Living in Hope: Embracing Our Imperishable Inheritance

Devotional

Day 1: God's Initiation and Our New Birth

God the Father initiated the plan to call people to Himself, making them His own possession through the new birth and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This transformation is made possible by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which assures us of our future resurrection and eternal inheritance. The new birth is not something we achieve on our own; it is a divine act of grace. Through the Holy Spirit, we are regenerated and made new, becoming part of God's family. This new birth is a testament to God's love and His desire to have a relationship with us.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our faith. It is through His resurrection that we have the hope of our own future resurrection and eternal life. This hope is not just a distant dream but a present reality that shapes how we live today. We are called to live as people who have been born again, reflecting the new life we have in Christ in our daily actions and decisions. [25:36]

1 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."

Reflection: How does the reality of your new birth in Christ influence your daily life and decisions? Can you identify one area where you need to live more fully in the new life God has given you?

Day 2: Imperishable Inheritance

Our inheritance in Christ is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for us. This inheritance is protected by God's power through faith, a faith that He Himself grants and sustains. Despite our stumbles and backslides, God ensures that every true believer will reach their heavenly home. This assurance is not based on our own strength or ability but on God's unwavering power and faithfulness.

The concept of an imperishable inheritance is a profound encouragement for believers. It reminds us that our ultimate reward is not found in the temporary and often disappointing things of this world but in the eternal and perfect promises of God. This inheritance is secure, not because of anything we have done, but because of what Christ has done for us. It is a gift of grace, sustained by God's power, and it gives us hope and motivation to persevere in our faith. [26:19]

1 Peter 1:4-5 (ESV): "to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

Reflection: In what ways do you find yourself clinging to temporary things instead of focusing on your eternal inheritance? How can you shift your perspective to live more fully in the hope of your imperishable inheritance?

Day 3: Call to Holy Living

Peter calls us to live a holy life, a life of obedience and self-discipline. We are to be laser-focused, ready for action, and set our hope completely on the grace to be revealed at the coming of Jesus Christ. This involves controlling our thoughts, memorizing Scripture, and living in a way that reflects our heavenly Father. Holiness is not just about avoiding sin but actively pursuing a life that honors God in every aspect.

Living a holy life requires intentionality and effort. It means being disciplined in our spiritual practices, such as prayer, Bible study, and worship. It also means being mindful of our actions and attitudes, striving to reflect the character of Christ in all we do. This call to holiness is a response to the grace we have received, a way of showing our gratitude and love for God. [28:45]

1 Peter 1:13-15 (ESV): "Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take to live a more holy and disciplined life? Is there a particular area where you need to exercise more self-control and obedience to God?

Day 4: Temporary Residence and Eternal Perspective

Our time on earth is temporary, and we should conduct ourselves in reverence, knowing that we will give an account to God for how we lived our lives. Our salvation was purchased not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ. This calls us to live a life of holiness, reflecting the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Understanding the temporary nature of our earthly life helps us to prioritize what truly matters and to live with an eternal perspective.

Living with an eternal perspective means recognizing that our true home is in heaven and that our time on earth is a preparation for eternity. It means valuing the things that have eternal significance, such as our relationship with God and our love for others. It also means living in a way that honors God, knowing that we will one day stand before Him and give an account of our lives. This perspective helps us to stay focused on our ultimate goal and to live with purpose and intentionality. [51:25]

1 Peter 1:17-19 (ESV): "And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot."

Reflection: How does the knowledge that your time on earth is temporary influence your priorities and decisions? What changes can you make to live more fully with an eternal perspective?

Day 5: The Precious Blood of Christ

Our redemption was bought with the precious blood of Christ, not with perishable things like silver or gold. This profound truth should compel us to live a life of holiness and gratitude, continually reflecting on the sacrifice Jesus made for us. The value of our salvation is immeasurable, and it calls us to respond with a life that honors and glorifies God.

The precious blood of Christ is a reminder of the immense love and sacrifice that Jesus made for us. It is through His blood that we are forgiven, redeemed, and made new. This truth should be at the forefront of our minds, motivating us to live in a way that reflects our gratitude and love for Him. It calls us to a higher standard of living, one that is marked by holiness, obedience, and a deep sense of reverence for God. [54:57]

1 Peter 1:18-19 (ESV): "knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot."

Reflection: How does the knowledge of Christ's sacrifice influence your daily life and choices? What specific actions can you take to live in a way that honors the precious blood of Christ?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, Union Chapel family. Today, we gathered to worship the Lord and to reflect on our relationship with Jesus Christ. We began with some important announcements, including a fundraiser meal, a business meeting next Sunday, and a Grief Share class starting soon. We also remembered Ed Gill, who recently passed away, and encouraged everyone to support his family during this difficult time.

