Our Only Hope

1. Our hope is set on grace. (vs. 13)

‌As we mentioned last week, Peter is writing to churches under persecution for their faith. The question becomes, “How does one remain faithful during persecution?” His answer is derived from what came previously in the chapter - namely, the gospel of salvation. Because of the salvation they have received in Christ, through the resurrection, they can live a life of action and self-control. Their hope is not in the things of this world but in the grace that has been received and will be fulfilled when Christ returns in glory. His words recall Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5:6, “So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” Paul writes in the context of the coming of Jesus and how Christians are to be clear-minded as we await Christ. We are not to give in to the temptations of the world. Rather, we are to be morally and spiritually engaged.

‌Peter calls upon the churches in Asia Minor to do the same thing. They are to be focused on the hope that comes by grace at the coming of Jesus. This is not to say that we do not have grace now, but our hope is grounded in the fulfilled grace which comes with Christ’s return. This is when hope becomes a visible reality. This hope sustains us when we labor to remain faithful to Christ despite the hostile opposition of the culture that surrounds us.

‌The times in which we live are times of disparaging the name of Jesus. However, we are called to be examples of what it means to be in Christ when we face such things. Our hope is the grace that will be fully revealed to us when Christ comes again. Knowing and trusting in Christ’s return places our hope on things greater than what the world can hope in. All that materialists can focus on is what they can sense. We do not live that way. We know that there is more to this life. There is more than just living day to day. There is something waiting for us that can be trusted because Christ has been raised from the dead and is forever alive. Therefore, we live our lives full of this hope, knowing that the power of grace supersedes anything in this world.

2. Because of this hope, we are called to be obedient to Christ. (vs. 14-16)

‌The hope that we have fully on the grace given to us at the coming of Jesus calls us to live in obedience to Christ. The word “grace” is misused by so many in the church. It is used as a way of ignoring sin or changing the definition of sin. “Oh, if we would just show others grace as Jesus has for us, the world would be better.” The malfeasance of this endeavor cheapens what grace is and does not allow us to live into the hope that is given to us by the grace of Christ.

‌Peter encourages his readers not to be conformed by their former ignorance. They are to be holy in all their conduct. He quotes from the Holiness Code found in Leviticus 17-26, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” Obedience to Christ is part of the character of the Christian community as we await the coming of Jesus. The challenge for Christians of every age is to be distinctive in our lifestyle compared to the unbelieving world. The life of obedience radically differs from a life that flows from the “natural” desires of the heart wherever they lead. Yet, following our desires is the message that our world proclaims. It is the gospel of our society. Whenever you turn on your television or look at your Facebook and Instagram feeds, the message is to do what makes you happy. You are to follow your desires. And we see how destructive that “gospel” is. But so many in the church today proclaim this false gospel with regularity. Instead of conforming to Christ, we are told to conform to this world’s evil desires.

‌The passions or evil desires that we once had were out of ignorance. We were slaves to our flesh. The word used here for “passion” refers to an insatiable craving for sexual lust and uncontrolled desires. These are not behaviors that can continue for the Christian. Peter is drawing a sharp contrast between the life that was lived with its sinful lifestyle, and the lifestyle they are now being commanded to follow.

‌This command for holiness is predicated on the fact that the God who calls us by his grace is holy. The holiness of God is an essential doctrine of the church. A document that was put together by the John Wesley Institute entitled, “The Faith Once Delivered: A Wesleyan Witness,” says the following about the holiness of God:

‌“God is holy. He is perfect goodness, a goodness that is not tainted in any way. He has no blemish, only absolute purity, and self-consistency. Though such holiness is distinctive of God’s absolute perfection, God invites creatures to share in his holiness.”

‌The late Methodist theologian, Thomas Oden, says the following on God’s holiness in volume one of his systematic theology, “The moral quality that best points to God’s incomparably good character, as one incomparable in power, is holiness, for holiness implies that every excellence fitting to the Supreme Being is found in God without blemish or limit.” It is this holy display of character that separates God from creation.

‌The holiness of God has implications for Peter’s audience and us. The concept of God’s holiness does not stop with descriptions of God’s character and nature. Considering God’s holiness, Peter commands his audience to “be holy in all of your conduct.” “Conduct” covers all manner of life. The word appears thirteen times in the New Testament, with six occurring in 1 Peter. The word is used for public activity and relationships with others. The call to holiness is not a theoretical concept. Holiness is to characterize the actions of holy people in their dealings with others. Oden also writes, “God’s holiness is finally the criterion for human moral activity, even though our finitude is such that we can reflect perfect goodness only inadequately.” Just as God said to the Israelites through Moses in Deuteronomy 28:1, “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.” God’s command to the Israelites is the same as his command for us today.

3. The foundation of our hope is in the full work of Christ. (vs. 17-23)

John 1:29 ESV

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!