1 Peter 1 - Living Like You are Born Again

Summary

The video script begins a series on the book of 1 Peter, emphasizing its relevance and power. It highlights Peter's apostolic authority and addresses believers as pilgrims with a heavenly hope. The message underscores the importance of being taught God's ways, the significance of holiness and obedience, and the assurance of an incorruptible inheritance in heaven. It also acknowledges the necessity of trials and grief in testing faith. The script concludes with a call for holy living and fervent love, urging believers to rest their hope fully on the grace brought by Jesus Christ.

Takeaways

• 📖 The series explores the book of First Peter, emphasizing its relevance and power.
• ✍️ Peter, the author, is a significant figure in the Gospels, known for his faith and flaws.
• 🌍 Peter addresses the Christians in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, emphasizing their status as pilgrims.
• 🚶‍♂️ Believers are described as pilgrims, indicating their transient state on earth and their hope for heaven.
• 📜 The letter is general, written to a broad audience rather than a specific congregation, addressing universal Christian teachings.
• 🕊️ Peter highlights the importance of a heavenly hope and the significance of looking towards an incorruptible inheritance in heaven.
• 🔥 Trials and grief are presented as necessary for refining faith, which is more precious than gold.
• 🔍 Old Testament prophets predicted the grace of the New Covenant, showing continuity in God's plan.
• 👼 Angels are interested in the salvation of humans, showing the significance of God's plan for humanity.
• 🧠 Peter encourages believers to prepare their minds, live holy lives, and focus on their heavenly inheritance.

Q & A

Who is the author of the letter discussed in the script?

The author of the letter is Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.

What is the significance of the term 'pilgrims' in the context of the letter?

The term 'pilgrims' refers to believers who have not settled in this world and are looking forward to their heavenly home.

Why does Peter not emphasize his apostolic credentials like Paul does in his letters?

Peter's apostolic credentials were well established and not questioned, so he simply identifies himself as an apostle without additional qualifications.

To whom is Peter addressing his letter?

Peter addresses his letter to the pilgrims of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.

What is the significance of the term 'dispersion' in this letter?

The term 'dispersion' refers to Christians, mainly from a Gentile background, who are scattered and do not have a central homeland, similar to the Jews after the Babylonian exile.

How does Peter describe the nature of the believers' inheritance?

Peter describes the believers' inheritance as incorruptible, undefiled, and not fading away, reserved in heaven.

What role does faith play in the believers' trials according to Peter?

Faith is tested by trials to display its enduring quality, which is more precious than gold, and it leads to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

What is Peter's view on the relationship between grief and trials?

Peter acknowledges that grief in trials is sometimes necessary and that God has a purpose for both the trials and the grief they cause.

How does Peter explain the concept of election in his letter?

Peter explains that believers are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.

What is the main focus of Peter's message in the beginning of his letter?

The main focus is on the living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the incorruptible inheritance reserved in heaven, and the importance of enduring faith during trials.

Outlines

00:00

📖 Introduction and Context of Peter's Letter

The book of 1 Peter begins with the apostle Peter addressing the recipients as 'pilgrims of the dispersion' in various regions. He emphasizes Peter's prominence in the Gospels and his journey from denial to restoration by Jesus. Unlike Paul, Peter simply identifies as an apostle without additional qualifiers. He writes to Christians, referring to them as pilgrims, highlighting their heavenly hope and the transient nature of their earthly existence. This letter underscores the importance of focusing on heaven, contrary to some modern teachings that downplay it.

05:02

🗺️ Recipients of the Letter and its General Nature

Peter's letter is addressed to a broad audience of Christians in regions of modern-day Turkey, rather than a specific congregation. Unlike Paul's letters, which often addressed specific issues within particular churches, 1 Peter is a general epistle intended for the wider Christian community. Peter underscores the need for collective learning and submission to God's word, emphasizing the importance of teaching and guidance in the Christian life. He also highlights the historical and contemporary Christian presence in the region, urging prayers for modern Christians in Turkey.

10:04

🛡️ Believers' Identity and Calling

Peter describes believers as 'elect according to the foreknowledge of God,' chosen for sanctification and obedience through the Spirit. He emphasizes that God's choice is not random but made with foreknowledge and wisdom. Believers are called to live holy lives, and their election involves a process of sanctification and obedience. Peter transitions into praising God for His mercy and the new birth given to believers, which leads to a living hope through Jesus' resurrection. This hope is tied to an incorruptible, heavenly inheritance.

15:05

🌟 Living Hope and Heavenly Inheritance

Peter praises God for the new birth and living hope given through Jesus' resurrection, leading to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance reserved in heaven. He emphasizes that this inheritance is protected by God's power through faith, ensuring believers' salvation. Peter acknowledges the trials believers face, stating these trials test and refine their faith, which is more precious than gold. He encourages believers to rejoice in their heavenly inheritance despite current sufferings, highlighting the importance of enduring trials with faith.

20:06

🔥 The Purpose of Trials and Grief

Peter addresses the necessity of trials and the grief they bring, emphasizing that such experiences test and prove the genuineness of faith. He reassures believers that grief in trials is a part of God's plan and necessary for growth. Trials reveal the strength of faith, which is precious to God, even more than gold. Peter encourages believers to find joy in their tested faith, as it leads to praise, honor, and glory when Jesus is revealed. The end goal of faith is the salvation of their souls, despite current hardships.

