Sermon Tone Analysis

Perseverance

Date:

Sermon Title: Perseverance

Text:1 Peter 1:3-5:

1. Introduction:

a. Basic Training:

i. US Army is a formidable fighting force.

ii.

Soldiers start in BCT.

For the soldier, BCT appears to be chaos for the first couple of weeks.

iii.

Army has a detailed plan to develop soldiers and fighting formations and the results are good.

b.

The Plan and purpose of God.

Perseverance of the Saints.

Trinity.

c. God is always intentional.

2. Interrogative: Can we lose our salvation?

3. Imperative: If we have faith in Christ, we cannot lose our salvation.

4. Exhortation: We are called not only to faith, but to fulfillment in God’s plan.

We need to actively seek God’s will through His word, circumstances, the counsel of Godly people, and prayer.

5. Transition: Who saved us, why did He save us, what is the only possible result?

a.

First Point: Who saved us? 1 Peter 1:3: 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,

b.

Explanation:

i. Eulogetos – Blessed, adorable

ii.

God and Father – has caused us (via the Holy Spirit).

The Triune God made this happen.

iii.

How is God blessed?

He is blessed by Himself – by the wonder of His divine nature.

iv.

1Ch 29:10 So David blessed the LORD in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, "Blessed are You, O LORD God of Israel our father, forever and ever.

1Ch 29:11 "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.

v. God and Father – has caused us (via the Holy Spirit).

The Triune God made this happen.

vi.

according to His great mercy

vii.

Caused us to be born again.

“ according to his mercy he hath begotten us again”.

1. Father loved and chose us, Son redeemed us, Holy Spirit gave us faith and compelled us.

2. Recall discussion of the elect

3. birth and rebirth are not a matter of choice.

We are chosen.

4. Birth and rebirth are God’s action, not our own.

viii.

To a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

ix.

Facts we can verify: We are truly blessed, as we have the hope of eternal life as God demonstrated through the resurrection.

When we identify with Christ, we have hope and assurance of our resurrection because of His.

x.

Focusing on the spiritual joy we are blessed with, helps take our focus off the cares of the flesh.

c.

Illustration: Levites.

We are a priesthood of believers.

The Levites were called and separated, so are we.

d.

Argumentation: All intentional, nothing left to chance

e. Application:

i.

No matter the difficulty, we are safe and secure in the hands of the Lord to eternal life.

ii.

Our lives on earth, our earthly possessions are worthless in comparison to the glorious eternity we have reserved in heaven.

iii.

We need to keep our eye on our spiritual blessings, as the concerns of the flesh can be depressing.

f.

Exhortation: Focusing on the flesh and the world will take us into the ditch.

Its about our decision calculus: Follow God’s word and God’s way – not the world, no matter the apparent risks.

6. Second Point: Why did he save us? 1 Peter 1:4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.

a. Explanation:

i. Separating sheep from goats.

Mat 25:34 "Then G5119  the King G935  will say G3004  to those G3588  on His right G1188 , 'Come G1205 , you who are blessed G2127  of My Father G3962 ,  R1 inherit G2816  the kingdom G932  prepared G2090  for you  R2 from the foundation G2602  of the world G2889 .

ii.

Peter is feeding his lambs.

John 21:17 He *said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?"

And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus *said to him, "Tend My sheep.

iii.

Act 20:32 "And now G3568  I  R1 commend G3908  you to God G2316  and to  R2 the word G3056  of His grace G5485 , which is able G1410  to  R3 build G3618 you up and to give G1325 you R4 the inheritance G2817  among G1722  all G3956  those G3588  who are sanctified G37 .

iv.

Heb 9:15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

v. Our inheritance from God.

We are His sheep – His resources and blessings are beyond anything we can imagine.

vi.

Contrast: Our parents die that we might inherit.

We die that we might obtain God’s inheritance.

b.

Illustration:

i.

My inheritance from Dad.

This was important to him – even though an unbeliever.

Helped us buy our home in Colorado where we plan to retire.

ii.

Dan’s inheritance from us.

We want to provide for him and his family.

We cannot do much, really.

iii.

Disinheriting.