Living Hope
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1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
1 Peter 1:3 (NKJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
This was written in the time of Emperor Nero who was a persecutor of Christians.
He was actually one of the first governmental persecutors of Believers
He was responible for the martyrdom of the Apostle Paul
Nero hired arsons to set on fire portions of Rome and blamed the Christians for the destruction.
This open the door to openly justify persecution
Nero would have Christians covered with wild beasts’ skins and torn to death by dogs;
They were fastened on crosses, and when daylight failed were burned to serve as lamps by night”
But yet he’s not given them some motivation speech saying “hang in there. “
He’s not saying Gods gonna send the national guard to help you.
But He’s given them a reality that the resurrected Christ is our living hope!
Peter was a man who was one of the first eye witnesses to see Christ resurrected body.
So He knew how much hope was associated with seeing Jesus being resurrected.
He knew the boldness He now possessed because of the resurrected Messiah.
Peter knew there was no benefit of having a dead Messiah but there was great benefit having a resurrected one.
THE RISEN CHRIST AND THE CHRISTIAN
What does it mean that Christ has risen and how should we respond to it.
John 11:25, 26
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
I. THE PERSON
“… I am the resurrection, and the life.…”
A. He is our Salvation—2 Cor. 5:17 “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
He’s not a method to our salvation. Himself indeed is our salvation.
Some people think He’s one of many methods of salvation no He’s our only salvation!
With salvation come many new things. A new heart, head, hope, habits, and home.
Everything is new!
B. He is our Sustainer. Not only does He save from sin, He keeps us from failing. Note these verses:
1 Peter 1:5 “5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” ;
kept - to be or become secure and kept under watch.
Jude 24 “24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,” ;
2 Tim. 1:12 “12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” .
II. THE PLAN
“… He that believeth in me.…”
Lord I understand you are the resurrection and the life but where does this leave me?
Thats to believe.
Thats to believe exclusively.
Man must believe in his heart (Rom. 10:9-10 “9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” ).
Some of you’ll claim you believe but also believe in astrology. What month are you born in. I’m a Libra. As if your sign is what interpret the kind of person you are and not God.
Some of us trust more in science then we do with God.
If you are a believer in Christ you will practice the teachings of Christ.
A. Practice by having faith—Heb. 11:6 “6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” .
- Though we can’t see, we will believe (Heb. 11:1 “1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” ).
- Increase your faith (Rom. 10:17 “17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” ).
B. Practice by being faithful. The Bible warns us to be faithful until death (Rev. 2:10 “10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” ).
Remember, you do not believe in something you don’t practice.
C. Practice by fellowship. We must have fellowship with the Lord, as well as with one another (1 John 1:7 “7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” ).
III. THE PROMISE
“… Though He were dead, yet shall he live.”
A. A life with Joy—Ps. 16:11 “11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” . Joy can only be had by being satisfied. Man cannot be satisfied until he knows Christ.
B. A life of hope—Rom. 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” . Though the wages of sin is death, God’s gift is eternal life.
Death is not the end for the Christian, it is the beginning of eternal life.
The Christian is not better than the sinner, he is different. He has the peace of God. He looks forward to death, whereas the sinner has no hope or real happiness.
IV. THE POWER
“And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.…”
A. The provision—Isa. 53:5 “5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” . The prophecy of the death of Christ. His death brought life to mankind.
B. The promise—John 5:24 “24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” By believing in Christ, we pass from death to life. Simple faith in Christ means man will not stand at the judgment with sinners (Rev. 20:11–15).
C. The plan—Isa. 55:7 “7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.”
Man must be willing to leave his wicked way and trust in Christ. It is not enough to feel sorry for your sin, you must be sorry enough to stop sinning.
The simplicity of believing does not hold merit to allot of us because we are in a rush to perform.
God does not ask that man understand all things. All He asks of man is to believe.
25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.
10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.