A Daily Walk

Guest (Male): Coming up next on A Daily Walk: The resurrection of Jesus from the dead, it sets him apart from any other person who's ever come in their own name claiming to be some way to God or some Messiah. They're all dead. They're all buried. Buddha, Muhammad, go through the list. They're all dead. Jesus is the only one who singularly conquered death because the Bible tells us in John chapter 11, verse 25, Jesus's words, "I am the resurrection and the life. And he who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live."

Have you ever received a note of encouragement right in the midst of great suffering? A well-spoken word at just the right time can go a long way. And that's what we find in the Epistle of 1 Peter. It was written to Christians who were unjustly persecuted and encountering fiery trials. We can benefit from the letter, too, and receive God's encouragement and instruction for the difficult seasons of our lives. Today on A Daily Walk, Pastor John Randall speaks of a living hope. It belongs to you if you're a believer in Christ, and it cannot be taken away.

John Randall: Chapter one, picking up in verse three this morning as we consider together our living hope. "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 through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that 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. And in this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you've been grieved by various trials."

The Apostle Peter had written his epistle to a group of believers that were scattered and suffering through persecution. They were in need of encouragement and a clear perspective. In the midst of their suffering, Peter provided the believers with several reasons to praise God. Many have referred to Peter's writing here in verses three through nine as his doxology because it's as if he's declaring some majestic hymn that glorifies and praises God.

And the first reason that he cites that they were able to rejoice is because they had a hope that was living. Again, verse one: "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." Peter encouraged these battered believers to praise God because they had been, as he calls it, begotten. The word begotten means born again or saved. Because they were saved, because they were born again, they could bless God.

If you have no other reason to praise God, to bless God, it is enough to know that you are saved from wrath to come, from judgment that we deserve. There is reason to bless him, to praise him, to give him glory and honor, which he deserves. And why have we been saved? What was it that caused the Lord to save people like us? Peter tells us it was according to his abundant mercy. God doesn't give us what we deserve. He gives to us mercy.

I never pray and ask God, "Oh, God, just give me what I deserve." I don't pray that. I know what I deserve. The Bible tells me I deserve hell. "Lord, give me that mercy that is new every morning. It's through your mercies that I am not consumed." Titus, Paul writes to Titus in chapter three and verse five, and he says it's not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to his mercy, he has saved us through the washing and regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.

We are born again. We experience new spiritual birth as we place our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. First John tells us, 1 John chapter five, verse one, "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves him, begot also loves him who is begotten of him." Those that are born again, those that are new creations in Christ, love the Lord. Our salvation provides us with a living hope.

Now when the Bible uses the word hope, it means complete certainty. It's an anticipation with total unwavering confidence. The fact that our hope is referred to as living implies that there is some hope that is not living, that actually leads to disappointment or disillusion or even despair. Did you ever have a hope as a little child that maybe didn't come to pass later on in life? I was thinking about some of the hopes that I had as a little boy.

I remember back in the day before there was Xbox, there was actually a box. Like, I remember my dad bringing me home a literal box to build a fort, to build a ship, to build a car. It was every—that was the box that we had. Anybody remember ever get a box and thought, "This is the coolest thing I've ever seen," and a lot cheaper? But I remember there were holes in it, we'd make windows out of it and color on it, and this thing became a spaceship.

And I'd think my hope is that I'm going to be an astronaut. I'm going to go to the moon. One small step—I just felt like maybe I could do that. Then I got older, and I went on a merry-go-round with my grandson, and I realized the astronaut hope is not going to happen. I can't even go around this thing without, "Get me off!" That hope died. Maybe some of you ladies when you were growing up, the first time you put on a tiara and you saw your first princess movie, "That's how it's going to be. I'm going to marry a prince, and we're going to live happily ever after in a castle."

Maybe that hope died and you ended up with the frog. But listen, here's the thing. Here's what I want you to know. Don't look around. Don't look around. There is a living hope that we have. A living hope. A living hope. In fact, F.B. Meyer refers to our living hope when he said, "It's the link between our present and our future." The Bible tells us much about this hope that we have. Titus chapter two, verse 13 calls it a blessed hope.

It says we are looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews tells us in Hebrews chapter six, verse 19 that this is an anchoring hope. He said, "This hope that we have, it's an anchor to the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the presence behind the veil." Furthermore, the Bible says that this hope that we have, it's a purifying hope. In 1 John chapter three, verse three, it says, "And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure."

The living hope we have is recognized when we are born again. But folks, listen, the basis of this living hope is a living Savior. For the Bible tells us in 1 Peter chapter one, verse three, he's begotten us again to a living hope, how? Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Because Jesus rose from the dead and he is alive, therefore our hope is alive. It's living. We've said this before, but I will say it again, and that is we gather together every Sunday morning because Jesus has risen from the dead.

