“Our Hope”
(I Peter 1:3-5)
I. Introduction.
A. (Illust.) Even though the Vietnam conflict ended, for the
United States, a little more than 30 years ago, seems like a
far more-distant time in a far different world. Still hear
stories of those who search for missing prisoners of war,
and of the trauma of those who fought in southeast Asia.
There was an article on some prisoners who had
returned to resume their lives in this country. Their
captivities had ranged from ten months to eight years.
One man’s story stood out. He’d been an Air Force
Colonel and had been a prisoner for eight years. He
reflected on what had kept him going during his ordeal. He
spoke of the solitude, and loneliness, he’d felt, and the
many hours, even weeks, spent with nothing to occupy the
mind. How did he survive? How did he keep his sanity?
He said his thoughts of returning home “to a good family”
were what kept him going.
B. Thoughts of home gave that man his hope.
1. As a Christian, what keeps us going? What keeps
us faithful, through heartaches and
disappointments? What encourages us to stay the
course when it would seem to be easier to drift with
the world’s current instead of resisting it?
2. Like the P.O.W., isn’t it the thought of going home?
Isn’t it the hope of heaven?
3. It’s that thought, that promise, that hope, that Peter
holds before his hearers: (RE-READ I Peter 1:3).
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a. Peter begins with the idea of “re-birth.” The
Christian is one who has been re-born; he or
she has been “. . . begotten [born] . . . again
to a living hope.” They’ve been re-born into
a new, and different, kind of life.
b. It’s that spiritual birth, that spiritual
transformation, that gives the Christian hope
(contrast with Ephesians 2:12: “. . . at that
time you were without Christ, being aliens
from the commonwealth of Israel and
strangers from the covenants of promise,
having no hope and without God in the
world.”)
c. To the pagan, this world was one where all
things eventually faded and decayed – and
the end of life in the world was merely non-
existence. To the Christian comes hope –
hope of eternal life, of an “. . . inheritance
incorruptible and undefiled and that does
not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.”
(verse 4).
d. The Christian has the assurance of a world
where there is no change or decay, where
peace, and joy, and serenity are undisturbed.
4. In our journey in this world, as a Christian, we’re
protected by the power of God through faith. In
verse 5, the word translated “kept” is a military term
that signifies a life protected by God – over which
He stands watch. It’s not that God spares us from
the troubles and sorrows of life, but that He enables
us to meet these, bear them, overcome them, and go
on to “salvation.”
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C. The unchanging hope of Heaven is what has given
Christians of every generation the courage and
encouragement necessary to remain faithful to God and
loyal to Christ. Peter holds that promise of Heaven before
the eyes of his hearers – and before our eyes.
D. I want to look at “Our Hope” from these perspectives – its
nature, its power, and its certainty.
II. Our Hope.
A. It’s been suggested that Paul is the apostle of faith, John,
the apostle of love, and Peter, the apostle of hope. It cannot
be denied that all three of these themes are present in the
writings of all these men. But, Peter was moved by the
Holy Spirit to emphasize our hope as a child of God.
1. Remember, Peter was addressing persecuted,
suffering Christians. To encourage them, to
strengthen them, he spoke of the nature of the
Christian’s hope in the verses we’ve just looked at.
2. The new birth makes a person a child of God:
“and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint
heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that
we may also be glorified together.” (Romans 8:17).
a. God’s blessings to us, and for us, in this life
are many and wonderful, but, they’re only a
small sampling of the things awaiting us
when we get home.
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b. The things of this world slip away or are
taken from us – the things of home are
“incorruptible.” Even the best earth has to
offer is imperfect – tainted – but, the things
of home are “undefiled.” Even the pleasures
of life are brief at best and, we know, must
soon pass away – but, the joys of home
“. . . [do] not fade away.”
3. Our home in Heaven is not only everlasting, but
perpetually fresh.
B. The nature of our hope is grounded in one past event:
(READ I Corinthians 15:20-23). The nature of our hope is
grounded in a past promise: (John 14:1-3). Our hope is
built upon God’s power, and Jesus’ promise.
C. The advantage of such power and promise is evident.
1. The anticipation of victory is what keeps the weary
soldier fighting.
2. The anticipation of reaching a desired destination is
what keeps the weary traveler going on.
3. The anticipation of a better life, and world, to come
is what keeps the struggling saints faithful. (Paul,
Romans 8:18: “For I consider that the sufferings of
this present time are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”).
D. To his hearers, Peter wrote about the sustaining power of
hope: (READ I Peter 1:6-9).
1. If we can just look beyond the circumstances of the
present, and visualize the God of our faith, we can
find the power of our hope.
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2. Paul expresses it this way (READ II Cor. 4:16-18).
Like the passing of gold through the refiner’s fire,
the challenges of life allow the purity of our faith to
be seen.
E. All of this leads to the certainty of our hope (READ
I Peter 1:10-12).
1. The prophets of the Old Testament had foretold
things the meaning of which they’d not fully
understood. They spoke of the blessings God
would bring to people by means of the suffering of
His Son – but, could not know how or when these
things would be. They were guided by the Holy
Spirit to speak and write. God’s wisdom and power
saw to the fulfillment of what they spoke and wrote.
2. That same Holy Spirit, inspired, and guided, New
Testament prophecy regarding the final outcome of
events in these “last days.”
a. It was God’s Spirit that inspired Peter to
speak of the heavenly inheritance.
b. It was God’s Spirit that inspired Peter to
speak of the promise that we can bear our
earthly tests and realize the certainty of our
hope.
III. Conclusion.
A. Thoughts of a promised heavenly home kept many
Christians of the first century strong in the face of wild
animals and cruel people. We don’t face these same
threats in the ways they did, but the potential for
discouragement and falling away, is still there.
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B. Peter calls upon us to view life from the end – to look at
the final outcome rather than what precedes it.
C. We offer what is called an “invitation” at the conclusion of
a lesson or at other times we gather for worship or study.
Are many things we can say to encourage people to be
baptized or restored. But, few can match the simplicity or
significance of Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:28: “Come
to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will
give you rest.”
1. Invitation song, today, based upon these words.
“Bring Christ Your Broken Life” (#911), invites
us to bring our broken lives, our wasted years, our
iniquities, cares and fears, dread, and weariness to
Christ – who gives new life and the promised hope
of Heaven.
2. The words of the song were written by Thomas
O. Chisolm (1866 – 1960). Because of poor health,
Chisolm had very limited success as a preacher.
His greatest accomplishments were the more than
1200 poems he composed, many of them put to
music.
3. At least three of Chisolm’s poems were set to music
by Lloyd O. Sanderson (1901 – 1992). Sanderson
was a gospel preacher, prolific writer, and, at one
time, music editor of the “Gospel Advocate.”
4. The combination of Chisolm’s words and
Sanderson’s melody offer the invitation to come to
Christ – no matter what our life has been. He will
“create anew” and “make whole again.” Step out of
darkness into light. Be reborn – or restored – to “a
living hope.”