"1 Peter: The Reason for Writing" | Isaiah Mast
"1st Peter: The Reason for Writing" - Isaiah Mast
Sunday, July 20th, 20205
1st Peter 1
"1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
Praise to God for a Living Hope
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
Be Holy
13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For,
“All people are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
And this is the word that was preached to you."
A living hope ... through the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
HOPE: to cherish a desire with anticipation.
- Hope is based on the logical actuality that it will actually happen.
- False hope is confidence in something with no logical proof that it could ever actually happen.
- a track record can help determine whether or not you have hope in something.
God has been faithful before so we can have the hope that He will be faithful again!
Jesus is our Living Hope - this hope will never die because He Lives!
The greater the liklihood, the greater the hope -
- With Jesus Christ, it is 100% guaranteed!
- Jesus is all loving, all powerful so we can trust Him!
What are you Hoping for?
- Set your hope on the grace to be revealed and brought to you at Jesus Christ and His coming!
Romans 8:24-25 "For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
Without Jesus, you are missing something valuable in your life. You need Jesus. You have been chosen, called and redeemed.
Stay focused: "Keep your eyes on the prize and your mind on the Master!"
*We have not been delivered out of anything worse than what Jesus has delivered us from and we won't be delivered to anything better than what Jesus has delivered us for!*
You will live for what you Hope for... so what are you hoping for??
1 Peter 1:13 "Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming."
- This living hope of Jesus should shine as a testimony to people around us.
- Don't go back to old temptations ---> There is nothing there for you!!!
Have you stepped into the mission God has for you?
Do people ask about the reason for the Hope you have?
- 1 Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,"
- Are you hoping for the things of God?
Don't forget God's promises - He has an inheritance waiting for you in Heaven!
Go - make disciples of all Nations - Do Something courageous to glorify your Father in Heaven!
If you are struggling, there is Hope - The Battle belongs to the Lord - Jesus Christ has the Victory!