← Back to sermon library

Good evening. It's a great joy 
to be back with you once again tonight. And again, I just would 
like to thank you for your very warm reception and your display 
of Christian love and hospitality, your reception of both myself 
and my wife. We greatly appreciate it. And 
please know that we pray for you often and will continue to 
remember you in our prayers there at Glen Cullen. If you're ever 
down our way, please come by and visit us. We would love to 
have you. Portland is a pretty place. It's 
pretty here. I've never been here and it's beautiful. I didn't 
realize you were so close to the mountains. My wife and I 
originally are from the Midwest. We moved to the Pacific Northwest 
in 1978, and as we arrived in the Portland, she expressed a 
little bit of disappointment because she was expecting Mount 
Hood to be right there at her doorstep, not 50, 60 miles away. But here in Chilliwack, it's 
a little more to her liking, I think. I should tell you another story, 
too. Is it okay? I was really wanting Marcia to 
be happy in our move to the Pacific Northwest, and she just was not 
all that impressed with anything. I can remember coming through 
the Wallola Mountains, and I was looking, look at these mountains, 
and to her it was, you know, no big deal. Came through the 
Columbia River Gorge, and first time driving through, and seeing 
the waterfalls, and just the beauty of the gorge as we were 
making our way into Portland. And she just wasn't all that 
impressed. And so I thought, well, I'll 
take her to the ocean. So we were there for a few days. And we got up early and we drove 
out to Cannon Beach. And we walked out to the ocean. 
We're standing there, our ankle deep in the surf. And I said, well, I'm thinking, 
this has got to impress her. I said, well, what do you think 
of this? And she said, I thought it would be bigger. I still have not ever quite figured 
that out. I think it is a matter of perspective, 
I assume. Open your Bibles with me this 
evening to 1 Peter 1. Let's read verses 3-9. 1 Peter 1, verses 3-9. 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. He has caused us to be 
born again. What a beautiful way to express 
the grace of God. And that new birth has brought 
us 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 and there that 
terms for salvation is that word is used in its broadest of context 
ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, 
though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved 
by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith being much more 
precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, 
may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of 
Jesus Christ, to whom, having not seen, you love. Though now 
you do not see him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible 
and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, the salvation 
of your souls." An incredible amount of information is loaded 
into those verses there for us. we will focus our attention this 
evening upon two of those verses, verses four and five. It's important for us to remember 
who Peter is writing to. He's writing to Christians, but 
he's not writing to Christians who are having an easy time of 
it. He's writing to pilgrims of the dispersion we read back 
in verse one. And these Christians are being 
persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ, and they're scattered 
throughout the region. The King James Version calls 
them strangers, aliens, as it were, among the people. In other 
words, they're really not at home in this world, and yet they 
are loved and known of God. I love the way Peter refers to 
them as elect. They may be strangers in the 
earth. They may be pilgrims in the world, but they're known 
of God. They're loved of God. They're his elect. In truth, 
they're citizens of another country, a heavenly country. That's the 
place that they are really focused upon. So they're traveling, as 
it were, to heaven. And even though things are difficult, 
they're not overwhelmed in it. They're not at a loss. For certain, 
there is hardship and trials and afflictions to endure, and 
they're not easy. Peter doesn't say all they're 
easy. He writes to encourage them in 
that. They're aware that there are 
sacrifices to make in the Christian life. There are crosses to bear, 
but it's all for a purpose. God intends it all for their 
eternal good. Look what he says in verses six 
and seven. In this you greatly rejoice, 
in this persecution, in this being scattered, in these hardships. He says, in that you greatly 
rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been 
grieved by various trials. The necessity of these trials, 
if need be, these various trials. They're for their spiritual good. 
