A Living Hope

Scripture Reading: Romans 5:1-5

Beginning new series: 1 Peter. (Between James & 2 Peter)

Before beginning: VOTE TUESDAY…BUT KNOW, GOD is SOVEREIGN…HOPE & HOME is IN HEAVEN, Not here...

🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

Background:

AUTHOR = PETER.

DISCIPLE, FORMERLY FISHERMAN

LETTER WRITTEN = EARLY 60s…62-63 A.D…FROM ROME...

WRITTEN to PERSECUTED BELIEVERS (PRIMARILY GENTILES) LOCATED in ASIA MINOR (TURKEY)

🐢🐢🐢

Some MAJOR THEMES:

CHRISTIANS are EXILES ON this EARTH...SOJOURNERS who DON’T BELONG here.

As CHRISTIANS we are FAR from HOME, and thus we DON’T FIT IN HERE.

This is a large PART of the REASON why CHRISTIANS have been PERSECUTED for generations

HOPE in the MIDST of PERSECUTION and SUFFERING…again, heaven is our home.

For we know that PETER’S AUDIENCE = PERSECUTED.

COMMON in ROMAN EMPIRE: DENIED CAESAR’S LORDSHIP & CLAIMED EXCLUSIVITY on TRUTH...

AT TIME, PROBABLY NOT STATE-SPONSORED…LIKELY SPORADIC…YET CONSISTENT.

So, in light of the trials that come our way in life, Peter writes to encourage us that we have a hope in heaven, and to remain steadfast in the grace we have received.

He reminds us that as Christians, we are exiles and sojourners in this life and that our home and hope are in heaven.

🐢🐢🐢

Read Text & Pray

🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

Intro:

Q- How many of you rented before buying a house?

FINANCIAL REASONS

NOT READY to PUT ROOTS DOWN.

YOU BUY WHERE YOU PUT ROOTS DOWN…NOT A TRANSITION PLACE

WHEN YOU RENT, YOU DON’T OWN...

HANGING PICTURES…NOT REMOVING WALLS…it’s NOT FULLY YOURS

BUT WHEN IT’S HOME, IT’S YOURS…AND ITS FAIRLY PERMANENT.

In the same way, as believers, we don’t want to live as though we are putting our roots down here on this earth and in this life…we aren’t purchasing real estate here (metaphorically)…we are just passing through…in our time here on earth, we are merely renting, because this isn’t our true home.

🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

Text

1 Peter 1:1–12 (ESV)

He begins with an INTRODUCTION & ADDRESSES his AUDIENCE:

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

PETER’S human AUDIENCE is THOSE who were CHOSEN by GOD, PART of his PEOPLE....

“elect exiles of the dispersion”

FIGURATIVE, GOD’S PEOPLE = SOJOURNERS…EXILES on this EARTH.

In the OT, DIASPORA was used to describe JEWS who were SCATTERED from their HOMELAND…LIKEWISE, US as CHRISTIANS.

Thus as Christians WE LIVE as EXILES, whom GOD has CHOSEN OUT from this WORLD!

1, 2 Peter, Jude (I. Opening (1:1–2))

TOM SCHREINER: Those who understand themselves as God’s elect have the ammunition to resist the norms and culture of the society they inhabit. Divine election reminds the readers that they have status, not because they are so worthy or noble but because God has bestowed his grace upon them.8 Hence, they have the energy to counter accepted cultural norms and to live in accord with God’s purpose.

If you are PART of the CHURCH, you are SPECIAL in GOD’S EYE, he’s CALLED YOU OUT from the WORLD by GRACE.

WE DON’T FIT IN HERE.

🐢🐢🐢

CHOSEN/ELECT:

2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

First, He EXPLAINS they were CHOSEN according to God the Father’s foreknowledge

It’s NOT “TRYING JESUS”

GOD CALLS PEOPLE by his SOVEREIGN GRACE into RELATIONSHIP with HIMSELF through FAITH..

He foreknew that you were going to be part of his covenant people, the church, and he chose you, and set you apart from this world to be his own prized possession...