25:07

📜 Prophetic Foretelling and Angelic Interest

Peter explains that the salvation believers experience was prophesied by the Old Testament prophets, who diligently sought to understand the grace to come. These prophets predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories, ministering to future generations. Peter highlights that the gospel now preached fulfills these prophecies. He also notes that angels long to understand these truths, indicating the profound mystery and significance of God's redemptive plan. This underscores the continuity and depth of God's salvation plan.

30:07

🧠 Preparing for Action and Holiness

Peter instructs believers to 'gird up the loins of your mind,' meaning to prepare their minds for action and be sober-minded. He urges them to set their hope fully on the grace to be revealed at Jesus' return. This involves living as obedient children, not conforming to past desires but being holy in all conduct, reflecting God's holiness. Peter emphasizes that holiness begins in the mind and is supported by a deep engagement with God's word, leading to a transformed life. The call to holiness is central to Christian living.

35:08

🙏 Living Holy Lives and Loving One Another

Peter calls believers to pursue holiness and fervent love for one another, indicating that true Christian living involves both. He underscores that holiness is not outdated but a beautiful and essential aspect of God's nature. Believers are to reflect this holiness in their lives. Additionally, Peter stresses that love must accompany holiness, as both are vital to Christian life. He reminds believers of their redemption through Christ's precious blood, motivating them to live righteously. The balance of holiness and love is crucial.

40:12

💖 Holiness and Fervent Love

Peter continues to emphasize the importance of living holy lives and loving one another fervently. He reiterates that believers have been born again through the incorruptible word of God, which endures forever. This new birth calls for a life of purity and sincere love. Peter quotes Isaiah to highlight the eternal nature of God's word, contrasting it with the transient nature of human life. He calls believers to live out their faith with a focus on both holiness and love, reflecting their new identity in Christ.

45:12

📜 Enduring Word and Holy Living

Peter concludes by highlighting the enduring nature of God's word, which has survived through centuries of transmission, persecution, and neglect. He quotes from Isaiah to emphasize that while human achievements fade, God's word remains. Peter encourages believers to live in holy reverence, recognizing the eternal significance of their faith. He recalls the Roman Emperor Diocletian's failed attempt to destroy the Scriptures and contrasts it with the enduring presence of God's word. The call to holy living and fervent love is reinforced as central to the Christian faith.

Keywords

💡Apostle

An apostle is a messenger and ambassador for Jesus Christ. In the video, Peter is identified as an apostle, highlighting his authority and close relationship with Jesus. This term underscores Peter's role in spreading the Christian faith and guiding early Christians.

💡Pilgrim

A pilgrim is someone who travels to a sacred place for religious reasons. In the context of the video, Christians are described as pilgrims, emphasizing their transient journey through life towards a spiritual homeland in heaven. This metaphor illustrates the temporary nature of earthly life and the ultimate goal of reaching heaven.

💡Dispersion

Dispersion refers to the scattering of people from their homeland. In the script, it is used to describe Christians living in different regions of Asia Minor. This term links to the idea that believers are dispersed throughout the world, living as foreigners awaiting their true home in heaven.

💡Foreknowledge

Foreknowledge is the divine ability to know beforehand. The video explains that God’s choice of believers is based on His foreknowledge, implying a purposeful and wise selection. This concept reassures Christians of their place in God’s plan and the intentional nature of their faith.

💡Sanctification

Sanctification is the process of becoming holy. The video highlights that Christians are chosen for sanctification, meaning they are set apart for a holy purpose. This term underscores the ongoing transformation in a believer’s life towards spiritual purity and obedience.

💡Living Hope

Living Hope refers to the dynamic and active hope believers have in Christ's resurrection. The video mentions that this hope is living because it is rooted in the risen Jesus, providing Christians with a continual and vibrant expectation of eternal life.

💡Inheritance

Inheritance in this context is the eternal reward awaiting believers in heaven. The script describes it as incorruptible and undefiled, highlighting its everlasting and pure nature. This term reinforces the promise of a future with God, motivating Christians to persevere in their faith.

💡Faith Tested by Fire

Faith Tested by Fire symbolizes the trials that refine and prove the genuineness of a believer's faith. The video uses this metaphor to explain that challenges and hardships reveal the true quality of faith, making it more precious and resilient, like gold refined in fire.

💡Holiness

Holiness is the state of being holy, set apart for God. The video calls believers to live holy lives, mirroring God's own holiness. This concept is central to Christian ethics, emphasizing moral purity and dedication to God's standards.

💡Love One Another

Love One Another is a command for Christians to show deep, sincere love for each other. The script stresses that holy living is incomplete without fervent love, indicating that genuine faith manifests in compassionate and selfless relationships among believers.

Highlights

Peter begins his letter by addressing the pilgrims of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, emphasizing their status as travelers in search of a heavenly home.

The letter is written by Peter, a prominent apostle known for his close relationship with Jesus and his significant role in the Gospels.

Peter highlights the difference in his introduction compared to Paul's letters, noting that his apostolic credentials were unquestioned from the beginning.

