Untitled Sermon (3)

1 Peter 1:3–9 NIV

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Our new birth has given us a living hope. Christ is alive and the Holy Spirit indwells us. When we face trials we can know that our future is guaranteed. The reality of the resurrection of Christ and the indwelling Spirit we received when we trusted Christ as our Savior. The reality of this inheritance is kept in heaven. (Study of Heaven) We should rejoice in this reality even though we do not see it now. We will face trials, but these trials will be temporary. They have a purpose. That purpose is to prove the genuineness of our faith. Our faith is of greater worth than gold and silver. Gold and silver perishes. We need to trust in the Lord, none of anything else will work. As we come through these trials and trust Christ at His coming it will result in the praise and glory and honor when Christ comes. I love this part. We do not see Him now. But we love Him. We look forward to seeing Him. I believed in Him, and because of my relationship with Him, are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. For we are receiving the end result of our faith. The salvation of our souls.

Application

1) Thank you Lord that my ultimate home is in heaven, and because of that promise I have nothing to fear.

2) If and when I face trials. I can look to that future hope and trust in you, not in my silver or gold.

3) I actually can look forward to heaven, understanding that what you have prepared for your children is greater than we could ever imagined.

4) The Salvation that the Lord Jesus provides does fill us with an inexpressable joy. Because we are trusting in Him and Him alone our salvation is guaranteed.