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1 Peter 1:3-5
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can download our service on iTunes or tune in for “The Good Word” each day on AM 1230 WSAL or on Hoosier Country 103.7 FM just after 8am. How many reasons do you have to rejoice in your salvation? Do you rejoice in it every day of your life, minute by minute? Peter not only tells us we should, but he tells us why we should!
- OUR SALVATION IS A DIVINE HERITAGE! Peter starts by praising God for salvation. One author says in verses 3-9 Peter looks forward into the future of our salvation; then in verses 10-12 he looks backward to the past. We can see all three Persons of the Divine Trinity are involved in our salvation. Dr. Warren Wiersbe says it this way, “We have been chosen by the Father, Purchased by the Son, and set apart by the Holy Spirit.” Stop for a minute and consider the magnitude of your salvation! It is a divine heritage that began in eternity past and continues through an eternal future.
- OUR SALVATION IS A DYNAMIC HOPE! One Greek expositor explains “living” is life in itself; it is the divine attribute that makes God, God! It looks for life as its object. Or, God is the only source of life and living. He shares that quality with all those He calls to salvation. It gives to us hope! Hope in the NT, as one writer defines it, “always looks forward to the future with God as the sole Sovereign bringing to His chosen only that which is very good!” So ask yourself, does your future look good to you? If it does, you are seeing it from God’s perspective. His plan for you is to prosper you, not harm you (Jer. 29:11). If your future looks dim from where you are, perhaps you need to allow God to change your perspective. He is ready to do that if you give Him the opportunity! Life with a divine heritage is true life that finds its constant joy in the One and only God Who is Himself Life!
- OUR SALVATION MAKES US DIVINE HEIRS! Rom. 6:5 is just one of dozens that teaches true Christians are related to God. That is an important truth because Eph. 2:1-3, and other passages, teach we were born enemies of God. As co-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17) our inheritance comes from God! Have you ever thought about that? Jesus tells us not to store up treasures for ourselves here on earth (Matt. 6:19-21) but to store them up in heaven. Why? Because in heaven our inheritance is not affected by the destructive corruptions of this world; and, what we lay up in heaven returns eternal benefits. Two Greek scholars explain that our heavenly inheritance can’t “perish because it is untouched by death; can’t spoil because it is unstained by evil; and can’t fade because it is unimpaired by time, making our inheritance death-proof, sin-proof, and time-proof.” As you consider all this concerning your salvation, you can find many reasons to rejoice! No matter what the outward circumstances may be you know that God will see you through and you will receive what He has prepared for you. If you are not an adopted child of God you can’t rejoice no matter how good it gets here. You still have time to change that. You can still receive Christ as your Savior. Just read and follow Romans 10:9-13.
If we can help you answer your spiritual questions, call us at (574) 643-9419.
