Heavenly Inheritance vs. Earthly Inheritance

Read 1 Peter 1:3-7

Title in NIV: An inheritance kept in heaven.



Half of vs. 3, vs. 4-5 is all one long sentence. 63 words. It always helps me to dissect a long sentence like that. I find making sense out of each part helps me get the whole picture.



"In his great mercy he gave us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection..." vs. 3. The old testament hope was only about getting the outward body clean for a short time. It did not deliver the worshiper from anything. Our new birth represents baptism that symbolizes a cleansing of our conscience and washing away of our sins. The old testament sacrifices could not forgive sins, only Jesus can take away sins and forgive when we accept his work on the cross.



"...and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you...". Our spiritual inheritance is kept in heaven unlike earthly inheritance. We use our heirs earthly inheritance and leave the leftovers to them when we pass on. For example, land or jewelry. We use land to provide for our earthly needs. We wear jewelry as a symbol of our vows or because we love the valuable metal and stones. Our heirs get these things when we die. In contrast, our heavenly inheritance is stored up and added to daily by our actions and good faith. It is stored up in heaven until we die. Then, in heaven, we receive our inheritance and enjoy it with our Savior. In Ephesians 1:13 our inheritance is guaranteed if we have the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit seals us with a mark until redemption. Christians are sealed on their foreheads with a mark. Read Rev. 7:2-3, 9:4, Ez 9:4-6.



"...who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation..." Our faith allows God to shield us and protect us for that day Jesus Christ will return.



Vs. 6-7 Part of our inheritance is attained through suffering. God wants us to rejoice because we are sure we are part of His inheritance--in heaven, stored up for us. However, we are not in heaven yet. We are on the fallen (sinful) earth. We are on the earth with its griefs and trials that cause us to suffer. These trials have to come so our faith may be proved genuine and so He knows we stand with him. We add to our inheritance every time we stand with him. Have you heard the phrase, "If it does not kill you, it will make you stronger?" Trials make you stronger and add to your inheritance if you do not loose faith.



Vs. 7 says faith is of greater worth than gold because, unlike faith, gold burns up in fire but faith withstands even the hottest of fires. In the end of vs. 7, if your faith is genuine Jesus Christ will be praised, glorified and honored when he is revealed.



Let us put more stock in our heavenly inheritance than we do in our earthly inheritance. Let us also have genuine faith and stand with Christ and stand up for Christ and walk in-step with Christ daily.