We are held Secure by God
Am June 28th 2008
1 Peter 1:1-2
Introduction
Many people try to find security in many different areas of life, some try to find it in a good job, others try to find it in a family name or heritage, and still even some try to find it off of the fortunes and work of others. However in all these things there is no real security.
During a conversation with a trapeze artist the performer admitted the net underneath was there to keep them from breaking their necks, but added, "The net also keeps us from falling. Imagine there is no net. We would be so nervous that we would be more likely to miss and fall. If there wasn’t a net, we would not dare to do some of the things we do. But because there’s a net, we dare to make turns, and once I made three turns -- thanks to the net!"
True security can only be found in God. When we are sure in his arms, we dare to attempt big things for God. We dare to be holy. We dare to be obedient. We dare, because we know the eternal arms of God will hold us if we fall."
As we begin today in the book of first Peter it is important for us to understand that Peter is writing to people who are suffering and hurting, people who are being ridiculed and persecuted because they lived for Jesus Christ.
Peter is writing to five Roman Provinces where most of the believers had apparently tried to hide and find safety. Imagine the fear, uncertainty, and insecurity; the wandering about and the looking for a safe place and for a way to earn a living. In some cases the believers didn’t know where there next meal would come from. These believers were being literally hunted down for brutal slaughter, imagine the fear, concern, restlessness, sleeplessness, anxiety, stress, uncertainty, insecurity, and a pounding heart at the slightest shadow or noise.
These believers desperately needed strong encouragement and security. How do you shore up and strengthen a person who is suffering and hurting so much? There is one way, and only one way, they must know that they are saved and be absolutely sure that they are under the care and love of God. This is were we will find ourselves in the first section of this book of first Peter. Today we will learn truths about the security we have in God.
Read Scriptures: 1 Peter 1:1-2
I. Because I am held Secure by God, my true home is in Heaven.
Vs. 1 “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,”
True Believers are only strangers scattered over the Earth. The word means alien, pilgrim, sojourner, visitor, or exile. The idea is, is that this not our permanent residence. We are citizens of heaven, our true home is in heaven with Jesus.
This means that no matter the troubles and trials that we experience on this Earth it is only for a time, because you see one day we get to go home with daddy and we will not have to experience these things anymore.
This means that we should keep our eyes and minds focused on heaven as our permanent home, focused on how short life is, focused on how uncertain, insecure, and short-term all things on Earth really are. What security to have as a believer, to know that all of this is temporary.
II. I was Chosen by God to be His Child, therefore I am held Secure by God.
Vs. 2a “who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father”
We didn’t choose God, God chose us. I didn’t find Jesus, Jesus found me. This passage is just like the passage we studied in Romans a few Wednesday nights ago it is not meant to teach that God chooses some for heaven and condemns the rest to hell. It is meant as an encouragement to a people who are severely persecuted for there faith.
The foreknowledge of God means He already knew before hand. God already knows exactly what is going to happen. If we understand God’s foreknowledge then we can trust him when he says that “He works all things out to good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.”
How can God work all things out, because he already knows the events and things that will happen. So we can rest assured he knows what is going on, we can trust Him, we can believe Him. There is no greater security and assurance than to know that a follower of Christ I was chosen by God, because I was chosen “nothing can separate me from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
III. I am Sanctified by the Holy Spirit, Therefore I am held Secure by God.
Vs. 2b “through the sanctifying work of the Spirit,”
Sanctified means to be set apart or made Holy by God. Before anyone can come to Christ for salvation they must be pulled by the Holy Spirit—convicted of sin and turn to Christ for forgiveness. That is why when we feel the Spirit of God working in our hearts we need to respond quickly.
I cannot sanctify myself, I cannot sanctify you, only God can deem someone Holy or Sanctified. As the rest of this verse teaches it is only through the Blood of Jesus Christ.
I can not work enough to achieve sanctification. Thank God it does not depend upon works to achieve sanctification, because some of us would be in bad shape. You say well how is that security, because it does not depend on me, me being cleaned up and made Holy and Sanctified is done and complete because of the Blood of Christ, once the Holy Spirit draws me, and I turn and receive the forgiveness of Christ, God takes care of the rest, what security.
IV. Because I am held Secure by God, I should act in Obedience toward God.
Vs. 2c “for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:”
When we really believe in Christ, we really trust the blood of Christ to cover our sins, we will obey Christ. That is the essence of Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
This is the purpose of sanctification, that we might be obedient to God. The one thing God wants is obedient children. God wants us to follow his word and instructions and to believe Him.
Because God saved me from His wrath on Satan and all those who reject Christ, because God chose me, the very least I can give back is obedience. Because I am held secure by God, no matter the consequences, no matter the ridicule, no matter the persecution, no matter the personal cost I am to be Obedient to God.
V. Because I am held Secure by God, I experience God’s Grace and Peace.
Vs. 2d “Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”
Grace means undeserved favor and blessing of God. The word undeserved is the key to understand Grace.
We absolutely one hundred percent to not deserve the favor of God. We can not earn God’s approval and blessing. God is too high and we are too low to deserve anything from God.
We deserve nothing from God except judgment, condemnation, and punishment. But God is love, therefore God made it possible for us to experience His grace through Jesus Christ His Son.
Peace means to be bound, joined, and woven together. It means to be assured, confident, and secure in the love of God.
It means to have a sense, a consciousness, a knowledge that God will: provide, guide, strengthen, sustain, deliver, encourage, and save. We can not experience true peace apart from the peace that God gives through faith in His Son Jesus Christ.
Because I am held secure by God, I receive His gifts of Grace, His favor and blessing, and peace, having God’s presence with me. With God’s favor and blessings and His presence with me there is nothing that I cannot endure in this world. Those are things that the enemy cannot take away from me.
Conclusion
Maybe today you realize that your security is in something other than God. You can change that today, if the Holy Spirit has revealed that to you and convicted you, just as we said earlier you need to respond immediately. Surrender your life to Jesus Christ fully today and allow His blood to cover your sins.
