The Living Hope of Our Salvation

1 Peter 1:3-5

Introduction

Peter begins his letter of living hope reminding the various churches throughout the Roman empire that they are temporary residents, and because of the saving activity and the promises of God & the Lord Jesus we have an inheritance , an indescribable wealth that God has granted and guaranteed for us.

Like the Psalmist we see this in His word

Psalm 119.19 I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me.

Hebrews 11.13 ¶ All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

It is like Matthew Henry explains it, it is the focusing on our inheritance that gives us joy-“a matter of the Christian’s joy, is the rememberence of the happiness laid up for him. It is incorruptible, it cannot come to nothing, it is in an estate that cannot be spent. Also, undefiled; thus it signifies its purity and perfection. And it fades not, it is not sometimes more or less pleasant, but ever the same, still like itself. All possessions are stained with defects and failings; still something is wanting; fair houses have sad cares flouting about the gilded and ceiled roofs; soft beds and full tables, are often with sick bodies and uneasy stomachs. All possessions are stained with sin, either in the getting or in the using of them. How ready are we to turn the things we posses into occasions and instruments of sin, and to think there is no liberty or delight in their use, without abusing them! Worldly possessions are uncertain and will soon pass away, like the flowers and plants of the field. That must be of the greatest worth, which is laid up in the highest and best place, in heaven. Happy are those whose hearts the Holy Spirit sets on this inheretence.”

Why are you a temporay resident? Because of the saving activity of the Trinity; the prognosis of the Father; the sanctifying work of the Spirit and the blood atonement of the Son.

If as believers we are going to successfully deal with the problems that naturally come to all believers there must be a clear understanding of what God has done, is doing and what He will do to preserve our salvation.

To do His will we will take a look at the doxology of Peter in verses 3-5, to look past our temporary troubles and rejoice in our eternal inheritance.

I. The Description of Our Salvation

“ caused us to be born again”

A. The Saving Activity of God

The reason we can take the greatest joy in salvation is that we did not do anything to earn it.

Caused us is aorist, past tense

Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love

Hebrews 11:10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Peter 2:9 ¶ But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Election is meant to bring comfort to the mind of the believer

Listen to what the Lord Jesus said:

John 6:44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

John 6:39 "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.

John 15:16 "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.

Man is dead prior to salvation and slaves to sin;

B. The Regenerating Mercy of God

polu. auvtou/ e;leoj

Mercy means the feeling of pity and compassion toward the miserable

Ephesians 2:5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

God saw our miserable condition- then He did something about it!

Isaiah 63:9 In all their affliction He was afflicted, And the angel of His presence saved them; In His love and in His mercy He redeemed them, And He lifted them and carried them all the days of old.

Ezekiel 18:23 "Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares the Lord GOD, "rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?

It is God’s sovereign choice to extend mercy to whomever He wishes

Romans 9:15 For He says to Moses, "I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION." 16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.

Our comfort is He extended His mercy to us.

C. The Ressurection Power of God

“caused us to be born again” via resurrection

Actual participation in the God-given life.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Galatians 6:15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Ephesians 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,

Remember Jesus’ wonderful illustration of the grain of wheat

John 12:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

“Stops us dead in your tracks and turns you the other way! Ressurection Power!