that the genuineness, the reality of their faith being much more 
precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, 
may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of 
Jesus Christ. Isn't that encouraging to know 
that all that we experience is not by random or chance? It doesn't just fall out and 
happen to us, but these things have a purpose in the plan of 
God, and that purpose relates to our eternal good. And so these 
pilgrims are willing to even lose their life if necessary 
for Christ. Now this is not because of some 
inner resolve of their own that they've worked up by their own 
understanding or their own inner strength or desire to just push 
on. The Christian knows to live is 
Christ, to die is gain, and so Christians press on to heaven 
because, as verse 3 says, they have been born again. They're 
new creatures in Christ Jesus. They've been made over. They've 
been made new. And so these are Christians. These are born-again Christians 
that Peter is writing to that are having a time of difficulty. And to them, Peter, out of a 
true pastoral heart, gives encouragement and comfort. From time to time, 
we all could use a word of encouragement and comfort. I mentioned this 
morning in the Sunday School, giving my testimony, that when 
I first came to Glenn Cullen back in 99, the average age in the church 
was about 72. And we had a number of dear elderly 
saints. Most of them are in heaven today. We still have a few of them with 
us who I love dearly. But there was this one lady, 
her name was Faye, and a godly dear lady. And she used to call 
me at least twice a week. I'd be in my study, the phone 
would ring, and she'd say, Pastor, this is Faye. And she said, I 
just want you to know I've been thinking about you. I know it's 
difficult and I know you have your trials and struggles just 
like we do. You probably have more attacks 
than we do. And she said, I just wanted to 
call to encourage you. I just wanted to call and let 
you know I love you. I just wanted to call and let 
you know I'm praying for you. Can I pray for you right now? 
And she would pray on the phone for me. We all need encouraging. 
from time to time. I trust that you don't forget 
to encourage your pastor. Sometimes we need a word of exhortation. Sometimes we need a word of warning. But here for them, Peter has 
a word of encouragement, some encouragement for us as well. There in verses 4 and 5, he speaks 
of our inheritance, incorruptible undefiled, 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." The apostle lays out the believer's hope. And note it's 
a living hope. That is, it's vital and it's 
full of spiritual life and vitality. It's not wishful thinking. Rather, 
it's a confident expectation of inheritance, a heavenly one, 
one that is incorruptible, one that is undefiled and does not 
fade away. So there you have it. There you 
have that word of encouragement. They are in the midst of it. 
They are going through it. They are in a time of real affliction 
and trial. And I think I can safely say 
that all Christians know something of this. In our prayer, I was 
very glad to hear you pray this evening, brother, for the persecuted 
church, our dear brothers and sisters around the world. In 
our prayer meeting on Wednesday evenings, we always have a portion 
of the time that's given over to pray for our persecuted brothers 
and sisters around the world. And I try to remind and keep 
fresh in our mind the realization that the church is not as we 
see it here in all of its makeup. Two-thirds of the Church of the 
Lord Jesus Christ is not white. Two-thirds of the Church of the 
Lord Jesus Christ lives under government-sponsored and sanctioned 
persecution. The vast majority of Christians, 
the Church of Christ in the world today, is persecuted for righteousness' 
sake. And we need to remember that. 
This past week, we prayed for the family and congregation of 
a man by the name of Qamar David. He was a Christian man and he 
was serving a life sentence in a Pakistan prison for blaspheming 
the Koran and the Prophet Muhammad. And last week he died while in 
custody. often and under suspicious circumstances. They claimed it was a heart attack, 
but there was evidence that he had been beaten and tortured 
and persecuted for an extended period of time. And often that's 
the case. It's true we may not know or 
we may never experience what it is to be chased from our homes 
and family for Christ. We may not, as many have and 
continue to experience, what it is to be chased up to heaven. And because of that, we may come 
to a passage like this and we might be tempted to think that 
this scripture has nothing to say to us. But in some measure, we all know 
what it is to have our faith tried. We know what it is to 
be tested. We know something about affliction 
and trial. We all know something of the 
pressures that the world brings to bear upon Christians. And through it, Peter wants us 
to remember for our health and God's glory that our future is 
bright. Peter wants us to know that we 
have an inheritance and that there is absolutely nothing that 
can ever take it away from us. That word inheritance, it obviously 
points to something yet future. I like Vine's comments here. He said, it's a reference to 
the prospective condition and possessions of the believer in 
the new order of things to be ushered in at the return of Christ. Even so, come Lord Jesus. And the Bible speaks a great 
deal about our inheritance. Do you ever think about it? Acts 
chapter 20 and verse 32. So now, brethren, as Peter is 
or Paul is speaking to those of Ephesian elders now, brethren, 
I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able 
to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those 
who are sanctified. Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 
14. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit 
of promise who is the guarantee of our inheritance. The Holy 
Spirit himself is the seal. The Holy Spirit himself is the 
guarantee. Of what? Of our inheritance until 
the redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of his 
glory. Colossians chapter 3 verses 23 
and 24. Whatever you do, do it heartily 
as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you 
will receive the reward of the inheritance for you serve the 
Lord. And so Peter here in the passage 
before us is reminding us of our future inheritance. And it's just impossible for 
us to get our hands completely around the glory this inheritance 
includes. It's just impossible. We just 
can't, we can't do it. Remember what the Apostle Paul 
said, and he was quoting the prophet Isaiah. I have not seen, 
nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things 
which God has prepared for those who love him. So this inheritance 
is a glorious thing. It's out there in the future. And you just can't compare it 
with anything that we now experience or know. In other words, descriptive 
words simply fall short. So Peter does his best. Of course, 
he's inspired by the Holy Spirit. And Peter speaks of this inheritance 
in negative terms. And let's take them one at a 
time. Incorruptible. I see you have 
your Reformed Baptist book. I don't do this very often. I 
spent time with Arnold Dallimore back in the 70s, early 70s, and 
he was very, very, very proper. And he insisted that no matter 
how hot it was, no matter how humid it got, you never took 
your coat off in preaching. And so I, for years, I would 
never ever do it. I would just, if I started to, 
I would see him. And I remember I went to this 
conference in Montville, the Reformed Baptist Pastors Conference 
in Montville, and I was sitting there. And the man was reading 
scripture or praying, and he started out with his coat on, 
but I'm telling you, at some point, he got that coat off and 
it was hanging there. And I thought, when did he do 
that? And the next guy, same thing. 
