DN Your Secure Inheritance 7/26/2007

DRAWING NEAR

July 26

Your Secure Inheritance

"To obtain an inheritance which is . . . reserved in heaven for
you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a
salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Pet. 1:4-5).

Your eternal inheritance is doubly secure: it is reserved for you,
and you are reserved for it.

When Peter wrote his first epistle, attitudes toward Christians in
the Roman Empire were not at all favorable. Because they would not
worship the emperor as a god, or enter into other sinful pagan
practices, Christians were looked upon with suspicion and disdain. In
addition, Nero had blamed them for burning Rome (an act he himself
perpetrated), so anger and hatred toward them was at its peak.

Peter wrote to encourage them--and all believers--to live out their
faith amid persecution, just as Jesus had done when He suffered
unjustly (cf. 1 Pet. 2:21-23). He reminded them that despite the
sufferings they might endure in this life, God will reward them with
an inheritance that is eternally secure because it is reserved in
heaven for them.

"Reserved" in 1 Peter 1:4 indicates an inheritance that already
exists, is presently protected, and will continually be protected.
The place of its protection is heaven, where "neither moth nor rust
destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal" (Matt. 6:20),
and where "nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and
lying, shall ever [enter], but only those whose names are written in
the Lamb's book of life" (Rev. 21:27). There is no safer place!

Not only is your inheritance protected for you, but also you are
protected for it! That's what Peter meant when he said that it is
"reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God
through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time"
(1 Pet. 1:4-5). The omnipotent, sovereign power of God will
continually protect you until His work is fully accomplished in your
life. Then He will grant you glorification: the fullness of the
salvation for which He redeemed you.

You needn't fear the loss of your inheritance. Instead, rejoice in
the protection of our gracious God.

Suggestions for Prayer:

Thank God for His protection and for the assurance of your
inheritance.

For Further Study:

What do these verses teach about the security of your salvation:
Romans 8:31-39, Philippians 1:6, and Jude 24?

Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.

All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org

~~~

1 Peter 2:21-23
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
22 "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He
suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who
judges righteously.

Romans 8:31-39
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can
be against us?
32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us
all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who
justifies.
34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is
also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes
intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation,
or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword?
36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We
are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him
who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor
principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able
to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord.

Philippians 1:6
6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good
work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Jude 24, 25
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present
you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.


These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.

In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.

If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.

You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:

http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Grace_to_You/

and

http://www.gty.org.uk/

You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@xxxxxxx



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In Christ,



Peter

Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase@xxxxxxxxxx

STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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There is a living God. He has spoken in His word. He means just what he says, and will do all that He has promised. - Hudson Taylor
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