“Hope when there seems to be no Hope”

INTRODUCTION.

The book of 1 Peter was written by Peter one of the twelve disciples called by Jesus, thus making him an apostle. Most likely written in Rome and sent to churches in Asia Minor. Peter was writing to the churches encouraging them and instructing them how to live as Christians, God’s people, during times of persecution. Peter being in Rome where persecution was strong and increasing knew it would spread out from there. A great fire had happened in Rome, and the ruler Nero blamed the Christians. Nero would even take Christians and burn them as torches to light his gardens at night.

Peter wrote to the Church, the Christians, the Chosen ones that were living as aliens, in Asia Minor, which is modern day Turkey. These chosen ones were addressed as aliens in the dispersion or the Greek word “diaspores,” the scattered ones. Peter called them aliens because they were temporarily living outside of Rome. Also, referring to the chosen, Christians as aliens because they were temporarily living here on earth. Their real home is in heaven. While living here on earth the Christian resides as an exile outside their true homeland which is heaven. The chosen one is described as sojourning in this age before arriving in the coming age.

1 Peter 1:1–9 NASB95

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

ENCOURAGEMENT OF EVERLASTING FAMILY!.

The order Peter listed the different areas was most likely the clockwise direction that the letter would travel or circulate. Peter wanted to encourage them that even though they were scattered about living in a foreign land it was only temporary, that is why he called them aliens. Peter also wanted to encourage them that while they were in persecution they were not alone or out of the knowledge of God. Peter reminded them that they were God’s chosen people. Peter wrote to them reminding them that their salvation and inheritance was by God’s foreknowledge. God planned from the beginning that salvation, our adoption, would be done only through His Son Christ Jesus, and His blood shed on the cross.

The chosen were , God’s people, through His plan carried out through Holy Spirit. They became chosen of God through being sanctified, dedicated to God, by the calling of Holy Spirit. The foreknowledge of God was His plan before time that people would obey Christ and come to God through Christ’s blood. The old covenant was established through the sprinkling of blood and here we read of the new covenant being established by the blood of Christ.

Peter wanted to encourage them and remind them that they were God’s chosen. Peter then encouraged them with this blessing from 1 Peter 1:2 saying, “May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.”

1 Peter 1:2 NASB95

2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

Another way of saying this is “May grace and peace be multiplied to you.” As God’s chosen His grace and peace is multiplied upon us.

As Peter continued to write he expressed two reason he could boldly and confidently encourage them even though they were and would be in exiles in persecution.

ENCOURAGEMENT OF EVERLASTING HOPE!.

The first reason Peter could boldly and confidently encourage them with, was that of the Everlasting Hope they had. What was this everlasting hope they had, non-other than their salvation. In 1 Peter 1:3 “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

1 Peter 1:3 NASB95

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

God’s great mercy, God not giving people, the chosen, what they deserve. God is great and perfect, people are not. Actually, people in their flesh are enemies of God. From the very beginning of time, starting with Adam and Eve, mankind has sinned against Holy God. That has incurred a debt through their action of sin. This debt is that of separation, known as death, from God. God in all his righteousness and Christ as judge has every right to pronounce mankind guilty. The truth and fact are that the nature and holiness of God demands the verdict of guilty to mankind and the sentence of death be carried out. But God’s love and mercy is applied to mankind who receives it. God’s mercy is that of allowing for grace, allowing His Son Jesus to pay that debt through His death on the cross for their sins. God’s mercy allowed for mankind to “be born again.” This new birth, rebirth give us an everlasting hope in Christ. It is everlasting because of the resurrection of Christ the hope, from the dead. Christ defeated death, so Christ, salvation, and hope cannot die therefore it has become everlasting.

