“Hope Comes in Salvation”
By Pastor Rich Paradis
1 Peter 1:1-12
Peter
is writing a letter to people that are going through difficult times. They are
not only going through difficult times, they are going through them in a place
that is somewhat unfamiliar to them. They are not presently going through the
atrocities that will be in the near future under the hand of Emperor Nero, but
they are going through difficulties that are real and present in their day to
day lives. This social and religious persecution is not just difficult things
in their lives; it is a difficult life because of their allegiance to Christ.
What will Peter write to them that will make a difference?
I.
The
Writer and the Addressees 1 Peter 1:1-2
a.
While
some have noted the quality of the Greek used in the letter as a possible proof
that Peter didn’t write this letter, the letter itself in Verse 1 gives us the writer. His name is Peter, the apostle Peter
that was an early follower amongst the apostles of the Lord Jesus. He is known
to be impulsive and sometimes loud-mouthed, but here he will live up to his
reputation as the Apostle of Hope. 1 and 2 Peter are the two letters that bear
his name in our New Testament, and hope will be themes in both of them.
b.
The
addressees are a “scattered” group” of believers, both Jew and Gentile, that
are away from home due to persecution and a dispersion from their homeland.
They are now living somewhere between 500-800 miles from home. The five names
that are mentioned are Roman provinces in modern-day Turkey.
c.
But
it is also interesting to note that these people are “aliens”, strangers,
foreigners, and pilgrims to the places that they are living. This has the idea
of geography, as well as mindset and custom. They are not only “aliens” because
they are not in their home towns or country. They are also “aliens” because
they are believers. Their home has now been secured in heaven. That is their
home and their comfort. They are not there yet though, and times are tough.
d.
The
end of Verse 1 takes us right into Verse
2 where some incredible theology and affirmation is coming from the pen of
Peter. Verse 1 ends with the word “chosen” or “elect”. These are salvation
words, and Peter will use salvation as the first affirmation and encouragement
to these that are currently suffering for their faith. While Peter is not
trying to unpack the entire doctrine of foreknowledge and election, he is
trying to share with his readers that God has had them in mind from eternity
past. And if He has had them in mind from eternity past, He still has them in
mind as they go through difficulties for their faith.
e.
There
are some great terms in this verse that are worth looking at:
i. The foreknowledge of God – This is not
that God has known from eternity past who would choose Him. It is the fact that
in eternity past, He chose them. Our salvation is not something that we merit
or that we will even choose in our wisdom somewhere along our lives. His
foreknowledge, which is not able to be completely understood, is the fact that
He chose us because of His love and His grace. While difficult to understand,
it is great news that can help sustain us in our most difficult times.
ii. The sanctifying work of the Spirit – It is great
to know that the blessed Holy Spirit is helping us in our maturity and our
growth towards God. The believer will spend his or her entire life
relinquishing more and more of the ownership of their life to Christ through
the sanctifying work of the Spirit.
iii. Obedience to Christ – This is the
evidence of the Spirit’s work in the life of the believer. While obedience to
Christ is not the means of our salvation, it is without question the evidence
of it. The trend line of our obedience should and will go up as we understand
more and more of the saving work that was accomplished for us at Calvary. The
“sprinkling of His blood” is reminiscent of the Old Testament system of
sacrifice, but in this context demonstrates the benefits of Christ’s redemption
that are being applied to His people.
f.
As
this introductory section concludes, we have Peter offering “grace and peace” to those that are following Christ and
being obedient to Him, even as difficulty has stricken their lives.
g.
We
must remember as a rule of Bible reading and understanding to consider both the
beginnings and the endings of the book or letter that is under consideration.
These two places are often full of helpful insights to the understanding of the
entirety of the writing. This work of the entire Triune Godhead in salvation
will be a major contribution made by Peter to the way to travel through
difficult times in both the lives of those to whom he is currently writing and
to those of us that will consider this letter and its application in our own
lives.
II.
A
Prayer of Thanksgiving 1 Peter 1:3-5
a.
As
Peter continues the thoughts from above, he can do nothing more at this point
in his letter than pray a prayer of thanksgiving to the One who has made this
salvation possible. Verse 3 begins
with blessing, glory and praise, being offered to God the Father who has made
salvation possible in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ.
b.
It
was not and continues to not be our merit or activities and obedience that
makes salvation and sanctification a possibility; it is the Father’s mercy. The
verse says that it is this mercy that caused us to be born again. What are we
being “born again” to? The verse tells us that it is a “living hope”. And what
is it that makes it a living hope? The verse again doesn’t make us guess. It is
the resurrection of Jesus Christ that offers us a living hope.
c.
This
living hope is the only hope that we have in times of extreme difficulty. And
the only One that can provide a living hope is One who is alive! Hope is not
just wishful thinking. It is something that, if it is to last and work, must be
based on something bigger and better than our best efforts and positive
thinking.
d.