Peter calls the believers 'pilgrims,' emphasizing that their true home is in heaven, not in this world.

The letter is addressed to a wide geographical area, indicating it was intended for general Christian instruction rather than addressing specific issues in a particular congregation.

Peter describes the believers as 'elect according to the foreknowledge of God,' highlighting the deliberate and knowledgeable choice of God in their selection.

Believers are chosen for sanctification and obedience, not just for salvation, emphasizing the importance of living a holy life.

Peter praises God for the new birth and living hope given through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, emphasizing the eternal and incorruptible inheritance reserved in heaven.

Faith is tested through trials to display its genuine quality, which is more precious than gold.

Peter encourages believers to rejoice in their heavenly inheritance despite facing various trials and grief.

Peter points out that trials and grief are sometimes necessary for the growth and testing of faith.

Peter underscores the importance of understanding what God has done in their lives before focusing on practical instructions.

Peter calls for mental preparation and sobriety, urging believers to set their hope fully on the grace to be revealed at Jesus' return.

Peter emphasizes holiness, stating that believers should be holy in all their conduct because God is holy.

Peter concludes by stressing the enduring nature of God's Word and the necessity of both holy living and fervent love among believers.

Transcripts

[Music]

tonight we begin a brief series through

the book of first Peter and I think

you'll see how powerful and relevant

this book is let's just begin with this

thought here from verse one how the

letter begins Peter an apostle of Jesus

Christ to the pilgrims of the dispersion

in Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and

Bithynia now first of all we have the

author of the letter it's Peter and you

all know Peter Peter the probably the

second most prominent man in the Gospels

after Jesus himself Peter the same one

who walked on the water and who sank in

the water

Peter the same one who confessed that

Jesus was the Christ the Messiah the son

of the Living God and Peter the same one

who was rebuked by Jesus just a moment

later Peter the same one who protested

that he would never deny Christ and then

a few minutes later he did deny Christ

and the Peter who was restored from his

denial by Jesus along the shores of the

Sea of Galilee this Peter is writing and

he writes as you notice verse one says

as an apostle now what I find

fascinating about this is to compare

this just a little bit with Paul's

letters you know most of the New

Testament letters were written by the

Apostle Paul this is one of only two

letters written by Peter when Paul

introduces himself in his letters it

always has a phrase something like this

Paul an apostle by the will of God

something very similar to that you know

this Peter doesn't do that in this

letter and I think one reason why is

that Paul was an apostle born out of due

time Peter was an apostle from the very

beginning to put it bluntly nobody

questioned Peter's apostolic credentials

so he just I'm that Peter Peter an

apostle notice who he writes to of Jesus

Christ to the pilgrims of the dispersion

in Pontius Galatia

fedosya Asia and Bithynia he addresses

the Christians that he writes to here in

the first century and he's probably

riding around the year 64 AD that's what

most scholars think somewhere around

there so we're talking about maybe 30

years or so after Jesus has ascended to

heaven he's writing to them and the

first thing he calls these believers are

pilgrims now you understand what the

idea of a pilgrim is we're coming up to

Thanksgiving so we're thinking of the

Pilgrims and we think of the guys with

the Quaker Oats hats you know and the

buckles on their shoes well those people

were called pilgrims because they didn't

settle down in one place they were

looking for a place to settle down and

that's what a pilgrim is a pilgrim is

someone who has not yet settled down in

a place but is searching for a place to

settle down now our place as believers

to settle down is not in this world

our place is believers to settle down is

in heaven and that's why the idea of a

heavenly hope hangs with such prominence

throughout this letter of first Peter

it's in the very first verse when he

uses the title pilgrims he's pointing

towards heaven and I want you to know

that in some circles within the

Christian world today it's very popular

to advance this idea that being a

Christian isn't just about going to

heaven

you know the Bible really focuses is on

what we do in the world here and now now

believe me I would be the first one to

say that being a Christian is not only

about going to heaven but if you read

the New Testament it puts a lot of

emphasis on heaven and it stirs up a

heavenly hope and even the mention of

the word pilgrim sort of suggests that

for us so he's writing to pilgrims but

notice from a particular place of the

dispersion which is kind of an

interesting phrase or word that he uses

there he's writing to Christians mainly

from a Gentile background we see that

from later on in the letter especially

verse 18 this very chapter but he calls

them pilgrims of the dispersion the

dispersion being a reference to

when the ancient Jews were dispersed at

the Babylonian Empire but what he's just

trying to say is you guys are dispersed

into the world you don't have a center

homeland but your pilgrims waiting for

your homeland

just like the Jews after the Babylonian

exile and then he mentions the cities

where they're gathered you see it there

in verse one Pontus Galatia Cappadocia

Asia and Bithynia now all of these

places that he mentions and on a map we

could show you this all of these places

that he mentions are places of what

would be today modern day Turkey

northern southern all the just general

area there and the first thing I want

you to notice by this is because he

mentions all these different regions in

the area of Turkey one thing I want you

to be aware of is this was a letter not

written to a specific congregation now

Paul's letters for the most part were

written to specific congregations and

usually to address a specific problem in

that congregation oh no there's heresy

in kalasa

I got a write a letter oh no there's

arguments in Philippi I got a write a

letter oh no they've gone off the rails

again in Corinth I got to write a letter

first Peters very different it is one of

