The Blessed Life of the Elect Pilgrims

Introduction

Text -

1 Peter 1-3

Title - The Blessed Life of the Elect Pilgrims

Series - 1 Peter: A Message Of Hope For Pilgrims

Part - 2

Introductory Words

Peter opened his epistle by blessing God!

“Blessed be God!”

We bless God because He has blessed us!

In our text, Peter begins to describe the blessed life of the elect pilgrims that he was addressing in this epistle. They are blessed in 4 ways:

they are blessed in their existence - in the present and in the future

they are blessed in their future existence

they are blessed in their kind of faith

they are blessed in their saving experience

Main Points

I. The Blessed Existence(Life) of the Elect Pilgrims

The elect pilgrims have a blessed existence on earth.

1 Peter 1.3-

1 Peter 1:3–5 NKJV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

THEY HAVE A BLESSED LIFE IN THE PRESENT

They are “born again according to God’s abundant mercy”

that you are born again means you are blessed!

new birth corrects the errors of your first birth

- born of woman…few days and full of trouble

- born in iniquity, conceived in sin

new birth completes the limitations of your natural birth

John 3:5–7 NKJV

5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

that you are born again means God’s has shown you abundant mercy!

They are begotten again to a living hope

Their hope is based on the resurrected Lord

The old/first birth is a hopeless case - destined for wrath and destruction

New birth delivers us from the wrath of God’s judgment

THEY HAVE A BLESSED LIFE IN THE FUTURE

They are begotten again to an inheritance

Peter describes the quality of their inheritance

“incorruptible, undefiled, unfading, reserved in heaven”

Paul gives the details of this inheritance

It is given by promise -

It is received by faith in Christ -

It is claimed with Christ - (join-heir with Christ)

What is the inheritance? THE GLORY!

- that we might be GLORIFIED together

- the glory that shall be revealed IN US

- creation awaits the GLORIOUS liberty of the children of God

- adoption, the REDEMPTION of our body

- the Holy Spirit is the guarantee

-

THEY HAVE A BLESSED AND SECURE PRESENT AND FUTURE LIFE

They are begotten again and kept by the power of God

They are KEPT because they are begotten again

God will not let His work in us go to waste!

- He began a good work… He will finish it...

They are "guarded” (grk. phroureo) for their future salvation to be revealed in the last time

God wants to ensure our salvation is complete!

They are secured by the power of God through faith

God’s power is AT WORK because we believe!

II. The Blessed Faith of the Elect Pilgrims

The elect pilgrims have a blessed future in heaven

1

III. The Blessed Faith of the Elect Pilgrims

The elect pilgrims possess a blessed faith

1 Peter 1:6–9 NKJV

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1.6-

“In this...” - points to “salvation ready to be revealed in the last time”

They have “genuine faith”

they are tested - being grieved with various trials

they rejoice in the midst of their trials (double rejoicing)

not in temporal things, but in THIS - future salvation

in gaining/claiming(receiving) the result(end) of faith - salvation of the soul

GENUINE FAITH IS NOT MATERIAL-CENTERED NOR EARTH-BOUND

1 Corinthians 15:19 NKJV

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

Their genuine faith is found worthy of praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ

When Jesus appears in glory, God’s pilgrims will be PRAISED, HONORED, AND GLORIFIED because of their FAITH!

Praised - exalted, commended (note )

Honored - positioned in a place of honor

Glorified - together with Christ as overcomers!

III. The Blessed Salvation of the Elect Pilgrims

The elect pilgrims are enjoying a blessed salvation

1 Peter 1:10–12 NKJV

10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

Their salvation was ministered to them by prophets!

they prophesied of the grace that would come to you

they searched and inquired how and when the Messiah will suffer and be glorified

they were given understanding that it was not for them and their time, but for you today!

Their salvation was desired by angels to see!

the plan of salvation was not completely revealed to angels until Christ was born, crucified, died and raised from the dead

God wanted the angels to see His glorious act when it is all said and done!

Ephesians 3:10–11 NASB95

10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,

Conclusion

Don’t trade your blessed life with the temporal things of this world

all the world can offer are temporary things because it cannot give hope to its own people

- you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory!

Don’t let go of your salvation!

hold on to your salvation because God is holding on to you!

SONGS

Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord

I Bless Your Name

Blessed Assurance