Hope

Click here to listen to the audio message of 1 Peter 1:1-12

This morning we start our look at the book of 1st Peter. We know that this letter was wrote by Peter to those Christians who were being persecuted around the area. The Christians were being persecuted because the Roman Emperor, Nero, decided to burn down the city of Rome to build new buildings.

Of course, during the burning of Rome many Roman citizens lost their homes, businesses, and even their lives. The people obviously became furious at Nero. Of course Nero looked for a way out and found it with Christians.

The Roman people already had some hated of Christians because they were associated with the Jews and seen as hostile toward the Roman government. So Nero decided to blame the Christians for the burning.

Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit writes this letter to those Christians being persecuted to strengthen them through their trials. The purpose of the letter is to teach these Christians how to live victoriously through the trouble they were experiencing, without losing hope or becoming bitter and continuing to trust the Lord and wait for His return.

Peter as we know was a fisherman and considered by many to be the leader of the disciples. I believe Peter had a strong desire to follow Christ and that is what made him appear as a leader. He certainly played an important role in the early Church. We also know that Peter’s brother Andrew is the person who brought Peter to Christ.

According to tradition Peter watched his wife be executed and then he himself was executed upside down on a cross.

After the introduction, Peter starts his letter by blessing God for His mercy, giving us hope for eternal life through Jesus Christ. Peter tells his readers to look past the temporary struggles and troubles they are experiencing.

He reminds them of their heavenly inheritance: eternal life, joy, peace, perfection, and being in the presence of God, along with whatever else God has planned for us in Heaven. This is an imperishable inheritance. It will not rot, decay, disappear, be destroyed or fade away.

God wants us to be saved. Paul gives us a clear picture of this in First Timothy chapter 2 verses three and four. “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

God wants us to be holy, pure, and righteous. He knows we are not perfect, but God will continue to work in our lives when we ask Him to. God’s plan is for good in our lives and we need to trust in Him and His plan for us and others.

We are to rejoice in our salvation and consider it the ultimate blessing from God. This is not a type of emotion that changes with how you’re feeling at any particular moment. Rather this is an intense joy that comes from a daily, growing, eternal relationship with God.

This is the ultimate blessing or prize if you will. We as Christians don’t need to strive for earthly accomplishments or rewards. We have an eternal reward waiting for us in Heaven.

Peter tells us in verse 7, the trials we may experience in our life are for us. They let us know if our faith is pure. The trials aren’t for God. He already knows our hearts. The trials are for us to prove that our faith is pure.

When a Christian comes through the trial still trusting in the Lord, then they know their faith is real. It is pure. It has been tested by fire if you will. It is like the saying, you have talked the talk, now will you walk the walk. It is living out your faith and obedience to God.

Having hope in Jesus Christ is what gets us through those trials. The hope of the Bible is not the hope of the world. Many of us might say something like, I hope I get a nice Rolex watch when I retiree after 50 years of service to my employer.

That is a worldly hope. We think or wish for something. You know, I hope I get a new bike for my birthday. This is not the hope of the Bible. The hope of the Bible is the knowledge of the sacrifice of Christ. This is knowing that you have eternal life, not simply wishing for it.

I know of an older man that was hooked up to all kinds of machines to keep him alive. He didn’t want to die. I suspect it was because he was afraid of death. We as Christians do not need to fear death. It is not the end for us. We have the hope, the knowledge of eternal life with Christ.

If Christ had not conquered death for us, then sure we would have every reason to fear death In fact, if we had to work for our salvation, I am not sure I could do it. When I think about the people that believe they can work their way into Heaven, I think of a Muslim professor I had in college.

He followed all these rules, daily prayer, fasting, trip to Mecca, and so on, just for a chance to get into what they call heaven. He could live his entire life according to these rules and still not get into his heaven.

We don’t need to worry about that. We do not work for our salvation. The price has been paid. We have the assurance of our salvation. The hope that we have in our salvation allows us to live without fear of death. We can live each day for God.

Think about some of the trials you have experienced and think about how you reacted to those times of trouble. Then look back and see how God was there helping you through it all. Think of all the blessings that God has given to you.

The next time a trial or troublesome situation arrives in your life remember that God is giving you an opportunity to live out your faith. Trust in Him and He will not let you down.

You may not understand why all of these bad things are happening to you, but just trust that God knows what He is doing.

Trials and persecutions are a part of life, but God will take care of you.

Closing Prayer

Lord, we thank you for our time in your word this morning. We thank you for giving us those times of trouble in our life so that we may prove our faith. We thank you for seeing us through those difficult times as well.

We thank you for that great joy and hope of salvation that you have freely provided to us. Help us to make your will our will each day as you strengthen us to do what you want us to do.

AMEN.