A True Hope - I Peter 1:3-5

Introduction.

1. In a study of the first few verses of First Peter, we notice.

a. That as far as the world is concerned, Christians are but pilgrims.

b. But as far as God is concerned, we are His elect.

2. As the elect of God, we are the recipients of many blessings that God offers to all who will obey and follow Christ.

a. One of these blessings is described in I Peter 1:3-5.

b. There we learn that God has caused us to be born again unto a true hope.

3. An understanding of this true hope can help Christians who are pilgrims be more joyful during their time in this life.

I. BECAUSE GOD IS MERCIFUL!

A. THE BASIS FOR OUR HOPE LIES NOT IN OUR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS

1. It is a good thing that it does not, for all are sinners in God’s sight - Romans 3:23

2. Even as Christians we find ourselves guilty before God - 1 John 1:8,10

B. THE BASIS FOR OUR HOPE LIES IN GOD’S ABUNDANCE MERCY

1. Mercy bestowed while we were yet sinners - Romans 5:6,8

2. Mercy bestowed upon the conditions of faith, repentance, and baptism Acts 2:36-38

3. Mercy bestowed continually upon Christians as they repent of and confess their sins - 1 John 1:9

II. BECAUSE JESUS IS ALIVE!

A. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS IS CRUCIAL TO OUR HOPE.

1. If Christ is not risen, then the apostles were liars, and our faith is vain! - 1 Corinthians 15:14-15

2. If Christ is not risen, we are still held guilty for our sins, no forgiveness has occurred! - 1 Corinthians 15:17

3. If Christ is not risen, those who have died as Christians have perished, they are lost! - 1 Corinthians 15:18

4. If Christ has not risen, then we do not have a true hope, instead we are to be pitied by others! - 1 Corinthians 15:19

B. BUT THROUGH JESUS’ RESURRECTION, WE HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN TO A TRUE HOPE!

1. Peter does not have reference to the process of conversion , but to the renewed hope produced by the resurrection of Jesus

a. After Jesus’ death and prior to His resurrection, the disciples were despondent

b. But after the resurrection of Jesus, His disciples were born again in regards to their hope

2. Surely the fact that Jesus did rise gives us reason for a true hope

a. God would not raise a liar, so anything Jesus said about our hope is true - John 11:25

b. Since Jesus rose from the dead, we have a true hope that we too will one day rise from the dead - 1 Corinthians 15:20-23

III. BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF OUR INHERITANCE!

A. THE DEGREE OF HOPE WE HAVE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE INHERITANCE WE HAVE

1. If our inheritance is a good one, our hope is strong, or true

2. If our inheritance is a poor one, then our hope is weak, or dead

B. AS DESCRIBED BY PETER, OUR INHERITANCE

1. Is incorruptible

a. The Greek word means not liable to corruption or decay, imperishable

b. Unlike this present heavens and earth in which now live, and which will one day be destroyed - II Peter 3:10-13

2. Is undefiled

a. The Greek word means not defiled, unsoiled

b. It is unlike the earthly Canaan, which could be and was defiled by its inhabitants

c. Our hope pertains to that where the defiled are not allowed to enter - Revelation 21:27

3. Does not fade away

a. The Greek word means unfading, perennial

b. The word is a variation of amaranth which was the name of a mythical flower whose bloom was perpetual and whose loveliness never faded

c. Such is our heavenly reward: it will not rust, fade, or wither like so many things do here on earth

4. Is reserved in heaven

a. The Greek word means to watch, to observe, to guard, protect, to reserve, set aside

b. Therefore, our inheritance is safely guarded in heaven itself!

c. No one, not even Satan himself, can steal it from you!

IV. BECAUSE WE ARE SAFELY GUARDED!

A. CHRISTIANS ARE KEPT FOR THE SALVATION READY TO BE REVEALED IN THE LAST TIME

1. The word kept is a military term

2. It means to guard, protect by a military guard, either to prevent hostile invasion, or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight

3. While our inheritance is being kept guarded in heaven under the watchful eye of God, we are being garrisoned about by God’s protecting care for it. (Wuest)

B. NOTE THAT BEING KEPT INVOLVES TWO THINGS

1. First, the power of God!

a. We have the help of God Himself, who knows how to help those in temptation

b. He knows how to deliver them out of temptation - II Peter 2:9

c. He knows how to enable them to bear with the temptation - 1 Corinthians 10:13

d. He supplies the armor necessary to withstand in the evil day - Ephesians 6:10-13

2. Also, our faith!

a. To be safely guarded by God’s protective care requires faith on our part

b. The only way we can ever lose our inheritance reserved in heaven is to become unfaithful to the Lord! - Revelation 2:10

c. While the Bible teaches the security of the believer

1) It also teaches that a believer can become an unbeliever - Hebrews 3:12-13

2) And it teaches that unbelievers have no hope - Hebrews 3:14-4:3

d. As long as we remain faithful, then, we have the assurance of God’s protective care to guide us until we receive that inheritance reserved in heaven for us!

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A True Hope - I Peter 1:3-5

Introduction.

