A Living and Lasting hope 1 Peter 1_3_5

1 Peter 1:3-5 “A Living and Lasting Hope”

Claire Boothe Luce once said, “There are no hopeless situations; there are only people who have grown hopeless about them.”

If anyone understood hopeless situations it was The apostle Peter, He was the one who denied Jesus three times “Saying I do not know that man” just moments before Jesus was crucified. But Peter experienced 1st hand the grace of God after the Resurrection, as the angel in the empty tomb said “Jesus has risen” go tell His disciples and Peter! A few days later while fishing on the sea of Galilee he experience’s God’s grace again as Jesus came to Him and asked Him 3 times do you love me… extending forgiveness to Peter and ordered Him to 1) Tend My lambs, 2) Shepherd My Sheep, 3) Tend My Sheep.

We see in this Letter Peter fulfilling Jesus’ call to shepherd His sheep as He writes to Jewish believers who are enduring the cruel persecution of Nero, who killed countless Christians by Crucifixion, filleting, and burning alive so that he could have light in his garden.

1 Peter is a book that emphasizes God grace towards believers… and as John is called the apostle of love Peter is called the apostle of Hope. in this letter Peter tells us of the confident hope believers have as an encouragement for daily living regardless of their circumstances!

CPS: Today, I want you to know that through the grace of God you a living and lasting hope.

I. Christians have living Hope (3)

Hope is the Greek noun elpis, it means “looking forward to in confident expectation” Literally, It is the confident expectation of a future. Sinners and Saints look forward to a future, but the sinner’s hope perishes as they die however the saint’s hope is eternal because their savior lives! The expectation for the Christian is eternal life, meaning that even after they die they continue to live forever in the presence of God.

A. Christian hope is Caused by God.

The hope of the Christian is Salvation/deliverance from the wrath of God (Spiritual death/2nd death). Salvation is not the doing of man but is caused by Grace and the love of God. It is through faith that God shows compassion on us while we were yet sinners Christ died for us so that we can be saved.

1.God’s Choice (vs. 2)

Chosen (eklektos), foreknowledge (prognōsis) what is known beforehand. This does not mean that God merely knew who would have faith but that before you were ever born God knew you and set His love on you!

2. Man’s Responsibility (vs. 2)

God the Father (Who chose us), God the Son (who bought us), God the Holy Spirit (who set us apart) bringing conviction and faith.

3. God’s Glory

Blessed (praise)(to God be the Glory) it was because of His mercy that He caused us to be born again. Caused us/born again is the Greek verb anagennaō literly means caused to be born again [REGENERATION}

B. Christian hope is based on the Resurrection.

Our hope is fixed upon Jesus who died and rose again. Because God caused Jesus to arise from the grave by grace through faith He causes us to have resurrection life also. “A “living hope” is one that has life in it and therefore can give life to us. Because it has life, it grows and becomes greater and more beautiful as time goes on.”

Time destroys most hopes; they fade and then die.

ILL: When i was in 16 I hoped for a 1989 Chevy Silverado.... I never got it and eventually that hope died! The hopes of the world die along with the sinner. But the passing of time only makes a Christian’s hope that much more glorious. Today what I hope for is eternal life void of God’s wrath in the presence of God Himself! This is the kind of hope that you can hang your hat on!

II. Christians have lasting Hope (4-5)

A. Our inheritance

By grace to faith you have an inheritance in the Lord Jesus! (1:4) (Eph. 1:11). Inheritance is the Greek noun klēronomia, it means possession. The idea of a transfer of land or possessions from a father to a child.

ILL: Dad’s black book… truck, boat, coins, building. I’m grateful but these things will lose their luster, rust, and decay. But I’m told I have an inheritance in glory that is imperishable (it lasts forever) undefiled (pure), and never fading! It will never ruin, nor be stained and cheapened, it will never grow old, never wear out, nor will it ever disappoint me in any way!

B. God’s faithfulness

The inheritances of this world can legally be attested! But this inheritance is fixed, its secured and waiting for us in heaven!

NB) Reserved in heaven for YOU. The inheritance is guaranteed for the saints and the saints are a sealed people!

ILL: I made reservations once at a hotel yet my reservation was lost or never recorded.

But God promises us that are reservation in Heaven will never be canceled! We are a protected people! Protected is the Greek verb phroureō, it means to be guarded. This is a military term giving the idea of being guarded by soldiers. The verb is in the present tense meaning it is always guarded, but not simply by soldiers but by the power of God who wills, creates, and saves! This assures us that we will safely arrive in heaven! John 10:28!!! Eph. 4:30b!!!

This is through faith! Faith (pistis) to believe to a complete trust! The security of our salvation is not because of feelings or emotions it is held together by faith, continual trust in the one and only one who is trust worthy!

Your salvation is not your doings or it could be lost, Salvation is by the Grace of God who chose to put His love on you and He is faithful to reserves and protect you to the very end! AND, in the end it will be revealed to us just how faithful He truly is!

Conclusion: What a Hope we have! We have been chosen by God who shed His love on us even while we were sinners Jesus died for us, and upon hearing the Gospel the Holy Spirit moved us with conviction leading to faith with causes us to be born again receiving eternal life where we will receive our eternal inheritance that guaranteed not to disappoint. This is the only certain hope in this world because it is promised and protected by God Himself.