Oh How He Loves Us
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A living hope
A living hope
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
The book of 1st Peter has a tremendous focus on living in this world!
They are living in the time of Nero and the rise of Domitian’s rule. Peter was eventually martyred during the reign of Nero about 63 AD
The book touches on issues relating to Praise, Holiness and its requirements, the position of the believer, Submission, Duties, Christ’s example to follow, how to act in view of the last days, and finally the reason for the letter
By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.
The overriding theme is the need for the believers to bear-up under persecution!
Unjust or unforeseen suffering is one of the great problems that grips the hearts of people today. We struggle with frustration, anger, and uncertainty when trials strange and unexpected land on our doorsteps. Too often in those most difficult moments of our lives, confusion reigns while contentment wanes; questions arise while prayer subsides.
Peter lays out some compelling reasons to stay the course
In verse 1 we read that God “elected” us to this life
The word elect here is a military term meaning to “select soldiers for a specific duty” It carries with it the sense of choosing the “best quality”
God knew exactly what type of individuals He needs to accomplish His purpose! We were not randomly selected in a lottery but rather highly favored by the King of Kings!
Peter later reminds us of the honor of this election
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Not only did He purposefully select you according to His need, He sanctified you unto His service!
The Apostle Paul describe it as such
I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
I have said many times that Sanctification is the process of holiness in our lives. Again
What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
You see that the Spirit of God is the source of the Sanctification project
Because of the saving power of the sacrifice, we can now begin the journey of sanctification. The crazy things is that in Christ, we are already made holy and complete!
God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.
That is why Peter can say
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
The hope that we have isn’t just a hopeful wish but rather a vibrant force that propels us forward during out times of adversity!
Not only that but we have an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled!
It is interesting that the word incorruptible is the Greek word meaning “without dying”
Isn’t that the great reward Jesus promised?
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Never again will we see the corruption of our flesh or taste of the wages of sin!
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Do you see it? Because of this fact we should never be moved or swayed by anything…including death!
Peter told them
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
My friends, were are living in a time where the genuineness of our faith is being tested daily! I am reminded of the warning to Peter that Satan wanted to “sift him”
The Greek word there “sift” means to break, cook, dissolve, divide, or separate, There is another meaning with is to solidify!
The trails we face should be solidifying our trust and hope in Him!
What Satan has ment for evil, God will use it for our good!