We then transitioned into a time of prayer and worship, expressing our gratitude for God's love and the life we have through Jesus Christ. We acknowledged our shortcomings and sought God's forgiveness, asking for strength and encouragement as we opened His Word.

Our focus today was on 1 Peter, where we revisited the foundational truths of our faith. We discussed how God initiated His plan to call people to Himself, making them His own possession through the new birth and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This transformation is made possible by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which assures us of our future resurrection and eternal inheritance.

We delved into the concept of an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for us. This inheritance is protected by God's power through faith, a faith that He Himself grants and sustains. Despite our stumbles and backslides, God ensures that every true believer will reach their heavenly home.

Peter's message also calls us to live a holy life, a life of obedience and self-discipline. We are to be laser-focused, ready for action, and set our hope completely on the grace to be revealed at the coming of Jesus Christ. This involves controlling our thoughts, memorizing Scripture, and living in a way that reflects our heavenly Father.

We are reminded that our time on earth is temporary and that we should conduct ourselves in reverence, knowing that we will give an account to God for how we lived our lives. Our salvation was purchased not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ. This calls us to live a life of holiness, reflecting the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

As we concluded, we welcomed Katherine into our church family and prayed for God's continued guidance and blessings.

###

Key Takeaways

1. discipline. We are to be laser-focused, ready for action, and set our hope completely on the grace to be revealed at the coming of Jesus Christ. This involves controlling our thoughts, memorizing Scripture, and living in a way that reflects our heavenly Father. [28:45]
4. Temporary Residence and Eternal Perspective: Our time on earth is temporary, and we should conduct ourselves in reverence, knowing that we will give an account to God for how we lived our lives. Our salvation was purchased not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ. This calls us to live a life of holiness, reflecting the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

5. The Precious Blood of Christ: Our redemption was bought with the precious blood of Christ, not with perishable things like silver or gold. This profound truth should compel us to live a life of holiness and gratitude, continually reflecting on the sacrifice Jesus made for us.

### [28:45]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[09:54] - Announcements
[11:05] - Prayer Time
[12:04] - Opening Prayer
[23:46] - Gratitude for God's Love
[24:46] - Introduction to 1 Peter
[25:36] - God's Initiation and New Birth
[26:19] - Imperishable Inheritance
[27:38] - Assurance of Salvation
[28:45] - Call to Holy Living
[30:05] - Self-Discipline and Focus
[32:08] - Temporary Residence
[33:06] - Obedience and Holiness
[34:14] - Personal Testimony
[37:00] - Living a Holy Life
[50:46] - Reverence and Accountability
[54:57] - The Precious Blood of Christ
[69:08] - Welcoming Katherine
[70:40] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Peter say about the nature of our inheritance in Christ? How is it described? ([26:19])
According to the sermon, what role does the Holy Spirit play in the life of a believer? ([25:36])
What does Peter mean when he calls believers to "get your minds ready for action"? ([28:45])
How does the sermon describe the significance of the precious blood of Christ in our redemption? ([54:57])

Interpretation Questions

Why is it important to understand that our inheritance in Christ is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading? How does this perspective affect our daily lives? ([26:19])
How does the concept of living a holy life as described in the sermon challenge our current lifestyle and choices? ([28:45])
What does it mean to conduct ourselves in reverence during our temporary residence on earth? How does this shape our interactions with others? ([51:25])
How does the sermon explain the relationship between obedience and holiness? Why is obedience crucial for a believer's spiritual growth? ([33:06])

Application Questions

Reflect on the idea that our inheritance in Christ is imperishable and kept in heaven for us. How can this truth provide comfort and hope in your current circumstances? ([26:19])
The sermon emphasizes the importance of being laser-focused and self-disciplined in our spiritual walk. What are some practical steps you can take to control your thoughts and stay focused on Christ? ([28:45])
Considering that our time on earth is temporary, how can you live in a way that reflects reverence and accountability to God? Are there specific areas in your life where you need to make changes? ([51:25])
The sermon calls us to live a holy life, reflecting the righteousness of Jesus Christ. What specific actions can you take this week to pursue holiness in your daily life? ([28:45])
How does understanding that our redemption was bought with the precious blood of Christ impact your sense of gratitude and responsibility as a believer? ([54:57])
Think about a time when you struggled with obedience to God's Word. What steps can you take to ensure that you are living in obedience and growing in holiness? ([33:06])
The sermon mentioned the importance of memorizing Scripture. Choose one verse from 1 Peter 1:3-19 to memorize this week. How can you incorporate this verse into your daily routine to help you stay focused on God's promises? ([30:05])

