Have you ever wondered what the relationship that the Apostle Paul might have had with Peter? For example, did they have any contact before Paul’s conversion? If so how did that affect them later? Did Saul of Tarsus ever come close to directly persecuting and painfully beating Peter? We know that people doubted Saul’s salvation, including Peter, but Barnabas took him and presented him to the Apostles, describing his conversion and his faithful preaching of Christ. Later, after their first evangelistic journey, Barnabas and Paul met with the Apostles to talk about God’s blessings on the Gentiles, and Peter was there. Then following Paul’s third journey, he returned to Jerusalem with the love offerings of the western saints, spending time with James and the rest of the elders of the church. Did that include Peter? Did they ever write letters to each other? Did they ever confer about doctrine and evangelistic practices? I don’t know the answer to these questions. But this I do know, their extant writings sometime run parallel to each other.
Getting ahead of myself, let’s read the context of our scripture in I Peter: “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: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” Notice how Peter moves from the security of our salvation in Christ to the insecurity of life on earth and then he goes back again to the ultimate end of salvation.
Now turn to the words of Paul’s 8th chapter of Romans: Verse 16 – “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” Paul begins with the testimony of the Holy Spirit to our salvation, and then he declares that the sufferings of his world cannot tarnish what God has in store for His saints. He adds that the entirety of creation awaits, and will be blessed, in the day when the saints “receive the end of their faith, even the salvation of their souls.” When the saints are publically revealed and honored. It is not just about souls, Paul speaks about the “redemption of our body.”
Returning to First Peter, the apostle refers to the REVELATION of salvation in “the last time.” The fulness of salvation shall be revealed. Let’s consider four aspects of that upcoming revelation. God’s inheritance is ready; the saints are ready; the Lord Himself is ready; but the time is not right.
God’s INHERITANCE for the saint is ready.
“Blessed be … God … which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope … to an inheritance … 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.” In my study, I noticed that some of my commentaries disagreed with one of my preconceived notions. Is it who or is it what that is ready to be revealed in the last time? I have always thought, based on Romans 8 and other scriptures, that it will be the saints who are going to be revealed in the last time. But my references suggest that Peter says it will be our inheritance which shall be revealed. I certainly don’t have any problem teaching that idea, because they aren’t they both correct?
How many times over the last month have I referred to our Lord’s words in John 14? I hope you don’t tire of hearing them. If you do, there must be something wrong with your spirit. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” Christ has gone to prepare a place for us; it is a part of our inheritance. That was 2,000 years ago. But how long did it take Elohim, the Almighty God, to create the universe, and to put life into it? Six days. Do you really think that Christ is still finishing up the final details on our rooms in the Father’s house? Let’s just say that the commentaries are correct, and the inheritance is ready to be revealed.
Not only is the end of our salvation ready, but aren’t GOD’S SAINTS ready too?
As Paul said in Romans, “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” Those whose loved one’s have passed into Christ’s presence often express their willingness to join them. That is understandable and perfectly acceptable. And those saints who are sick and tired of their own weak flesh, fighting with sin, are anxious to be changed and ready occupy their glorified bodies and Heavenly home. Those who have spent much time meditating on the Person of their Saviour are ready to look into His face. And those saints who have “set their affections on things above where Christ sitteth on the right of God,” are ready to receive their promised inheritance. Aren’t you ready to receive the end of your salvation?
Please turn to the well-known Ephesians 2. “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” Those whom the Lord has saved, often get really tired of that continued fight with the flesh and sin. “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” The Saviour has done His loving work, in prospect setting us together in Heavenly places. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
We have been made ready to actually occupy those seats and mansions in our Father’s house.
Do you suppose that Paul ever got tired of the pain his body carried – caused by the beatings he received? Does his statement, “I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” hint that perhaps he was looking for that glory which was coming? And do you suppose the man whom Paul describes in II Corinthians 12 was ever tempted to shout from the roof tops what he had seen in regard to his future inheritance? “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” In the context of Paul’s words to the Colossians, “Set your affection on things above,” which probably included the inheritance of the saints, he added: “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” I think Paul was ready for his translation to Heaven.
“Ready to be revealed” is a statement with several elements. It requires a subject, which is either the inheritance or the beneficiary of that inheritance, or both. It also needs someone to facilitate the revelation, and that will be the Lord. But isn’t there is one more ingredient? To whom will the revelation be made? Of course, God’s saints will be like the family sitting in the lawyer’s office as he reads the final will and testament of the loving parent. Only at that point will WE begin to understand what “the Lord hath prepared for them that love him.” But if we go back to Romans 8, “the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” There is a sense in which all creation is anxiously awaiting the day when God reveals the love He has for His people, and when He removes the general curse which lays upon the world in which we live. There will be a day when the lost will finally come to see the difference between themselves and those who are God’s saints. It will the greatest of all eye-openers to those who reject Christ, but it will be too late for them to do anything that really change things.
