Living Hopefully

Welcome to our series on the book of 1 Peter, titled Living Hope: How to Endure Suffering and Rejoice in Salvation.

In this series, we are exploring the main themes and messages of this letter, written by the apostle Peter to Christians who were facing persecution and suffering for their faith. We are learning how Peter encourages and instructs them to live hopefully as God’s people in a hostile world.

Last week, we looked at the first part of chapter one, where Peter reminded them of their living hope that is based on God’s mercy and grace in giving them new birth into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.

He also challenged them to be holy as God is holy, and to love one another earnestly from a pure heart.

Today, we will look at the second part of chapter one, where Peter continues to tell them how to live hopefully as Christians. He tells them that their hope is not based on wishful thinking or vague optimism, but on the reality and certainty of God’s grace and power.

He tells them that their hope is not passive or complacent, but active and diligent. He tells them that their hope is not selfish or worldly, but holy and heavenly.

Let’s read 1 Peter 1:13-21 together and see what God has to say to us through the Apostle Peter.

1 Peter 1:13–21 NKJV

13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Introduction:

A man named John was a Christian who lived in a small village. One day, he was walking down the street when he saw a group of people gathered around a man who was lying on the ground. John went over to see what was happening and found out that the man had been robbed and beaten.

John knew that he had to help this man, so he picked him up and took him to his home. He cleaned his wounds and gave him food and water. The man was very grateful and thanked John for his kindness.

John told him that he was just doing what God had called him to do. He said that as Christians, they were called to be holy in all their conduct and to love their neighbors as themselves.

The man was amazed by John’s kindness and asked him why he did it. John replied that it was because of his faith in Jesus Christ. He said that Jesus had taught him to love others as himself and to do good to those who were in need. And John began to share the Gospel of Christ to him.

The man was so moved by John’s words that he too put his faith in Christ. He realized that there was something different about John and that it was because of his faith in Jesus Christ.

This story illustrates 1 Peter 1:13-21 because it shows how Christians are called to be holy in all their conduct and to love their neighbors as themselves. John did not hesitate to help the man who had been beaten and robbed because he knew that it was what God had called him to do. We also are called live in such away that it will draw others to the loving arms of Christ.

In this passage, Peter tells us how to live hopefully as Christians. He tells us that our hope is not based on wishful thinking or vague optimism, but on the reality and certainty of God’s grace and power. He tells us that our hope is not passive or complacent, but active and diligent. He tells us that our hope is not selfish or worldly, but holy and heavenly. In short, our new life in Christ is to radiate Christ to others in all circumstance.

So in this passage this morning see at least 3 ways we are to live hopefully in our living hope we have in Christ.

I. We live hopefully by setting our minds on God’s grace (v. 13)

1 Peter 1:13 ESV

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Peter says that we should prepare our minds for action, be sober-minded, and set our hope fully on the grace that will be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

He uses three metaphors to describe how we should think and act in light of our hope.

To prepare our minds for action means to be alert and ready for whatever God calls us to do or face. Do not be lazy or distracted by irrelevant or trivial things. Instead, have a clear and focused mind that is guided by God’s word and will.

To be sober-minded means to be serious and sensible about the realities and challenges of life. Do not be intoxicated or influenced by the pleasures or pressures of the world. Instead, have a balanced and disciplined mind that is controlled by God’s Spirit and truth.

To set our hope fully on God’s grace means to be confident and joyful about the future that God has prepared for us. Do not be doubtful or fearful of the uncertainties or difficulties of life. Instead, have a hopeful and grateful mind that is anchored by God’s promise and love.

II. We live hopefully by living Holy lives (vv. 14-16)

In verses 14-16, Peter says that we should not be conformed to the passions of our former ignorance, but as obedient children, we should be holy in all our conduct.

He quotes from Leviticus 19:2 ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” God will not receive anything less than holy, this is God’s command and expectation for His people.

To not be conformed to the passions of our former ignorance means to not follow the desires and patterns of our old sinful nature. It means to not live as if we do not know God or His will. It means to renounce and resist the temptations and influences of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

To be holy in all our conduct means to reflect God’s character and will in every aspect of our lives. It means to live as if we belong to God and His family. It means to imitate and obey God’s example and instruction.

To be obedient children means to recognize and respect God’s authority and love over us. It means to live as if we are grateful for God’s mercy and grace toward us. It means to honor and please God with our attitudes and actions.

III. We live hopefully by remembering God’s redemption (vv. 17-21)

In verses 17-21, Peter says that we should conduct ourselves with fear throughout the time of our exile, knowing that we were ransomed from our futile ways with the precious blood of Christ.

He says that we should trust in God, who raised Christ from the dead and gave Him glory, so that our faith and hope are in God.

To conduct ourselves with fear means to have a healthy reverence and awe for God’s holiness and judgment. Do not take lightly or casually our relationship with God or our responsibility before Him. Instead, have a humble and repentant heart that is aware of God’s holiness and presence

To remember our ransom means to recall and appreciate what God has done for us in Christ.Let us not so easily forget or neglect the cost and value of our salvation. Instead, to have a thankful and worshipful heart that is amazed by God’s grace and power.

To trust in God means to rely on and rest in His faithfulness and goodness. Do not doubt or worry about His plan or purpose for us. Instead, to have a confident and peaceful heart that is satisfied by God’s promise and love.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, let us live hopefully as Christians, by setting our minds on God’s grace, by living as God’s children, and by remembering God’s redemption. Let us praise God for giving us a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Let us look forward to the grace that will be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Let us prepare our minds for action, be sober-minded, and set our hope fully on Him. Let us not be conformed to the passions of our former ignorance, but be holy in all our conduct. Let us conduct ourselves with fear, knowing that we were ransomed with the precious blood of Christ. Let us trust in God, who raised Christ from the dead and gave Him glory, so that our faith and hope are in Him.

May God help us to do so by His Spirit. Amen.