These Reformed Baptist guys, they come up and they start out 
with their coats, and then they go, do you take your coat off? 
Yeah. And there it hangs. So I came back to Glen Collin, 
and we have three pulpits, or lecterns, one pulpit and a couple 
of lecterns. So I went out and bought Reformed 
Baptist books. I didn't want to invite my brethren 
to the church and have them question my credentials. Incorruptible. The ESV says imperishable. The word corrupt means to infect 
or debase or contaminate particularly, or with an emphasis, from the 
outside in. So, a thing is corruptible when 
it is open and vulnerable to outside influences and forces 
that are inclined to destroy it, to corrupt its power and 
beauty, to corrupt its vitality and very being. You might think 
of a government that has become corrupt, or a once faithful denomination 
or church that has become corrupt. The truth is, everything in this 
world is not only corruptible, but to some measure is corrupted. We live in a fallen world, not 
a natural world, but a fallen world. and one that is corrupt 
at some level at every point and subject to corruption. There 
is always the danger, lack, or lurking of destruction or defilement 
from outside. John Stott, commenting on this 
passage, writes, the land of Israel was at time ravaged and 
destroyed by invading armies. And the prophet Isaiah describes 
the utter destruction of the world in God's judgment. Isaiah 24, verses 3 and 4, the 
land shall be entirely emptied and utterly plundered for the 
Lord has spoken his word. The earth mourns and fades away. The world languishes and fades 
away. Well, Peter uses the same language 
only in the negative form. So while all that around us is 
subject to corruption and destruction, in contrast, our heavenly inheritance 
is not vulnerable. It's invulnerable. It can't be 
infiltrated. by any destructive force. Peter says it's incorruptible. Second, he says, does not fade 
away. I think it's interesting. Corruption 
is from the outside in, primarily. Fading away is, we usually think 
of it as from the inside out. And so you might think of a beautiful 
flower, maybe a rose that is in full bloom on Valentine's 
Day. I had two dozen roses sent to 
Marsha at her work, and they were beautiful and full bloom. 
They didn't stay that way long. They began to fade away because 
from the inside there was no life. There was no vitality from 
inside, and so they faded away. There was a lack of vitality. and proper strength that the 
flower couldn't endure. And again, on Earth, all things 
possess a certain power to exist and to live, but that power is 
limited. Another way to illustrate it, 
some of us know really well what it is to get older. And we know 
something about the fact that we're fading away. from inside 
out, can't be helped. So like a flower that dies and 
the wind blows it away, all things upon earth, soon wither, fade 
away, including man. The Bible says three score and 
ten, or maybe four score, if by reason of strength, but there 
are definite limits. Our strength and vitality will 
fade. And so Peter, in verses 24 and 
25 of chapter 1, he quotes Isaiah, all flesh is as grass and all 
the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers 
and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures 
forever. But you see, our glorious inheritance 
that we live in hope of, in anticipation of, possesses a strength and 
vitality and power and beauty that never fades away, that can't 
fade away. And of course, the reason is 
that it is perfectly connected to Christ, the everlasting God. And finally, it's undefiled. It's pure and it's whole. In other words, that which we 
hope for, that which we endure all things for and live in anticipation 
of receiving our inheritance is not subject nor possibly can 
be to the influences of sin. It's otherworldly. Isn't that 
wonderful? And if you think about it, in 
Christ We receive, as Peter speaks of this inheritance, in Christ, 
we receive so much more than even what we lost in Adam. Now, 
the fall was a horrible thing, terrible. And in Christ, we recovered. But more. Think of it, that first paradise 
was undoubtedly beautiful and a glorious place that's described 
as a garden. And there was fellowship with 
God. And even though it was created by God and it was righteous and 
it was holy, it was vulnerable to defilement. Sin, we read, 
entered in. And death by sin, which passed 
to all men because all sinned. and out. And ever since, all 
things are defiled. We live in a fallen, defiled 
world. And because we are sinners ourselves, 
we defile from outside in and inside out. But the inheritance 
to which we look forward to and hope, as Peter says, that's beyond 
defilement. As John in Revelation writes, 
what does he say? He says, no sin enters therein. If Genesis is about the fall 
and all that is lost, Revelation is about all that's recovered 
and the victory of the Lamb. And one of the glorious things 
of that is that in that inheritance, in that place where Christ is, 
no sin enters therein. Undefiled. Heaven is an eternally 
righteous and perfect place. It is grounded in Christ, our 
righteous Savior. Turn for just a moment over to 
the Gospel of John, chapter 14. Some of the most 
blessed words in all the New Testaments. So, words of encouragement 
and comfort. Jesus speaking to his disciples. John chapter 14 verses 1 through 
6. 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. 
