A Living Hope

Introduction

The new year coming brings a lot of opportunity for personal growth. Many of you have already set goals for yourself. Often we lose sight of our goals when we don’t see the results we want in a timely manner.

Body

1 Peter 1:3–4 CSB

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.

Point 1 - God has set aside for an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept for us in heaven through his son Jesus

How do we receive our heavenly inheritance?

God gives us eternal blessings and salvation

God gives us present blessings and salvation

Point 2 - We suffer grief in trials, but become refined by fire in praise towards God.

1 Peter 1:5–7 CSB

5 You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials 7 so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

God gives us trials to produce more faith in him and thus think and see things more like him.

Gold is refined in fire and then it becomes the beautiful jewelry that so many people want. In the same way God refines us sometimes in fire to become a more complete piece and have a greater understanding of our purpose.

Conclusion

1 Peter 1:8–9 CSB

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Point 3 - Our faith is in the fact that God has a purpose in refining us

We move forward confidently knowing we are living for Christ and his eternal promises

To think in heaven we walk on streets of Gold. One of the most valuable things to people on earth is walked on like dirt on earth. Keep pressing on and pursuing Christ even when things get tough, and if you don’t know Christ there is no better time then NOW to start that journey.