Text: 1 Peter 1:1-9
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Christians are a community of HOPE
Our righteousness is in Him, and our hope depends, not upon the exercise of grace in us, but upon the fullness of grace and love in Him, and upon His obedience unto death.
– John Newton
Hope is called the anchor of the soul (Hebrews 6:19), because it gives stability to the Christian life. But hope is not simply a ‘wish’ (I wish that such-and-such would take place); rather, it is that which latches on to the certainty of the promises of the future that God has made.
– RC Sproll
Today’s message, The Good News of Living Hope, is intended to turn our attention to the amazing work God is doing in us right here, right now. We are filled with living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
H Heaven Vs. 4
God is keeping an imperishable, undefiled, and unfading inheritance for you in heaven.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14
O Outcome Vs. 9
In our fallen and sinful world we are grieved by various trials that test the genuineness of our faith. Through this testing we are assured that we are obtaining the outcome of our faith, the salvation of our souls.
P Power Vs. 5
You and the imperishable, undefiled, and unfading inheritance God has for you is being Guarded by the power of God.
E InExpressible Joy Vs. 8
God’s presence with us and His work in our lives, especially in the middle of a season of grievous trials, is extremely rewarding and fulfilling.
God’s presence with us and His work in us produces, right here and right now, joy that goes beyond human words. Joy that is inexpressible. Unspeakable joy is part of our living hope.
It must frustrate God’s enemies to see such “joy unspeakable” in the midst of their most ferocious attacks.
However, that isn’t all. The very glory of God the enemies of God hate has been increased during the time of severe testing.
We are filled with joy unspeakable and FULL of glory!
With Corrie ten Boom, we choose to “never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
Online Bible Fellowship Guide
Listen – My Story
- Recount a moment in which you discovered great hope.
- What is a major source of that hope?
Learn – Digging Deeper
- Read 1 Corinthians 13:13
- Are faith, hope and love independent or interdependent?
- Is it possible to have hope without faith?
- Love without hope?
- Faith without love?
- Read 1 Peter 1:1-5.
- Christian conversation today seems to be almost entirely about grace. What, however, does Peter emphasize in verse 3?
- Read Titus 3:4-7
- According to this passage we are saved according to ___________.
- And we are justified by His _____________.
- Our Living Hope of 1 Peter 1:3 is a gift of God,
especially from His mercy.
- How do you see the resurrection of Jesus from the dead connecting to Peter’s thought of “living hope?”
Life – Taking it Home
- What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this lesson?
- How can your Life Group help you apply this weeks’ teaching?
Lift – Prayer
- Pray for those who placed their trust in Jesus for salvation this past week.
- Would you like prayer in the area of your “living hope?”
- Please pray for the MCA congregations both at home and around the world.