Where I go, you know the way, and the way you know. Well, Thomas 
saith to him, Lord, we do not know where you are going, and 
how can we know the way? Jesus said to him, I am the way, 
the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except 
through me. Heaven's a wonderful place because 
Christ is there. Remember that gospel chorus? Maybe some of you sang it. Heaven 
is a wonderful place filled with glory and grace. I'm going to 
see my Savior's face. Heaven is a wonderful place. 
I think those words capture beautifully the essential truth of why heaven 
is a wonderful place. Why Peter can say about this 
inheritance that it is incorruptible, that it's undefiled, and it fades 
not away because it's grounded in And Christ is there. It's a wonderful place because 
we'll see our Savior face to face and we'll be with Him forever. This is the sure hope. This is 
the hope of every true believer. I grew up in a Christian home 
and my father was a godly man. He loved the Lord Jesus. And 
he lived out his faith before his family, and a few years before 
he passed away, he began to suffer from a bit of dementia, and he 
was cloudy in his thinking. And I can remember in February 
of 1999, going out to visit him, and taking my two daughters, 
the three of us went, to spend a week with my dad and mom. And we had a wonderful time. 
We sang and we prayed and the girls doted on him and loved 
him. And he could understand what 
we were saying and we would pray and sing words and read scripture. 
He understood that, he could get that, but he couldn't communicate. 
He couldn't say things right. And I remember the girls had 
gone home a day early, and I was with him alone in his bedroom. 
And I asked him, I said, Dad, are you able to read your Bible? 
And he says, well, I try to read it every day. And he pointed 
over to his nightstand, and on the nightstand was a copy of 
Josephus. He thought it was his Bible. And I said, well, Dad, 
how are you? And for the first time in over 
a week, he looked at me and he said, as clear as a bell, he 
said, if I could just clear my head, if I could just get clear. And then he said, but I know 
one thing. And I said, what's that? He says, 
I want to go. And he couldn't say it. He said, I want to go. I said, 
to heaven? He said, yeah. He said, I want 
to see him. I want to see his face. Heaven's 
a wonderful place. It's our inheritance. It's incorruptible, 
undefiled, fades not away because Christ is there. Revelation 22, 
3 and 5, and there shall be no more curse, but the throne of 
God and of the Lamb shall be in it and his servants shall 
serve him. They shall see his face and his 
name shall be on their foreheads. That means they belong to him. 
And there shall be no night there, they need no lamp nor light of 
the sun, for the Lord God gives them light and they shall reign 
forever and ever. How do you describe something 
like that? I'm convinced that we don't think 
enough about eternity in heaven. I think it's... Brethren, can 
I just... I've shared this with my people. 
I think it's a problem amongst us. I know you've heard people say 
that, well, you can be so heavenly minded that you're no earthly 
good. I think I understand something 
of that sentiment. But you know what? Do you really 
believe that? The Bible doesn't present that 
picture. The Bible presents a picture that unless you're heavenly minded, 
you won't be any earthly good. It's the very opposite. Colossians 
chapter three, set your mind and your affections on things 
above. Why? Because that's where Christ is. 
