A Field Manual for Warriors in a Hostile Land Part 2: A Living Hope – p.2 1 Peter 1:3-9

A Field Manual for A Field Manual for Warriors in a Hostile LandWarriors in a Hostile Land

Part 2: A Living Hope – p.2Part 2: A Living Hope – p.2

1 Peter 1:3-91 Peter 1:3-9

What has God done that makes What has God done that makes Him worthy of worship? Him worthy of worship?

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, from the dead,

What has God done that makes What has God done that makes Him worthy of worship?Him worthy of worship?

to an inheritance that is imperishable, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guardedyou, who by God's power are being guarded (1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV)(1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV)


• Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! (v.3)Jesus Christ! (v.3)

• The Greek word for blessed means to The Greek word for blessed means to speakspeak or or saysay goodgood about someone. about someone.


• He treats us according to His He treats us according to His mercymercy not our not our deedsdeeds (v.3b) (v.3b)

• According to his great mercy…According to his great mercy…• Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord

Jesus ChristJesus Christ... ... • Great Great sinsin requires great requires great mercymercy!!


• He has given us a He has given us a newnew lifelife (v.3c) (v.3c)

he has caused us to be born againhe has caused us to be born again


• The new life results in…The new life results in…• A A livingliving Hope (v.3d) Hope (v.3d)

to a living hope through the resurrection of to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the deadJesus Christ from the dead


• ……that you were at that time separated from that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in promise, having no hope and without God in the world.the world. (Eph. 2:12) (Eph. 2:12)

• ……we do not want you to be uninformed, we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.hope. (1 Thess. 4:13) (1 Thess. 4:13)


•


• The new life results in…The new life results in…• InheritanceInheritance (v.4) (v.4)

to an inheritance that is imperishable, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,you,


• imperishable or imperishable or securesecure from from invasioninvasion• undefiled or not undefiled or not wornworn out out• unfading or without unfading or without timetime limitlimit on its on its

possession. possession.


• GuardsGuards us by His own us by His own powerpower (v.5a) (v.5a)• who by God's power are being guardedwho by God's power are being guarded

What is the proper response?What is the proper response?

who by God's power are being guarded who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, you have been grieved by various trials,


so that the tested genuineness of your faithso that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes —more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. not seen him, you love him.


Though you do not now see him, you believe Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:5-9 ESV)your souls. (1 Peter 1:5-9 ESV)


• v. 5 - v. 5 - who by God's power are being guarded who by God's power are being guarded through through faithfaith

• v.7 - so that the tested genuineness of your v.7 - so that the tested genuineness of your faithfaith

• v.9 - obtaining the outcome of your v.9 - obtaining the outcome of your faithfaith


• Active faith is the Active faith is the meansmeans to to completecomplete salvation (v.5b)salvation (v.5b)

• through faith for a salvation ready to be through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.revealed in the last time.

• Salvation is not a Salvation is not a productproduct, but a , but a relationshiprelationship. .


• The Bible never reconciles the seeming The Bible never reconciles the seeming contradiction between God’s sovereignty and contradiction between God’s sovereignty and our free will but affirms them both!our free will but affirms them both!

• Ephesians 1:4 may offer a key to this Ephesians 1:4 may offer a key to this theological tension because it clarifies the theological tension because it clarifies the goal of predestination is not heaven, but goal of predestination is not heaven, but holiness (Christlikeness).holiness (Christlikeness).


• Hard times test Hard times test genuinegenuine faith faith

In this you rejoice, though now for a little In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in (vv.6-7)found to result in (vv.6-7)


• Faith has an Faith has an objectobject and and outcomeoutcome (vv.8-9) (vv.8-9)

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.your souls.


• Though you have not seen Though you have not seen himhim, you love , you love himhim. . Though you do not now see Though you do not now see himhim, you believe , you believe in in himhim

• rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glorywith glory..

Bottom Line:Bottom Line:

• Christians are earth aliens whom God has Christians are earth aliens whom God has saved and will preserve through their faith saved and will preserve through their faith regardless of all their trials so that He can be regardless of all their trials so that He can be famous!!famous!!

The best thing that will The best thing that will ever happen to you is…ever happen to you is…

• Experience a living eternal hope by putting Experience a living eternal hope by putting your faith in a God who chose to your faith in a God who chose to lovelove you you instead of instead of crushcrush you. you.


• LovingLoving someone you have never seen someone you have never seen• Learning how God works in your sufferingLearning how God works in your suffering





• Suffering is Unavoidable (Principle of Suffering is Unavoidable (Principle of Necessity)Necessity)

• Suffering Doesn't Last Forever (Principle of Suffering Doesn't Last Forever (Principle of Temporality)Temporality)


• Suffering is Many-Faceted (Principle of Suffering is Many-Faceted (Principle of Complexity)Complexity)

• Suffering Can't Preclude Rejoicing (Principle Suffering Can't Preclude Rejoicing (Principle of Joy)of Joy)

• Suffering Has a Purpose (Principle of Suffering Has a Purpose (Principle of Beneficiality)Beneficiality)


• Learning to live as a Learning to live as a temporarytemporary resident resident

This is my story, this is my songThis is my story, this is my song

Praising my SaviorPraising my Savior

All the day longAll the day long

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A Field Manual for Warriors in a Hostile Land Part 2: A Living Hope – p.2 1 Peter 1:3-9