Sunday 07:15:12

Peter wrote his first letter to believers who were experiencing persecution for their faith. He wrote to comfort them with the hope of eternal life and to challenge them to continue living holy lives. The letter may have been written at the time of Roman Emperor Nero who took on an agenda of torture and killing of Christians. The theme of Peter is hope. Peter describes Christian hope as completely different from any other. For the rest of the world, suffering can drain hope dry. Trials can result in failure and discouragement. Hardship can bring hopelessness. But Peter would write that Christian hope is a living hope. Christian hope is active, because the object of our faith, Jesus Christ, overcame death and is alive. Our hope produces joy that doesn’t just survive through suffering and grief, Our joy can thrive in suffering. 1 Peter 1:1-25 vv. 1-2 – Peter’s letter is written to believers throughout Asia, Bithynia, Pontus, Galatia, and Cappadocia Peter reminds them by strong declaration that they were chosen by God. We belong to him by his choosing. If you are a believer, God chose you. The Father chose us before we chose him. The Holy Spirit brings us the benefits of salvation and sets us apart for God’s service. “To God’s elect… chosen… according to the foreknowledge of God… through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood.” We are strangers in the world – with different goals, motives, and by God’s grace, a different destiny. We are aliens, strangers, pilgrims here. We are only here for a while, our destiny is heaven. vv. 3-5 – God has given us new birth – What we were and what we are now are so different So entirely new and entirely different that it is nothing short of new life. There has been a decisive change in the life of the believer. It is a new life, a divine life, built upon the life of Christ. This new life brings new hope (v. 3), a new inheritance (v. 4), and God’s shielding and salvation (v. 5). Peter seems to say, “Remember first of all how much you have to thank God for: new life, new hope, God’s sure promises, his power to keep you, and full salvation soon to come.” “Hope” is not wishful thinking, but “confident expectation” or “joyful anticipation” Why do Christians have hope like no one else? Why can we have hope in the midst of hopeless situations? Because God has promised good to us. He does that for his children – whom he chose. Even in the worst of circumstances on earth, I know that he has solved my biggest problems. He took your sin and gave you new life. When you had wondered away, he called you back and made you his son or daughter. When you deserved death and isolation from him, he sent his Son to suffer and die for you so that you could be brought back into relationship with him. When we go through suffering, grief, trials, pain, we forget that this stuff matters. In the midst of suffering, trials, grief, pain, this is all that matters – you have living hope vv. 6-9 – “In this you greatly rejoice” Because of the new birth and all it has brought to us (hope, inheritance, God’s shielding and salvation) Because of all of that, believers can rejoice (overjoyed or leap for joy) – even in suffering. Suffering is described as temporary and varied (v. 6). Joy is described as inexpressible and glorious. (v. 8). “Inexpressible” – human language is not adequate to explain it. “Glorious” – it is supreme joy. Hiebert writes, “[The Joy of a believer during a trial] is inspired by, and in a remarkable measure already radiant with, the glory that is yet to come.” We have begun to receive our salvation – but what we have so far is just a taste. v. 7 “Trials have come so that your faith may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor.” Suffering is necessary for us. Suffering refines our faith, bringing out the genuineness of it. Suffering is never pointless in a believer’s life. Suffering produces a genuine faith tested by the fires of trial that lasts forever. The process of suffering is painful, but God’s intention is good. He wants to strip our faith of all dross and make its genuineness apparent and to reward us.