Enduring Difficult Times
Introduction
Do you have a go to activity when things get tough?
Examples
How do you endure as a Christian when things get tough?
The answer is in what we have read
The passage:
Peter refers to the Christians of the dispersion
Modern-day Turkey
A circular letter written not to churches but to the people
The Christians were suffering persecution for their faith
Peter refers to them as ‘pilgrims’
cf Romans 8:22-23
Peter wants his readers to honour God in a land in which they don’t belong
Kept by the power of God for salvation (v1-5)
v2 – Theologically dense
We live in the knowledge of God that transforms are hearts and minds
We are being made holy and into the likeness of Jesus
This completed and sealed in the finished work of Christ on the cross
Why does Peter consider it important to hear these words?
We are transformed by the knowledge of God as revealed in the Bible
v3 – A living hope
Jesus did not just die on the cross but was resurrected in power
Example from the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
This is because of God’s mercy
Established by new birth
John 3:3
This comes to the non-perishable seed of hearing the word of God
v4 – An inheritance
Earthly things do not bring life or an eternal inheritance
Examples
The inheritance for Christians is reserved for us in heaven
v5 – Comfort
Kept by faith in God
God shields us with the faith we have
We are kept by God safely to the end
Rejoicing in future salvation enables to endure present trials (v6-9)
v6 – Rejoice
Very unnatural in times of suffering
The Christian’s living hope eclipses any secular ‘hope’
The book written to suffering Christians
Our culture is becoming increasing hostile
Other struggles – examples
These verses help to encourage us
“though now for a little while”
Suffering will come to an end
There will be a day where we are welcomed into heaven
The world may change but the word of God does not
v7 – the purpose is to prove the genuineness of our faith
Gold is refined by fire
Our faith is more precious than gold
God is sovereign over our trials
Living by faith is hard
The world will question our faith
We have a real authentic testimony of the disciples
v9 – Salvation of our souls
The end point of our faith
Our Salvation (v10-12)
The New Testament and Old Testament speak of our salvation in Jesus Christ
The Old Testament prophets could only see things ‘dimly’
God gave them insight and revealed things to them
Example of Isaiah 53
As Christians we have the privilege of seeing/understanding the whole of the Old Testament in light of the revelation in Jesus Christ
Closing Remarks
Recap of above points
How does this sermon affect us?
Remember all that we have in a extra compared to the glorious inheritance in heaven
Having a misunderstanding over this can lead to a shaking of our faith and disillusionment
We are not expecting heaven on earth as we are pilgrims
Fix your eyes on Jesus