Standing Firm week 1

Chosen for a Living Hope

This morning we are beginning a series titled standing firm as we will walk through the first epistle or letter of Peter

We can have hope in the fire as we stand firm as God’s chosen People.

Because we belong to Jesus Christ, we can stand firm in hope, holiness, and humility.

This mornings message is titled: Chosen for a living Hope.

We will be looking at the first 9 verses of 1 Peter chapter one.

Peter writes to Christians in various regions of Asia Minor, the area we know today as Turkey.

The recipients of the letter were primarily Jewish believers (but included some Gentile believers).

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.

Prayer

Peter loved to lead, but he had to go through a lot of brokenness to learn how.

He thus wrote this letter to churches to encourage them to persevere in spite of their own suffering, trials, and persecutions.

Peter wanted believers to know that new birth in Christ gives hope that will aid perseverance in spite of what we go through.

Peter knew about suffering because he had experienced it as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

But he also learned how to endure it with joy and victory rather than with sadness and defeat.

This is a lesson we need today as our own culture grows increasingly hostile against the Christian faith.

If we are going to be real kingdom citizens, our salvation has to become a visible reality that, affects all we do.

Peter tells us we need a Christianity that can be seen, even in a world that opposes and rejects us.

1. Scattered but Not Forgotten

1 Peter 1:1–2 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.

Peter’s greeting highlights the saving work of each member of the Trinity.

The Christian recipients were chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ.

Peter was writing to the Jewish Christians who were dispersed among the Gentile nations, and yes there was some Gentile believers in the audience.

Peter reminded the believers that like their forefathers in faith, they were sovereignly chosen to be a light to the Gentiles.

Gentiles were non-Jewish people, but we could say unbelievers.

As believers we have been called to be a light to unbelievers so that they might see the love of Jesus.

Matthew 5:13–16 NASB95

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Salvation is no small thing.

It involves the actions of the whole Godhead, with the specific election goal of creating obedient believers on earth who share in Christ’s sufferings as we advance His kingdom agenda in the world.

Peter prays that grace and peace would be multiplied to them - that they will take advantage of the spiritual resources God has richly supplied so that His grace may be exponentially expanded in their day-to-day lives.

2. Born Again into a Living Hope

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,

Peter enters into praise for the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who saved us because of His great mercy, not because of our own worthiness.

When we were born the first time, it was into a dead hope.

We were born into sin.

We know that the consequences of sin is eternal death, which is being eternally separated from the love of God.

There is no hope for the future for the unbeliever.

Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is a better future on the horizon.

Jesus’ resurrection guarantees our own resurrection.

Our hope is alive because Jesus is alive

Therefore, we have a living hope in our salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

3. An Inheritance that Cannot Fade

1 Peter 1:4–5 NASB95

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.

Peter says Christians have an inheritance that is imperishable.

Have you ever made a hotel or restaurant reservation only to discover that there was no record of the reservation, when you showed up?

That will not happen with this reservation because it is kept in heaven.

No one can take it, lose it, or hack it our of God’s heavenly computer.

Not only is our inheritance in safekeeping, but we are eternally secure.

You are being guarded by God’s power for the salvation that is to come.

If you are truly born again, you are not going anywhere - not because of your power to hold on to God, but because God has an omnipotent grip on you.

And He will not let go.

John 10:27–29 NASB95

27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

We are Guarded by God

Our salvation is guarded by God.

4. Refined, Not Ruined

1 Peter 1:6–9 NASB95

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.

We are to rejoice in this.

Nothing should produce greater joy than knowing our security in Jesus Christ.

That is true even in our suffer grief in various trials.

God allows trials to refine your faith like gold so that it may result in praise of Jesus when He returns.

All trials are designed to do three things:

Trials are designed to prove your faith.

Trails are designed to develop your faith.

Trails are designed to glorify your Savior.

How should we respond while living in time of trials?

We need to love Christ, believe in Him, and rejoice in Him.

You love Christ by seeking His glory, so determine how you can bring Him the most glory in a given circumstances and do it.

You believe Christ - or trust Him - by obeying Him.

Trusting Christ is not a feeling: it is a decision to obey.

Rejoicing in Christ means thanking and praising Him because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your soul.

This is not a reference to eternal salvation; the first readers already had it.

It is about the future rewards that await us.

The Trials we go through and how we handle them, prove our faith.

We must stand firm as we go through the trials of life.

We need to realize that our identity is secure even when life is unstable.

We can stand firm when life is unstable because as followers of Jesus Christ we have been chosen for a living hope.