Hope in Hostility - 1 Peter 1:8-12

Recap: Prep for persecution

Equipped w/ salvation, guarded w/ living hope, joyful in circumstances

No matter what happens, nothing changes our mission and future.

1 Peter 1:8-12

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that would come to you, searched and carefully investigated. 11 They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified in advance to the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.

Confrontation is difficult for us. (Hostile, passive, or nothing)

How do believers respond to hostility?

1. Love, Obey, and Rejoice in Jesus.

As pressures mounted upon believers, Peter reminded the people to draw near to Jesus.

Love - Salvation is based upon faith. The more you know Jesus, the more you love Him.

Obey - Believe or trust. Trusting Christ isn’t a feeling; it’s a decision to obey.

Rejoice - A joy encompassed with glory.

“Receiving” - Presently receiving salvation.

Soul was what was lost.

Handing Bo to Tricia after two days.

1 Corinthians 2:9

9 But as it is written, What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived—God has prepared these things for those who love him.

Our life is bound up in love to Jesus by faith. We don’t seek ourselves or live in self-sufficiency.

2. Salvation is Fully Revealed in Jesus.

The prophets of the OT did not fully understand the details of the Messiah.

“searched carefully and investigated”

Perseveringly. They were certain of the redemption about to come.

The Holy Spirit revealed the words written.

Isaiah 7:14

14 Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.

“the glories” - His resurrection, of his ascension, of His judgment.

Jesus manifested himself and God through the OT.

The full light was not given until the Messiah had come.

“Jesus” is the good church answer. Why? Think of Peter’s testimony! (Before, during, and after Jesus)

We have an immense privilege over OT people.

“Angels”

“catch a glimpse” - Bend over to look deeply into and see the bottom of a thing.

Angels are curious about matters of grace and the gospel.

John H. Sammis

“When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word, what a glory he sheds on our way! When we do his good will, he abodes with us still, and with all who will trust and obey. Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” < Many readers of this column grew up singing this familiar gospel song in Sunday School classes, worship services, revival meetings and other gatherings of the church. The hymn was inspired in 1886 when the composer of the music, Daniel B. Towner (1850-1919), was the music leader during one of Dwight L. Moody’s famous revivals. Towner provided the following account cited by Moody’s musical partner, Ira D. Sankey, in his biography, My Life and the Story of the Gospel Hymns: “Mr. Moody was conducting a series of meetings in Brockton, Massachusetts, and I had the pleasure of singing for him there. One night a young man rose in a testimony meeting and said, ‘I am not quite sure—but I am going to trust, and I am going to obey.’ I just jotted that sentence down, and sent it with a little story to the Rev. J. H. Sammis, a Presbyterian minister. He wrote the hymn, and the tune was born.” Sammis is said to have composed the lines of the refrain upon receiving the letter: “Trust and obey—for there’s no other way To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” As is the case with most gospel songs, these lines provide the central theme around which all of the stanzas were written. The text and tune first appeared in the 1887 collection, Hymns Old and New, and the hymn has been included in countless hymnals since then. Methodist hymnals in the United States have carried it since 1897. Jesus is our only hope.