what we call one of the general epistles

first Peter second Peter James first

Peter first John second John third John

general epistles epistles not written or

letters I'm using kind of the churchy

word for it epistles they're letters

written not to one specific congregation

but to Christians in general now I just

want that to sink in with you just for a

moment here understand that we as

Christians in general need to be taught

about the Christian life you know some

things are so obvious for us as

believers that we don't really see them

and think about them but this is

something that our age right here right

now needs to hear we live in such an

individualistic age we live in an age

where

all of y'all got instant access to

information from your smartphone not to

mention your tablet or your personal

computer and you could look up all the

facts about this or that or the anything

just like that it's very easy for us to

think in our modern age

I don't anybody teach me nothin I can

figure it out look it's out there ladies

and gentlemen I want to show you that

just a basic principle behind these

letters of the New Testament especially

the general letters is you and I we're

all in this together let's just say we

we need to be taught how to live God's

Way we do and and it shows us a

fundamental principle we must submit

ourselves to the Word of God whatever it

says in here how we should live we need

to take that seriously we need to say

listen God you helping me I want my life

to conform to that you moving in my life

I want to be able to fulfill that I

don't have the choices now I don't need

that I can figure this out no we need to

submit ourselves to the Word of God one

other thought and if I could ask put up

that map just one more time to show

these cities when you see the reach and

where that is

listen up there were many Christians

there in the day that Peter wrote

through the centuries this has been a

highly Christianized areas this is the

modern nation of Turkey and there is

almost no Christian presence in Turkey

today percentage-wise our congregation

supports a pastor and his church in

Istanbul you should think pray for the

Christians of Turkey pray that God's

work there advances because this very

area where Peter originally wrote the

letter to which has had a strong

Christian presence through the centuries

has very very little Christian presence

for the last hundred years okay going on

now to verse 2 he's going to describe

the people that he's writing to they are

elect a court

the foreknowledge of God the Father in

sanctification of the Spirit for

obedience and sprinkling of the blood of

Jesus Christ grace to you and peace be

multiplied so you believers your elect

in other words God chose you and he

chose you notice here in verse 2

according to foreknowledge in other

words God chose you but not in a random

way we all understand that God chooses

but how does God choose he chooses

according to his foreknowledge according

to his wisdom in other words God doesn't

look over the human race and just kind

of say eeny meeny miny moe those are the

ones I choose no there is wisdom and

knowledge and and and and forethought

within his choice now I don't really

believe that foreknowledge connecting

with election means that God chooses me

only because I choose him that would

mean basically there's no choosing on

God's part whatsoever but I believe that

God's knowledge of who I am of what my

destiny is of what I will do with my

life of my inclinations that it plays

some role in whatever it is that he

chooses but the big picture is God's

choice of us isn't random as believers

it's done with knowledge and forethought

but notices we are chosen according to

foreknowledge of God in sanctification

of the Spirit for obedience Christians

are chosen but they're chosen in

sanctification and for obedience if you

think the whole point of you being

chosen by God is saying hey man God

chose me I got my ticket to heaven I can

live any way I want I wonder if you're

chosen at all because it's choosing that

God describes it's a choosing that is

for sanctification or holiness and for

obedience this is just basic fundamental

to Christian thinking here and again for

obedience and sprinkling of the blood of

Jesus Christ grace to you and peace be

multiplied now he's going to give

thanks to God the Father here now

starting in verse 3 blessed be the God

and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who

according to his abundant mercy has

begotten us again to a Living Hope

through the resurrection of Jesus from

the dead to an inheritance incorruptible

and undefiled that does not fade away

reserved in heaven for you who are kept

by the power of God through faith for

salvation ready to be revealed in the

last time I want you notice how Peter

begins this letter he gives his greeting

his few introductory words and then he

says let let's talk about let me explain

to you what God did when he rescued us

let me explain to you what God did when

we became born again how you were saved

if you want to use that term how God

rescued what he did now again this is

such an important principle and one

that's so difficult for us in our modern

age in our modern age we are so

practical and pragmatic ok you Pastor

you said I need help in my Christian

life great tell me what to do come on

give me a list give me the three things

I got to do to live a successful

Christian life come on I want to do one

two three do I want you notice in those

few verses in which he begins there's no

doing it's about what God has done he

says listen before I tell you what to do

and there's gonna be plenty of doing for

us to do in the letter of first Peter

but it's all founded on the spaces of

you got to understand what God has done

in your life do you really understand do

you understand what God has done in the

realm of the Spirit there is a spiritual

world that we interact with every day

but many of us are in some ways blind to

it we ignore it Peter's trying to open

our eyes to the spiritual reality of

what happened when God rescued us

so he says blessed be the God and father

of our Lord Jesus Christ he's praising

God for his unbelievable plan where he

says he has verse three begotten

again now when he says begotten us again

in verse three it's different from John

chapter three the Gospel of John where

it talks about being born again or born

from above it's different wording but

it's the same idea we're born again

we're given new life in Jesus Christ

Peters idea is that when a person is

rescued by God when they are saved

