The Beginning, the End and the In-between

Peter wastes no time getting to the heart of the matter when it comes to Christian living. He starts at the beginning, gives a preview of the end and then is honest about what happens between them.

Peter’s approach should be our approach. The problem is that some people want to make Christianity something that it is not. Some want to major on the beginning; some want to dream about the end. Biblical Christianity, real faith, takes in every dimension. Title:

1 Peter 1: 3-7

The Beginning of Christian Faith

Where does Christian faith begin?

New birth – life begins again.

Interesting – birth is exactly the same worldwide; the cycle of life – brand new life; new birth is exactly the same. Korean; Philipino; Europeans; Africans; changed life by submission to Jesus Christ

Source of that new birth is exactly the same – hard for biblical translators. Many do what the Holman does: he has given us new birth. King James, American standard use an old word which communicates the truth better, but no longer part of our vocabulary. He begat us again. What I want you to see: He produces the new birth. He is active; we are passive. Important! Too much: I believed; I received; I accepted. He begat you!

Has implications for the present – living hope

Spurgeon told the story of an old Greek story of a soldier under Antigonus who had an extremely painful disease that was likely to bring him soon to the grave. This soldier was always first in the charge, rushing into the hottest part of the fray, as the bravest of the brave. His pain prompted him to fight, that he might forget it; and he was not afraid of death, because he knew that in any case he had not long to live. Antigonus greatly admired the valor of his soldier, and discovered his malady and had him cured by one of the most eminent physicians of the day. But from that moment the warrior was absent from the front of the battle. Now he sought his ease; for, as he remarked to his companions, he had something worth living for--health, home, family, and other comforts, and he would not risk his life now as he had before.

Just the opposite for those of us in the faith: know that there is something worth living for in the future; brings us to live without fear in the here and now.

Car salesman: Could never live that way. Safest place to be is exactly where God wants you to be. Safest way for us to live is all out for Christ – we have a living hope.

Has two eternal bases

His mercy

Salvation does not come because man thinks it is a good idea; salvation comes because God desires to demonstrate His mercy. The offer of salvation is such that no person will stand before Him and question His mercy. Can I tell you about His offer?

How can He do this? The second basis

The Resurrection

Died – complete; demonstration of completeness-resurrection. He is alive and offers you what He shows He has – eternal life.

The End of Christian Faith

Where does Christian faith end?

Inheritance – there is a sweet by and by when we will meet on that beautiful shore.

Characteristics: imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading; kept in heaven

Affects our attitude toward this life:

Spurgeon quote: An old theologian once said, "Who chides a servant for taking away the first course of a feast when the second consists of far greater delicacies?" Who then can feel regret that this present world passes away when he sees that an eternal world of joy is coming? The first course is grace, but the second is glory, and that is as much better as the fruit is better than the blossom.

Security of the inheritance: secured by the power of God. Military word: literally garrisoned by the power of God. Who patrols the area of your inheritance? God does…

The end of the beginning (phrase-through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time): you are saved; you will be saved.

Our attitude toward thoughts of the inheritance: rejoice.

The in-between of Christian Faith

What happens between the born again and the inheritance? No sugarcoating from Peter. V. 6-7

Christian singer named Tommy Dorsey:

Back in 1932 I was 32 years old and a fairly new husband. My wife, Nettie, and I were living in a little apartment on Chicago's Southside. One hot August afternoon I had to go to St. Louis, where I was to be the featured soloist at a large revival meeting.

I didn't want to go. Nettie was in the last month of pregnancy with our first child. But a lot of people were expecting me in St. Louis. I kissed Nettie good-bye, clattered downstairs to our Model A and, in a fresh Lake Michigan breeze, chugged out of Chicago on Route 66. However, outside the city, I discovered that in my anxiety at leaving, I had forgotten my music case. I wheeled around and headed back. I found Nettie sleeping peacefully. I hesitated by her bed; something was strongly telling me to stay. But eager to get on my way, and not wanting to disturb Nettie, I shrugged off the feeling and quietly slipped out of the room with my music.

The next night, in the steaming St. Louis heat, the crowd called on me to sing again and again. When I finally sat down, a messenger boy ran up with a Western Union telegram. I ripped open the envelope. Pasted on the yellow sheet were the words: YOUR WIFE JUST DIED. People were happily singing and clapping around me, but I could hardly keep from crying out. I rushed to a phone and called home. All I could hear on the other end was "Nettie is dead. Nettie is dead." When I got back, I learned that Nettie had given birth to a boy. I swung between grief and joy. Yet that night, the baby died. I buried Nettie and our little both together, in the same casket. Then I fell apart. For days I closeted myself. I felt that God had done me an injustice. I didn't want to serve Him any more or write gospel songs. I just wanted to go back to that jazz world I once knew so well. But then, as I hunched alone in that dark apartment those first sad days, I thought back to the afternoon I went to St. Louis. Something kept telling me to stay with Nettie. Was that something God? Oh, if I had paid more attention to Him that day, I would have stayed and been with Nettie when she died. From that moment on I vowed to listen more closely to Him. But still I was lost in grief.

Everyone was kind to me, especially a friend, Professor Fry, who seemed to know what I needed. On the following Saturday evening he took me up to Malone's Poro College, a neighborhood music school. It was quiet; the late evening sun crept through the curtained windows. I sat down at the piano, and my hands began to browse over the keys. Something happened to me then. I felt at peace. I felt as though I could reach out and touch God. I found myself playing a melody, ….

Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn,

Through the storm, through the night lead me on to the light, Take my hand, precious Lord, Lead me home.

As the Lord gave me these words and melody, He also healed my spirit. I learned that when we are in our deepest grief, when we feel farthest from God, this is when He is closest, and when we are most open to His restoring power. And so I go on living for God willingly and joyfully, until that day comes when He will take me and gently lead me home.

-Tommy Dorsey/ "The Birth of "Precious Lord"

Real stuff happens to Christian people; painful stuff happens to believers – yet the things that happen are different. If the Lord allows pain into the life of one of His children, there is a point. We may not get the point at the time; we may not get the point, ever in this life. Peter’s message to those who were in the middle of serious stuff is: there are at least two points to understanding the trouble in your life.

1. Refining of faith – gold analogy. Can’t purify gold without heat; can’t purify faith without tests of that faith.

None of us long for the temperature to be raised; none of us hope to experience the adversity that tests our faith. BUT, all of us should be ready, if God brings that heat; if He chooses to allow adversity. If He does, one purpose will be to take us to a spiritual place we could never have arrived at without it.

2. Praise, Glory and Honor for Christ – many times the stand of faith will not be revealed until the day of the Lord.

The Lord allows adversity in our lives…and every time that we learn to live in its midst we store up praise, glory and honor for Christ.

There it is. The Beginning, the End and the In-between.

Do you have a complete salvation?