Salvation - Part 2 Series

Series: 1 Peter

Sermon: “Salvation – Part 2”

1 Peter 1:1-12

A sermon for September 22, 2024

Pastor John Bright

1 Peter 1 “1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

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, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.”

When I start teaching a new book in Bible Study, I like to ask the “newspaper questions” – Who? What? When? Where? Why?

What is 1 Peter? “Unlike the writings of the apostle Paul, whose letters were addressed to specific individuals or audiences (Timothy, Titus, Philemon, or the saints in Rome, Corinth, et al.), by and large, the general epistles, Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John, and Jude, make no mention of specific audiences. James addressed his letter to “the twelve tribes” and Peter opened his first epistle to “the exiles in the dispersion,” while John made no mention of a recipient in his first letter. Just as the name implies, the general epistles were written to a general audience.” https://www.gotquestions.org/general-epistles.html

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Last week, we focused on what God gives to us that makes the gift of salvation available to each and every human being: abundant mercy though the work of each person of the Trinity, the gift of faith that comes to us and continues to grow through adversity, and our response of repentance. This week, I want to explore the benefits TO US when God works salvation IN US.

The Work of Salvation

Peter is going to bring us back to the importance of salvation over and over. In this first reading we see several mentions:

v. 2 “sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ”

v. 3 “begotten us again to a living hope”

v. 4-5 “to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation”

v. 9-10 “9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully”

From the beginning, Peter offers salvation as a future hope – we will be with God in heaven: Rev. 7:9-10 “9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Heaven will be our home until we are in the New Jerusalem: Rev. 21:1-2 “1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

We are also offered a present hope. God’s Word speaks of this in many ways and we will see some of them as we work through this letter. Let me share a couple of other places our present hope is described: