Hope In Christ Not Your Circumstances
(1 Peter 1:3-13)
Key Center:
1:13, “13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled, set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Hope in Christ for New Birth (1:3-4)
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you,
Exegesis: The contemplation of God's grace caused Peter to praise God, the Author of salvation and the Source of hope. The words Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ are identical in 2 Corinthians 1:3. Peter says in His great mercy mankind has received new birth in to a hope that will last forever and will never fade into to corruption of this world. Peter was saying God had deep sympathetic, compassionate and charitable feelings towards the miserably and afflicted humanity, joined with a desire to relieve them, which moved God to help the weak, the sick, and poor. He withheld the inflicting righteous punishment upon all mankind. He actively gave mankind unmerited favor in disposition which manifested the clemency of God in providing and offering to men salvation by Christ: Lk. 1:54; Rom. 15:9; Eph. 2:4; Tit. 3:5; Heb. 14:16; 1 Pet. 1:3). The phrase in His great mercy refers to God's unmerited favor toward sinners in their hopeless condition. He has given us new birth; people can do nothing to merit such a gift. The words “has given . . . new birth” translate better from the verb “beget again” or “cause to be born again.” It is used only twice in the New Testament, both times in this chapter (1 Peter 1:3, 23). Peter may have been recalling Jesus' interview with Nicodemus (John 3:1-21). The “new birth” results in a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The “living hope” is based on the living resurrected Christ (1 Peter 1:21). The Christian's assurance in Christ is as certain and sure as the fact that Christ is alive! Peter used the word “living” six times (1:3, 23; 2:4-5; 4:5-6). Here “living” means that the believer's hope is sure, certain, and real, as opposed to the deceptive, empty, false hope the world offers. The sure hope is of a future inheritance. This same word is used in the Septuagint to refer to Israel's promised possession of the land (Num. 26:54, 56; 34:2; Josh. 11:23); it was her possession, granted to her as a gift from God. A Christian's inheritance cannot be destroyed by hostile forces, and it will not spoil like over ripened fruit or fade in color. Peter used three words, each beginning with the same letter and ending with the same syllable, to describe in a cumulative fashion this inheritance's permanence: can never perish (aphtharton), spoil (amianton), or fade (amaranton). This inheritance is as indestructible as God's Word (1 Peter 1:23, where Peter again used aphtharton). Each Christian's inheritance of eternal life is kept in heaven or kept watch on by God so its ultimate possession is secure (cf. Gal. 5:5).
Illustration: Baby being born is new without blame baby is not born with the guilt of sin but they are completely and utterly dependent on the parents for survival. It’s amazing that the baby does not question or is reluctant to accept the food the parents give him/her. Because they are completely and utterly dependent on the parents for survival they accept everything and anything the parents offer them. Peter is turn the attention of these believers to the hope they have in Chirst that will not perish (aphtharton), spoil (amianton), or fade (amaranton).
Application: (Read and reflect the key Center, Verse 1:13) It is this kind of trust that Peter is contrasting. The human and the divine nature are similar in we are too completely and utterly dependent on God’s mercy for spiritual survival. We were made new through His mercy and the power of His resurrection, and not anything in this world. Understand that you salvation did not take place by the things around you rather it came by the mercy of God. Our salvation does not come from anyone or anything that’s of this earth but it only comes from God. Is our hope in the perishable things that will spoil or fade away or is our hope in Christ. Peter is pointing us a way from the earthly circumstances and towards a living inheritance's that has permanence.
Transition: Now that you know that new birth does not come from your circumstances and that we are too completely and utterly dependent on God’s mercy for spiritual survival. I want to inform you that your protection come from you hope in Christ. (Read key Center, Verse 1:13, out loud)!
Key Center:
1:13, “13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled, set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Hope in Christ Protecting Power (1:5)
5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
Exegesis: Peter tells his audience that because of their faith in Christ that their lives are shielded until Christ physical return to earth. The word Shielded in the Greek is phroureo. This is a strong military term that means to keep the city from attack, to guard, a benevolent custody and watchful guardianship, and to provide protection against the enemy, as a military garrison would in the mist of a battlefield. In other words this context this word is a present participle that implies action that is consistently going on, thus, it stresses the continued activity of God in the life of a Christian. The word is used of the security of the Christian until the end, and of the sense of that security; that when the believer puts all his/her matters into the hand of God. This idea is not merely that of outward protection of circumstances, but of an inward garrisoning by the Holy Spirit protecting their spiritual position in Christ. Peter usage gives the sense they are continually being guarded. He stresses that this is by God's power, not that God saves they from the troublesome circumstances and sorrows; but He enables them to conquer life's problems and march on in the fight of faith. What greater hope could be given to those undergoing persecution 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 sense its full significance at the return of Christ in the last time. This final step, or ultimate completion of the salvation of their souls” (1 Peter 1:9), will come “when Jesus Christ is revealed, a clause Peter used twice (vv. 7, 13).