1. In a study of the first few verses of First Peter, we notice.

a. That as far as the world is concerned, Christians are but pilgrims.

b. But as far as God is concerned, we are His elect.

2. As the elect of God, we are the recipients of many blessings that God offers to all who will obey and follow Christ.

a. One of these blessings is described in I Peter 1:3-5.

b. There we learn that God has caused us to be born again unto a true hope.

3. An understanding of this true hope can help Christians who are pilgrims be more joyful during their time in this life.

Body.

I. BECAUSE GOD IS MERCIFUL!

A. THE BASIS FOR OUR HOPE LIES NOT IN OUR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS

1. It is a good thing that it does not, for all are sinners in God’s sight - Romans 3:23

2. Even as Christians we find ourselves guilty before God - 1 John 1:8,10

B. THE BASIS FOR OUR HOPE LIES IN GOD’S ABUNDANCE MERCY

1. Mercy bestowed while we were yet sinners - Romans 5:6,8

2. Mercy bestowed upon the conditions of faith, repentance, and baptism Acts 2:36-38

3. Mercy bestowed continually upon Christians as they repent of and confess their sins - 1 John 1:9

II. BECAUSE JESUS IS ALIVE!

A. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS IS CRUCIAL TO OUR HOPE.

1. If Christ is not risen, then the apostles were liars, and our faith is vain! - 1 Corinthians 15:14-15

2. If Christ is not risen, we are still held guilty for our sins, no forgiveness has occurred! - 1 Corinthians 15:17

3. If Christ is not risen, those who have died as Christians have perished, they are lost! - 1 Corinthians 15:18

4. If Christ has not risen, then we do not have a true hope, instead we are to be pitied by others! - 1 Corinthians 15:19

B. BUT THROUGH JESUS’ RESURRECTION, WE HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN TO A TRUE HOPE!

1. Peter does not have reference to the process of conversion , but to the renewed hope produced by the resurrection of Jesus

a. After Jesus’ death and prior to His resurrection, the disciples were despondent

b. But after the resurrection of Jesus, His disciples were born again in regards to their hope

2. Surely the fact that Jesus did rise gives us reason for a true hope

a. God would not raise a liar, so anything Jesus said about our hope is true - John 11:25

b. Since Jesus rose from the dead, we have a true hope that we too will one day rise from the dead - 1 Corinthians 15:20-23

III. BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF OUR INHERITANCE!

A. THE DEGREE OF HOPE WE HAVE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE INHERITANCE WE HAVE

1. If our inheritance is a good one, our hope is strong, or true

2. If our inheritance is a poor one, then our hope is weak, or dead

B. AS DESCRIBED BY PETER, OUR INHERITANCE

1. Is incorruptible

a. The Greek word means not liable to corruption or decay, imperishable

b. Unlike this present heavens and earth in which now live, and which will one day be destroyed - II Peter 3:10-13

2. Is undefiled

a. The Greek word means not defiled, unsoiled

b. It is unlike the earthly Canaan, which could be and was defiled by its inhabitants

c. Our hope pertains to that where the defiled are not allowed to enter - Revelation 21:27

3. Does not fade away

a. The Greek word means unfading, perennial

b. The word is a variation of amaranth which was the name of a mythical flower whose bloom was perpetual and whose loveliness never faded

c. Such is our heavenly reward: it will not rust, fade, or wither like so many things do here on earth

4. Is reserved in heaven

a. The Greek word means to watch, to observe, to guard, protect, to reserve, set aside

b. Therefore, our inheritance is safely guarded in heaven itself!

c. No one, not even Satan himself, can steal it from you!

IV. BECAUSE WE ARE SAFELY GUARDED!

A. CHRISTIANS ARE KEPT FOR THE SALVATION READY TO BE REVEALED IN THE LAST TIME

1. The word kept is a military term

2. It means to guard, protect by a military guard, either to prevent hostile invasion, or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight

3. While our inheritance is being kept guarded in heaven under the watchful eye of God, we are being garrisoned about by God’s protecting care for it. (Wuest)

B. NOTE THAT BEING KEPT INVOLVES TWO THINGS

1. First, the power of God!

a. We have the help of God Himself, who knows how to help those in temptation

b. He knows how to deliver them out of temptation - II Peter 2:9

c. He knows how to enable them to bear with the temptation - 1 Corinthians 10:13

d. He supplies the armor necessary to withstand in the evil day - Ephesians 6:10-13

2. Also, our faith!

a. To be safely guarded by God’s protective care requires faith on our part

b. The only way we can ever lose our inheritance reserved in heaven is to become unfaithful to the Lord! - Revelation 2:10

c. While the Bible teaches the security of the believer

1) It also teaches that a believer can become an unbeliever - Hebrews 3:12-13

2) And it teaches that unbelievers have no hope - Hebrews 3:14-4:3

d. As long as we remain faithful, then, we have the assurance of God’s protective care to guide us until we receive that inheritance reserved in heaven for us!

Conclusion.

In this passage, then, are four reasons why the hope of the Christian is called a living or true hope

1. Because God is merciful!

2. Because Jesus is alive!

3. Because of the nature of our inheritance!

4. Because we are safely guarded!