There is Always Hope

Delivered on  1/29/17

                         There Is Always Hope
 
1 Peter 1:3-7
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
 
Joke: Life Sentence
 
A criminal with a long record of transgressions was on trial for his latest crime. The jury found him guilty on 33 counts and the judge sentenced him to 189 years. Realizing that even with time off for good behavior he would be over one hundred when he was released, the prisoner burst into tears.
Noting this display of remorse, the judge reconsidered. He said, "I didn't mean to be so severe. Thinking it over, I can see that I've imposed an extremely harsh sentence. So you don't have to serve the whole time." The prisoner beamed with new found hope until the judge leaned toward him and said, "Just do a much as you can."
 
The Apostle Peter aims to equip the saints with the power of hope. If they…or we, are going to live and love like Jesus commands us, even in times of great stress and worry, then they… and we, must be filled with hope. Peter’s letter has been called the gospel of hope. A great characteristic of the Christian life is that we live in hope. Christian hope sustains in the midst of difficulties, for hope is born out of full confidence, belief, and trust in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
 
Living in the light and life of Jesus’ resurrection does not exempt us from life’s evils, and tribulations. Yet…resurrection hope does diminish the debilitating power of distress in trials. We can not only endure, but live victoriously as we experience the life and joy of Christ, and His divine glory.
 
The Living Christ is the source of our new birth and our living hope. If you have a living hope in Christ you can deal with your past failures and present difficulties because of your future blessings. God’s glorious best for you still lies ahead. Anticipating what God has in store for us can release joy in our soul and put a smile on our face. Hope gives us confidence and lets us live with inner strength, and peace, for we know that one day we will be radically different than how we are now.
 
From our text…Peter addresses those who are feeling discouraged, displaced, depressed, or in danger, and tells them that they need to take hold of their living hope through the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. You are alive, and made new in Christ!
Peter begins the main body of his letter in verse 3 with praise for the wonder of salvation. “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”.
 
Because we do not have a dead Savior, we have a living hope, and hope does not fail. The resurrection of Jesus guarantees that God will honor all His promises to His faithful children. That hope keeps us going, even through our darkest times. This emphasizes that salvation is based entirely on Gods loving initiative.
 
1 Peter 1:20-21
20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
 
Now…what is living in hope? What is the hope we now have, that only through the resurrection of Jesus Christ can give us? A living hope is a hope that never dies. And will never fail. ( Have you ever heard any Christian say…I hope God doesn’t hear my prayers. I hope, I don’t get the job that I applied for. I hope I fail my tests, and never have a rewarding future. And so on…) You name it. Hope is never meant to fail!
 
Now what is the Christian…Biblical definition of hope. Lets see what Scriptures will tell us….
 
Romans 8:24-25
24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
 
Biblical hope is a firm conviction that the future promises of God will be fulfilled. Hope is not a mere wish… “ I wish”, but an assurance of what will come to pass. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul… a hope that enters into the inner place of faith, which is in Christ.
 
Here’s another one…One of the three main elements of the Christian character.
 
1 Corinthians 13:13
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
 
Oh, by the way 1 Corinthians 13, if you have your Bibles with you. Its talking about the Greatest Gift…Love. As you can see, hope is also there. Hope takes its place alongside faith and love of the Christian virtue. Hope is faith directed towards the future.
 
The Christian’s hope in Christ is as certain and sure as the fact that Christ is alive! Here “living hope” means that the believer’s hope is sure, certain, and real, as opposed to the deceptive, empty, false hope that the world offers.
Those who have been born again, made new… have a living hope through their new life in Christ. This constantly living hope is that death is not the end, trials, sufferings and so on…are not the end.
 
Short story:
 
A man had A CHECKUP and then went in to see his doctor to get the results. The doctor said, he better sit down – that he had bad news and worse news for him. Then the Doctor asked the man, “Which do you want to hear first?” The man was a bit puzzled and said he'd rather hear the bad news first. The doctor said, "The bad news is that you have only 24 hours to live." When he heard that, the man jumped up, totally shocked. He paced back and forth and said, "24 hours to live? I can't possibly get my affairs in order that quickly. I can't believe this! What could be possibly be worse news than this?" The doctor said, "The worse news is that I was supposed to tell you this yesterday, but I forgot."
 
Death is certain, but so is the Christian’s hope of eternal life. The Christian’s hope in Christ is as certain and sure as the fact that Christ is alive! This is what I meant earlier, of false hope that the world offers.
 
Because Jesus arose from the grave we know that Death is not the end. We know evil does not win. Worries and trials will come, but we know that it will end in victory. We know that God forgives. We know the blood cleanses and protects. We know new life is an option, a gift that can be given only by God. We know a better tomorrow is coming, because we are never alone.
 
Future hope includes the promises of a better tomorrow. Verse 4 of our first text tells us that…
 
1 Peter 1:4
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.
 
Church… we have a promise not only of living again, but also of a better tomorrow. We have the hope of a future inheritance. Here is another certainty. We will die, and we will gain a better inheritance. Sure…when the Lord returns soon, let say, within the next 5 years or so…then we may not face death. Still a better a future, we will be in the Lords presence.
 
This heavenly inheritance is better than any and everything this world has to offer. This inheritance is “imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you and I. It is kept in heaven for those who know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
 
 
 
 
Another short story:
 
In the classic novel Little Lord Fauntleroy, a young boy LIVING IN DEEP POVERTY with his mother in America learns that his father was a member of British noble family. The boy's grandfather sends for him, and the boy soon finds himself living in a fine estate in England. He is also the heir to the estate which includes the title of lord.
 
While I was working on this message and ran into this short story, I was reminded of a conversation I had with Hannah last Sunday, while we were having dinner back there at the fellowship hall. She said… “Hey Pastor Richard, do you know that we belong to a noble family?” I said, “we do?” She said…”YES, we belong to Jesus”. What!!! this was Hannah, Oh Men…she just made my hotdog taste better with what she said! She already knows who she belongs to!
 
This is our story as believers. Through Jesus Christ, we have gone from having nothing to having everything, new life, new hope, and an eternal inheritance in heaven that nothing can destroy. People who have an inheritance are called heirs. But being an heir only has value if the person leaving the inheritance has something of value to give. We're so blessed there, because the Bible says we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.
 
Romans 8:16-17
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 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.
 
This means that all that is God is ours, blessed by God. Heaven itself is part of that inheritance, our future home where all that is wrong on earth will be set right and we will enjoy God's presence forever. No more worries, pains, illness, trials, challenges, all the storms of life, forever gone.
 
How did we ever get in on something so good? Because God is so good. Though it cost Him what He valued most, the life of His dear sinless Son who died for our sins to make us His heirs. Jesus paid the price for our salvation on the cross, and His resurrection guaranteed that someday we will come into our full inheritance in heaven.
 
Peter used three distinct terms to get his point across. The things that God has in store for those who love Him will never "perish, spoil or fade." That is, our inheritance can't be destroyed, it won't decay like a piece of overripe fruit, and it won't fade like an old shirt that's been washed too many times. Even though the Christian life often includes fiery trials (vv. 6-7), the outcome is assured in Christ. Here…
 
1 Peter 1:6-7
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
“if need be” is the statement that Peter made, on v6. “ if need be, you have been grieved by various trials”, Although, God will never tempt anyone to sin ( As you can read on James 1) He will send or allow trials, when necessary, and in the right amount for strengthening. Or again, it may be in a form of discipline.
 
“tested by fire” as you can see on v7. Men uses fire to refine precious metals, removing its impurities. God uses trails to distinguish genuine faith from a superficial profession. ( Are you really MINE? ) Then you will persevere…faith stronger than it was before. Look into the life of Job, whenever you are going through some trials, and compare!
 