Sermon Clips

1. "It's time for us to start praying fervently for the Lord to move, not only within us but within the community. Around us, okay? Also, we had a meeting yesterday from 9.30 until I guess it was 12 or 12.30 or so. Pretty good turnout. I think we got a lot of things identified and accomplished. So we're going to be working on those over the coming weeks. So continue to pray that the things that we've laid out, this is something that will be presented to the church next week as well to make sure those budget. Items will be taken care of. And we can all be in agreement that we need to move forward in this new chapter for Union Chapel Baptist Church, okay?" [11:05] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The Holy Spirit that indwells them is the Holy Spirit that empowers them to live this new life. That would honor and glorify him. We also know all of this took place because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Okay? And his resurrection. Through his resurrection, we know that we're justified. And we also can look forward to the hope that we have in the future resurrection of our own bodies. Right? And we know that's going to come about." [25:36] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "An inheritance. Now, you think about an inheritance. You know, an inheritance that is imperishable. That will never perish. That is uncorruptible. It's not corrupted. How many things in this world is corrupted? Right? A lot of things in this world. Everything is corrupted pretty much, isn't it? And that's unfading. It will never fade away. And try to get a mental picture. A picture in your mind of what God has in store for us in the eternal kingdom. I mean, I have a hard time with that." [26:19] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We may stumble. We may fall. We may backslide. And every Christian believer will go through periods like that. But for every true believer, God will get home. There's no doubt about that. So, he goes on and talks about the preciousness of our salvation. But Peter tells us all of that. And of course, he's encouraging these believers because of the persecution and the hard times and everything they're going through. I mean, you've got people being crucified. People being imprisoned. You've got people losing everything in their lives because they call themselves Christians and followers of Christ." [27:38] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Get your minds ready for action. To be super focused, to be laser focused, being self-disciplined, to control our minds. And to control our thoughts takes discipline. Anybody that's tried to memorize scripture can tell you that. You know, there's a lot of verses I've memorized in the past. A lot of them I've forgotten. But I know them when I see them. And it's amazing at times the Holy Spirit, if I need it, the Holy Spirit can bring it back to me. And that's one of his ministries. If you've ever placed it in your mind and memorized it, the Holy Spirit has something to use when you need it." [30:05] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "I have hope because I have the Holy Spirit within me. I have God's word. But the main reason for hope is because of the revelation of Jesus Christ. All this is temporary. All this is temporary. I mean, we're here for a season. Whether it's 50 years, 70 years, 80 years. We're just passing through this world. Just like these people back here. He called them sojourners, pilgrims, resident aliens or whatever the case may be. This was not their home. Their hope and their focus was to be on their heavenly home where the Lord himself is." [32:08] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Obedience is a huge part of the Christian walk. We talked a little bit about this on Wednesday. I've tried to touch on it a little bit the last few weeks. If we belong to the Lord, obedience is an absolute must in our lives. We cannot live and pursue holiness if we're not obedient. Obedience is the way to holiness. And obedience to what? It's obedience to his word. If God says that we should be doing this and this and this. That's what we need to be doing. If he says we shouldn't be doing something, then we shouldn't be doing it." [33:06] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Jesus always encountered lost people. That's where he encountered them at. He went to where the lost people were at. Why? Because they needed to hear the truth, right? They needed to hear the gospel. We can't alienate ourselves from them. We can just get around them and we can live out the truth that God has granted us. And hopefully, hopefully they would want to ask, what happened to you? What's different?" [37:46] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "For you know, you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life. Redeemed. Purchased. Bought back. Gets the picture of a slave that he's either bought his freedom or somebody's purchased the slave. We were all slaves, weren't we? Slaves to sin. Before we came to Christ, we were enslaved to sin. Sin was our master. But Christ broke the power of sin. He defeated sin. He broke the power of sin. And he broke and defeated death, didn't he? Because he rose. He rose from the dead. He couldn't hold him." [52:11] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "He lived the life we could never live. He went to the cross. He allowed himself to be beaten. And scourged. And mocked. And spat upon. Unjustly tried. Because he didn't commit any crimes. He was nailed to that cross. And lifted up. And all my sins. And my filth. My guilt. And my shame. He willingly took it upon himself. Yours too. All of it. The one who was without sin. Became sin for me. Why? So that I could become the righteousness of God in him." [57:21] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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