- their final exam when they will receive the goal of their faith namely eternal life.

LIVING HOPE

How do you define hope?

1) Hope: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 NRSV). In last week’s sermon, we encountered the struggles of Mary Magdalene, and the ladies with her, two on the road to Emmaus and then Thomas, who was both a disciple and Jesus’s real life brother as they struggled with faith and hope. It was and is the resurrection of Jesus Christ that gave them assurance and that gives us assurance!

Every other world religion worships some dead guy or idol. Somebody please tell me where is the hope in that? We worship the risen Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified, dead, buried and then raised on the third day. That’s why we have a living hope! That’s why we gather every Sunday!

2) Heirs: Sometimes people who are heirs place their hopes in material things that are attached to a will. One of my friends who works in a funeral once told me about some of his neighbors who lived down the street from him. After both of the parents died, the siblings split up over some old, non-functional TV, in storage that was tied up in the will. He said that the real tragedy was that they were all close growing up. Somebody please tell me where is the hope in that? The only thing that TV was good for was its sentimental value. Only our faith in Jesus Christ can give us living hope!

3) Guarded inheritance: It is only through our faith in our risen Lord, Jesus Christ, that we have an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us (1 Peter 1:4). This is a God-given blessing that no one---no hope dashers can ever take away from you!