Life in His Name

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Transition: One main way that we experience life in Jesus name is hope. From this passage we are going to investigate ..

6 Characteristics of hope in Jesus name…

Transition: What does hope look like for those who have life in His name?

1. Living Hope (vs 3)

Biblical hope is defined as certain expectation. This is not hope motivated by wishful thinking. Its not the kind of hope that takes a risk and wishes that everything will turn out okay. NO, this is living hope accomplished by the merciful action of God the Father. This is a certain confident hope that is accomplished through the powerful resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It is the certainty of living with the reality that God has acted on our behalf by causing us to be born again. he has brought life through the obedience of His Son. He has granted us faith to believe on His name. And He will sustain our life. Hope is not only an immediate living reality but also…

2. Heavenly Inheritance (vs 4)

a. Imperishable: Not subject to breakdown.

b. Undefiled: Free from stain or blemish.

c. Unfading: Never losing quality or beauty.

d. Kept: protected in heaven.

Transition: This is what it means to have hope in Jesus name. We know that our future inheritance is better than our present existence. Not only that but we have hope that we are..

3. Guarded by God (vs 5)

God is the one responsible for keeping us secure. His power is keeping watch over us.

Illustration: Our dog keeping watch over us when we go camping.

He is doing so through faith. In other words, on account of our faith in Christ Jesus, because of our trust in God’s Son, He is guarding us for salvation. He is guarding those who have trusted in Christ for total deliverance from sin, death, and hell.

Notice, this salvation is ready. It is prepared for us and ready to be revealed. This salvation is in a condition of complete readiness to be made known to us in the immediate future.

This gives us great hope.

4. Genuine faith (vs 6-7)

As the result of being grieved by trials. The testing that produces endurance. The precious fire purification that results in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus returns.

a. How or why do Christians have hope in trials?? Notice the way trials are described by Peter...

a. rejoicing trials..

b. momentary trials.

c. unavoidable (necessary) trials.

d. grieving trials

e. various trials

f. meaningful trials (vs 7)

-Genuine faith (not counterfeit. Removes hypocrisy.

-More precious than gold

resulting in praise, honor, and glory

5. Joyful faith (vs 8)

a. By loving and believing Christ, whom we have not seen we rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. This is joy that defies description. Like a picture that cannot capture the beauty, joy, full of glory (vs 8)

Observation: Very similar emphasis that we found in John’s gospel. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe John 20:29, This is faith in Christ with out immediately seeing Him.

Hymn: Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory. (Page 423 “Sing to The Lord)

6. Salvation of our souls (vs 9)

The outcome of a tested and joy filled faith in Christ Jesus is the salvation of our soul. The result believing in His name is that we have confident hope of eternal salvation.

Closing: Promises that give us hope.

Especially encouraging when we know that Peter was writing to a people and situation much like our own. They were elect exiles. Chosen of God but wondering in the wilderness. They were among the dispersion of Christians who were under the threat of persecution. They were in this situation as a result of the foreknowledge of God the Father, being set apart by God the Spirit, for obedience to God the Son. God’s grace was being multiplied to them… granting them great hope in the midst of their temporary trials. So to we are faced with wondering in a wasteland of persecution and trials. The unique difference for us today in that our trouble isn’t usually as direct as it was in Peter’s day. We are plagued with apathy. Arrogant with our own authority. Deluded with distractions. Pressed against by immediate pleasure, and side tracked by worshiping many other things that are not Jesus. Where is our hope??