1 Peter 1.2-5
3 Gifts For Handling Trials
Sermon #2 in 1 Peter series
1 Peter 1:1-5
(9/13/98)
Introduction:
Have you ever heard of the phrase, “running the gauntlet?”
The word “gauntlet refers to two lines of men facing each other with sticks.
Running the gauntlet meant having to run between the lines between clobbered by the clubs, trying to make it to the other end to safety. Daniel Boone had to run a gauntlet of Shawnee Indians, through which he made it safely.
Sometimes going through trials can be a little bit like running a gauntlet. We can from time to time feel the shock of unexpected difficulties as they hit us.
But take heart, strength is given in the face of trials
Big Idea: Strength is given in the face of trials.
1 Peter 1:2-5 (read it)
Three gifts for handling suffering and trials
I. Divine Cleansing (vs. 1, 2)
II. A Heavenly Inheritance (vs. 3, 4)
III. Present Protection (vs. 5)
I. Divine Cleansing (vs. 1, 2)
A. Elect- “Chosen” Christians are the choice of God. We have been selected to be His children.
B. Foreknowledge of God
1. To know ahead of time.
2. God knew us long ago. He was intimately aware of every detail of who we are
3. Foreknowledge and election do not mean that God knew ahead of time who would trust in Christ as their Savior and then choose them, or elect them.
4. This would put God’s choosing in the hands of men
5. Rather, God knew all of us long ago, before the world began (Eph. 1:4) and chose certain ones to be saved.
6. It was not based on anything good we’ve done, but on His grace.
C. Sanctification of the Spirit
1. “Set apart”
2. Those who have been chosen to receive eternal salvation have been set apart (or sancitified) from the others.
3. They have been set apart to receive salvation.
D. Obedience- in the context it’s a reference to salvation
1. This is not referring to a works salvation
2. There are times when the act of faith is referred to as obedience
3. Acts 6:7- read it
4. Obedience in the sense that faith was placed in Christ for salvation
E. Sprinkling
1. cleansing
2. Hebrews 10:22- “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having <4472> our hearts sprinkled <4472> from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
3. The conscience cleansed of sin.
Before a person can ever hope to make it through the trials of life, he must be hanging onto the first gift. Divine Cleansing. That is, an eternal relationship with God. The relationship which guarantees an eternal future in heaven with God.
Those who are not cleansed will spend an eternity in hell. Those whose hearts have been sprinkled by the blood of Jesus can stare times of suffering, times of difficulty in the face, knowing that there foundation is the shed blood of Christ.
Life application: Have you done that? Have you become obedient to Jesus by placing your faith in Him?
II. A Heavenly Inheritance (vs. 3, 4)
A. Born again to a “lively” or living hope
1. It’s interesting that Peter says “begotten again”.
2. It means spiritual birth
3. With new birth comes a new hope.
4. Hope- the expectation for something good to happen.
5. It’s living because Jesus is living
6. If Christ can conquer death by rising from the dead, then He can also conquer death for us, by raising us from the dead.
7. Above all else, Christians have hope
8. But it’s not a hope for just life in this world.
9. It’s a hope that is out of this world.
Illustration:
The concept of hope is illustrated by the life of a little boy who had a congenital heart disease. The following is a letter written by his parents after his death
“Mikey had heart surgery in September. Although he had a few bright spots since then, generally it was downhill. We lost him last October 30th. . . .He died on the operating table, before they could begin the surgery. The doctor said, ‘I’ve never seen anything quite like it. Your son looked around the room, sighed, closed his eyes and his heart stopped. We couldn’t make it start up again.’
We weren’t surprised. Mikey’s death, like his life, was a miracle to be part of. The morning before he died, he asked, ‘Daddy, if I don’t live after my surgery and I get to be with Jesus, how will I get there? Will He give me wings? Will I be able to talk to Noah? How long will I have to wait until you come to be with me?’
We walked Mikey down the hall to the elevator leading up to the operating room and he turned to Ruth and said, ‘Mommie, it’s going to seem like along wait for you, but for me it will be easy. I’m just going to go in there and go to sleep.”