they're made a new creation in Jesus

Christ and you were born again verse

three to a Living Hope why is the hope

living look at what it says there in

verse 3 it's a Living Hope because it

comes through the resurrection of Jesus

Christ of the dead I mean if a hope

comes to you through the resurrected

Jesus it's gonna be a Living Hope you

know maybe some dead Buddha can give you

a dead hope maybe dead Muhammad the

Prophet can give you a dead hope the

Risen Jesus Christ deals with a Living

Hope and he wants that hope to be alive

in each and every one of us so the hope

lives because it's set on verse 4

inherent inheritance incorruptible it's

an inheritance that can never go away

it can never fade away because it's

reserved in heaven again a heavenly look

in first Peter when God rescued you he

gave you an inheritance have you ever

dreamed of a big inheritance you know oh

I had an uncle who I never knew and he

died and he left me a jillion dollars

you know Wow well let me tell you

something about that jillion dollars you

don't know what's gonna happen in the

financial world in the next six months

or a year or ten years but that could be

a very corruptible inheritance right let

me tell you something though the

inheritance that God gives us in Jesus

Christ it's incorruptible and it's

reserved for us in heaven this is his

message so it's verse four incorruptible

undefiled it does not fade away now I

want you to notice he's not

telling us what our inheritance is he's

telling us what it is not it's not

corruptible it's not defiled it does not

fade away it's almost as if what it is

is too great to describe so all Peter

can tell us is what it is not by the way

I just had a thought but when you

consider this kind of thing I think

about when we talk to people about faith

in Jesus Christ and there are times when

if we're gonna tell people about God's

Word and God's work and all that there

are going to be times we have to warn

people about Hell it's not exactly my

favorite thing to do I don't know about

you but I mean it's real so there's a

there's a place we're doing that but not

only should I or should we warn people

about Hell but a second warning that we

can give or maybe it should be our first

warning is on what they will miss out on

in heaven it's not just that hell is a

bad place which it is heaven is a great

place and as much as it's bad to go to

hell it is unbelievable glorious to be

in heaven so it's not just that the

penalty you'll deserve it's the reward

you'll be denied or the inheritance and

these are the ones verse five who are

kept by the power of God through faith

this makes our inheritance certain we

are kept by the power of God and this

enables us to endure through faith until

the coming of Jesus notice we're kept by

the power of God but how through faith

that means your faith in my faith the

person who has kept is the person who's

abiding in a continual relationship of

faith with God faith and the preserving

power of God work together and keep the

believer now it continues on but notice

verse six is going to introduce some

difficulty that they're having right

then looking at verse six he says in

this you rejoice you

rejoice though now for a little while if

need be you have been grieved by various

trials that the genuineness of your

faith being much more precious than gold

that perishes though it is tested by

fire may be found to praise honor and

glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ

whom having not seen you love though now

you do not see him yet believing you

rejoice with joy inexpressible and full

of glory receiving the end of your faith

the salvation of your souls

so we rejoice in this you rejoice what

do we rejoice in we rejoice in the idea

that we have an incorruptible

inheritance in heaven now give friends I

want you understand I get it

how some Christians can kind of live

this dreamy pie in the sky you know

sometimes the cliche that's used you're

so heavenly minded you're up no earthly

good I understand there's an extreme

like that out there but can you please

understand what Peter's saying here

he holds the hope of heavenly reward

right in front of believers and says

this is important for you to hold on to

that that you shouldn't think that

primarily the end of God's plan is the

salvation of this whole world that we

live in but it's heaven above

now we rejoice in that heavenly

inheritance to come but notice this

though now for a little while if need be

you have been grieved by various trials

and first one when you say various

trials this bad trials because he uses

the analogy later on in verse 7 that

you're being tested by fire fire bad

trial get this this isn't like a heating

pad this is like a open flame I want you

to notice something there verse 6 he

says if need be you have been grieved

sometimes it is thought that if you were

a real Christian come on now if you

really trusted Jesus you'd never be

grieved in a trial if you really trusted

Jesus

be like the spiritual Superman go ahead

shoot the bullets of adversity at me and

they just all bounce off me ha ha ha

nothing affects me I want you notice not

only does Peter say that the trial

itself is necessary but there are times

when our grief in the trial is necessary

God never has the expectation that we

would go through trials and adversity

with this stoic dr. Spock like I am

never shaken by anything no and let me

tell you there are times when God knows

we need the grief

that's a slogan for you you need the

grief sometimes we do it look at verse 6

if need be you have been grieved there

is a need be not only for the various

trials but more especially there's a

need be for being grieved itself God has

a purpose not only for the trial but

also for the heavy grief that we bear in

the midst of the trial now some of you

right now you're in a season of

difficulty or trial and you are grieved

in the midst of it and you think I must

be so out of God's will because if I was

in God's what I would be just

ecstatically happy all the time please

Joe that's not only is that not

Christianity I don't even think that's

sanity do you ever read the Psalms did

you ever see how God deals with us with

the whole complexity of all of our human

emotions and behaviors know that there

there's a season to be unbelievably

happy praise the Lord for that and there

is a season where God appoints grief for

our life and he has things to teach us

in that what Peter's saying is look I

know you got this inheritance in heaven

above don't be shake

if you're in a season a grief why verse

7 because your faith is being tested by

