Hope Focuses

1 Peter 1:13 CSB

Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

INTRO—

Maybe you’ve heard it said, “Don’t be so heavenly minded that you’re no earthly good.” Is that a warranted admonition?

CS Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity, “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next” (HarperCollins, 2001, p. 134).

AND…as we continue reading 1 Peter we see:

1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

“Hope completely on the grace…at the revelation of Jesus…”

Imperative (#1) — HOPE [look for, expect, trust in…]

…to what extent? COMPLETELY [finally, perfectly, to the end] — to focus our hope in any other (place, person, perspective, etc.) will not serve us well NOR honor the God who called us TO BE HIS.

So our hope MUST be focused on Jesus’ return (and nothing else)—and when our hope is focused on Jesus’ return, WE WILL…

BE HOLY [1 Peter 1.14-16]

“You are to be” (Imperative [#2]) — ‘to become’ = since God—who IS HOLY—has called (made) us to be HIS CHILDREN, we MUST BE BECOMING HOLY, too.

[[Like my adopted niece…]]

[By] Avoiding conforming to our previously ignorant way of life (v. 14)

[In] All of life (v. 15)...not just ‘church life.’

Thankfully this is a ‘becoming’ thing for us (no excuse to not continually be changing; no need to ‘throw in the towel’ when we miss the mark!)

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

[Has] Always God’s call/plan (v. 16)…it is written:

Leviticus 11:44–45 “For I am the Lord your God, so you must consecrate yourselves and be holy because I am holy. Do not defile yourselves by any swarming creature that crawls on the ground. For I am the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God, so you must be holy because I am holy.”

[[Leviticus 19:2 ““Speak to the entire Israelite community and tell them: Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.”

Leviticus 20:7 “Consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am the Lord your God.”]]

[BE; thinking impacts acting]

BEHAVE REVERENTLY [1 Peter 1.17-21]

“Conduct yourselves in reverence (Imperative [#3])…living as strangers” [Horizontal discomfort comes from vertical commitment]

Reverent fear (φόβος) — living with proper fear of God = a reverential awe (like a child who would desire to please a parent from a respectful, trusting love).

Conduct (ἀναστρέφω) — behave, live specifically

Claiming God as our Father (v. 17a)

Living as strangers (v.17b) = in this whole life now

Knowing what it cost to save you (vv. 18-21)

“The precious blood of Christ” (v. 19)

God’s plan…ALWAYS (v. 20)

Enabling our faith (v. 21) — “so that your faith and hope are in God”

1 Peter 3:15 “but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”

[BEHAVE; acting shows/proves thinking...BE & BEHAVE necessarily interrelated!]

BEGIN WITH LOVE [1 Peter 1.22-25]

“From a pure heart love [Imperative (#4)] one another constantly” (v. 22)

Since you are obedient to the truth (v.22a)…love

Love constantly (v. 22b)

Constantly — continuously, fervently, eagerly

Because you are born again (v.23a)

…through God’s word (vv. 23b-25a)

Isaiah 40:6–8 “A voice was saying, “Cry out!” Another said, “What should I cry out?” “All humanity is grass, and all its goodness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flowers fade when the breath of the Lord blows on them; indeed, the people are grass. The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever.””

…includes what was proclaimed to you! (v. 25b) = 1 Peter 1.12 [announced…preached the Gospel].

[BEGIN; but never get over; recognize that love certainly goes BEYOND ‘each other’ to others—neighbors, enemies]

CONCL—

Goals…a future hope. For athletes, students, musicians—that goal impacts everything they do in the hear-and-now…how they interact with the world around them; what they choose to do & NOT DO; their connection to their team.

Goals have an end desire in focus.

CS Lewis: “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.”

Jim Elliott (missionary, martyr): “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

INVITATION:

Salvation

Holiness

Hope

1 Peter 1:25 CSB

but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.