Peter wrote to tell the chosen, living in exile and persecution, that their everlasting hope through the living Christ was that they had an inheritance. 1 Peter 1:4 “4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,”

1 Peter 1:4 NASB95

4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

An inheritance is something passed down, usually through family lines. As chosen ones they were in God’s family. They have a hope of eternity at home in heaven with God. This hope is not wishful thinking but a firm conviction. It is actually fact for the believer, the child of God. Being a child of God makes one His chosen and gives them an inheritance. The great thing about his inheritance it is imperishable. The heavenly inheritance is different than a worldly inheritance. One might be promised a home or land or something else as an inheritance and by the time they get it, it might be worth nothing, it could be rotten or deteriorated. But not our heavenly inheritance. The heavenly inheritance Peter told them would not be defiled it would be perfect and holy.

While the chosen where living outside their land, living in a foreign land Peter encouraged them they could live in the everlasting hope that their inheritance was reserved for them, and no one could take that away. Paul wrote about this inheritance being reserved for the chosen in Ephesians 1:13–14 “13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”

Ephesians 1:13–14 NASB95

13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Here Paul wrote telling the church at Ephesus that after hearing the Gospel and believing in it, believing in Christ and receiving Him, they were sealed, secure in Christ. And God gave them, He placed in them the Holy Spirit as a pledge, as a down payment, and assurance of their inheritance in heaven.

After assuring them of their everlasting hope through Christ and the hope of their inheritance, Peter encourages them even though for little while they are living as aliens in persecution they are protected by God. Their salvation through faith places them as God’s children, God becomes their Father, and they became His child. 1 Peter 1:5 “5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

1 Peter 1:5 NASB95

5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

A father has the responsibility to protect his children. God’s power is the greatest and perfect power. There is nothing stronger or greater than God’s power. His protection comes out of that power. That protection is perfect enough to bring them through life and to keep them until His return to take them home. Even though they were in exile outside of their homeland now only for a little while.

Peter wanted to remind them in their distress and present situation, they had an everlasting hope a reason to hold their heads up and walk in hope when it seemed there was no hope.

The second reason Peter could boldly and confidently encourage them with, was that of the Everlasting Joy.

ENCOURAGEMENT OF EVERLASTING JOY!.

The second reason Petter could boldly and confidently encourage the chosen was that of everlasting joy. Peter encouraged them they could rejoice even in difficulty and distress. 1 Peter 1:6 “6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,”

1 Peter 1:6 NASB95

6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,

“In this,” their everlasting hope through their inheritance and protection.

Peter did not lie and tell them it would be easy. He told them they had reason to rejoice. Even though they were experiencing distress or grief through persecution they could rejoice in their hope, their salvation. The grief would only last for a little while compared to the everlasting hope of their inheritance. They were suffering in various trials or examinations of their faith.

Peter wrote to them about the proof of their faith. Peter told them that the various trails they were experiencing were to reveal to them their faith. Look at 1 Peter 1:7 “7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”

1 Peter 1:7 NASB95

7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Their faith in Christ was far more precious than even gold. While gold goes through the fire, the refiners pot, and has all the impurities removed, it is still perishable. The object of their faith and hope, Jesus Christ, is everlasting. In the day of Christ return, His revelation, faith will end in praise, and glory, and honor to Him the everlasting one. In the book of Revelation John recorded this, Revelation 5:13 “13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion, or power, forever and ever.””

Revelation 5:13 NASB95

13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”

Peter continued encouraging them of their everlasting joy that comes through their hope. Remember hope is not wishful thinking but a firm conviction. They had faith in Christ leading to salvation. It takes faith because Christ will not be revealed till He returns. Look at 1 Peter 1:8 “8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,”

1 Peter 1:8 NASB95

8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

Peter explained to the chosen that their joy is not connected to their situation or present circumstances. Their joy was in in Christ.

Peter expressed to the chosen that through their faith, their, hope, their belief in Christ the outcome would be the salvation of their souls. 1 Peter 1:9 “9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”

1 Peter 1:9 NASB95

9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

Living out the life of faith and hope through life and various trails is the sign of salvation, not walking the aisle, saying a prayer, or even baptism. The belief in Christ is the only way, and the evidence is your actions.

MESSAGE.

CONCLUSION.