fire our faith isn't tested because God

doesn't know how much faith we have or

what kind of faith we have our faith is

tested because we are often ignorant of

our own faith God's purpose and testing

our faith is to display the enduring

quality of our faith and you want to

know how important that is look how

precious your faith is to God verse 7

it's much more precious than the gold

that perishes now isn't gold refined by

fire and if you would refine gold with

fire and gold a pretty precious thing

how much more then our faith which is

much more precious than gold you know

it's funny gold is one of the most

durable of all metals just a week or so

ago England and I were on vacation and

we we went to Israel and we were

floating in the Dead Sea and if you

float in the Dead Sea you want to take

off all your jewellery and stuff well I

had my wedding ring on and I said to my

wife I said Ingle oh do I have to take

my wedding off she goes no wait gold

won't won't hurt it in the Dead Sea and

it didn't it's just fine

the Gold's pretty durable metal but even

it will pair us someday but not the

result that comes from our faith it's

even more precious than gold that

perishes and at the end it all verse 9

we will receive the end of your faith

the end of your faith is the return of

Jesus and the ultimate salvation of your

soul testing and trials are inevitable

as long as we are on this side of the

end of our faith as long as we do not

yet see the God we serve we have to

endure through trials and face them with

faith and joy so I'm what you notice

Peters encouraging some discouraged

believers isn't he here's your heavenly

hope hang in there I know you're being

tested but the result of this is worth

it the result of this is something

that's more precious and more durable

than gold

hang in there to the end do not give up

such times now verse 10 of this

salvation the prophets have inquired and

searched carefully who prophesied of the

grace that would come to you searching

what or what manner of time the Spirit

of Christ who was in them was indicating

when he testified beforehand the

sufferings of Christ and the glories

that would follow to them it was

revealed that not to themselves but to

us they were ministering the things

which they've now been reported to you

through those who have preached the

gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent

from heaven things which angels desire

to look into friends those are three

verses are very thick with information

but he's talking about the revelation of

this salvation that we receive okay see

you you got a heavenly inheritance did

we get that you're going through some

trials now but that's storing up some of

your heavenly inheritance well this

whole plan that God does to give us this

in Jesus Christ to give us new life in

Jesus but Peters trying to tell us it's

nothing new God had this planned out a

long time ago he says in verse 10 of

this salvation the prophets have

inquired and searched carefully it was

very important to Peter and to other New

Testament writers to demonstrate that

what the Bible speaks about what God

would do through the Messiah Jesus

Christ was not a novelty he spoke about

it in the Old Testament it was testified

beforehand by the prophets they as a

matter of fact verse 10 they prophesied

of the grace that would come to you you

see the prophets of the Old Testament

long to see the grace of the New

Covenant to come they prophesied having

some knowledge of what was to come but

so much less than they really wanted to

know

think about it how much would Isaiah

have loved to read the Gospel of John

you imagine that I bet you're gonna be

able to pick out Isaiah in heaven he's

gonna be just one reading the Gospel of

John over and over again you know think

about all those amazing

prophets man they searched they looked

into it they're like wow we spoke about

this ahead of time and we only had a

shadowy understanding of what this was

gonna be but here it is all revealed and

then in verse 12 says to them as

revealed that not to themselves but to

us they were ministering the prophets

understood that they were ministering to

people far beyond themselves as well as

to people in their own day and these

things the prophets predicted were

reported as finished fact by the

Apostles look at verse 12 the things

which now have been reported to you

through those who preach the gospel

so Peter saying the things we apostles

told you that happened in the person and

the work of Jesus all of that was

predicted in the Old Testament we

brought it to you right here right now

and then he says verse 12 the things

which angels desire to look into okay

it's not like the main point of what

Peter's talking about here no it's a

side point he's setting on the side out

in heavenly inheritance about enduring

through trials now it's nothing new but

the Old Testament prophets predicted it

and then he just gives us a little

throwaway line things which the angels

desire to look into it doesn't that blow

your mind there are angels studying us

right now I don't say that to freak you

out but they they they long to know what

we do God is using us to teach angelic

beings first Corinthians chapter 4

Ephesians chapter 3 first Timothy

chapter 3 all give to us the idea that

we are under angelic observation and

Peter just says it as a tantalizing

throwaway line but it's it's really

fascinating for us to grab a hold of and

to consider right now verse 13 therefore

okay you wanted something to do you

can't okay

just tell me what to do Peter says I'll

tell you what to do but in good time

first let me tell you about your

heavenly inheritance

let me tell you that it's okay that your

faith is going to be tested let me tell

you that that this is nothing new but

God planned it out a long time ago now

I'll tell you what to do verse 13

therefore gird up the loins of your mind

be sober and rest your hope fully upon

the grace that is to be brought to you

at the revelation of Jesus Christ

as obedient children not conforming

yourself to the former lusts as in your

ignorance but as he who called you is

holy you also be holy in all your

conduct because it is written be holy

for I am holy and if you call on the

father who without partiality judges

according to each one's work conduct

yourselves through the time of your stay

here in fear what does he do first of

all you got to get serious verse 13 gird

up the loins of your mind gird up the

loins of your mind what's that even mean

well he's using an ancient figure of

speech were to gird up the loins was to

