Verse – 1 Peter 1:3-5
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
Devotional
People often ask what God did for people before salvation was made possible. He sent Christ, in the embodiment of His own spirit, to be sacrificed for sin. Through this act of redemption, accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior meant that one could receive salvation. However, before this was possible, people still received salvation from God.
Abraham received righteousness in his spirit through belief in God. From 1 Peter 1:3-5, it makes sense to believe that everyone has an inheritance in heaven because God is their Father. However, to lay claim to that inheritance, you must be shielded by the power of God through your faith in Him. This faith is what caused Abraham to receive righteousness from God.
Elijah, Noah, Joshua, Moses, and Jacob all received this righteousness as a result of their faith and belief in God. Through the salvation now available through Christ, righteousness comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. This now replaces the old way of preserving treasures in heaven.
You are now shielded by the power of God through your faith in Jesus Christ. This is why you will be before the throne of Christ for judgment. Whichever book your name is written in will determine the judgment you receive. (Revelation 20:11-15)
Prompts
- How do you personally understand the significance of Christ’s sacrifice for your life?
- How confident are you in your inheritance in heaven?
- If you were to stand before Christ today, what would you want Him to say about your life?
Related Posts
Declaration
I lay claim to my heavenly treasures through my faith in Christ Jesus
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Help me to stay strong in You. Strengthen my faith in You and in Jesus. Increase my belief in Your power and promises. Let me lay claim to my inheritance and never deviate from Your path. Restore my strength in times of weakness and protect me from being swayed by the world. Cause me to always hold on to my salvation, no matter the challenges I face.
Amen.
