Preached Sunday, January 13, 2013 from 1 Peter 1:3-5
Theme: Even in the midst of the deepest suffering, we who are in Christ rejoice in a ‘living hope’.
(Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version; copyright 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
This morning, we dive right into the New Testament letter of 1 Peter. And as we do, the very first thing that we find is that this is a letter about ‘hope’.
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Hope is something that every human being needs. But have you ever tried to define it? Hope is one of those words that we use a lot; but that we hardly ever consider the meaning of. The best way I have found to define ‘hope’ is as ‘an assured and satisfying anticipation about the future’. When it’s used as a verb, ‘hope’ is the act of expecting something to come that is good or satisfying—an expectation that energizes us and excites us and drives us forward. It’s an act of anticipation; because if we have the thing we hoped for, we no longer ‘hope’ for it. And when it’s used as a noun, the ‘hope’ is the thing itself that we anticipate.
The Bible tells us a lot about hope. But it doesn’t use the word ‘hope’ in the way we often do; that is, with regard to something that we think might happen, and would really like to have happen, but are still a little uncertain that it will—a little like when we stand on the street corner and ‘hope’ that the bus will come on time. Rather, the Bible uses the word to describe something that is sure and certain and absolute—something rock-solid that we can base our eternal destiny upon with confidence.
That kind of ‘hope’ is what Peter’s letter is about in this letter. He wrote it to Jewish Christians who were suffering persecution; and who were scattered far from their homeland. He wrote it to encourage them to stay true to their faith in Jesus during their time of suffering. And the thing that he most wanted to tell them, in order to encourage them, is that they have a solid, theological basis for life-changing, life-motivating ‘hope’.
In verse 3, he says that God “has begotten us again to a living hope”. I like that way of describing it—a “living” hope. But I suppose I like the way that it is in the old King James even better—a “lively hope”. It’s a hope that’s “living” because it’s a constant source of liveliness for us in a dark and fallen world.
This message of hope is something that we desperately need today. We truly need to live in, and declare, a “living” hope—a truly “lively” hope.
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Let me read how Peter starts this letter off. You can see how practical this message of a “living hope” from God truly is. In verses 3-5, he speaks of what we might call the “future” view of things when he writes;
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:3-5).
That’s our hope. Peter’s words in verses 3-5 are really just another way of describing our salvation—all the way up to our full glorification in Christ! And what he says next is very important to notice—that it’s in this future ‘hope’ that we are to rejoice in right now—in our present circumstances. In verses 6-9, he speaks from what we might call the “present” view of things when he writes;
In this [that is, in this “living hope”] you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls (vv. 6-9).
The Bible doesn’t call us to be unrealistic about life. We’re not to pretend that we don’t really have trials and difficulties. But we’re not to make them the focus of our attention. Instead, we’re to focus on our ‘hope’—not just some vain “hope” that we’ve imagined for ourselves and ‘psyched’ ourselves up over; but rather a hope that is based on something real. In verses 10-12, Peter speaks from what we might call the “past” view of things when he writes;
Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into (vv. 10-12).
Did you know that—in the original language of Peter’s letter—verses 3 to 12 are all one long sentence? And as I hope you can see, it’s all about hope—”living hope”.
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The reason this portion of 1 Peter is so important for us to study is because we who are Christians today—just like those ancient Christians to whom Peter first wrote—are living in dark times. We’re living in a cultural environment that is growing increasingly hostile to our faith. You can see it confirmed almost every time you turn on the news. If we were to only look at things on a strictly human level, it would become easy for us to lose hope.
But that’s what this letter is telling us to be careful not to do! Our hope isn’t based on the trials and problems and difficulties that we see on the human level. Our hope stands out as a truly “living hope”—a “lively” hope. It’s one that, when we have our hearts and minds properly oriented to it, will make what it says in 1 Peter 3:15 happen—even in the face of suffering:
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you . . . (1 Peter 3:15a).
This morning, I’d like for us to look specifically at the details of this hope as they are given to us in verses 3-5. And as we do, I ask we to think of this passage as giving us a list of things that you and I need to discipline our minds to remember and ‘hope’ in. If we fully embrace these things, we will—just as Peter said— “greatly rejoice”, though now for a little while, if need be, we have been “grieved by various trials”.
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So; what does Peter tell us about this “living hope”? First, he tells us that it is . . .
1. ONE THAT COMES FROM GOD THE FATHER.
Look at how he begins: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ . . .” (v. 3). He starts the actual body of his letter with an expression of praise and thanks to God. And this is because that’s who this “living hope” comes from. Peter calls Him “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
I spent a little time trying to figure out if he is speaking of God who is our “God”, and who is also “the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”; or if he is speaking of God who—to our Lord Jesus Christ— is both “the God” and “the Father”. And I have concluded that it is both. And more than that; He is “the God and Father” of both our Lord Jesus and of us who are in the Lord Jesus. Do you remember what the Bible tells us about Jesus at His resurrection? We’re told that Mary came to look for Him at the tomb; but found that He was risen from the dead. When she saw Him, she clung to Him—never wanting to let go. But He told her,
“Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God'” (John 20:17).
