A Living Hope

A Living Hope
1 & 2 Peter: Faithful Endurance

1 Peter 1:3-12 - 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, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 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. 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, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Main Idea: Because of God’s great mercy, we can endure trials with a joyful hope.   

I: God’s mercy leads to a joyful expectation.

1 Peter 1:3-5 - 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, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

A. In beginning to talk about our heavenly reward, Peter begins by talking about God’s mercy. Isn’t that appropriate?!
B. For those of you taking the Grasping God’s Word class on Wednesdays, you may have picked up a purpose and result, or cause and effect statements. Here we see a purpose/cause – God’s great mercy. The Result/effect is threefold:
-Born again to a living hope
-Resurrection of Jesus
-An inheritance:
 o Imperishable
 o Undefiled
 o Unfading
 o Kept for us:
    ▪ By God’s power
    ▪ Guarded through faith
    ▪ Salvation to be revealed
C. God’s great mercy has many benefits! And the Bible talks a lot about God’s mercy:
-Hebrews 4:16 - Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
-Ephesians 2:4-5 - But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved
-James 2:13 - For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
D. We have received a great mercy from God that comes with many blessings! Have you received the mercy of God?

Main Idea: Because of God’s great mercy, we can endure trials with a joyful hope.  

II: God’s mercy allows us to rejoice in suffering.

People can do hard things when they believe the momentary difficult things are worth the pay-off that is coming. As Christians we suffer with purpose – and we suffer only temporarily…

1 Peter 1:6-7 - In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 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.

A. Peter says, “now for a little while” – suffering is temporary for Christians – but eternal if you haven’t received the mercy of God.  Have you received His mercy?
B. Trials test and refine our faith. Genuine faith can joyfully endure.
-Romans 8:18-19 - For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
C. Suffering further identifies us with Christ.
-Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
D. Faithful endurance results in the praise, glory and honor of Jesus Christ.
E. Again, faithful endurance and having joy in the midst of trials comes because of the mercy we have received from God.   

Main Idea: Because of God’s great mercy, we can endure trials with a joyful hope.  

III: God’s mercy is attained through faith.

1 Peter 1:8-9 - 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, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

A. Peter defines faith here in these verses – though we haven’t seen Him, we love Him and believe in Him.
B. But the only reason we can have faith in Him is His mercy.  
C. It’s the recognition that we have faith because of His great mercy that leads us to “rejoice with a joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory”.  
D. For us to understand this, we must understand our standing outside of Christ verses our standing in Him.  
E. Nothing we could have done on our own, but what He has done on our behalf. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
F. It’s this mercy, and this grace that the prophets of old so badly wanted to see.  1 Peter 1:10-12 - Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
G. I’ve asked a few times already, but have you received this mercy, this grace? 

Because of God’s great mercy, we can endure trials with a joyful hope.  

Do you need to talk to someone about receiving God's mercy? You can read more about Jesus here or reach out to us at