Our Incorruptible Foundation

1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

1 Peter 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

INTRODUCTION: The meaning of incorruptible is often underestimated. It is not simply that which has not been corrupted. In a greater way, it refers to those things which are not able (-ible) to be corrupted. It is not a word of survival, but a word of triumph. No power in heaven and earth is even able to corrupt what God has established.

Since one of the incorruptible things is the Bible, some may wonder about the teaching of 2 Corinthians 2:17 – “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” If there are many who corrupt the word of God, how can we say that the word of God is incorruptible? It is a matter of perspective. From man’s viewpoint, men are continually corrupting the words and the word of God. They change it and correct it and thereby corrupt it. However, Psalm 119:89 teaches us, “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” That is, God preserves His word from the corruptions of men. They may corrupt their copies, but He holds the true text pure for the ages and keeps it from being corrupted. God’s word is truly incorruptible.

Let us consider the threefold incorruptible foundation of our faith found in 1 Peter One.

1. THE INCORRUPTIBLE BOOK (1 Peter 1:23-25)
1. The Eternal Word
1. It lives and abides forever (Psalm 119:89)
2. It continues in contrast to other things
1. The grass of creation (Isaiah 40:8)
2. The life of man
2. The Source of the Gospel (1 Peter 1:25)
1. This word is the source of the gospel
2. The gospel is based on the eternal word and is all the more sure because of its sure foundation
3. This is the gospel that is preached unto us (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
3. The Force of the New Birth
1. The word of God is incorruptible
2. The word of God is the incorruptible seed of the new birth (James 1:18, 21)
3. Therefore, our new birth is not based on any corruptible seed that could fail (John 1:12-13)
2. THE INCORRUPTIBLE BLOOD (1 Peter 1:18-20)
1. The Rejected Redemption Price
1. The corruptible things
1. As silver and gold
2. That cannot take away sin (Psalm 49:6-8)
2. The traditional things
1. Received from the fathers
2. Based on vain conversation; meaning, the empty practices of religion. This refers to those who would seek redemption by their own good works (Titus 3:5).
2. The Blood of Christ
1. The precious blood of Christ
1. There is no other blood like His blood (precious includes the idea of rare)
2. It is the blood of God (Acts 20:28)
2. The blood of the Lamb of God
1. Its character
1. Without blemish
2. Without spot
2. Its power (as seen in the tribulation saints)
1. To wash their garments white (Revelation 7:14)
2. To give the power to overcome (Revelation 12:11)
3. The Foreordained Sacrifice
1. Foreordained before the foundation of the world
1. God knew the world would need a Saviour
2. The Godhead determined that Christ would die for our sins (Revelation 13:8)
2. Manifest to us in these last times
1. Now that Christ has come and died
2. Now the way of salvation is made plain
3. THE INCORRUPTIBLE BOUNTY (1 Peter 1:3-5)
1. His Abundant Mercy
1. A proof of the blessedness of God
2. The ultimate cause of the new birth (Titus 3:5)
3. A mercy that is applied in abundance (Isaiah 55:7)
2. Our Lively Hope
1. The cause of our hope: the new birth
2. The evidence of our hope: the resurrection of Christ (John 14:19)
3. The energy of our hope: not just alive, but lively (Exodus 1:19)
3. Our Incorruptible Inheritance
1. Nothing will defile it
2. Heaven will preserve it
3. Personal in nature for you
4. His Keeping Power
1. Kept by the power of God
2. Kept through faith
3. Kept unto the salvation to be revealed (Romans 8:23; 1 John 3:2)

CONCLUSION: Our salvation and eternity is not based on cunningly told myths and fables. Rather, it is founded on the incorruptible book of God, blood of Christ, and bounty of the believer. Are you unsettled in you faith today? Return to the foundations that will make you strong.