Because Jesus has died on the cross for us and has risen from the dead, His Father is now our Father. We stand in a new relationship of eternal love with Him as His genuine sons and daughters—belonging to Him as His children just as much His own precious Son Jesus. But more than that—this One who is now our Father is also almighty God. The God of our Lord Jesus Christ—the eternal, all-powerful, all-wise, all-sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all that is—is also now as much our God as He is to our Lord Jesus.
And it’s from Him that our “living hope” comes. Our “hope” does not come from other people. It doesn’t come from circumstances. It doesn’t come, in fact, from anything in this created world—and, therefore, it cannot fail. Our hope is as sure, and as certain, and as unfailing, and as “living” as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has given this hope to us. As Paul wrote;
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32).
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Now; you and I might think that it’s wonderful to have a hope that is sure and certain because it comes from such a great God. But we might not be so sure of it personally, because of what we know about ourselves. When we look back upon our lives, and see what imperfect sinners we have been (and still are!), we might wonder how we ourselves could ever dare to claim such a hope as our own.
But Peter next goes on to show us that our hope from God is . . .
2. ONE THAT IS BASED ON HIS ABUNDANT MERCY.
Peter writes; “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope . . .” (v. 3). This great hope is not ours because of our own worthiness. And praise God that it isn’t!—because if it was, we wouldn’t have any hope at all! But rather, this hope is ours because of the abundance of His loving mercy toward us.
If ever there was someone who could speak authoritatively about this, it would be Peter. When the pressure was on—long before this letter was written—Peter had denied the Lord. He even denied him with curses and oaths . And yet, the Lord Jesus forgave him completely, and restored him to service. And what service it was! I think Peter lived the whole rest of his life with a sense of how unworthy he was of the hope he enjoyed.—and yet, he rejoiced in it greatly.
The apostle Paul—another great sinner that God used—once wrote that when it came to the mercy of God, no sinner who came to Him for mercy would ever have to fear; because
. . . where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 5:20-21).
There is no amount of sin we could ever be guilty of that can be greater than the grace of God to forgive and restore us. And this is even true when it comes to our “living hope” in Christ. We should never hesitate one little bit to rejoice in this hope—no matter how great a sinner we may have been. It is a hope from God that is based—not on our worthiness—but completely on His abundant mercy.
We can come to God as we are—as fallen sinners with simple faith in Christ—and rejoice in “living hope”.
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But notice that when we come to Him, God doesn’t leave us as we are. He utterly transforms us, so that we truly are His sons and daughters. Peter goes on to let us know that this “living hope” is . . .
3. ONE TO WHICH HE HAS BEGOTTEN US AGAIN.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Peter says, “who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope . . .” (v. 3).
The word that Peter uses here is one that means to be “begotten” or “born” a second time—to be be “born again”. None of us can enjoy the kind of hope that Peter describes in this morning’s passage unless we are truly born again by God’s grace. As we once were—back when we were still “dead” in our trespasses and sins—we were not in any way fit to enjoy a “living hope” from God. But God has not left us as we were. He has put the old “us” on the cross; and the old “us” died with Jesus. A new “us” rose with Him. We have been “begotten again”; and it’s this spiritual rebirth that has utterly transforms us.
As Paul put it in 2 Corinthians 5:17;
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
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Now; the question might come up: How can we be certain of all this? How can we be sure that we’re not simply making-up an imaginary “hope” for ourselves? How can we be sure that this is—as Peter says at the end of the letter—”the true grace of God” in which we stand?
Well; we can be sure because our hope is based on something real. It’s not a mere abstraction. It’s not something imaginary. It’s something of substance—something that’s based on an actual, literal, historical, eye-witnessed event that occurred on planet earth in time/space reality. As Peter goes on to tell us, our “living hope” is . . .
4. ONE THAT IS MADE SURE BY JESUS’ RESURRECTION.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Peter says, “who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (v. 3).
The Bible makes it very clear that, without the literal, bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead, we have no hope whatsoever. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:14-19;
. . . if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable (1 Corinthians 15:14-19).
But as Paul immediately went on to say in verse 20, “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” The fact that Jesus not only died for us but also rose from the dead is the thing that makes sure to us that ours is a living hope. If Jesus hadn’t risen—if He was still in the tomb today; and if we could go in a tour bus to a place somewhere in Jerusalem to gaze upon the bones of Jesus—then our hope would be dead. A dead Lord Jesus would mean a dead hope. But we have a hope that is as “living” as our risen Savior.
This means we can we can enjoy a “living hope” in Christ that has been made sure and certain to us by real, literal, historic evidence.