fasten the belt you had you know they

robe these robes these tunics and if you

were gonna do some work you know if

you're gonna you had to take up your

robe and tuck it into your belt tuck

your robe into your belt that's what he

means my good influence we would use the

figures feet today roll up your sleeves

and get ready to work that's what he's

saying how about this roll up the

sleeves of your mind in other words get

ready to work with your head with the

way that you think be sober

that means the ability to take a serious

look at life it means to control what

you think about to control the things

you decide to set your mind upon I'm

gonna say something that is an absolute

revolutionary concept to some of you it

is possible in Jesus Christ to control

what you set your mind upon you don't

have to set your mind on things

our impure on things that are silly on

things that are fruitless on things that

are crazy you can set your mind on

things that are good honourable

beautiful helpful fruitful before God

this is really possible in Jesus Christ

and this is where the battleground is so

that's the first thing it says look you

want something to do and you krislac

realize the battleground is there in

your mind and what should you do with

your mind looking at there and verse 13

rest your hope fully on the grace that

is to be brought to you at the

revelation of Jesus Christ he can't stop

talking about heaven what is the

revelation of Jesus Christ and the hope

that's gonna start thinking about the

return of Jesus and how glorious that's

gonna be now look I don't know when

Jesus is coming back again I hope it's

soon I look at the situation in the

world around us like oh man I don't know

if it can get any crazier I really don't

you think this is this is a crazy time

come quickly Lord Jesus but I tell you

whether Jesus comes back for me or I go

to him first

I got to get ready to meet him there's

gonna come a day when Jesus Christ is

revealed to me fully

either cuz I go to him or he comes to me

so I have to rest my hope upon that day

the only way we can do that is to

receive the grace that is to be brought

to you now I love that phrasing there in

verse 13 notice what he says the grace

that is to be brought to you that's how

about Grace in the future there's a

message I've done a few times it's been

so long I've done it but I call it grace

past present and future because Bible

talks are grace that was given to us in

the past it talks about grace that we

walk in right now and here's grace

that's going to be given to us in the

future our life with God is Grace past

present and future

set your mind upon that wouldn't it be

horrible if you believed in Jesus Christ

your whole life if you suffered things

for him if you sacrifice things for him

and when Jesus came he was ticked off at

you wouldn't that be awful no no rest

your hopefully on the grace that's going

to be revealed to you on that very day

and therefore verse 14 as obedient

children not conforming yourselves to

the former lusts as in your ignorance in

other words live as obedient children

verse 15 live holy

now notice to live as obedient children

as it says in verse 14 and to live holy

as it says in verse 15 I'll talk about

holiness in just a moment I need to make

this point first though

that's our actions isn't it primarily

doing with our actions I want you to

notice something he spoke to the mind

before he spoke to the actions do you

see how important that is this is why

the Word of God has such a huge place in

our own pure living and sanctification

before the Lord we need to be bringing

the Word of God into our life reading it

listening to it

memorizing it thinking about it

meditating on it because what we need is

what the Apostle Paul called in the book

of Romans the renewing of our mind and

Peter felt the same way because before

he addressed our actions he spoke to

gird up the Launcher roll up the sleeves

of your mind we deal with that first and

then out of that flows a holier life

and that's when I went speak I hear in

verse 15 but is he who has called you as

Holy you also be holy in all your

conduct you know it's hard to think of a

word that sounds more old-fashioned and

out of place in the church today than

the word holiness when you hear the word

holiness

don't you think of an angry man shaking

a bony finger in your face this

gentleman the holiness of God is

beautiful the holiness of God is

majestic the holiness of God is part of

what makes God God and God looks I says

I am separate from sin and shame and

impurity and the ways of this world I

want you to be holy as well I pray and

listen I believe it'll happen because

these things just kind of run in cycles

and God is always bringing back a fresh

work I don't despair on this but I pray

for this I pray that a whole new young

generation will come to a new

appreciation of the holiness of God and

learn to love it and treasure it and see

how the holiness of God transfers into a

holiness of life that's why God comes to

us and he says be holy for I am holy men

417 and if you call upon the father you

know look if you're gonna call upon the

father and you realize our holy life is

connected with all this now let's take a

look at the last few verses this

motivation for godly living verse 18

knowing that you were not redeemed with

corruptible things like silver or gold

from your aimless conduct received by

tradition from your father's but with

the precious blood of Christ as of a

lamb without blemish and without spot he

or deed was for deigned before ordained

before the foundation of the world but

was manifest in these last times for you

through him who through him believe in

God who raised him from the dead and

gave him glory so that your faith and

hope are in God now understand this he

says this work that God did in your life

it was not done with corruptible things

knowing this verse 18 you were not

redeemed with corruptible things you

were

redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus

and if I could put it very bluntly we

weren't redeemed by the precious blood

of Jesus so that we could go out and

live like garbage that's know why he did

it he came to redeem us from that

garbage life not to it my effect verse

18 to save us from your aimless conduct

received by tradition by your father's

this is the frame of mind that seeks to

be justified by the law

it's aimless conduct it seems to have an

aim rescuing yourself by good works but

it's aimless because it can't succeed

instead God did what we couldn't do

verse 19 he sent a lamb without blemish