And that’s exactly what he did. . .”
(From Getz, Encouraging One Another, p. 149, 150)
The little boy had hope of going to be with Jesus. And so do we!!
As we approach the prospect of death, it can be with a heart full of hope!!
B. The hope of an inheritance vs. 4
1. Incorruptible- Cannot be touched by death (remember your hope is based upon Christ Who conquered death.) Death cannot reach that inheritance.
2. Undefiled- Cannot be touched by sin. Sin, which causes death cannot be found intermingled with that inheritance.
3. Unfading- “The idea expressed in the word (am-ar'-an-tos) is that of the beauty of flowers that don’t fade away. This inheritance in all it’s splendor will never fade.
Illustration; Have you ever gotten some material possession that when you first got it you thought it was the neatest thing in the world? But as time wore on your excitement began to wane. What once looked like something you really wanted had somehow lost its attractiveness.
This inheritance will never fade, never lose its attractiveness. It will never wane. It will always be there. What you first see is what you’ll get for all eternity.
YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!!!!!!!!!!
1. Notice what’s being done with this inheritance at this very moment- It’s on reserve
2. Notice it’s location- Heaven
3. Notice who it’s for- “YOU!”
It won’t die, it won’t fade and it’s got your name written all over it!
What could be better?
Harvest time’s comin’!
Now can you imagine how what Peter said in this verse must have encouraged those Christians “scattered” (vs.1) throughout Pontus, Galatia and so on? They were facing great persecution (either right then, or soon to be).
Imagine how the gift of this eternal inheritance must have bolstered them!
And so today, when we suffer, let us keep in mind, the inheritance with our name on it!
III. Present Protection (vs. 5)
A. 2 Corinthians 11:32 (read it) “garrison” is same word as in 1 Peter 1:5 - “kept”
1. Not long after Paul put his faith in Christ (Acts 9:23-25)
2. He was in Damascus, the people hated him and wanted to kill him
3. They set a garrison to watch that Paul did not escape
B. 1 Peter 1:5
1. “Kept”- from same word as “garrison” (frourew phroureo)
2. God acts as our Protector, as our guard.
3. Notice that it is by His power (than can be no greater power than the power of God)
As you read this verse you can pretty much see why Peter wrote it. The original readers may have been thinking, “sure this hope stuff is great for the future, but we need something now. We need something for this moment as we are getting torn up, beat up, thrown in jail and so on.”
4. Notice that it is our faith which God uses to avail us of this power. It is based upon our faith in Christ.
Those who have never come to a point in their life where they have trusted Christ as their Savior do not know this type of protection in their life. They don’t have faith.
5. Notice how long this protection lasts. It lasts until our eternal salvation in heaven is finally within our own view. He keeps us to the end.
6. This is a great truth for those who would be concerned that they might possibly lose their salvation, once they have place their faith in Christ.
7. Once a persons faith has been placed in Christ, it is as if he is already as good as in heaven.
8. He is protected by God, Who will walk him into eternity.
9. Believers are kept, guarded, garrisoned until they reach the goal of their salvation (which is the inheritance in heaven).
So for all eternity we are safe, secure, within the garrison of God.
There’s no better place.
So we’ve been given three gifts for facing the Crises, the difficulties, the suffering that at times come to this life.
I. Divine Cleansing (vs. 1, 2)
II. A Heavenly Inheritance (vs. 3, 4)
III. Present Protection (vs. 5)
It is Peter’s desire that this knowledge will invoke us to say with him in verse six, “wherein ye greatly rejoice. . .”
Salvation:
Maybe you don’t have these gifts for facing the difficulties in your life.
Maybe when tough times come you’ve noticed you can do nothing but cave in.
Why don’t you right now place your faith in Christ, so that you can have these gifts for facing trials.
Faith means more than just saying that you believe in God. It means trusting that what Christ did on the cross was for you. It was for your sins that He died. He is all there is to trust for eternity.