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Now; that’s how certain our hope is. It’s one that comes to us from no one less than God the Father Himself; one that is based on His abundant mercy; one to which He has caused us to be born again; one that has been proven to be absolutely, unfailingly sure to us by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
And look at what Peter says about this hope itself. He lets us know that it is . . .
5. ONE THAT CANNOT BE LOST TO US.
He says that God has begotten us again . . . “to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you . . .” (v. 4).
When someone receives an inheritance, two things have to be true. First, the person who receives it must actually be qualified to receive it. The recipient of an inheritance must be a true son or daughter—meeting the conditions necessary to receive such an inheritance. And that’s what we are! We have been “begotten again” by God the Father. And second, the inheritance must be willingly given to the qualified son or daughter by Someone who is actually qualified to give it. And that’s what God our Father is! When those two qualifications are in place, the inheritance itself cannot fail to be given.
And look at how our inheritance from God the Father is described. First, it’s “incorruptible”; or as some translations have it, “imperishable”. This is an inheritance that cannot be subject to any form of decay. It is an inheritance that is forever fresh, and that eternally keeps its value. Second, it is “undefiled”. This is an inheritance that cannot be affected by the imperfections of sin that other things on earth are affected by. It will be forever pure as it is right now in the heavens. And it is an inheritance that “does not fade away”. Its value is not loss over time. It will not grow old or rot. It will never become a ‘boring’ thing to us. In other words, we have an inheritance that is unlike any treasure that can be had on earth. It is an inheritance that is “death-proof”, “sin-proof”, and “age-proof”! Try finding that kind of guarantee with any treasure on earth!
And what’s more, it is kept as safe as a thing could possibly be. Peter says that it is far away from the reach of any kind of theft or damage. It is “reserved in heaven for you”. Every bit of it will be kept for us. And if our hearts and minds are rightly oriented to this hope, then our hope is as secure in this world as our inheritance is in heaven! Jesus once said;
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19-21).
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Someone might think, “Well, it’s great that this rich inheritance is kept in heaven for me. But what if I blow it? What if I myself fail before God; and am not permitted to take hold of that inheritance? I can trust almost everything else about this ‘hope’—but I can’t trust myself!”
The good news is that, if you are in Christ, you will never fail to enter into that inheritance. This is a “living hope” that is not only kept in reserve in heaven for us; but that is also . . .
6. ONE THAT WE OURSELVES ARE KEPT FOR.
This inheritance, as Peter says, is reserved in heaven for you “who are kept by the power of God through faith . . .” (v. 5).
Now; notice that Peter carefully says that we are kept for it “by faith”. We indeed have a part to play in it. We are to so trust in the promises of God to us that we do the things we are commanded to do to grow. In 2 Peter 1:5-11, Peter wrote;
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-11).
Our persistent faith shows that we truly are God’s children and are set apart for this great inheritance. But as diligently as we try to grow in our faith, we will always do it imperfectly. And yet, even this isn’t the decisive thing. God didn’t send His Son to redeem us for this glorious future only to leave it up to us to get ourselves there. We have a promise from God’s word—that we ourselves are kept “by the power of God” for this great inheritance that is being kept for us!
We cannot fail! We will be in heavenly glory forever! No wonder it’s a “living hope”!
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And finally, notice that this hope is . . .
7. ONE THAT IS READY TO BE REVEALED.
We are kept by the power of God, as Peter says, “for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (v. 5). It will finally be revealed to us at the time when the Lord Jesus returns. It’s then that we’ll see it. But what God wants us to know is that everything is done, and that it is now fully prepared for us. It is “ready to be revealed”—and only awaits for our arrival into the safe-keeping of our Father’s house for it to be unveiled to us in the full.
It’s like the Lord Jesus said to the poor, persecuted church in Smyrna in Revelation 2:9;
“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich) . . .” (Revelation 2:9).
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I’ve shared this story before; but I hope you don’t mind if I share it again. It’s the story of a man a few centuries ago who was riding his wagon into a city on a rainy day. He was on his way to receive a rich inheritance that had been left to him.
But he was a poor man, and had a broken-down old wagon. Along the way—only about a mile away from town—the wagon slipped in the mud into a ditch and broke a wheel. The poor man was angry and frustrated. He was wet and tired and cold; and now had to walk a whole mile into town by foot. But along the way, he began to laugh. He had forgotten what he was going into town for! He was on his way to receive an inheritance that was so great, he could by a hundred wagons if he had wanted too. Why should a mere one-mile walk in the mud and rain bother him?
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, that’s our situation. We may have suffering and trials and persecution for a time while we’re on this earth. But it’s not for very long. And that’s not where our joy is anyway. We’re on our way to receive a rich, eternal inheritance. As Paul wrote, “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). We have been born again to a living hope—one that comes from God the Father, by His abundant mercy; one that He has begotten us again for; and that is made sure for us by Jesus’ own resurrection; one that cannot be lost to us, or we to it; one that is ready and waiting for us even right now!
And it’s in this that we greatly rejoice!