Rev. Don Campbell
Nehemiah 11-13
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019, 2019
“THE SECURE INHERITANCE OF GOD’S SECURE PEOPLE”
Peter opens his epistle with: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1:3-7).
God’s mercy has brought us three things, and God’s power secures those three things: God’s elect have been born again to a LIVING HOPE through the resurrection of Christ. In addition to a living hope, we have A SECURE INHERITANCE (v. 4). Third, we are GUARDED BY GOD’S POWER (v. 5).
No one seems to doubt the security of the inheritance, so why doubt the security of the inheritors? We are shielded by God’s power, through faith, not our performance. A living hope demands a living faith, as we see in Peter’s second epistle: “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:3-11).
Peter’s “add to” does not mean that we add up everything that follows in order to see if we have earned salvation. The Christian graces, as they are called, are, like the fruit of the Spirit, evidence of a living faith.
CONNECTIONS
1. One time when I was preaching about our security in Christ, a sister smirked as she passed by and said, “I wish I could be that sure of myself.” Trying to appear humble, she betrayed arrogance and ignorance. Her problem was that she was trusting her goodness not God’s greatness. If we deny that the inheritance is secure in heaven, we doubt God. Who are we doubting when we deny that he is guarding believers?
2. Do some people have faith in faith, instead of faith in God?