And you've been joined to him by faith. So in a very real sense, 
that's where you already are. Set your affections on things 
above. I think we, I think, and I don't 
know, maybe it's because of the abuses of Arminianism, or maybe 
the dispensational abuses of things relating to eternity. But I just don't think we think 
enough about eternity. We don't think enough about heaven. Well, our possession of this 
future glorious inheritance, Peter says, is guaranteed. You know what a guarantee is. 
You don't have to explain that. So, Peter says, he puts it this 
way, this inheritance is eternally reserved in heaven And again, 
I can't help but think of those words of Jesus to his disciples. That very night he was betrayed, 
as we read from John chapter 14. I go to prepare a place for 
you. Well, all things are now ready. 
Heaven is prepared. It's real. And it only waits 
to be revealed in all of its splendor and majesty and glory 
and to be given to its rightful heirs. It's reserved because it's all 
settled, you see, by the sovereign, eternal, unchanging plan of God. That's why Peter can say it's 
reserved for you. We are heirs of that inheritance 
by God's purpose of grace towards us. Look at Romans chapter 8. Verses 29-30, For whom he foreknew, 
he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that 
he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom 
he predestined, these he also called, whom he called, these 
he also justified. True enough. But Paul goes on, 
and whom he justified, these he also glorified. Moreover, this inheritance is 
guaranteed, reserved, because it is certainly realized in Jesus 
Christ. By His righteousness and death 
on the cross, He merited not only our justification, as 
we considered this morning, but our adoption as children of God 
and our blessed inheritance. We're his brethren. Therefore, 
we are joint heirs with him. That which belongs to him belongs 
to us. That's why Paul says, all things 
are yours. put it this way, the beginning 
of his exaltation was his resurrection and his being received into that 
inheritance. Then, having ascended into heaven 
and being seated at the right hand of God, he was filled with 
the spirit and all the gifts necessary to realize our final 
salvation. The Lord Jesus came to his disciples 
before he ascended back to heaven to give them marching orders. 
And He reminded them, as they were to go and to preach the 
Gospel, that all authority, that is all power in heaven and earth, 
had been given to Him. It had been given to Him because 
of His obedience to the Father. He was obedient even unto death, 
even death of the cross. And God, as a result of that, 
raised Him up. and exalted Him and seated Him 
at the highest place of heaven with all authority and power." 
To what end? To what purpose? Certainly for 
His own glory. But turn to John chapter 17 for 
just a moment. We have this very familiar passage, 
the high priestly prayer of the Lord Jesus. He says, Father, 
the hour has come. Glorify your son that your son 
also may glorify you as you have given him authority. There is all power in heaven 
and earth. To what end? that He should give 
eternal life to as many as you have given Him. Brethren, our 
inheritance is reserved in heaven because of the purchase of Christ 
and his perfect obedience. And as a result, pursuant to 
that obedience, he now sets in heaven with all authority, giving 
eternal life to all that the father had given to him. Eternal 
life, which includes not only our justification and our sanctification, 
but our glorification. does not yet appear what we shall 
be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall see him 
and we shall be like him." Now, at this point, there's a question 
or a concern that strangers in the earth, that pilgrims may 
raise. Okay, I see this. My inheritance is reserved there. It's guaranteed by God's will. And the purchase of Christ, it's 
incorruptible, it's undefiled, it doesn't fade away, that's 
great. But what about me here? That's a good question. And Peter 
anticipates it, so he says in verse 5, in fact, let's read 
verse 3 and then skip verse 4 and then verse 5. 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 from the 
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, who are kept by 
the power of God through faith for salvation, ready to be revealed 
in the last time. You see, not only is our inheritance 
golden, but so are we. Not of ourselves, Peter says, 
we are kept by the power of God. That's incredible in light of 
the many dangers and enemies we encounter on the way. Don't 
you think that would have been a word of encouragement to these 
Christians who were having a really difficult time of it? And the 
Bible sums up under a triple alliance our enemies that we 
are up against, the devil, the world, our own sinful flesh, 
and we should be careful. not to take these enemies lightly. Peter will caution us elsewhere 
that the devil is dangerous. He's like a roaring lion going 
about to seeking to devour us. And that, you know, when we read 
that, we shouldn't think, therefore, the devil makes himself known 
like a roaring lion. In fact, he prefers often to 
work undercover. He prefers to work in a very 
subtle way, behind the scenes, unnoticed. And yet, the point 
that Peter is making, he's dangerous and he's busy and he's very active. He doesn't let up, you know, 
in our weaker moments. You know, when we're having a 
difficult time, the devil doesn't say, well, I see Phil out there, he's having 
a hard time. He's not feeling very well today. He's under some 
affliction. I ease up a bit. No, he doesn't 
do that. He doesn't ease up when we least 
expect his attacks. And he has plenty of help. The 
Bible refers to him as the prince of darkness. And often he works 
hand in hand, as it were, with our second enemy. Of course, 
when we speak of the world there, we mean the world of unbelief 
and wickedness, that world out of which God has called us to 
be separate, to be a people with a different frame of mind, to 
be a people with a different outlook, to be a people with 
a different walk, to be a people given to holiness and God's praises 
and In fact, that's why we're strangers here. The Bible speaks 
of the fact that we're in the world, but not of the world. And the unbelieving world will 
always be our enemy. And that shouldn't surprise us. 
