Christian Hope
Introduction
- Concentrating on v13
- Using both NKJV and ESV
- A step into the next part of the book
- Shows us all that we have in Christ
- Example of TV Show - saying that God gives us false hope
- A lot of people in society today believe this
- Scripture makes clear this is not the case
- Peter is writing the letter to remind people what they have in Christ
- The people of the dispersion are being persecuted daily for their faith
- They were likely mainly Gentile, but there would have been some Jewish converts
- They were likely to have lost everything
- Similar to many Muslim people saved today
- We have an eternal inheritance - we have an eternal hope
- To build us up and encourage us of the hope we have in Christ
- We need hope today
- Is our hope real?
A Hope with Certainty
Worldly Hope
- The meaning of the word hope
- Not wish/desire but - no certainty in this
- Hope that requires effort - examples
- No hope - example of the lottery
- Do we try to find meaning in our lives by placing hope in these things?
- Trying to find God in these things
- Are we trying to fill our God shaped hole with worldly stuff?
- These hopes are all temporary
Christian Hope
- The only hope
- A living hope (in Jesus Christ)
- It is different because it is not based on anything we have done - it is based on God's great mercy (v3)
- God loves us with a pure love - not seen in society
- God has given us new life - caused us to be 'born again'
- Brought about by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (v3)
- A historical fact
- Sin dealt with on the cross
- All who believe - know they are saved
- A real and certain hope
A Hope that helps us keep focus
- v13 - Therefore
- The first part points back to previous Scripture
- The middle part gives us practical help now
- The end part speaks of the future
- Be sober minded and prepare your minds for action - 'gird up the loins'
- Prepare your minds - 'gird up the loins'
- Remove hindrances to be ready for work
- There is work required - not easy work
- Be ready for the return of Christ
- Be sober minded
- Do not have any inhibition/intoxication from the world and sin
- Do not be influenced by the world around but be influenced by what is to come
- The things of the world will fade and end
- The things of Christ will not
- Example of hazard perception test - look ahead at the dangers
- We are not perfect - we will fall and stumble
- We are living in a fallen world
- When we do fall and stumble - we can look to the hope that we have (in Christ)
- There can be difficulty and suffering
- Is the knowledge of where we are going and the hope in our lives - is it real?
- It is worth the effort
- Focus on Christ
A Hope that points to Christ's return and beyond
- The hope we have is real, but not yet fully realised
- It will be fully realised at the revelation of Jesus Christ
- Knowing the hope we have will help us to understand it
- Do we think ahead or think only of today?
- If we do think ahead - do we think about heaven?
- We are not to be wrapped up in this world
- If we believed in Christ's coming, we would be preparing
- Christ is coming
- Do you realise what will happen when Christ comes again?
- His coming will be the final event of history
- He will come with the clouds - Rev
- The dead will be raised - John 5:28-29
- Rev 21:1-3
- Believers and unbelievers - heaven and hell
- In heaven - a perfect body and soul to worship God, no more sin
- Pure love, pure joy, God centered, being with the people of God
- Endless
Closing Remarks
- If you are saved - all this is yours
- If you are not saved - all this can be yours
- Quote from CS Lewis