Inheritance

by D. Rudi Schwartz

Overview

Peter writes to ‘strangers’ in the world.
Christians have their citizenship in heaven. They are just passing through this world.
Our home, address, and new birth are by the Holy Spirit, which gives us a new identity. The cross of our Lord is the place where it all changes. Paul writes, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14)
Where do I belong? What is my hope? Where is my home? Where do my priorities in life lead me? The way I live now is the tell-tale of where I am from and where I am going.
Ultimately, Christians do not need the things of this world. In fact, anything of this world will tarnish and corrode that hope.
On the other hand, although Christians are not from this world, they are part of this world; they abstain from the world and engage in this world.
Jesus prayed for his followers: “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” (John 17:14–19)
Therefore, Peter’s message to Christians is to always live as ‘holy aliens’, engaging in a world where they can suffer for their testimony of Christ. He spurs them on to overcome suffering, keep the faith, and always watch the evil one.
Christians must hold on to the assurance: they have an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade, shielded by Gods’ power.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940165112720
Publisher:	D. Rudi Schwartz
Publication date:	11/23/2021
Sold by:	Smashwords
Format:	eBook
File size:	253 KB

About the Author

D. Rudi Schwartz was born in South Africa.

Growing up in a Christian family, Rudi answered God’s claim on his life when he was 13 years old. He trained at the University of Pretoria, where he obtained his B.A., B.D. and Post Grad. Dipl. Theol.

As a licensed exit student, he completed National Service as an Army Chaplain in the South African Defence Force before being ordained as a minister of Word and Sacrament of the Dutch Reformed Church in 1981.

In 1994, after he had been received into the ministry of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, he and his family migrated to Australia. He accepted a call to Warren (NSW).

Rudi has been married to Heila for 44 years. They have four children and 13 grandchildren.

His ministry included serving as a patrol padre of the Presbyterian Inland Mission (founded by Rev Dr John Flynn in 1912). In this capacity, he served a ‘congregation’ spread over about 250,000 sq kilometres.

He had the privilege to serve a term as State Moderator of the Presbyterian Chruch of Queensland. He labels himself as ‘confessional reformed", adhering to the principle that all faith matters must be tested against the infallible and inerrant Word of God’.

He retired after almost forty years of congregational ministry and now lives in Bathurst, Australia.

Rudi loves classical music, gardening, woodwork, cars, and caravanning.