Aen’t the saints ready to be revealed?
If I am not too bold, I would like to think that the LORD is ready as well.
One of my wife’s sisters is coming for a visit in a few weeks. Judy is getting excited to see her. She is not there yet, but at some point, Judy may be willing to say that she is “ready” for Becky’s arrival. The spare bedroom will be dusted and vacuumed. The grocery shopping will have been done. The house will have had a general cleaning. Perhaps some bits of entertainment will have been arranged and reservations will have been made. Most likely the car will be washed and vacuumed. Judy will be ready. But we will still need to put gas in the car and carve a niche out of my day to drive to the airport. Despite being ready, we’ll still have to pick up that sister to bring her to our house.
I know that the Lord doesn’t do things sequentially in time, and He doesn’t have human emotions either. But can’t we say that the Lord is ready for our emigration to Heaven? Might we say that God is somehow divinely excited about the glory which we will bring Him when our salvation is completed? There is a sense in which God created the universe for that upcoming special “last time.” He purposed in eternity to beget us, not only unto a lively hope, but unto the fulfilment of that lively hope. Of course, you & I are incapable of understanding the suffering the Saviour endured to purchase our souls. But don’t you think that, in the light of that suffering, He is ready to see the fruit of His sacrifice?
Consider some of the things that will take place when the revelation will be completed. There is I John 3:2 – “Beloved, now are we the sons of God;” we have been made ready. “And it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” The Lord Jesus is coming to receive us to take us to His Father’s house. And when we shall see Him, we will be glorified in a fashion similar to His glory.
Verse 13 here in I Peter 1 exhorts us to “gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end of the grace that is to be brought unto (us) at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Verse 4 may speak of the revelation of the inheritance and the revelation of God’s saints, but above them all will be the full and glorious revelation of the Saviour. Don’t you think that He is ready for that great day? Chapter 4 and verse 13 says, “Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that when HIS glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
II Thessalonians adds some information to the events of that day. Verse 7 – “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.” As it is written, “Eye had not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
The inheritance is ready and so are the saints, but the TIME is NOT RIGHT.
“Blessed be … God … which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope … to an inheritance … 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.” It’s not my intention tonight to get into the timing all of this. Some of it could begin before we leave this building or it might take place tomorrow. But maybe it is still a few months or even years away. The thing which I’d like you to note is that the “last time” has not yet arrived. The Heavenly alarm clock is not ringing yet. And why is that? It is not for me to say.
In both I Peter and Romans 8 our future inheritance and glorification are contrasted with the trials of our faith on earth. For what purpose will our faith be tried? It is clear that it is the will of God we represent His name before a world which hates Him. We have been left here to oppose those who deny that Jehovah created the world in six 24-hour days. We have been left here to fight those who question: “Yea hath God said..” and “everyone should be able to eat from any forbidden tree they choose.” We have been left on the earth to lift up the names of Jehovah and Jesus before those who spit on those names. We are still here because the Lord wants us to live out the principles found in the Sermon on the Mount. And we have been commissioned to glorify Christ’s salvation before the eyes and ears of all the peoples of the earth.
Despite the problems such service creates in this world, it will be worth it all when we see Jesus. Paul says in Romans 8 – “I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which hall be revealed in us,” at that future time. He told the Corinthians – “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Isaiah 66:5 – “Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word: your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified; but He shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.”
How many of you have been setting aside a bit of money for the future: for retirement, or for some special project, or for your children? Some people buy gold and silver, putting it into a sock, hiding it under their mattress. But most others use banks or investments of some sort. And they do so with the expectation, or with the secular hope, that there will be interest added to those investments.
The inheritance about what Peter speaks is not predicated on the Christian’s service for the Saviour. It is based on the Saviour Himself. But the Bible does teach that there will be additional rewards given to the saints, reflecting the Lord’s approval of their service. In other words, the time of the revelation has not yet arrived, because, perhaps the Lord is giving us opportunities to serve and glorify His name, investing in Heaven and drawing Heavenly interest on our earthly service. Matthew 6:20 – “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Clearly some people’s affliction is less light than others, and the weight of glory which will be given to them will out weigh many. On the other hand, some may serve more diligently and sacrificially than even Stephen or John Baptist. I will leave the weighing and the rewarding of the reward to the Lord. I’ll simply repeat the Lord’s word, ““Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad.”
Conclusion
I cannot say that my logic is true or that my interpretation of these scriptures is entirely accurate. But this I know: the time has not come for the revelation of all that salvation entails, and here we are. Christianity is not just about eternity; it is not only about Heaven; it is not just about golden streets and golden harps. It is about today. It is about fighting sin within us for the glory of our Saviour. It is about earnestly contending for the faith right now. It is about evangelism here today and around the world.
Once again, “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.”