The Believer's Hope

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This is a sermon that was given by Pastor Les on June 12, 2016 at Wayside Community Church.

The Believer’s Hope

1 Peter 1:3 (KJV) ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

Introduction:

This letter was written by Apostle Peter. Probably written from Rome immediately prior to time of Nero.

It is believed by various scholars that Peter’s residency in Rome would have been during the period between Paul’s first and second imprisonments, when Paul probably had taken a trip to Spain. Peter doesn’t mention Paul, nor does Paul mention Peter in his “Prison Epistles.”

Persecution was already a developing problem, and it is believed that Peter was executed while Nero was in power. Right here at the beginning of his letter, the Apostle erupts in a doxology of praise to the Lord for the hope that is possessed by the followers of Jesus.

Today, I want to quickly look through this opening doxology, which continue through verse 12, and find out what all Peter has to say about this hope.

1. This hope is living.  (v. 3) “lively hope” (KJV)

Vibrant, ongoing; Not dead/false

(Tyndale Commentaries) - It is 'living' – by so describing it Peter indicates that it grows and increases in strength year by year... It is not surprising that such a hope is particularly evident in many older Christians as they approach death.

2. This hope is the consequence of our regeneration. (v. 3)

“begotten us again into”  - (NASB) “has caused us to be born again”

The reason our hope is living – because we are now alive; born anew; given a brand new spiritual life.

(Lenski New Testament Commentary) - This is the new birth referred to in John 3:3, the quickening mentioned in Eph. 2:5, 6 and Col. 2:13, the new creation spoken of in Eph. 2:10 and Gal. 6:15.

When we are truly born again, it moves us into the sphere of hope, where we had never “lived” before.

This new birth or quickening is brought about by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

(Lenski New Testament Commentary) - Christ's resurrection is the heart of the gospel and thus ever constitutes the means for begetting us to a living hope. No man has spiritual life and hope save by the resurrection of Christ.

3. The object of this hope is our eternal inheritance. (v. 4)

It is enduring rather than temporary.

“incorruptible” – does not decay

“undefiled” – unsoiled, uncontaminated, pure

“never fading” -

It is heavenly rather than earthly.

4. Our hope is presently under “fires and testing.” (vv. 6-9)

These tests/trials sometimes bring heaviness/sorrow rather than rejoicing.

But, we are kept by the power of God, through faith. (v. 5)

5. This hope and faith brings ultimate glory and praise to God. (vv. 7b-8)

It is God’s grace that can keep His saints faithful through all kinds of suffering, etc.

6. Finally, This hope was perceived by the prophets of old, but it perplexed the angels of heaven. (vv. 10-12)

It is the same Spirit of Christ that was revealing truth to the OT prophets and is now inspiring the messengers of the Gospel to proclaim the same message, only with fuller understanding.

The angels look into this whole message, scope and scheme of redemption and are not able to fully understand it all. It is the “Wonderful Grace of Jesus” that “God should love a sinner such as I, and angels can’t fully grasp it.

Neither can I! But I believe it, accept it and rejoice in it.

In his 1942 devotional Abundant Living, E. Stanley Jones, Methodist doctor and missionary to India, writes:

The early Christians did not say in dismay: "Look what the world has come to," but in delight, "Look what has come to the world." They saw not merely the ruin, but the Resource for the reconstruction of that ruin. They saw not merely that sin did abound, but that grace did much more abound. On that assurance the pivot of history swung from blank despair, loss of moral nerve, and fatalism, to faith and confidence that at last sin had met its match. Leadership, Vol. 19, no. 4. (Today's Best Illustrations Vol. 5)

Let’s all stand and sing our closing hymn: My Hope Is in the Lord   #540