1 Peter 1v1-8 - Things Most Precious - Bankston Fork - Feb 18 - AM

Things Most Precious

1 Peter 1:1-8

An American minister was visiting Paris and wanted to attend church, so he went inside one of the large Cathedrals on one of the main streets.  He was late and the cathedral was packed so he just stood against the back wall with the other latecomers. 

As the choir began singing he noticed a shabbily dressed man standing not too far from him.  His clothes were tattered and worn, his hair was a mess, and he held an old hat that looked like it had been dug out of the trash.

As the choir concluded the last song, the preacher said, “O lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, have mercy on us.”  The American’s worship was broken by an audible whisper from the man.  With a look of pain on his face, he sobbed aloud, “What a dream, what a dream.  If only he could, if only he could.”  He then turned around and rushed out of the building.

Are the blessings we have in Christ only a dream?  Are they real or are they just figments of our imaginations?

These are some of the questions that Peter’s readers were asking.  Suffering for their faith, they were wondering if serving Jesus was worth the cost.  But Peter wrote to assure them that their blessings in Christ were most precious.  It would be worth it all when they met Jesus.

Our new birth is declared to us in VERSE 8.  Peter is talking about the new birth.  This joyful concept that a person can begin life again was hinted by the Old Testament prophets, but made clear by the earthly ministry of Jesus.

Peter was also writing based on personal experience.  Remembering the day that he first met Jesus, he called on his readers to remember their initial experience, the time that they had been born again.

1. The new birth is provided through God’s abundant mercy.  It does not come from our goodness or our obedience to the law or church rituals.  It comes from God’s abundant mercy.  Mercy is God’s compassion to sinners.
2. The new birth is an experience.  Peter says that God gave us a new birth.  The tense of the Greek here is one of a verb that shows a definite experience that takes place at a certain time in our life.

This new birth gives us hope.  VERSE 3.  When Jesus was crucified, the world collapsed on the apostles.  They cowered behind bolted windows and locked doors in the upper room.  Easter morning, though, brought a change in attitude and life for them.  What changed them and gave them courage? The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  Seeing Jesus resurrected, the apostles were transformed and scholars believe that from the small group of believers when Jesus was crucified a group of around 20,000 were believers in about 30 years.

Third, we have a new heritage.  VERSE 4.  Peter is discussing our heavenly home in this verse, our holy inheritance.

1. It is incorruptible.  It won’t perish, it won’t rust, it won’t wear out.  The possessions of this world will wear out.  Rhonda and I built our home a little over 13 years ago.  Over that time we have already had some things in our home that have broken and had to be repaired or replaced.  A new water heater has been installed, recently we had a kitchen faucet that had to be replaced, a new dish washer is in place, other small appliances have died, we are needing to repaint some walls.  We have had other minor repairs and replacements.  Our home in heaven, though, won’t be like that.  We will be able to live in it for eternity without ever having to replace an appliance, repaint a wall, or even fill a crack.  It will be something like we have never been able to experience here on earth.
2. It is undefiled.  No blemishes in heaven.  No imperfections.  When we built our hose we had a couple of wall studs that had problems.  They were so bowed that we couldn’t hang the sheet rock on them and it look right.  What did we do?  We either repaired or replaced them as we went.  If we hadn’t done that our walls would have been crooked.  Our walls in heaven will be as straight as an arrow without any blemish or flaw.
3. It will never fade.  A beautiful rose will fade, a picture on your wall will fade, your memory may fade, the face of the most beautiful woman you can think of will one day develop wrinkles.  Our heavenly inheritance, though, will last forever and never fade one little bit.
4. It is reserved for us in heaven.  There is a place reserved for every believer in heaven right now.  Some of the mansions may already be nearing completion for some of us.  God is preparing, reserving, and protecting us a place to spend eternity.  One day he will call us home to our eternal dwelling places.  There he will protect us, guide us, and we will be continually glorifying him.

In 1847 a physician by the name of James Simpson found that chloroform was a good substitute for ether in relieving the pain of childbirth.  His theory was proven when Queen Victoria gave birth to Prince Leopold under chloroform.  The great importance of this discovery was obvious.  When he was asked what he considered to be his greatest discovery, though, he replied, “That Jesus has saved me, a poor sinner.”