He EXPLAINS that they were CHOSEN in sanctification of the Spirit

AS EXILES, we WORK OUT the FRUITS of CHRISTIAN OBEDIENCE by the POWER of the SPIRIT . . . .continually SET APART more and more from this world…CONFORMING to the IMAGE of JESUS CHRIST

H.S. SETS APART @ SALVATION & CONTINUALLY THROUGHOUT LIFE.

He shares that we were CHOSEN for obedience to Christ, specifically the OBEDIENCE of FAITH…and the resulting SPRINKLING of CHRIST’S BLOOD…

SALVATION REQUIRES CHRIST’S WORK… & MAN’S RESPONSE in FAITH.

NOTE TRINITARIAN FOCUS:

FATHER FOREKNOWS

SPIRIT SANCTIFIES

SON REDEEMS/CLEANSES

🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

AFTER INTRO: PETER LAYS FOUNDATION for ENTIRE EPISTLE

V3-12 (1 SENTENCE in GK…ONE BIG IDEA)

In the NEXT 3 VERSES, PETER SHARES 3 THINGS GOD DOES/HAS DONE…WATCH for THEM...

1 GOD ACTIVELY DOES

2 THINGS WE PASSIVELY RECEIVE (DIVINE PASSIVE)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,

5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

PETER BEGINS with PRAISE to GOD for the GREAT MERCY in SALVATION.

GOD was MERCIFUL on ALL of US who are a PART of his CHOSEN PEOPLE. He had GREAT MERCY on us…

FOR THIS He is WORTHY to be PRAISED!…

Tom Schreiner:

1, 2 Peter, Jude 1. Praise for Salvation (1:3–12)

It is an inestimable privilege and joy to be the object of God’s mercy

🐢🐢🐢

Because of his GREAT MERCY believers are CAUSED to BE BORN AGAIN to a LIVING HOPE because of the RESURRECTION! (1ST THING GOD DOES)

LIVING HOPE - living = PRESENT PARTICIPLE. verbal adjective, CONTINUAL in NATURE

LIVING CONTRASTS DEAD HOPE…HOPE IS ALIVE BECAUSE JESUS is ALIVE!

We can have assurance of our future bodily resurrection and salvation on the last day, because it was inaugurated by Jesus Christ himself…this isn’t fiction, this isn’t fable, this isn’t some idea that someone had…

This is a living hope, a reality we can put our faith in that was established through the resurrection of Jesus Christ to which Peter himself was a witness…not on the basis of our own works …

Our security in the next life is bound up entirely in the work of Christ.

🐢🐢🐢

Then, he EXPLAINS that we are BORN AGAIN to an INHERITANCE…

In the OT they had a PROMISED LAND that awaited them as an INHERITANCE…

NOW as BELIEVERS we have MORE than a LAND, we have HEAVEN as our FUTURE PROMISED LAND, STREETS of GOLD.

The INHERITANCE is:

IMPERISHABLE,

IMPERVIOUS to CORRUPTION & DEATH! IMMORTAL(BDAG)

Our TREASURE in HEAVEN will NOT be DESTROYED by RUST or MOTH

and UNDEFILED

It is HOLY and PERFECT, PURE

and UNFADING

DOESN’T LOSE “PRISTINE QUALITY OR CHARACTER” (BDAG)...

It is eternal and will not change over time! IT STAYS JUST AS AMAZING, FOREVER...SOMETHING WE CAN’T EXPERIENCE on EARTH.

that is KEPT in HEAVEN for us.

1ST DIVINE PASSIVE…GOD DOES, WE RECEIVE.

a perfect passive participle,… Perfect passive participle: “referring to a past completed action that has an ongoing resulting state or relevance”

The day that you were saved (in the past) your inheritance was secured and it has been kept, not by you, not through you, but for you, from that point until the present state and continuing into the future.

🐢🐢🐢

2nd DIVINE PASSIVE:

(v5)Then he goes and says that you are “being guarded through faith” FOR a SALVATION REVEALED in the LAST TIME…DAY of FINAL JUDGMENT

this is a PRESENT-CONTINUAL THING (present passive participle) that is again ACCOMPLISHED by GOD…USED to DESCRIBE US!