Because he is alive. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead, it sets him apart from any other person who's ever come in their own name claiming to be some way to God or some Messiah. They're all dead. They're all buried. Buddha, Muhammad, go through the list. They're all dead. Jesus is the only one who singularly conquered death because the Bible tells us in John chapter 11, verse 25, Jesus's words, "I am the resurrection and the life. And he who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live." Hope you know Jesus is alive today.

The resurrection is a historical fact. In fact, in its favor as a living truth, there exists such overwhelming evidence—factual, circumstantial—that no intelligent jury in the world examining the evidence could fail to pronounce a verdict that the resurrection story is absolutely, unequivocally, indisputably true. But it's more than just a historical fact. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is an essential, non-negotiable doctrine of the Christian faith. Over 300 verses in the New Testament are concerned with the subject of Christ's resurrection.

The New Testament of the Bible preaches and proclaims a Jesus who was dead and is now alive. Not a Jesus who was alive and is now dead. The resurrection is the foundation of Christianity, in which every biblical doctrine has to be grounded, which would include our living hope. The Apostle Paul examined the potential devastating effects if there was no resurrection. First Corinthians 15, this is what he said. He said if Christ isn't risen from the dead, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.

Yes, and we're found false witnesses before God because we've testified of God that he raised up Christ, whom he did not raise up, if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile and you're still in your sins. But Paul would go on to say, "But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." Because Jesus has conquered death through his resurrection, his promises are for us.

We also will conquer death. Death is the last and greatest of all enemies that no one could defeat except Jesus. And Jesus has defeated death through his resurrection, and therefore our hope is living. Folks, no person, no circumstance, no trial, no hardship can rob us of this living hope. Job said it this way, and Job suffered much in his life, but listen to what Job said in Job chapter 19. He said, "I know that my Redeemer lives, and he shall stand at last on the earth."

"And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold him and not another. How my heart yearns within me." A living hope. Not only do we have this morning a hope that is living, but second, we have an inheritance that is lasting. An inheritance that is lasting. Verse four. Someone's excited about their inheritance that's lasting. Well, praise God.

It says verse four, "To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you." Now when we think of the word inheritance, we often think of a person being included in the will of a wealthy family member. We are now going to read the will and testament. John, you get nothing. I mean, you think about that's kind of what you think about, a will, an inheritance. You're going to receive something.

But did you know that the Bible says that we have been born again and because of that we are adopted into the family of God? And because we are adopted into God's family, we have an inheritance that awaits us. And Peter really doesn't go into all the details of what this inheritance look like, but he does tell us a little bit about what it's not. Notice what he says as he gives us a description. First of all, he says it's incorruptible, meaning nothing can corrupt it. Nothing can ruin it. It's not subject to decay or disillusion. It's imperishable.

Not only is it incorruptible, but listen to this, it's also undefiled. Nothing can taint it. It's unstained, it's unsoiled, it's without uncleanness or impurity. This inheritance that we have. He says it's not going to fade away. It's not going to lose its beauty. Nothing can cause it to wither or blight. It is lasting. And furthermore, it is reserved. The government can't tax it. They can't remove it. It's there. They can't touch it. It's reserved for us in heaven. It's reserved.

Do you know it's like when you have a reservation? Have you ever noticed what it's like when you have a reservation and then you show up and they're not ready for you? You show up you're like, "Hey, John Randall, my name's John Randall." They're like, "Okay, well what's your—here's my confirmation number. Ah, it's funny, we don't have you on here." "This is the confirmation number. What do you mean you're not reserved?" I mean, it's you think, "Okay, now what?" Like somehow they messed it up. But in heaven, that doesn't happen. It's not like you get up there, "John Randall, I have a reservation by the blood of Jesus." "Uh, oh there you are, there you are, there you are. Okay, come on in."

It's reserved! This inheritance. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, and this is what he said concerning our inheritance that was guaranteed. He says, "In him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." Verse 14: "who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of his glory." We have in us the Holy Spirit. It is a guarantee of our incorruptible, undefiled, reserved inheritance waiting for us in heaven.

You say, "Well, I don't have—I'm not inheriting anything here on this earth." That's all right. You can't take it with you anyway. And it'll rust out or fade away. But what's in heaven, nothing can touch it. The Bible tells us in Romans chapter eight, verse 17—oh, this is beautiful—concerning our inheritance, that the Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him that we also may be glorified together.

Jesus is the heir of all things. Everything belongs to him. But here it says because we have been adopted into this family, we are now joint heirs or co-heirs with Christ. Meaning this: everything that belongs to Jesus throughout eternity he will share with us. We are joint heirs. That is our inheritance. The Bible says no eye has seen, no ear has heard, it hasn't entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love him. You have an inheritance that is lasting.