Illustration: In football the quarterback is the one of the most popular players but he’s not the most important player. An often time the quarterback is only has good as the line is to protect him. The offensive line protects the quarterback from being pulverized by the defense. Well, God is our offensive line and He protects our spiritual reward until the end of the days.
Application: (Read and reflect the key Center, Verse 1:13) Our reward is protected from the enemy and is shielded by God. With an offensive line like Christ we are more able to move down the trial of life to the finish line. Are we trusting our lives into the hands of God wholeheartedly are we at peace in our hearts when all of our circumstances tells us differently. Is our hope in our circumstances in life that we hold so dearly too for security? Real security is only found in Christ not your husband, not your wife, children, your job or whatever else you are relying on fro real security. Do you believe that God’s offences line is big enough to protect your spiritual well being?
Transition: Now that you know that your protection comes from you hope in Christ I want to inform you that hoping in Christ is the ultimate goal as a Christian. (Read key Center, Verse 1:13, out loud)!
Key Center:
1:13, “13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled, set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Hope in Christ is our Goal as a Christians (1:6-9)
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Exegesis: In this likely refers to the truths mentioned in verses 3-5. Peter encouraged his readers to put their knowledge into practice. Because these Christians have a living hope they are able to rejoice. The Greek word agalliao is a present tense in the Greek that means to rejoice greatly, to exult, to jump for joy, to be exceeding glad with exceeding joy; it is anticipated the here of the second coming of Christ and now this joy is inward by faith in Him; it signifies a deep spiritual joy; a rejoicing in what He has done. In other words in this context Peter is saying that Christians should rejoice greatly and to jump for joy about the anticipated second coming of Christ. It seems s unlikely that Peter is a commanding believer to rejoice in the great blessings mentioned in verse 3-5: rejoicing would be the natural response to such blessings. Furthermore, this entire section is devoted to declaring facts about the believer's lives, whereas his commands concerning the Christian life do not seem to begin until verse 13. It is better therefore to translate, 'in this you rejoice,' or bringing out more explicitly the force of the present tense, 'in this you are continually rejoicing.' Their response to the tremendous theological truths taught so far should be that they would greatly rejoice. Knowledge alone cannot produce the great joy of experiential security and freedom from fear in the face of persecution. God's omnipotent sovereignty needs to be coupled with human responsibility. Christians are responsible to respond in faith. Faith turns sound doctrine into sound practice. Faith acts on the content of theology and produces conduct that corresponds to that content. Faith makes theological security experiential. The Apostle John wrote, “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4). This kind of faith or living hope can enable believers to rejoice even when they are called on to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. Peter stressed that a Christian's joy is independent of his circumstances. James used the same two Greek words (poikilois peirasmois, trans. here “all kinds of trials”). The trials themselves are seen as occasions for joy (James 1:2). Though trials may cause temporary grief, they cannot diminish that deep, abiding joy, which is rooted in one's living hope in Christ Jesus. The various trials Peter is obviously specking of is the circumstances theses Christians were going through. When gold is refined it is melted down and separated from the other medals. By the time the whole process is complete pure gold in the resulting factor. Peter is stating that theses trials and circumstances are refining their faith. In addition to comparing faith to gold, Peter contrasted purified faith with purified gold. Faith is more precious, of greater worth, than gold. Even refined gold, though it lasts a long time, eventually perishes (1 Peter 1:18; James 5:3). It will be valueless in the marketplace of eternity. But faith “purchases” an inheritance that can never perish. Genuine faith is not only of ultimate value to its possessor, but it will also bring praise, glory, and honor to the One whose name Christians bear, when He will return (is revealed; 5:1) to claim them as His own. “Is revealed” translates apokalypsei, from which comes “apocalypse” (1:5, 12, and comments on v. 13). Here is the climax of the experiential joy that results from faith. God accomplished salvation through the work of His Son Jesus Christ. So the focus of a believer's faith is not on abstract knowledge but on the person of Christ. The apostle's warm heart overflowed as he spoke of the love and belief in Christ of those who, unlike himself, did not see Jesus when He walked on earth. Peter may have had in mind Jesus' words: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). Yet, though Christians do not now see Him, like Peter they love and believe in Him, and are also filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. The verb agalliasthe (“are filled with . . . joy”) was used by Peter in 1 Peter 1:6, “you greatly rejoice,” and agallioµmenoi is used in 4:13. Believers can rejoice because they are (pres. tense) receiving (komizomenoi, “to