Sermon Tone Analysis

Text: 1 Peter 1:3-9

Theme: Jesus’ resurrection gives believers a living hope.

Date: 07/17/2022 File Name: 1_Peter_02 Code: NT21-01

The prospect of suffering is one that we do not face willingly.

A patient facing a major operation, with its accompanying pain and inconvenience, may experience apprehension and anxiety — even fear.

We help them by assuring them that the painful experience will last a comparatively short time, and that a full recovery and return to health can be expected.

This expectation helps the patient face the trial lying ahead of them with hope.

The believers Peter is writing to are facing an uncertain and perhaps an unpleasant response from the society surrounding them.

One of the apostle’s aims in this circular letter was to encourage his readers by giving them grounds for solid hope in the ultimate future so that they might face the immediate future with courage, hope, and joy.

In this passage Peter speaks of ...

Hope Discovered

Hope Assured

Hope Celebrated

I. HOPE DISCOVERED 1:3-4

“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, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you,” (1 Peter 1:3–4, NIV84)

1. we get our English word eulogy from the Greek term translated praise that Peter opens vs. 1 with

a. the word means well-spoken of or honored and the word Peter uses here was used only of God by the various writers of the Bible

2. in fact, these two verses are a doxology — a short hymn of praise to God

a. because of God’s great mercy, that has led to our new birth God is to be well-spoken of

b.

Peter is saying, Before we get to the problem at hand facing the brethren, let’s remember to bless the name of God and our Lord Jesus Christ

A. OUR HOPE IS BASED IN THE GODHEAD

1.

Peter writes, Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

a. God is the Father

1) the Jews knew of God as Father

2) the Fatherhood of God is first implied in the Book of Exodus

“Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I told you, “Let my son go, so he may worship me.”

But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.’ ”” (Exodus 4:22–23, NIV84)

a) but the concept of the Fatherhood of God is a minor theme in the Old Testament

3) Jesus revealed the full-orbed majesty of the doctrine in his own ministry

a) the Creator of the universe is best known to His people as a Heavenly Father

b) it speaks of a relationship of intimacy rather than aloofness

b.

Jesus is the Son

1) for the only time in his letter, Peter here uses the designation Lord Jesus Christ

2) this full Messianic title is only used by the Apostle Paul elsewhere in the New Testament

a) the title emphasizes his deity

ILLUS.

The word translated Lord in the Greek New Testament was used to render the Hebrew name Yahweh in the Old Testament — God’s sacred covenant name.

So every time you hear the early Christians call Jesus Lord, it is equivalent to calling Jesus God.

b) the title also emphasizes his redemptive role

3) remember the angel’s conversation with Joseph in Matthew’s birth narrative?

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.””

(Matthew 1:21, NIV84)

a) the name Jesus or Yeshua means Yahweh is salvation and the title Christ is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Messiah meaning Anointed One

b) everything in this title Lord Jesus Christ screams that Jesus is not only Israel’s Messiah, but also the Savior of the World

ILLUS.

Edward Mote became a Baptist minister in 1852 at the age of 55.

He also became a prolific hymn writer, and over the next 21 years would produce just over 100 hymns.

His most popular hymn is still in our hymnals.

It is "My Hope Is Built" which refers to the Parable of the Wise and the Foolish Builders.

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness

I dare not trust the sweetest frame

But wholly lean on Jesus' name

On Christ the solid rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

All other ground is sinking sand

B. OUR HOPE IS A LIVING HOPE

1.

Peter writes, In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

2. our living hope comes from a merciful God

a. mercy is one of God’s attributes and refers to God’s kindness and goodwill and compassion toward people

b. but God’s mercy is not merely an emotion, but an action that leads Him to giving us new birth — literally it says to begat again

3. Peter reminds his readers that only God can give eternal life and new birth brings with it living hope

a. the New Testament word for hope does not convey wishful thinking, but confident expectation that is based on God’s ability and never dies

ILLUS.

In western culture today, hope too often is based on human resources and has an element of uncertainty.

Hope based on happenstance or human ability can and does die.

Christian hope is based on the certainty of God’s ability to act, and to keep His promises.

4. we have a living hope because we have a living Savior

a.

Peter tells us that our hope comes by means of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

b. this is the heart of the gospel

1) in the very first sermon of the church, Peter said, “But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”

(Acts 2:24, NIV84)

c. the good news is that the living Lord give new life and a living hope

C. OUR HOPE LOOKS FORWARD TO AN IMPERISHABLE INHERITANCE

“and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you,” (1 Peter 1:4, NIV84)

1. the Christian’s inheritance is the sum total of all God has promised us in salvation

a. it’s heaven itself

b. it’s the fellowship of the saints

c. it’s a glorious resurrection body like the Lord’s

d. it’s reigning with Christ over a new earth, new heaven and new Jerusalem

e. it’s the eternal presence and fellowship of the Godhead

2. Our Inheritance in Christ Is Imperishable

a. what we have in Christ is not subject to corruption or decay

1) in contrast, everything on earth is in the process of decaying, rusting, or falling apart

3. Our Inheritance in Christ Is Unspoiled

a. what we have in Christ is free from anything that would deform, debase, or degrade

1) nothing on earth is perfect

2) even the most beautiful things of this world are flawed; if we look closely enough, we can always find an imperfection

b. but Christ is truly perfect

4. Our Inheritance in Christ Is Unfading

a. what we have in Christ is an enduring possession

1) as creatures of this world, it is hard for us to imagine colors that never fade, excitement that never flags, or value that never depreciates

b. but our inheritance is not of this world

1) its glorious intensity will never diminish

5. Our Inheritance in Christ Is Reserved

a. what we have in Christ is being kept in heaven for us