Jesus said to his disciples in John 15, verse 24, if the world 
hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. And the 
student is certainly not above his master. So, the truth is, 
when we stand for the gospel and the law of God and the truth 
of God, we can expect to be attacked. Sometimes it's blatant and sometimes 
it might be head on. Sometimes it's more underhanded 
and subtle. Today, Christians are often ridiculed 
and Christians are seen as narrow and and ignorant or stuck in 
the past and because of that they're marginalized. How many 
times have you heard when a Christian thought is expressed as it relates 
to the holiness of God or as it relates to righteousness, 
some pundit will say, well that's out of the mainstream. Seeking 
to marginalize the Christians. Now, we do have to be careful. Sometimes we're our own worst 
enemies. You know what I mean. Sometimes 
Christians can be very foolish and appear that way before the 
world. We have to be careful. But it 
reminds us that that fact of having to be careful, that enemy 
number three can be our worst enemy. Our own sinful flesh. We have this inclination descent. We all have it. The Pharisee 
says, no, I don't. The true child of God knows it 
and recognizes it, feels it, prone to wander. Lord, I feel 
it. And we expose ourselves to temptation. You know, we might think, you 
know, I'm strong enough to deal with it. I have victory and I 
can handle it. And, you know, the devil and 
the world says, that's right. That's absolutely right. And 
we go ahead and we even invite temptation in. Or maybe we become 
blind to our sin. Paul certainly was aware of his 
continual battle in this area. Romans chapter 7, he cries out, 
oh wretched man. that I am, and I personally believe 
that Paul there is speaking as a mature believer in the Lord 
Jesus Christ. And I think that's the true child 
of God who is growing in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord. 
The true child of God growing in humility, the very essence 
of Christianity recognizes that fact and feels it even more. And if we're honest, we get that. 
We really know what it is to blow it. Because we all sin. But the point is, left to ourselves, 
what would happen? Left to ourselves, what would 
happen? Think of Peter's own experience. Do you ever think 
about, sometimes I don't want to be guilty of, over speculating 
or reading into text or things like that are being sentiment 
being taken away with sentimentalism. But sometimes I wonder, you know, 
if Peter were here today, how would he read this? How how would 
what what word would he emphasize? You know, there's different ways 
to read a passage and And when it came to this, that Peter is 
kept by the power of God, when he came to that, how would he 
read it? I mean, when you think of his own experience, he was 
certain that he would never deny Christ. He was ready to fight 
and to die for the Savior in his own strength. But here's the good news, if 
you're really a child of God by new birth, you see, you're 
not on your own. You have a line of defense that 
no weapon of the enemy can break through. Apostle Paul says in 
Romans 8.37, in all these things, in all these things that the 
world would think are destructive and would tear us down, in all 
these things we are more than conquerors. Of course, not of 
ourselves, but through him who loved us. We're in Christ and 
we're kept. And so Jesus said in John 16, 
33, these things have I spoken to you that in me, you may have 
peace. Now in the world, you will have 
tribulation and he will have not. Now it's not you might have. In the world, you will have tribulation, 
but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. Again, 
think of Peter's own experience. If we turn to the Luke 22 passage, 
Jesus says to Peter, Peter, Satan is going to sift you. He desires 
to have you. And then what does Jesus say? 