SAME WORD: USED FOR GUARDING W/ GARRISON “SHIELD”…GUARDING SHEEP FROM ATTACKS, EVEN KEEPING in CUSTODY...

W/ GOD = 100% SECURE.

GUARDED THROUGH FAITH: the MEANS that GOD USES to CAUSE US TO PERSEVERE..believers are not absolved from all responsibility, but they also are expected to make it by God’s empowering grace and the sustaining faith that he gives them!

--

HE’S SAYING: WHO ARE WE?? - THE PEOPLE BEING GUARDED THROUGH FAITH, BY GOD, FOR AN END-TIME SALVATION…THIS IS WHO WE ARE

🐢🐢🐢

LOOKING AT LAST 3 VERSES:

GOD CAUSED us TO BE BORN-AGAIN

OUR INHERITANCE IS KEPT FOR US BY GOD.

WE are BEING GUARDED through FAITH BY GOD...

GOD’S WORK!

WE SEE BOTH OUR INHERITANCE IS KEPT PRESERVED, AND WE ARE GUARDED/PRESERVED.

1, 2 Peter, Jude ((1) A Promised Inheritance (1:3–5))

Peter emphasized in the strongest possible terms the security and certainty of the reward awaiting believers

🐢🐢🐢

Q- When you are looking to save for retirement or a future inheritance, what are two primary things you look for when investing?

1. Rate of return

2. Level of risk

The HIGHER your RISK TOLERANCE, the GREATER your POTENTIAL returns, but also the LESS LIKELY they are GUARANTEED..

you can have a SLAM DUNK, .01% return at the BANK!

Or you could END UP RICH or COMPLETELY BROKE by INVESTING in something NEW and RISKY.

Or IN BETWEEN, SOME RISK, with ACTUAL RETURNS.

🐢🐢🐢

GOSPEL

We have the GREATEST RETURN on an INVESTMENT WE DIDN’T even MAKE! We don’t work for this investment, IT IS a GIFT!!

CHRIST PAID the PRICE…WE RECEIVE PROMISE OF HEAVEN & HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS in EXCHANGE for OUR SIN/UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2. THIS INVESTMENT has a 100% GUARANTEE .

There’s NO RISK. It’s imperishable, it’s undefiled, and it’s unfading…kept in heaven, guaranteed.

BEST RATE of RETURN…GUARANTEED…INVESTMENT WE DIDN’T MAKE.

BETTER THAN WINNING LOTTERY… W/ NO RISK...

IT’LL END UP COSTING YOU YOUR LIFE, YOU CAN’T EXPERIENCE THIS AND STILL LIVE FOR YOURSELF…BUT IT WAS PAID FOR ENTIRELY BY CHRIST.

THERE’S A COST to FOLLOWING CHRIST, FOR HE GIVES NEW LIFE…BUT THAT COST DOESN’T PAY THE PRICE FOR SALVATION

THINKING ABOUT THESE THINGS: HOW AMAZING IS OUR SALVATION?

Call: Now for those of you who may not have this assurance, know that if you turn to Christ in faith you can be saved from your sins today and receive this great gift!

🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

THIS was ALL FOUNDATION!

NOW PETER MAKES HIS POINT:

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

IN THIS? In what? - GREAT MERCY of GOD, IMPERISHABLE INHERITANCE, ETC.

rejoice: “to be exceedingly joyful, exult, be glad, overjoyed” (BDAG)

In the gift of salvation believers can rejoice, we don’t merely struggle through! despite the trials that come our way, we can be filled with joy.

Have you ever had a hard day? Week? Month? Year? Life? Been wore down with life?

Trials come our way, “GRIEVED” (V6) is another PASSIVE participle…something that HAPPENS TO US! PETER GETS IT!

7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

GOAL of TESTING ISN’T DESTRUCTION of FAITH..BUT PURIFICATION & PROVING GENUINENESS...

GOLD = TEMPORARY/ PERISHABLE...

USED as A CONSTANT in ALL COMMERCIALS...

TRUE FAITH COMPARED to GOLD AS SOMETHING THAT DOESN’T PERISH...

🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,

9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

BELIEVERS can BE CONFIDENT//EVEN IF THEY HAVEN’T SEEN JESUS...

