Same Hope, New Year

Looking back this year we have gone through some difficult times. As individuals and as a church.

But we have hoped in God to bring us through those difficult times.

Hope, I love that word.

The way we use the word hope now, is we look forward to something happening that may or may not happen, it’s more like a wish.

“I hope I get this/that for Christmas.”

“I hope the Razorbacks win their bowl game this year.”

“I hope you have a Happy New Year.”

But when you read the word hope in the Bible, the Bible uses the word hope in a different way. The idea of looking forward to something is still embedded in the word hope. But when the Bible uses the word hope, there is a certainty or a confidence that what you place your hope in will happen, it will come to pass.

In 1 Peter 1:13 Peter tells us what we should set our hope in.

1 Peter 1:13 ESV

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

13 Por tanto, ceñid los lomos de vuestro entendimiento, sed sobrios y esperad por completo en la gracia que se os traerá cuando Jesucristo sea manifestado.

Same Hope

Peter is encouraging us to “set our hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Set your hope on the grace brought to us in Jesus Christ. What is the grace that was given to us?

If you notice there is a therefore at the beginning of our passage. When Peter says therefore he is linking this verse with what he was saying in verses 1- 12. So what did he say in 1-12?

God showed great mercy toward us

Because he caused us to be born again to a living hope. How?

Through the resurrection of Jesus Jesus Christ .

We have a living hope because our hope is in Jesus who is no longer dead and buried, but he was risen from the dead on the third day. Jesus is our living hope

we are given a new inheritance, this inheritance is

imperishable

undefiled

unfading

kept in heaven for you.

We are being guarded by God’s power through faith. Guarded for what?

For a salvation ready to revealed in the last time.

Peter says REJOICE! in this grace, this salvation. No matter what difficulty you go through, nothing that happens in this life can take this grace away for you.

Peter that the trials and tribulations we go through in this life test the genuineness of our faith.

which is more precious than anything in this world

The OT writers searched and studied about Christ’s suffering and glories. Peter tells us they were not serving themselves but you...

NEW YEAR

This is what leads us to Peter’s “Therefore…set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

What is Peter commanding us to do?

Let me rephrase what Peter is commanding you to do, what Peter is commanding us to do this new year and until we die, get your pencils and pens out, get your note taking app out, so you can write this down, what Peter is commanding us to do is Live our lives now with the end in mind.

Peter is saying to live your life on this earth by placing your hope, your complete confidence in the grace that Jesus will bring to us when he returns. We are to live life every day thinking about that day when Jesus will return for us.

Peter also tells us the mentality we are to have to live life with the end in mind.

preparing your minds for action - means you are ready, your mindset is a mindset of readiness, alertness. you are not caught by surprise by trails, temptations, sufferings, attacks from the enemy, because you are ready for action.

Sober-minded - is thinking clearly. When you think of someone who is drunk, they usually make rash and bad decisions. Peter is saying believers should think clearly, think through what is going on in your life before you make decisions.

We are to think clearly and think energetically concerning the Bible. We are to use our minds actively, energetically and clearly which then serves our emotions or our hoping. Biblical thinking leads to passionate hoping. Biblical thinking leads to passionate living for God’s glory.

The next logical question to ask is how do I live life with the end in mind?

Peter tells us in the remaining chapter how we are to live life with the end in mind.

Live life with the end in mind by not conforming to your former way of life. (14)

1 Peter 1:14 ESV

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,

14 Como hijos obedientes, no os conforméis a los deseos que antes teníais estando en vuestra ignorancia,

Live life with the end in mind by being transformed. (15-16)

1 Peter 1:15–16 ESV

but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

15 sino, así como aquel que os llamó es santo, sed también vosotros santos en toda vuestra manera de vivir, 16 porque escrito está: «Sed santos, porque yo soy santo.»

Live life with the end in mind by honoring the Father and fearing his judgement. (17)

1 Peter 1:17 ESV

And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,

17 Si invocáis por Padre a aquel que sin acepción de personas juzga según la obra de cada uno, conducíos en temor todo el tiempo de vuestra peregrinación,

Live life with the end in mind by focusing on the beauty of the Gospel. (18 -21)

1 Peter 1:18–21 ESV

knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

18 pues ya sabéis que fuisteis rescatados de vuestra vana manera de vivir (la cual recibisteis de vuestros padres) no con cosas corruptibles, como oro o plata, 19 sino con la sangre preciosa de Cristo, como de un cordero sin mancha y sin contaminación. 20 Él estaba destinado desde antes de la fundación del mundo, pero ha sido manifestado en los últimos tiempos por amor de vosotros. 21 Por medio de él creéis en Dios, quien lo resucitó de los muertos y le ha dado gloria, para que vuestra fe y esperanza sean en Dios.

Live life with the end in mind by loving one another. (22)

1 Peter 1:22 ESV

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

22 Al obedecer a la verdad, mediante el Espíritu, habéis purificado vuestras almas para el amor fraternal no fingido. Amaos unos a otros entrañablemente, de corazón puro,

Live life with the end in mind by knowing the power of God’s word. (23-25)

1 Peter 1:23–25 ESV

since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

23 pues habéis renacido, no de simiente corruptible, sino de incorruptible, por la palabra de Dios que vive y permanece para siempre, 24 porque:

«Toda carne es como hierba y toda la gloria del hombre como flor de la hierba; la hierba se seca y la flor se cae, 25 mas la palabra del Señor permanece para siempre.»

Y ésta es la palabra que por el evangelio os ha sido anunciada.

Live life with the end in mind putting away all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander. (2:1)

1 Peter 2:1 ESV

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

Desechad, pues, toda malicia, todo engaño, hipocresía, envidias y toda maledicencia,

Live life with the end in mind by having a desire to grow in the Lord (2:2)

1 Peter 2:2 ESV

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

2 y desead, como niños recién nacidos, la leche espiritual no adulterada, para que por ella crezcáis para salvación,

Live life with the end in mind by being part of a local church (2:4-5)

1 Peter 2:4–5 ESV

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

4 Acercándoos a él, piedra viva, desechada ciertamente por los hombres, pero para Dios escogida y preciosa, 5 vosotros también, como piedras vivas, sed edificados como casa espiritual y sacerdocio santo, para ofrecer sacrificios espirituales aceptables a Dios por medio de Jesucristo.

Look at what Peter says in 1 Pet 2:3

1 Peter 2:3 ESV

if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

3 ya que habéis gustado la bondad del Señor.

If you have tasted the Lord’s goodness, if you are a partaker of the grace and salvation the Lord provides, you will live life with the end in mind and you will grow in these areas with every year that passes. Will you join with me and commit to living life with the end in mind this year and with every new year that comes, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.