receive as a reward”) what was promised, namely salvation, the goal or culmination (telos, “end”) of . . . faith. For those who love and believe in Jesus Christ, salvation is past (“He has given us new birth,” v. 3), present (“through faith are shielded by God's power,” v. 5), and future (it is their “inheritance,” v. 4, which will “be revealed in the last time,” v. 5, and is “the goal of your faith,” v. 9). Since each day brings believers closer to that final day, they are now “receiving” it. All of this in spite of persecution, which deepens and demonstrates one's faith, is certainly cause for “inexpressible and glorious joy”! (v. 8). Verse eight also clearly states that these believes were not and have not partook or have personally experienced the earthly ministry of Christ, but their faith is place in Him non the less. A faith that’s has been tested and is unmovable is what brings us joy, not because of what is happening but what they know is going to happen when Christ returns. The fear of persecution, torture and even death is replaced with the joy of ultimate salvation and eternal life. Peter again refers to His coming as our hope. This is the hope that brings the peace in our hearts. Again Peter encourages these believers to place their hop in Christ and not what happening around them, the most important thing is not what happens in this life but what happens in the next, it not here (earthy) it’s there (heavenly) that we have been called to be citizens.
Illustration: Jumping out of the air plan with a parachute takes lots of adrenaline and in my opinion takes a lot of guts. The parachuter jumps out of the plain and even though he double checks there chute it takes a lot of faith to jump out of the plain in faith with certain knowledge that if their chute does not open there’ll die. Yet, if you are that parachuter you jump in faith that your chute will open. That kind of faith is unwavered and completely dependent upon that chute opening at the right time to save your life.
Application: (Read and reflect the key Center, Verse 1:13) Are you ready to take that same kind of faith in Christ salvation. No mater what comes our way in life our hope must be supremely on Him in light of His coming. Are you excising this kind of faith in Christ? Can you jump out of an air plain with a parachute without ever experienced it before? Do you have or do we have that kind of faith in Christ what even though we have not seen Him are we trusting Him with our lives?
Transition: Now that you know that hoping in Christ is the ultimate goal as a Christian I want to inform you that the Spirit of Almighty God empowers you to hope. (Read key Center, Verse 1:13, out loud)!
Key Center:
1:13, “13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled, set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
The Spirit Empowers US to Hope (1:10-12)
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
Exegesis: The sufferings of Christ are of imagery that is it is a phrase relating back to the Crucifixion of Christ. Crucifixion was one of the most cruel, denigrating and barbarous forms of death known to man. Peter iterated that faith is not based on the mere writings of men but on the Word of God. Concerning this salvation (salvation in vv. 5, 9) the prophets . . . searched intently and with the greatest care, their help from the same Spirit-guided writings. They longed to participate in this full understanding of salvation and coming period of grace and tried to discover the appointed time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing. They, the prophets, pondered how the glorious Messiah could be involved in suffering. Again Peter echoed the teachings of Christ (Matt. 13:17). Here Peter gives explicit Trinitarian theology, for he identifies the Holy Spirit in the prophets. It is the same Spirit of God that lives in you that lived past tense in the prophets who pointed them to the first coming of Christ. The practical application given in not so much the residing abiding power of God but more towards the activity of the Spirit in the believers life. Peter states that the Spirit pointed the prophets to the first coming of Christ, therefore, if that was the activity of the Spirit in the prophets back then and there; then it is logical to assume that the same Spirit of God is pointing them to the coming day of Christ, or His second coming. The Spirit empowers the believer to hope in the second coming of Christ despite their overwhelming circumstances. "It was the Spirit who predicted the sufferings of Christ (Isa. 53) and the glories that would follow (Isa. 11). This reminder that Christ’s suffering was followed by glory would encourage Peter’s readers. The glories of Christ that followed His suffering were their salvation. Furthermore is logical to say that if Christ suffering ended in glory that they too would experience glory after their suffering (1 Peter 5:10). Peter gave further encouragement (1:12), stating that the prophets understood they were not writing for themselves but for those who would live later, those who would hear the gospel proclaimed by the Holy Spirit (“the Spirit of Christ,” v. 11), and consequently follow Christ. In the ultimate stage of believers' salvation they will experience glory, not suffering. The writer of Hebrews also referred to this “ultimate” salvation (Heb. 1:14; 2:3). The reality of the Christian's living hope was held in awe and wonder by the angelic hosts of heaven. Prophets and angels alike wondered about “this salvation” in the grace that was to come (v. 10). That grace has come to fruition in the glories of Christ suffering on death when we accepted the work that He already did for us.