REMEMBER PETER DID..BUT HE’S WRITING to OTHERS.

Big Idea

Believers can praise God and rejoice in the midst of trials with an inexpressible joy, because of the great work that God has done for them in Christ and the knowledge that their salvation has been secured.

LIVING AS EXILES = DIFFICULT…BUT WE AWAIT the DAY WE MOVE HOME.

🐢🐢🐢

PET SHARES: OUTCOME --END DAY = SALVATION OF OUR SOULS.

“OUTCOME”:

GK telos “end, goal, etc.” also translated in this verse, REWARD (NLT), GOAL (LEB, and END RESULT (NIV)...

the goal toward which a movement is being directed, end, goal, outcome (BDAG)

SALVATION @ END TIME = FINISH LINE.

AT THE END: WE’LL SEE CHRIST EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN’T SEE HIM NATURALLY!!

🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully,

11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.

OUR SALVATION was SEARCHED FOR by OT BELIEVERS...

OT PROPHETS: PROPHESIED in PART! LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR DAY...

ONLY HAD PART of the PICTURE!

12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

EASY to FORGET…GOSPEL is GOOD NEWS

Q-Has the idea of salvation grown familiar to you over the years, where you can take it for granted?

JUST BECAUSE WE’VE HEARD IT, DOESN’T MEAN IT ISN’T A BIG DEAL!

ANGELS LONG to LOOK INTO THESE THINGS...

I IMAGINE, ANGELS ARE PRETTY AMAZING BEINGS…ALWAYS SCARED PEOPLE in ANGELIC ENCOUNTERS...

These angels are around the throne of God worshipping Him, they have done God’s business as his messengers throughout salvation history, they have such an amazing ministry and they are literally with God, continually basking in his glory…yet they long to look into what we have.!!

Angels don’t know what it is like to be redeemed!!

“I’ve got a song holy angels can’t sing, amazing grace, how sweet the sound, I’ve got a song holy angels can’t sing, I once was lost, but now I’m found.”

If you ever think that you’ve heard it before know that the OT PROPHETS & SAINTS SEARCHED for IT…AND ANGELS LONG FOR IT…YET, WE GET TO EXPERIENCE IT!

HOW BLESSED ARE WE TO LIVE IN THIS STAGE OF SALVATION HISTORY!

🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

WHEN ASKED to PERSEVERE W/ JOY, CONSIDER CHRIST’S EXAMPLE

HEB. 12:2 - FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM, CHRIST ENDURED THE CROSS.

**CONSIDER HOW HIS TRIAL WAS GREATER THAN ANY OF OURS…& HE WAS UNDESERVING of IT.

---

NOT SURE WHAT YOUR TRIAL LOOKS LIKE:

ANXIETY? —HE SWEAT BLOOD.

LONELINESS? - HE WAS FORSAKEN by THE FATHER…WE’LL NEVER EXPERIENCE!

PHYSICAL PAIN? — CHRIST’S BACK WAS TURNED TO HAMBURGER by CAT of 9 TAILS, CROWN OF THORNS... & HIS HANDS & FEET WERE PIERCED...

POVERTY? — HE LIVED WITHOUT A HOME

BETRAYAL? — ONE OF CHRIST’S CLOSEST FRIENDS BETRAYED HIM FOR THE PRICE of A COMMON SLAVE.

HE KEPT HIS EYES on the PRIZE…THROUGH HIS EXAMPLE & POWER of HIS GRACE…SO CAN WE.

Takeaways:

SALVATION = SECURE…TRUE FAITH STANDS THE TESTS of LIFE...

GOD IS WORTHY of PRAISE BECAUSE of THE WORK HE’S DONE FOR US.

WE CAN PERSEVERE DURING TRIALS, BY KEEPING EYES ON THE GOAL- IN LIGHT OF SALVATION.

Application:

THEY SAY NOT TO CHECK INVESTMENTS REGULARLY, STOCK MARKET MOVES A LOT....

CHECK THE INVESTMENT DAILY & KNOW YOUR INHERITANCE IS SECURE. WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR YOU.

Close in Prayer

Outline example: