Ep 351 – 1 Peter 3:13-17

Hope. It seems to be in short supply these days. We live at a time when the darkness around us seems to be deepening and the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ appears to be diminishing in strength. But Peter would encourage us to have hope. In 1 Peter 3:13-17, he reminds us of the hope that we have within us as followers of Jesus Christ. We have been chosen by God and made members of His family. And that new relationship with Him comes with the guarantee of an eternity that has been secured for us in heaven. All because of what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. We live in this world with hope, even in the midst of all the darkness. We live our lives in eager anticipation of Christ's eminent return. We count on it. And it is the promise of His return and the hope of our eternal destiny that allow us to endure all this world has to throw at us. But when we do good and find ourselves suffering because of it, Peter tells us we need to be ready to share with all those around us just why we are willing to put up with trials and troubles in this life. It's because we have hope of eternal life. Peter wants us to defend our actions; not with rhetoric, clever arguments, or well-reasoned polemics, but with an explanation of the hope of the gospel. Our willingness to suffer for doing good only makes sense when seen through the lens of the gospel.