Our Living Hope
Following Jesus • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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But living in hope relates to living with a focus on “one thing”—not living in hope that we will be able to achieve and get everything but living in hope of gaining the “one thing.”
John Goldingay
What is the “one thing” John Goldingay is talking about? He calls it living in hope, I prefer to call it the living hope. It is a living hope that is Jesus Christ. Jesus who is alive in heaven. A living hope that comes from a resurrected Savior. A living hope that one day we will be in glory because we are born again. Let’s look at the text for today to get a better idea of this living hope.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 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, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Peter’s intent in writing this epistle was to strengthen believers. For the modern believer, it is reminding us of our heavenly hope and the inheritance even in the midst of our various trials. We are called to live a life of holiness and love, to glorify God and to imitate Christ. And it starts with an understanding of the living hope we have in Jesus and the salvation of our souls.
Peter starts with the knowledge that Christians are born into this hope.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
It is through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, believers have been born again into a living hope. This hope points to the glory of God. It is this glory that is the sum of all that God is and does. Glory is not a separate attribute of God. Everything that God is and does is characterized by glory. We get an understanding of this Glory through His Son Jesus Christ.
Peter describes being born again, our salvation, as a positive expectation about the future. So let’s look to see what salvation means in the Greek.
Soteria (so-tay-ree-ay) Feminine Noun
deliverance, preservation, safety, deliverance from the molestation of enemies
Your first birth is into a dead hope. You were born into an eternal death, but through the resurrection of Jesus, there is a better future for us. We have received an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading. And this hope is grounded in the Word of God.
because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.
It is imperishable meaning nothing can ruin it.
It is undefiled meaning it can not be stained nor cheapened in any way.
It is unfading meaning it will never grow old nor wear out.
Isn’t it great knowing we are born again into this living hope? Into the eternal glory of God. It is a gift given to every believer on the day of their salvation.
Peter continues stating that Christians are guarded in this hope.
You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
Not only is your inheritance in safekeeping, but it is guarded by God’s power through salvation. Being truly born again means you are not going anywhere. You are secure in God’s hands. Not because of what you have done, but because God has His grip on you.
My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
Be very aware of this, your works will get you rewards in heaven, but your works will not get you into heaven. That only comes through a loving relationship with Christ that brings about salvation. This salvation saves you from hell and gets your name written into the Lamb’s book of life.
Peter also expresses that Christians are to rejoice in this hope despite what they maybe going through.
You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Nothing should produce greater joy than knowing you are secure in Christ, even when you suffer various trials , we remain secure in the living hope.
Peter used the word trials and not tribulations or persecutions, because they are different. Trials are some of God’s tools in the school of Christian experience.
Trials teach us discipline when we are outside of God’s will.
Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
Trials also help us in our spiritual growth. Paul spoke on this when he was tormented and asked for his “thorn” to be removed three times. He understood the trial and said this
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.”
Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.
Trials are not easy and they are not fun, but at times they are necessary for us to become stronger in our faith in the living hope that is Jesus Christ. Notice Peter mentioned the refining of gold. The refiner would heat up the furnace and then put in the gold that had been mined in order to separate the worthless impure dross from the precious gold. When heated the dross would rise to the top and be skimmed away. The refiner would continue to do this till when he looks down he sees his reflection. God uses trials to remove that impure dross in our lives so He can look down and see his reflection in our lives clearly.
Look, I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
I am often awake early enough to hear the birds start singing.
And sometimes I wonder why the birds sing. I've heard that it's because they're happy to see the sun again. Funny thing is, I was able to witness that the singing starts long before the sun is even visible. And yet they sing anyway. They sing in the darkness, because they know it won't stay dark forever. How do they know this? The same way we do, God’s glory.
It would be so easy to sing in the darkness as an act of pity -- to mourn for the pain it is causing us. But the birds aren't doing that, and neither should we. Sing to welcome the sun. Even if you can't quite see it yet.
Peter ends with how Christians are to love the living hope that we have in Jesus Christ.
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, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
As Christians we love Christ, even though we have not seen Him in the flesh yet. We believe in Him but we have not seen Him yet. We rejoice in Him, but we have not seen him yet.
How do we love Him? by seeking out His glory even in our circumstances. Just Like Shadrack, Meshak and Abindego. Even in their circumstances, facing the furnace that was 7 times hotter than normal, they loved God through it all.
If the God we serve exists, then he can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he can rescue us from the power of you, the king. But even if he does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.”
That is showing love to a God that delivers. God who loved us so much that He sent His Son that saves us from the fiery pits of hell’s furnace.
How do we believe? We do this by obeying His commands. Believing isn't a feeling, it is a decision to obedience with the living hope.
How do we rejoice? We rejoice in Christ by worshipping and praising the living hope. why? Because through this living hope we have salvation of our souls. We have eternal glory that awaits us in heaven.
It is not so much that believers are now living “full of hope,” but that they have a fixed “hope,” a clear vision of what God will do for them in the future.
Scot McKnight
