Sermon Tone Analysis

*March 5, 2006—Morning Worship*

 

*Kept by God*

*Reasons to Rejoice in the Lord Always*

*1 Peter 1:3-5*

 

We’re going to use 1 Peter 1:3-5 as introductory vv. to today’s message titled “Kept by God.” We’ll use those vv. in 1 Peter 1, as well as others, as we find “Reasons to Rejoice in the Lord Always.”

*Intro:*   People are insecure.

Many people protect themselves w~/elaborate alarm systems or sophisticated locks.

You find them on homes, businesses, cars, boats & utility buildings.

You can even find alarm systems in churches & sophisticated locks on home computers!

People are so worried about keeping their stuff.

But what do they do when it comes to salvation?

What about our salvation – are we really secure?

How can we know?

Where is the sense of safety we long for – especially when it comes to our salvation?

The Bible says we are "kept by the power of God." Let’s read about that from our introductory vv. in 1 Peter 1:3-5.

*1 Peter 1 /3/*/ Blessed be the God & 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 & undefiled & 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./

We are "kept" by . . .

*1. Christ's Promises.*

(various verses)

- The word translated “kept” in v. 5 is an old military term meaning “to guard or garrison about.”

- It comes from 2 different root words, 1 meaning “before” & the other meaning “to see.”

- IOW, what Peter is telling us here is that, you are kept; even before you see any problem coming, you are kept by the power of God!

- He knows your situation, your circumstances, your problems, your pain.

& He knows it long before you do.

He knows it long before you even see it coming.

- So what does it mean to be kept by God?

What are His promises to keep us?

*John 3 /15/*/ “that whoever believes in Him /[in Jesus] /should not perish but have eternal life.”/

- This is…

    *A.

His promise of Longevity.*

(John 3:15)

- Notice the phrase translated "*/not perish/*" in that verse.

- In the original language, Jesus is saying that, “The person who exhibits faith in Me, b~/c of that faith will not be eternally destroyed, but, b~/c of that faith will continue to possess life eternal.”

- Hear this carefully—eternal life is not something you gain upon your death!

- It’s not something that you inherit upon your demise!

- Eternal life is the quality and character of life that you now possess in Christ, which can never be taken away!

- IOW Jesus is saying that everyone who puts their faith in Me already has life w~/o end!

- That’s the beauty & joy of the personal relationship you have w~/Jesus!

- It’s His promise that you will live FOREVER!

- But someone may ask, “Pastor Dennis, how can we know that for sure?”

 

- It’s b~/c, not only did Jesus promise us longevity or life w~/o end, but also b~/c of…

    *B.

His promise of Security.*

(John 6:39; 10:28-30)

*John 6 /39/*/ This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day./

- Did you notice the words "*/lose nothing/*" in that v.?

- IOW Jesus said, My Father has given Me a people as an inheritance, & of that inheritance, not 1 thing, not 1 soul, not 1 person shall be lost.

- Friends, THAT IS SECURITY!

- But even more than that – our security is found again in…

*John 10 /28/*/ & I give them eternal life, & they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

*29* My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; & no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.

*30* I & My Father are one."/

- That’s the seven-stranded rope of security.

- *Ecclesiastes 4 /12b/*/ …a threefold cord is not quickly broken./

- & in John 10 28-30 Jesus gives us a 7-stranded rope that can never be broken!

- Let’s look briefly at each strand.

1- /I give them eternal life/     It is the free, unmerited gift of God!

          2- /they shall never perish/    Destruction is not an option for the child of God!

          3- /neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand/       No 1 can steal you away!

          4- /My Father…has given them to Me/    You are a gift of God to Himself (Son)!

          5- /My Father…is greater than all/  No 1 overrides the will of God!

          6- /no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand/        No 1 can steal you!

          7- /I & My Father are one/      You are safe in Us & w~/Us!

- If a 3fold cord is not quickly broken, Jesus is saying that this 7stranded rope cannot be broken!

- That is His promise of security to all who believe!

He gives you eternal life & you shall never perish!

Period!

 

- But even more than that; even more than His promise of longevity & security, we find…

    *C.

His promise of Unity.*

(Romans 8:35-39)

*Romans 8 /35/*/ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Shall /*[1]*/tribulation, or /*[2]*/distress, or/* [3]*/persecution, or /*[4]*/famine, or /*[5]*/nakedness, or /*[6]*/peril, or /*[7]*/sword?

*36* As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."

*37* Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

*38* For I am persuaded that neither /*[8]*/death nor /*[9]*/life, nor /*[10]*/angels nor /*[11]*/principalities nor /*[12]*/powers, nor /*[13]*/things present nor /*[14]*/things to come, *39* nor /*[15]*/height nor /*[16]*/depth, nor /*[17]*/any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord./

- That passage contains a list of 17 things that cannot separate the believer from Christ!

That passage contains some of the most beloved words in all the Bible!

- Let me recount those things to you.

*[/Recount them from above passage/]*

- There is absolutely nothing, nothing, NOTHING that can separate you from God’s love found in Jesus Christ!

NOTHING!

- & that is your eternal security through unity w~/Christ!

- Not only are we “kept” by Christ’s promises, we are also “kept” by…

*2.

Christ's Prayers.*

(various verses)

- According to John 17:9, 11 & 15…

    *A.

His prayers enable our Perseverance.*

(John 17:9, 11, 15)

*John 17 /9/*/ "I pray for them.

I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours….

*11* Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, & I come to You.

Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are….*15*

I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one./

- Jesus' effectual prayers enable believers to persevere.

- He prayed for you on His way to the garden.

He prays for you now at the right hand of the throne of God.

- His intercession empowers you, it enables you, it propels you, it persuades you to go on!