We live in a world of uncertainty, suffering and trials
Our hope is not in our circumstances but Christ
Peter reminds the persecuted church they have a living hope in Christ
Hope is essential for life – they can endure even the most diffiuclt trials
Hope is not wishful thinking but a living hope
Overview:
The Mercy of God (v3)
The Majesty of our Inheritance (v4-5)
The Maturity of our Faith (v6-9)
The Mercy of God (v3)
This is the source/fount of our living hope
Peter begins with worship
Because salvation is not based on our works but God’s abundant mercy
Mercy often linked with grace
Grace gives what we do not deserve – salvation and blessing
Mercy withholds/does not give what we do deserve – condemnation
Three aspects of God’s mercy:
Mercy is the cause of our salvation
Eph 2:4-5 – "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)"
The love of God through mercy
We are saved because of God’s love, not our merits
Titus 3:5 – "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit"
Mercy brings new life
Born again into a new spiritual life through Christ Jesus
1 Cor 2:14
The natural man can never understand the things of God – such understanding is given by God Himself
Example
"Salvation belongs to the Lord"
Mercy produces a living hope
Without grace we have no hope
Eph 2:12 – "at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world"
Some people have no hope – annihilation
Some people have a false hope – reincarnation
The word of God is the Truth:
Heb 9:27 – "And as it is appointed for men to die once and after this the judgment"
Jesus telling the story of Lazarus and the rich man
A living hope – because Christ is alive through the resurrection
The Majesty of our Inheritance (v4-5)
Is the security of our hope
Reading v4-5
Three characteristics of our inheritance
Incorruptible – it cannot be destroyed
Undefiled – not blemished by sin (as things are on earth)
Unfading – not diminished by time or will lose its value
We are kept for our inheritance – the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints
Phil 1:6 – "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ"
Quote from Pastor Orr
We cannot contribute to our salvation
Jesus Christ gives us birth
Salvation is not in our ‘preaching’
Many did not believe even though they saw the miracles and heard the preaching of Jesus Christ
Belief is a gift of God
We preach to all
It is God and Jesus Christ who saves
Therefore, we will never lose our salvation
1 John 5:4 – "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world."
The Maturity of our Faith (v6-9)
The refining of our living hope
Reading v6-9
Three things about trials
Temporary – they will not last forever compared to eternity
Necessary – God allows trials for a purpose: to strength, teach and refine us
Refining – making it stronger and more precious
Closing Remarks
If our salvation is based on God’s mercy:
It is secure and cannot be lost
Even in suffering, no matter who dark things get
Do not hold onto temporary things
Your true inheritance is eternal – live with an internal perspective (Heb 12:2)
Respond in praise and worship for the salvation He has freely given
Example
"For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul" – Matt 16:26
