"THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER" A "Living" Hope (1:3-5) INTRODUCTION 1. In our study of Peter's epistle so far, we have noticed... 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" (chosen) 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 1Pe 1:3-5 b. There we learn that God has caused us to be born again unto "a living hope" 3. An understanding of this "living" hope can help Christians who are "pilgrims" be more joyful during their sojourn in this life 4. Therefore, in this lesson we shall examine what Peter says about the Christian hope that makes it a "living" hope [Verse 3 begins with Peter praising God, and this leads us to the first reason our hope is a "living" hope...] I. BECAUSE GOD IS MERCIFUL! A. THE BASIS FOR OUR HOPE LIES NOT IN OUR OWN PERFECTION OR RIGHTEOUSNESS... 1. It is a good thing that it does not, for all are sinners in God's sight - cf. Ro 3:23 2. Even as Christians we find ourselves guilty before God - cf. 1Jn 1:8,10 B. THE BASIS FOR OUR HOPE LIES IN THE ABUNDANCE OF GOD'S MERCY... 1. Mercy bestowed while we were yet sinners - cf. Ro 5:6,8 2. Mercy bestowed upon the conditions of faith, repentance, and baptism - cf. Ac 2:36-38 3. Mercy bestowed continually upon Christians as they repent of and confess their sins - cf. 1Jn 1:9 [Because of God's "abundant mercy", then, we who are sinners can have a "living" hope! But according to verse 3 there is another reason to have hope...] 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! - 1Co 15:14-15 2. If Christ is not risen, we are still held guilty for our sins, no forgiveness has occurred! - 1Co 15:17 3. If Christ is not risen, those who have died as Christians have perished, they are lost! - 1Co 15:18 4. If Christ has not risen, then we do not have a "living" hope, instead we are to be pitied by others! - 1Co 15:19 B. BUT THROUGH JESUS' RESURRECTION, WE HAVE BEEN "BORN AGAIN" TO A LIVING HOPE! 1. Peter may have reference not to the process of conversion (though he does in 1Pe 1:23), but to the renewed hope produced by the resurrection of Jesus a. E.g., 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 c. As Guy N. Woods says in his commentary: "The reference here is...to the re-establishment of the faith of the disciples by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead." 2. Surely the fact that Jesus did rise gives us reason for a "living" hope a. God would not raise a liar, so anything Jesus said about our hope is true - e.g., Jn 11:25 b. Since Jesus rose from the dead, we have a firm hope that we too will one day rise from the dead - cf. 1Co 15:20-23 [By the abundant mercy of God, and upon the basis of Jesus' own resurrection, then, we have been "born again" to a living hope! But there are two more reasons discussed in verses 4-5 as to why our hope can be described as "living". One is...] 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 "living" 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 is aphthartos {af'-thar-tos}, meaning "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 - 2Pe 3:10-13 2. IS UNDEFILED a. The Greek word is amiantos {am-ee'-an-tos}, meaning "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 - cf. Re 21:27 3. DOES NOT FADE AWAY a. The Greek word is amarantos {am-ar'-an-tos}, meaning "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. IT IS RESERVED IN HEAVEN a. The word "reserved" comes from tereo {tay-reh'-o}, meaning "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! [Since this is the nature of our "inheritance" upon which our hope rests, we can see why our hope is described as a "living" hope. There is one more reason to call our hope a "living" hope: not only is our inheritance safely guarded in heaven, but also...] 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 from phroureo {froo-reh'-o}, and 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 - cf. 2 Pe 2:9 c. He knows how to enable them to bear with the temptation - cf. 1Co 10:13 d. He supplies the armor necessary to withstand in the evil day - cf. Ep 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! - cf. Re 2:10 c. While the Bible teaches the security of the "believer"... 1) It also teaches that a "believer" can become an "unbeliever" - cf. He 3:12-13 2) And it teaches that "unbelievers" have no hope - cf. He 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 1. In this passage (1Pe 1:3-5), then, are four reasons why the hope of the Christian is called a "living" hope: a. Because God is merciful! b. Because Jesus is alive! c. Because of the nature of our inheritance! d. Because we are safely guarded! 2. A "living" hope can be a source of great joy in the lives of Christians; it certainly was to the original recipients of Peter's epistle: "In this (the living hope that pertains to the salvation ready to be revealed in the last time) you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials." - 1Pe 1:6 3. Do you have this "living" hope? a. You do if you have received God's mercy offered in Christ, and are remaining faithful to the Lord b. If you have not received this mercy, or have neglected it through unfaithfulness, why not come to the Lord according to His conditions found in His Holy Word? - cf. Ac 2:38; 1Jn 1:9Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011