Peter, I have prayed for you. Brethren, what is true for Peter 
is true for us as well. The truth is we are victorious. Peter says we are kept by or 
we are kept in the power of God. And we know that all power belongs 
to him. I mean, even the devil and the 
unbelieving world are under his authority. I appreciated William 
Hendrickson, here he writes, he translates this way. The New 
King James says, we are kept by the power of God. Hendrickson 
translates this way, we are shielded by God's power. I think I like 
that. He writes, in the Greek, this 
verb is a military term that can mean either to protect someone 
from danger or to prevent someone from escaping. He adds, in a 
spiritual sense, the peace of God will guard our hearts and 
minds. Philippians 4, 7. The point is, we're safe. We're safe in Christ. True believers 
are shielded by God's power during our brief stay on this earth. God will not permit Satan to 
harm us so as to set us up course. You see, we can sing Isaac Watts' 
hymn of heaven with a measure of assurance and joy, then let 
our songs abound and every tear be dry. We're marching through 
Emmanuel's ground to fairer worlds on high. And finally, he describes the 
way or the manner of this preservation through faith. We talked about 
faith this morning. We have kind of a standing joke 
in our Sunday school class. Often when I'm teaching it, I 
like to have some engagement and I like to ask questions. 
And I think sometimes the people still think that I may ask a 
trick question or something to that effect. And usually what 
I'll say when I don't get a response, I'll say, now, brethren, Ninety 
percent of the time in this Sunday School class, the answer is either 
faith or grace. One of the two. Faith is the queen of all the 
graces. Without faith, it's impossible 
to please God. And faith is not something natural. 
I think sometimes we think of it that way. We've got to get 
that out of our heads. Faith is not some natural thing. 
Because it's not our work. It's the gift of God. So it's 
not some force within us to be unleashed as it were. One man 
commented, he said, God's protection is not dependent upon our believing 
and continuing in the faith as if God's power were active in 
us only if and when we believe and stand in the No faith is 
the gift of God apart from which the Holy Spirit does not work. 
God does not treat us like robots which respond only mechanically 
to the will of God. The truth is there are dangers 
and there are trials. And the truth is God has planned 
them. They're under His sovereign control. They're in His will. And He wants 
us to experience them in order to strengthen and increase our 
faith which pleases Him. Do you ever think of when Jesus 
prays and the disciples look and, well, Lord, teach us to 
pray. And then they ask Him, Lord, 
increase our faith. How will He do that? How will 
Christ increase and strengthen their faith? Lord, give me faith to have more love. Help me love 
more out of faith. How's the Lord going to do that? 
He's going to surround you with a lot of loving people. Is that what He'll do? No, He's 
probably going to send some stinkers your way. that are hard to love. You see, that brings him glory. The trying of our faith is a 
precious thing. So Peter says there in verses 
six through nine, In this you greatly rejoice, though now for 
a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various 
trials, that the genuineness, the reality of your faith being 
much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested 
by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory in the revelation 
of Jesus Christ." So faith is the awareness of our dependence 
upon God. That's the essence of faith. 
And by faith, we cry out. By faith we pray in the trial, 
in the difficulty, in the affliction, in overcoming the sin and the 
temptation. We cry and we pray and as Jesus 
says, we ask and we seek and we knock. The essence of prayer. a desire that's intense and continues 
on and pleads with the Father. You know, the context of that 
where Jesus says, ask and it will be answered and seek and 
you'll find and knock and it will be opened. You know, that's 
in the context of how we're to live the Christian life. It's 
right in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount. And Jesus says in that Sermon 
on the Mount, you think of some of the things he says that you 
are going to be persecuted for righteousness sake. Well, how 
will I live? Jesus says by faith. Pray, ask, seek, knock. And the wonderful thing is he 
hears us and he answers our prayers. Sometimes we don't know how to 
pray, do we? I think that's the whole thing 
about seeking. Asking and seeking implies sometimes 
we're not certain of even what to ask for. But the Holy Spirit 
does, and the Holy Spirit intercedes with, the Bible says, groanings 
that cannot be uttered. He helps. And so by faith alone 
we stand strong in His power and grace. This hope of heaven 
and assurance does not make the child of God lazy. It doesn't 
make the child of God spiritually careless. We're talking today 
about the grace of God a lot, talking about justification by 
faith alone. Not by works, not by the keeping 
of the law. We're talking this evening about 
the assurance of this inheritance and its guarantee. Brethren, 
those things do not make the true child of God lazy or spiritually 
careless. As if we just give in to sin 
and the world and fall prey to the devil and say, oh well, I'm 
saved regardless. Peter's words of encouragement 
exhort us to faith. It exhorts us to faith that does 
what? That puts on the whole armor 
of God and is ready for battle. And faith is the recognition, 
you see, that I'm standing. I'm standing. But I'm guarded 
by God's power. I'm kept until the final day 
of complete salvation in glory. Not in my strength. Not in my strength, but in the 
strength of God. Faith's focus is upon Christ. Christ who is the very captain 
of our salvation. Christ who has gone before us 
to heaven, which is our real home. Well, just a couple of brief 
lessons that we should take away from this. I think number one 
is we should not become overwhelmed by the trials and the difficulties 
of life. Now, that doesn't mean that Pastor 
Cavan is saying, well, you've just got to have a little more 
faith and all this will be real easy. That's not what I'm suggesting. 
