Study of First Peter                                       Lesson 6

Review:

 

1:4  Our inheritance because of our position in Christ   

To an inheritance 

 

This is the second aspect or provision mentioned that flows from our salvation just mentioned, we're regenerated to a living hope and now the object of that hope is an inheritance.

 

Observations on Inheritance or heirship

1. The point of inheritance or heirship is that it is determined by relationship!

 

 

 

2. Our inheritance is initiated by death.   Heb 9:16-17

 

 

 

3. Inheritance is also defined as a partnership 8:17

- In fact vs:17 says there are 3 partnerships         

                                                                                        - association

      1 - fellow heirs  sugklhrono,moj                           sun idea is co-partnership

     2 - suffer with   sumpa,scw                                                   - connection

     3 - glorified with  sundoxa,zw

 

- idea here is that we're more than heirs; we are co-heirs with Christ!

Says we all share equally in the inheritance of Christ.

 

4. The future aspect of our Inheritance,  is described by Peter here in 1 Pet 1:4.

a. imperishable    a;fqartoj  used of something that is not corruptible; not subject to decay

- This word is used of heavenly realities only, not of earthly possessions.

- of God  -  Rom 1:23; 1 Tim 1:17

- of the Word  - 1 Pet. 1:23

- of our resurrection body  -  1 Cor 15:52

So what's the point being made by the use of this word? Your inheritance in Christ is permanent, its eternal.

 

b. undefiled   avmi,antoj  (adj.) unstained or unspoiled by sin

- its used of Jesus Christ our High Priest in Heb 7:26

- point is our inheritance has the very character of Christ

 

 

c. will not fade away   (adj.) used of a flower in bloom; the idea is  unfading; figuratively means enduring, eternally fresh, everlasting

Focus here is that our inheritance is not impaired by time, it will not loose its luster.  You will not loose interest in your inheritance for all eternity.

 

d. This inheritance is reserved in heaven for you,   thre,w  (Perf. Pass Ptc)  

 

- The perfect tense says that this is a condition that exists continually, your inheritance is preserved and protected.  It can not be lost!

 

 

1:5  Our Future Hope is Related to our Present Security

who are protected  froure,w (pres pass ptc)  military term;  to post guards, to keep under guard, to protect or keep safe by guarding

 

Prin.:  It’s a part of the grace provision God has made for each of us who are positionally in Christ.

 

Next Peter introduces the How; that is how we are protected

by the power of God through faith 

 

 

Prin: Must recognize that as believers it is God's power that backs us and therefore nothing can negate our so great salvation so that we will realize our inheritance.

 

- by means of faith  expresses here the means of entrance in the protection or guarding by the power of God.

 

Prin: It is the power of God that maintains our status in union with Christ, that is saved, eternally secure.  Rom 8:38-39

 

for a salvation  swthri,a  with the preposition ````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` it says with respect to a deliverance   

- This protection or security runs from the point of salvation all the way to the deliverance at the time of the rapture.  That's the guarantee here.     Phil 1:6

 

ready to be revealed in the last time.

 

- all that God has done for us in grace to take us from salvation to face to face in a resurrection body is ready, prepared to be revealed.

 

Next is discussed  the "when, the timing" that is involved here 

to be revealed in the last time.

The inheritance is what is to be revealed in fact the infinitive points to the purpose of God is to unveil or manifest to believers all that He has promised.

 

Summary

1. In the context here "at a last time" refers to the end of a period of history, of a dispensation, namely the Church age.

 

2. Our inheritance is prepared and stands ready and is being guarded for us in the heavens.

 

3. In the interim we are as believers also kept and protected by the power of God while expectantly waiting for the eschatological deliverance that ends the age, the rapture of the Church.

 

4. It is at that time that our inheritance will be revealed at the judgment seat of Christ. 1 Cor 3:12-15; 2 Cor 5:10