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LEFT OVERS

I'M NEVER OPPOSED TO A GOOD MEAL OUT. WHEN I WAS YOUNG, I USED TO ALWAYS GET THE REMAINDER OF MY FOOD "TO-GO." HOWEVER, IT NEVER ENDED UP TASTING THE SAME AT HOME AND OFTEN ENDED UP GOING BAD OR SPOILING. THIS HAPPENS TO A LOT OF THINGS IN LIFE THAT WE TRY AND HOLD ONTO:

  • OUR LEFTOVERS RUST
  • OUR SAVED DOLLARS LOSE VALUE
  • OUR CLASSIC CAR RUSTS OVER

THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THIS WORLD IN WHICH THE THINGS WE WORK HARD TO OWN ARE PRONE TO FALL APART.

PETER IS MAKES A SIMILAR POINT ABOUT INHERITANCE.

1 PETER 1:4

"[YOU'VE BEEN BORN AGAIN] INTO AN IN INHERITANCE THAT CAN NEVER PERISH, SPOIL, OR FADE. THIS INTERITANCE IS KEPT IN HEAVEN FOR YOU."

PETER'S AUDIENC (BOTH JEW AND GENTILE) WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE IDEA OF INHERITANCE. FOR OTHE JEW, INHERITANCE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CLOSELY TIED TO LAND AND FOR THE GENTILE MORE CLOSELY TIED TO POSSESSIONS (HOWEVER, NOT EXCLUSIVELY FOR EITHER).

THE PROBLEM WITH AN INHERITANCE (LIKE MOST THINGS) IS PRONE TO PERISH, SPOIL, OR FADE.

  • THE LAND GOES THROUGH A DROUGHT
  • YOUR POSSESSIONS ARE TAXED AWAY FROM YOU
  • A COAT OF MANY COLORS FADES
  • ETC.

NOW PETER IS VERY PRO-INHERITANCE (THE JEWISH CULTURE MOST CERTAINLY WAS), HOWEVER, HE WANTS THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT WHILE THEIR PROFESSION OF FAITH IN THE 1ST CENTURY MAY HAVE ALIENATED THEM AND CAUSED THEM TO LOSE INHERITANCE IN THEIR CURRENT SITUATION, THERE WAS A GREAT INHERITANCE IN STORE FOR THEM - ONE THAT WOULD NOT PERISH, SPOIL, OR FADE

COVENANT FUTURE HOPE

THE NEW COVENANT PROMISES ARE ALWAYS "PROMISES+"

THEY ARE PROMISES THAT ARE GREATER THAN THE PREVIOUS PROMISES BUT THAT ALSO HONOR, MAKE GOOD ON, AND BUILD UPON THE PREVIOUS PROMISES.

MANY THINK THE NEW COVENANT MAKES VOID OLD TESTAMENT PROMISES AND ESTABLISHES A NEW KIND OF PROMISE IN THE NEW COVENANTS.

HOWEVER, THE NEW TESTAMENT WRITERS WOULD HAVE PUSHED AGAINST THIS.

THERE WAS CERTAINLY A NEW-COVENANT COMMUNITY THAT WAS BEING FORMED BY GOD'S SPIRIT, HOWEVER, "[STILL] ALL THE PROMISES OF GOD ARE 'YES' IN CHRIST." (2 CORINTHIANS 1:20)

IN OTHER WORDS, THIS NEW COVENANT COMMUNITY HAS AN INHERITANCE OF OLD TESTAMENT PROMISES (MAINLY PROMISES FOR HERE-AND-NOW) PLUS AN INHERITANCE OF NEW TESTAMENT PROMISES (MAINLY PROMISES FOR THERE-AND-LATER).

AS CHRISTIANS WE GET TO HOLD THE PROMISES TOGETHER, THE OLD TESTAMENT INHERITANCE IN OUR LEFT HAND AND THE NEW TESTAMENT INHERITANCE IN OUR RIGHT HAND.

BEING CHRISTIAN IS NOT A SWAPPING OF PROMISES, BUT A "PROMISES+" INHERITANCE.