And the greatest part of the inheritance that we receive, listen to this, is God himself. God himself. The very presence of God. Someone said, "What would the streets of gold be without God? What would the beauty of the gates of the city of God be like without its builder and maker?" Part of our inheritance is God himself, being in his presence. It's being in the presence of God that makes heaven heaven. God's going to wipe away every tear from our eyes, the Bible says.

There's no more death, there's no more sorrow, there's no more crying, no more pain. The former things have passed away. In fact, Revelation 21, verse five tells us this. It says, "Behold," the Lord speaking, "I make all things new. Write these things for they are the words are true and faithful." And he said to me, "It's done." This is Jesus speaking. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, and I will give the fountain of water of life freely to him who thirsts. And he who overcomes shall inherit, shall inherit all of these things, and I will be his God and he shall be my son."

What a blessing. The Psalmist declared in Psalm 16, verses five and six, "O Lord, you are my portion of my inheritance and my cup. You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places. Yes, I have a good inheritance." We could go on for hours and hours—we don't have that kind of time—speaking about the glories of our inheritance that is to come. But there's something I want you to think about just for a moment when it comes to talking about our inheritance.

Have you ever thought, "Well, what's the Lord's inheritance? What does he get?" Oh, that's a good question. Well, Ephesians chapter one, verse 18 answers that question. It says this: "What are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints." Paul tells the Ephesians what the inheritance of the Lord is. And the Lord's inheritance is the saints. Hmm. Who is that? All right, think. Think now. We get heaven. We're joint heirs with Christ. And the Lord gets—he gets us. He gets us. We are his inheritance.

I know. Like, really? Does that seem fair? Knowing what you know about you and what I know about me? Lord, how can this—how can this be? But folks, God wants us to know how precious we really are to him. God has invested in you, and one day he will benefit from the eternal dividends. Having you there in his presence brings him glory, brings him delight. You! We are his inheritance. If you only knew this morning—I mean, really knew—how much God treasures you, that you are more than worthwhile to him.

And this is why he sent his son to redeem us, to pay the ultimate price to secure the inheritance. He didn't need us. He wanted us. Because he loved us. And it might not seem fair, it might not seem right, but God loved us so much that he wanted to save us. And it was while we were yet sinners. It wasn't like when we were reading the Bible daily or in fellowship or serving the Lord or praying at Planned Parenthood in standing for the preborn that God said, "You know what? I love them."

No, it was long before that. It was when we were dead in our trespasses and sins. God loved me at my very worst, and he loves us now. In some incredible way, the body of Christ has become the source of God's wealth. In Psalm eight, the Psalmist declared, "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have ordained, what is man that you are mindful of him or the son of man that you would visit him? You have made him a little lower than the angels, and you have crowned him with glory and honor and you have made him to have dominion over the works of your hands, and you've put all things under his feet."

The Psalmist just was in awe of the fact of God's concern and care and love for him. You remember when David was considering the overwhelming blessings of God that God spoke to him? David said, "Who am I and what is my house that you have brought me thus far?" Folks, the Lord numbers the very hairs of our head. His good thoughts toward us are more than the sand of the sea. And this is what the Apostle was praying for his readers to grasp.

And when you grasp this fact that you have a living hope, an inheritance that is lasting, it changes everything. No matter what you're going through today, no matter what challenge you're facing, what experience, what hardship, your hope is living because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. And your inheritance is lasting, incorruptible, undefiled, reserved for you in heaven, waiting for you. You're a joint heir with Christ, and you are his inheritance.

Guest (Male): What a blessing! And there's more, as we're going to discover next time on A Daily Walk. Pastor John Randall is leading a study of 1 Peter right now. To catch a replay of today's message from Pastor John Randall, simply go online to adailywalk.org. You can also listen to studies from John on our free mobile app. Do a search for Calvary South OC in the App Store or Google Play. You know, we light up around here when a listener shares what God is doing in their life and how they're helped through the teaching of God's word.

This would be a great time to hear from you as we're beginning a new year. If you feel led to write, here is our email address: adailywalk@gmail.com. That's adailywalk@gmail.com. As we have just begun a new year, we'd like to encourage you to go through the Bible in a year. And to help you, we have a special resource. It's the One Year Chronological Bible, New King James softcover. It's arranged in bite-sized daily readings, making it super easy to stay on track.

We're offering it today for the special price of $10. Just call us and request the One Year Chronological Bible at 877-242-0828, or go online to adailywalk.org. That's 877-242-0828. And please remember it is your faithful contribution to the Lord's work at A Daily Walk that allows us to bring Pastor John's studies to the radio every day. It takes a team to bring these shows to the airwaves, and that includes you, our listener. We'll continue our through-the-Bible journey next time on A Daily Walk with Pastor John Randall. Blessings to you. This program is brought to you by Calvary South OC and made possible through your generous support.