and without spot and he was foreordained

before the foundation of the world to

make the sacrifice and in that we would

believe in God who raised him from the

dead he says simply talking about the

glorious plan of salvation and how this

should be a motivation it should be a

motivation for us to consider all that

God did for us that's why I want to live

for him now have you heard the

illustration of the cart and the horse

here you got the horse and the cart and

let me tell you something about the way

that horses and carts work the cart has

to be behind the horse if you put the

cart in front of the horse it doesn't

work now in this illustration the horse

is all that Jesus is and all that Jesus

did to rescue us Peter mentions it so

many times right here of the precious

blood of Christ lamb without blemish for

ordained from before the foundation of

the world manifest last time raised from

the dead I don't know that the person

work at these guys that's the horse

what follows behind the horse our

commitment to living a righteous life in

Jesus Christ the horse

draws the cards our constant temptation

and Christian living is to put the cart

before the horse to think that Jesus is

pleased with us or Jesus rescues us

because of our holy living and that's

not it he did his freakin we're to

respond to all he's done to us by our

righteous life verse 22 since you've

purified your souls and obeying the

truth through the spirit in sincere love

of the Brethren love one another

fervently with a pure heart having been

born again not of corruptible seed but

incorruptible through the Word of God

which lives and abides forever because

all flesh is grass and all the glory of

man as the flower of the grass the grass

withers and it's flower falls away but

the word of the Lord endures forever

this is the word by which the gospel was

preached to you now notice this he says

look since I love how it begins at verse

20 since you've purified your so listen

Peters like saying I know I've been

telling you to be holy I know I've been

telling you have a passion for purity

and your Christian life because I know

you're there I know you want to do that

but but let me add one more thing to you

it's almost as if Peter saying you want

to been wanting to know what to do now

I'm telling you what to do live holy

but then second do you notice what he

says here in verse 22 love one another

fervently holy living is incomplete if

it's not accompanied with love now

there's a problem in the Christian world

and it is not a new problem I think it's

a problem that's existed from the very

beginning it just matters what end of

the problem you're on the problem goes

something like this

there's holy living and there's fervent

love we always want to emphasize one or

the

now right now we're in a love page man

the important thing is that we love it's

all community it's all relationships and

listen all that's important to God does

God want us to love yes he does but does

he also want us to be holy you better

believe it now in previous I don't know

generations or ages whatever you want to

call it

those have been holy ages you got to be

holy your life has to be right

stop doing that start doing this you

know emphasis on islands is that good

does God want us to be holy you better

believe he does but not to the exclusion

of love now right now I pray that the

Holy Spirit speaks to your heart one

word it's the word you need to hear I

praise even speaking more love or more

holiness now we both need all of those

more it's not like we can ignore one or

the other

but isn't it just usually a fact in our

life were more deficient in one than the

other

I love how Peter puts this yes pursue

that holiness but love one another

fervently with a pure heart through

verse 23 the Word of God which lives and

abides forever and then he ends with

this great confidence in the Word of God

I love this verse 24 the grass withers

and it's flower falls away but the word

of the Lord lives or indoors forever

Peter is quoting from Isaiah chapter 40

verses 6 through 8 and as he quotes here

we see that his word has been fulfilled

ladies and gentlemen the word of the

Lord certainly has endured think about

it for centuries

the only way that the word was

transmitted was by people making copies

by hand now that's that's a tenuous line

but God beautifully preserved his word

through all the centuries that it had to

be copied by hand in those years it was

persecuted vigorously there were Roman

emperors that made it virtually their

life mission to burn every copy of the

Scriptures they could find it survived

centuries of ever-changing philosophies

all kinds of critics it survived

centuries of neglect the the Word of God

has survived centuries of neglect in the

church from both the pulpit and the pew

and today what do we hear a bunch of

people on a Wednesday night listening

learning paying attention to the Bible

truly the word of the Lord endures

forever in the year 303 ad the Roman

Emperor Diocletian demanded that every

copy of the scriptures in the Roman

Empire be burned

that was his Imperial decree but he

failed in that obviously 25 years later

the roman emperor constantine

commissioned a scholar named Eusebius to

prepare 50 copies of the scriptures at

government expense it endures forever

let me read you this quote from Charles

Spurgeon God's Word never dies God's

Word never changes there are some who

think we ought to get a new gospel every

few years or upon every few weeks but

that was not Peters notion he wrote and

he was divinely inspired to write

concerning the Word of God which lives

and abides forever now what should it

result in in us I'll leave you with

those two things holy living and fervent

love one for another

I'll let God speak to your heart

as to which one he wants to work on more

right knee we're not gonna exclude

either one we want more of both but if

there's a greater need in one area

another let's let God speak to our

hearts about that right now

Father in Heaven we just collectively

now as a congregation we want to take a

quiet moment and invite you to speak to

our heart because Lord we we don't want

to be deficient in either area it's the

Lord speak to us about these areas of

holy living and fervent love as we wait

upon you in silence just for a moment

father thank you for the inheritance

that we have in you it's absolutely

incorruptible thank you for that

heavenly hope that you give us and Lord

thank you even for the grief that we

sometimes bear out of necessity in your

plan we praise you for it together Lord

in Jesus name

you