What I am suggesting is that things do not happen to us by 
chance. There is purpose and faith recognizes 
that. Faith says God is working everything 
to my eternal good and for His glory. We're not stoics. It's not keep a stiff upper lip. 
That's not Christianity. There is pain. There is sorrow. There is suffering. Just as these 
Christians were scattered. and being persecuted for righteousness 
sake. But in and through it, we have 
a measure of joy and hope. Why? Because the love of God 
has been shed abroad in our hearts. We belong to Him. We're accepted, 
as we said this morning, in Christ. We are His dear children. He that spared not his own son, 
but delivered him up for us all, how will he not also with him 
freely give us all things? And what are those all things? 
Well, it's not a carefree life necessarily. It's not a new pair 
of shoes or a big house or a fancy car. But it's all those things 
that we need to land safe in heaven. To receive our inheritance 
that's incorruptible, undefiled. and does not fade away. What 
can ever separate us from the love of God? What? If God is for us, Paul 
said, who can be against us? We are more than conquerors through 
him who loved us. By faith alone we stand. We watch and we wait, even so 
come Lord Jesus. And in that faith is the victory 
that overcomes the world. I would be remiss if I didn't 
close by reminding you that, of course, you have to be born 
again. You have to be born again. Peter said, Blessed be the God 
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His 
abundant mercy has begotten us again, has caused us by His grace 
to have new life in Jesus Christ. You need God's good work of grace 
begun in you. And when that happens, you can 
have full confidence that He who began that good work We'll 
perform it. We'll carry it through to completion 
until the very day of Jesus Christ. Oh, you must be born again. If you're here this evening and 
you don't know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, and maybe I've 
been talking about heaven and this hope and it's gone right 
over your head, or you've not had a real appreciation of it, 
or maybe you've had a sense that I would like to know more about 
that, you must be born again. And what can you do to be born 
again? I don't know. That's the mysterious work of 
God. God works you. It's like the 
wind that blows. But here's one thing I do know. 
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you'll be saved. That's what you got to do. believe 
on him. One day, as Hendrickson puts 
it, everyone shall see the inheritance. In other words, one day everyone 
will get a glimpse of all the glory that Christ has purchased. But only believers in Christ 
shall possess it. Why, why would you not receive 
it today? Why? Why would you not receive 
this glorious inheritance that is freely offered to you? Let me close by just reading 
from God's Word. from the book of Revelation, 
chapter 21, first verses one through four. Now, I saw a new heaven and a 
new earth for the first heaven and the first earth had passed 
away. Also, there was no more sea. I think that's a reference 
to no more turmoil and tossing and trouble. And then I, John, 
saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from 
God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard 
a loud voice from heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God 
is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be 
his people. God himself will be with them and be their God. 
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There shall 
be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no 
more pain for the former things have passed away. Chapter 22 
and verse 17 and the spirit and the bride say come. And let him 
who hears say come. And let him who thirst come. Whoever desires let him take 
the water of life free. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ 
and you'll be saved. Amen. Gracious and loving Father in 
Heaven, we thank you again for this Lord's Day. We thank you, 
Father, for the Word of God and the truth as it has come to bear 
upon our hearts this day. And we pray, Father, that as 
we consider these things, not only of this evening, but of 
this morning, of your grace and this free justification and acceptance 
that is in Christ Jesus, and then as we contemplate this glorious 
inheritance, we pray, Father, that you would bless the consideration 
of these things to our hearts. And we would pray, Father, for 
those who may be here that don't know the Lord Jesus Christ. Father, 
I want you to be pleased to work mightily in their hearts. Bring 
them, Father, to a place of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Father, I ask that you would 
bless this dear congregation and their pastor and his family. We pray for his daughter and 
this baby that is on the way. We pray for your safety and protection, 
for your perfect will to be accomplished, and for you to be glorified in 
all things. Bless the ministry here of the Word. May the gospel 
of your free grace ring clear from this pulpit forever for 
all. for many days until you return 
in glory. Bless the dear people, Father. 
May they all grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus 
Christ and be found in the very center of your will. And we'll 
be careful to give you all the praise in Jesus' name. Amen.