What
will be the result of this salvation that provides us with a “living hope”
during our most difficult days? Verse 4
tells that we will obtain an “inheritance”. This kind of talk is very
family-ish and speaks to the fact that in salvation we are made heirs of the
One who has adopted us. That is an incredible lesson for another day, but what
are the characteristics of this inheritance?
i. It is
imperishable – It won’t die. It will not decay in either its essence or its
continuance.
ii. It is undefiled
– It is unsoiled, that is, pure.
iii. It will not fade
away – It will have clarity and quality at all times, especially the times when
you might expect it to go away.
iv. It is reserved
in heaven for you – It is divinely kept for us.
e.
What
else is available to the one that is going through difficulty? Verse 5 tells us that this inheritance
is protected by the power of God. Wow!! It is not protected by our power and
I’m glad, aren’t you? This verse is a two-sided coin in that our inheritance
and its perseverance is protected by the power of God and through our own
faith. We, in fact, can have a solidifying effect in our lives as we
demonstrate faith in the One who is protecting our inheritance from corruption
or loss.
f.
What
an incredible prayer to God and reminder for those that are suffering and being
addressed with this letter. But also what a reminder of the place that our
salvation and our faith in God has during times of difficulty and even outright
persecution.
III.
The
Place and the Purpose of Trials 1 Peter 1:6-9
a.
With
the provision for trials and persecution noted in the above verses, Peter now
moves on to discuss the place of trials in our lives. He reminds us again as Verse 6 opens of the great rejoicing
that should accompany the knowledge of the truths articulated in the first
paragraph of his letter.
b.
Now,
in Verses 6b-9, Peter will share
with his readers some important truths about persecution and trials. These
truths will serve us and can help us to move forward in the fact of our
salvation and can even lead to joy in their midst.
i. Trials are not
forever – Look at Verse 6. It says that “for a little while” trials may come
upon you. In light of eternity and the considering the eternality of salvation,
any trials that come our way are just temporary.
ii. Trials are sometimes
necessary – Again, look at Verse 6. It says that “if necessary” trials
sometimes come into our lives. Why would trials come into the lives of people
that love Him? Sometimes they protect us from a trajectory of sin that we are
moving on. Sometimes they remind us of our need for Him. Sometimes they are the
results of the Fall and its consequences. There can be many reasons for the
necessity of trials. While we do not always know the reasons why, we must trust
God and His goodness in allowing them to come our way.
iii. There are lots
of kinds of trials – One more look at Verse 6. It speaks of “various trials”.
There are lots of different types of trials, but only one true and lasting
solution to making it through them!
iv. Trials can prove
our faith – Look at Verse 7. Many things are “tested” to prove their strength
and their authenticity. In a similar way, difficult times can offer, like
nothing else, a clear reading on our trust and our faith in Jesus Christ. This
was the way that gold was purified and prepared for usage. The fire was turned
up and the dross was scraped away.
v. Trials can even
bring praise, glory, and honor to Christ – Again, look at Verse 7. Ultimately,
trials and difficulty along with the provision and the help of our Savior will
bring glory to His name!
vi. Trials help us
to love and believe in Him – Look at Verse 8. Our trials can offer incredible
opportunities, properly considered, to learn more about Him which will result
in more love and belief in Him.
vii. Trials can
produce joy – Look at Verse 8. I didn’t say happiness! Joy is that unique sense
that a believer in Christ can have even during the most difficult of times. It
is based not on circumstances, but on truth and provision.
viii.
Trials
will not have the final word – Look at Verse 9. Even with the difficulty of
trials and the beating that they sometimes put on the believer, they will not
win in the end! The outcome of our faith in trials is the salvation of our
souls. God does this, but our faith in the finished work of Christ at the Cross
and His resurrection is the ultimate road to recovery from the trials that come
into our lives.
IV.
Salvation
Under Consideration 1 Peter 1:10-12
a.
So,
how did this work before the earthly ministry of Christ? Verses 10-11 tell us that the idea and the reality of salvation has
been something that has been considered and longed for from the time of the
prophets. They were in fact so interested and desirous of the knowledge of this
incredible provision that they made “careful searches and inquiries” into it.
They, through revelation and inspiration were able to consider a grace that
would not be fully realized in their lifetimes.
b.
The
next verse, Verse 12, tells us that
they even realized that they were not serving themselves with all of their
searches and inquiries. They were serving us! The ones that faithfully teach us
and preach to us are a reminder of the announcements and the work of the
prophets before them. And this type of preaching and teaching is empowered and
resourced by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven to inhabit, comfort and assist
the one that faithfully trusts in God for his salvation and his help.
c.
There
is an interesting last few words to this section. The text says that these
things related to salvation are things that even the angels long to look at. Is
this true? Is it true that the angels are interested in the provision of God
through Jesus Christ for the salvation of those that by faith call upon His
name? Look at Luke 15:10. It says that the angels rejoice over one sinner that
repents. WOW!!!
V.
An
Application For All Of Us
a.
Those
that are going through times of difficulty because of their faith have the fact
of their salvation in Christ to help them through.
b.
Trials
can and do serve a purpose in the life of a believer.
c.
The
prophets of old and even the angels were and are interested in the salvation
and the faith of men and women of all ages.
