Friday, December 18, 2015

To An Inheritance Incorruptible

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus In Every Chapter
Date: Friday, December 18, 2015
Chapters: 1 Peter 1-2
Message Title: To An Inheritance Incorruptible

Hello My Friend,

The Book of 1 Peter is the twenty-first book of the New Testament, the sixtieth book of the Bible, and contains five chapters. The author of this epistle is Peter, he wrote it about 60AD, and it was written to Christian exiles, scattered all over the world, being persecuted for their faith. The purpose of the letter was to teach them how to handle the persecution they were facing and deal with the situation from those outside of the Church. What we are to learn from the book is that our walk with Christ through suffering brings joy, honor, and the glory of God. “For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” - 1 Peter 2:20.

As Christians, it's really not that hard to follow Christ, the closer we get to Him the easier it gets as we transform into His likeness. The problems come when life gets in the way, people, issues out of our control, and temptation often create havoc on our faith. Peter wrote this letter when he was in Babylon, it is addressed to all Christians, but specifically Gentiles, or as the Israelites referred to them, strangers, unlike other times when the persecution was in the church, this was happening outside. Peter encourages all Christians to endure the suffering as it is a trial of their faith.

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” - 1 Peter 1:2-7.

To an inheritance incorruptible,” There is a reason why the saved soul goes up to heaven while the body remains in the grave after it separates upon death, it's corrupted. While the flesh is full of corruption, the soul is incorruptible, meaning pure and undefiled because it was cleansed and purified with the blood of Christ upon our receiving Him as our Saviour, whether we are a Jew or Gentile. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” - 1 Peter 1:18-23.

that your faith and hope might be in God.” It is not enough to believe that there is a god, many believe in a god. Our faith and hope must be on the only living, Almighty God, and if we believe in Christ, whether we know Him to be the Messiah or Christ, then we have the Almighty God living inside of us. One day every one of our bodies will raise from the grave (unless we are raptured before then), our souls will reunite with our new glorified body to join Him in His Kingdom, but those who do not know Christ as their Saviour receive a second death, eternal death. “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” - John 5:28,29.

they that have done good,” These are those who have received Christ as their Saviour, we cannot be saved by our own works because we come short of being perfect no matter how good we try to be. We can be saved by believing in and accepting Christ, who is perfect and not only died, but resurrected to save us. Peter makes a point of reminding us that this was contained in Scriptures well before Christ came here in the flesh.

To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” - 1 Peter 2:4-10.

Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God:” It is no longer the believing Jews that are God's people, but all who believe in His Son, the Chief Cornerstone. While our works have nothing to do with our salvation, God blesses us more as we live in His will. He sees and knows all that we do, well beyond the surface into the heart, He knows who are truly His and who are just going through the motions in hopes to be saved from hell. The motions do not save us, only believing in and asking Christ to save us does that. Peter stresses the importance of all believers reminding themselves that they do belong to God, therefore we need to behave in a way that shows we are His.

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.” - 1 Peter 2:11-16.

As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness,” Far too many Christians use their salvation as a means to justify living a sinful lifestyle. This is unacceptable to God and will cause a lot of problems here on earth until they repent. Okay, we are not perfect, we are a work in progress, but willfully living in sin will only be the death of us, but thankfully His mercy and grace never cease if we come to Him. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” - 1 John 1:7-10.

Today's Prayer: Jesus, It's still amazing to me that with my past that You love me and made me one of Yours. Although I do not deserve this honor I am grateful and thankful for the sacrifice You made for me. I never understood why I was so different from everyone else before I knew You were my Saviour, and as I grow closer to You I realize it's okay to be different, it's okay to be peculiar because I am Yours. Thank You, Lord for everything you have brought me through, the lessons you taught me along the way, and the continuous blessings You give me as I endure affliction and put my trust in You, looking forward to the day that I get to see You face to face. In Your name, Jesus, Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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