How Great a Salvation

Greetings:(1 Min)

If you have a copy of God’s Word and I hope you do, please turn to 1 Peter 1

Introduce family

Give thanks for supporting the cooperation with SEBTS. Without it, students don’t get 50% tuition discount

Introduction: (5 Min)

By show of hands, how many of you can look back at your life and ask for a “do-over”?

Young Peter(boisterous; arrogant; zealous;

Given the name “rock” by Jesus Christ. Failed to live up to that in his early years

Flashes of Peter’s Faith:

In Matthew’s gospel he steps out of the boat to meet Jesus on the water

Also in Matthew’s gospel, Makes the positive confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God

Unbelief:

Rebukes the Lord when He prophesies His death on the cross(Matthew/Mark)

Falls asleep in the garden of gethsemane Matthew/Mark)

Cuts the ear off of Malchus when Jesus’ was arrested (Mark/John)

He denies Jesus recorded in all four gospels

Reinstated Peter:

Jesus’ reinstates Peter after his denials

Boldly proclaimed the Gospel in the early days of the church and became the head of the church early on.

Threats and beatings, and imprisonment from Jewish and Roman leaders(Acts 4-5)

“... rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.”

Aged Peter - 30 Years After Death/Resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Facing Roman crucifixion (Jn.21:18) as a martyr for Christ

“Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.””

60-65AD - Writing from Rome to Jewish and Gentile audience(elect exiles (v.1) spread throughout Asia Minor (Modern Turkey)))

Theme : "Stand firm” in the midst of persecution and trials

Accusations of wrongdoing(1 Pet. 2:12 ; 3:16), Beatings (1 Pet.2:20), Suffering insults(1 Pet.4:4,14)

Transition:

How does someone endure unjust suffering throughout their lifetime and not become bitter or hateful?

How does someone overcome failure and persevere to finish their race (2 Tim. 4:7)?

Peter provides some truth and encouragement here to the true disciple that will help us to endure well this race…lets read

Opening Reading of 1 Peter 1: 3-9 and Prayer(3 Min)

1 Peter 1:3–9 (KJV 1900)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope I by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 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: 8 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: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Body(18 Min):

Bursting with Praise!(v.3) - 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope I by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Blessed = Praise ; Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ(NIV)

Not speaking casually or flippantly

Peter Stating “Not only is God the Father of Jesus, but Jesus is God!” - Significant Theological Truth

Jews killed Jesus because He declared Himself to be God

John 10:29-33 “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.””

Peter is affirming this truth!

Begotten = “Caused us to be born again”(ESV) ; “given us new birth”(CSB)

What does it mean to be born again?

Thayers Lexicon = “it means to thoroughly change the mind of one so that he lives a new life and one conformed to the will of God”

Peter is testifying to the fulfillment of what Ezekiel prophesied nearly 600 years prior... Ezek. 36:26-27 “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”

We are given a new mind and heart

God does the work

Q: How did God do this?

A: Abundant mercy

Mercy (el-eh-os) = Compassion; Tender mercy

If you are a Christian, God tenderly placed His love on you and called you His own.

Titus 3:5 - “he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy”

Heb. 4:16 - “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Lively Hope

Lively = “Living” (ESV) ; intrinsic with life

Hope = confident expectation of eternal salvation

The NT Greek word is used in a positive sense

Divine grace

Resurrection

The significance of the resurrection must not be missed, as it is the validation of Christs’ deity and accomplished work

Point: The confidence(hope) that you will possess future grace (salvation) is something given to you by divine mercy and grace alone!

Read v.4 - 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

Q: What is this possession?

Inheritance = possession

O.T. Israel to inherit physical territory in the land of Canaan from God

(Deut. 4:38) Moses saying of God that He is “driving out before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as it is this day,”

No greater desire for Tribal Israel than to possess their promised land from God.

This word “inheritance” is elevated to a loftier sense in the N.T:

Heb. 9:15 “Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance...”

2 Pet.1:11 “For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

The old was “temporal” the new is “eternal”

Described in four ways:

Incorruptible = Never decays or changes and never ceases to continue

Picture -Tree leaves are falling

Heb 2:3 “how shall we escape if we neglect such [an exhaustively] great salvation?

Essence - Its perfectly complete; Cannot be added to or taken away!

John 10:28-29 “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”

Undefiled = Not contaminated; Pure; Free of defect

Picture: Drinking water after Reverse Osmosis

Our salvation is not only eternal and incorruptible, but its free of contaminants

Unfading - Perpetual; Perennial;

Gk. amarantos - Lat. amarantus(amaranth) = Flower that never fades

Remains in full-strength

Kept in heaven for you

Kept in heaven = Reserved in the highest of heavens where God dwells

Read V. 5 - 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

“Guard” = A soldier standing guard at a gate from a hostile invasion or to keep inhabitants of a city from fleeing

God is guarding and delivering the true disciple from the snare of the devil through faith

Faith = Reliance; Response to the Holy Spirit’s conviction

Mysterious Tension: God’s sovereign grace and ability to save you and your faith is the vehicle through which salvation comes.

Revealed = to take off the cover ; to come into view

Picture:

Unveiling my son’s bicycle for Christmas

A camera lens focusing on an object

Last Time = Both now and consummated at the return of Christ

1 Pet. 5:1 “So I exhort the elders among you...as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:”

Q:How should a true disciple respond to suffering?

Read V.6-7 - 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 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:

Rejoice = exceeding gladness

Three reasons believers rejoice in suffering:

They know trials are temporary(seasonal)

John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.””

Their tested faith is more precious to them than comfort

Matt.13:45-46 ““Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

They have an eternal focus

Mark 8:35 “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.”

Results in a life that is worthy of the calling to which we have been called

Col.1:10 “so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

Read V.8-9 - 8 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: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

True faith in God will produce true love for God

Love(agapao) = Affectionate reverence that produces a prompt obedience

Q: How do I know I love Him if I haven’t seen Him?

Believe = Joyful trust

Joyfully trusting God at His Word

Joyful trust in His Word produces unspeakable delight and glory

John 15:10-11 “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

Your faith will be your sight

2 Peter 1:11 “For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Conclusion:

Brothers and Sisters, I asked earlier:

How does someone endure unjust suffering and not become bitter or hateful?

How does someone overcome and persevere to finish their race (2 Tim. 4:7)?

By taking hold of this great salvation, that is eternal, incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading kept for you.

Joyfully trusting every Word that comes from the mouth of God.

Enduring hardship as a faithful soldier of Christ

Knowing that one day your faith will be your sight.