Being co-heirs with Jesus Christ means we have an inheritance reserved or kept in heaven that's beyond anything we can imagine. But it does not mean that we do not enjoy…or be thankful with the blessings that He is giving us here and now. Here is something to look forward too, something to hope for…
 
1 Corinthians 1:9
9 But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
 
Doesn’t that excite you!!! Jesus said “I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me, that you also may be where I am”. (John 14:3)
 
So our Christian hope allows us to see our future in the most positive of ways, and so it should produce the most positive results in our present life. Because of our Living Hope we can place our faith in God’s protection, as mentioned on verse 5.
 
1 Peter 1:5
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
 
In another translation…
 
1 Peter 1:5 (ESV)
5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
 
Not only is the inheritance,” kept, guarded,” but heirs who have been born into that inheritance are shielded…protected by God’s power. God has promised to shield us with His power as we walk in faith with Him. What greater hope could be given to those undergoing persecution, and trials, than the knowledge that God’s power guards them from within, to preserve them for an inheritance of salvation that will be completely revealed to them in God’s presence.
 
 
 
Believers possess salvation now (Pres tense) but will experience its full significance at the return of Christ in the last time. This final step, or ultimate completion of  “the salvation of the souls”.
 
It is God who holds on to us and will never let go. “no one can snatch them out of My hands” ( John 10:28 )
 
Peter encouraged his readers, that’s you and i, to put knowledge into practice. The response, if they truly grasped the tremendous theological truths taught so far, is that they would greatly rejoice. Knowledge alone cannot produce the great joy in the face of persecution. Christians are responsible to respond in faith, by faith. Put what you have heard and taught into practice. Believe, through faith, that everything you have heard and learned is all true. Faith turns sound doctrine into sound practice.
 
Don’t live your life with the feeling of defeat, hopeless life! Rejoice in the life of victory that you have in Christ. Live your life by faith, hope and love.
 
1 John 5:4
 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
 
This kind of faith, enabled by our living hope can cause believers to rejoice even when we are called on to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. Peter is stressing that a Christian’s joy is independent of circumstances. If you heard the message from Pastor Morley last week…happiness comes from what is happening. But true joy only comes from the Lord. Though trials may cause temporary grief, they cannot diminish that deep, abiding joy which is rooted in one’s living hope in Christ Jesus.
 
A quote from… ( Add To Powerpoint )
 
"God whispers in our pleasures, but shouts in our pain.” The Lord sometimes must force us by means of distresses to pay attention to His voice. While such times of testing aren't pleasant, We must wait patiently for Him to accomplish His purposes. If we refuse to become bitter we will learn the priceless lessons of grace that adversity can bring.
                                                       C.S. Lewis
 
Those who accept trouble graciously grow rich by their losses, rise by their falls, and find new life- in Christ by dying to self. Anything suffered in the body can profit the soul.
The word distressed (heaviness, sorrow,) is the same word used to describe what Jesus felt in the Garden of Gethsemane when He sweat great drops of blood.
 
So Peter isn’t minimizing the reality of what his readers were fearing or feeling. “What you’re going through may be distressful,” he says. “But it’s only for a season. Heaven is eternal so rejoice greatly.” Don’t loose hope in the One who gives it, and live in faith for a better tomorrow.
 
IN CLOSING:

Peter encouraged his readers to trust in Jesus, live obediently in hard circumstances, and keep their hope fixed on God’s ultimate purpose of deliverance and their heavenly reward. To those who are feeling discouraged, displaced, depressed, or in danger, Peter addresses the issue by saying, “We have a living hope based upon the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.” Jesus is alive…you are alive, and you belong to Him.
 
“There Is Always Hope” Living in hope means, that the believer’s hope is sure, certain, and real, as opposed to the deceptive, empty, false hope the world offers. The living Christ is the source of our new birth and our living hope. My question to you is simply this… are you experiencing the new birth and living hope Jesus came to give you? If so…rejoice. Live in victory. If your answer is NO. What is stopping you from believing in Christ. Are still waiting to see what the world can offer? Let me tell you right now…what the world can offer is only temporary. You will never be satisfied, and you will never receive true and everlasting Joy. Let go, and let God make you new.
 
So…if you heard God speak to you tonight, do not harden your heart. Come to Christ.
 
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
 
 
                      “There Is Always Hope”