Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Do you have a go to activity when things get tough?
- 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
- 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
- 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