Illustration: All vehicles run on fuel to run. Without fuel our vehicles are worthless.
Application: God is the spiritual fuel we need to believe. Christ suffered and died for so that we too can experience the same Spirit of God to reside in us. It is the same Spirit of God pointed you to put you hope in Christ's second coming. If the same Spirit of Christ was in the prophets then it’s the same Spirit of Christ that empowers us to hope in His coming, The Spirit of the living God beings the reality of His coming alive in our heats. Do you have this reality if He coming? Do you live in such a way that He will come again? The Spirit of God empowers us to hope in Christ coming in all His glory! (Read and reflect the key Center, Verse 1:13)
Transition: Now that you know that the Spirit of Almighty God empowers you to hope, hope fully with all of your being. (Read key Center, Verse 1:13, out loud)!
Key Center:
1:13, “13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled, set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Hope in Christ Fully (1:13)
13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled, set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Exegesis: Peter drives the truth of placing their hope in Christ home to them by stressing the phrase "Set your hope fully." There’s a lot into this one verse that Peter gives as he culminates this first message of hope to these persecuted believes. Essentially, what Peter is saying is to be sober minder (self-controlled) and thus preparing our hearts for the Coming of Christ. : "Therefore" refers to everything he just told them. Peter say because they hope for new birth, and they place their hope in Christ protecting power and because the Spirit empowers them to hope he drives this truth of hoping in Christ in verse 13. Prepare your mind for action. Peter here uses an oriental expression anazonnymi, this is a metaphor derived from the practice of the Orientals, referring to the act of gathering up around the waist, who in order to be unimpeded in their movements were accustomed, when about to start on a journey or engage in any work, to bind their long flowing garments closely around their bodies and fasten them with a leathern girdle for conflict or service. This oriental expression, 'to grid up' is in the aorist tense of the Greek, which refers to a past once-for-all act. In the context the recipients of this letter are reminded by the apostle in 1:1 that they are strangers, those who have temporary settled down alongside of a pagan population, and also pilgrims as well (2:11). As such they should always be ready to move. Bringing this oriental expression over to the accidental manner of thinking, enable the verse be better translated, 'Wherefore, having put out of the way, once for all, everything that would impede the free action of your mind.' The point Peter was making was that the Christian is to have his mental powers alert in anxious expectation of Christ's coming. The second imperative that Peter exhorts these Christian to do is to be self-controlled. In the Greek the word is nepho means to abstain from wine; to be watchful and to obtain an acknowledgment of the reality of revelation; to be calm and sensible and to be in control of and master ones desires, passions, and sensual appetites. The word also implies a matter of keeping serious, and having a sound and clear mind about reality; thus, having sound, sober and uninterrupted judgment in all things at all times. In the context, this word means that Christians must have a strong grasp on reality and revelation. They should be calm and sensible and be in control of and master their desires, passions, and sensual appetites keeping serious, and having a sound and clear mind about reality; thus, having sound, sober, sensible and life in light of His second coming. Peter encourages them to fully place their hope in the Grace of Christ second coming. There are three words that are vital to the interpretation of this verse. One, the Greek word for hope, is elpizo which means to have anxious expectation, confidence, to trust, it is far more than wishful thinking, but a firm assurance about things that are unseen and still in the future; a confident expectation, ranging in degree from ordinary desire felt with eager anticipation to a defining characteristic of those who seek God and experience His Grace; to patiently endure to the fulfillment. Secondly, the Greek word for fully which is teleios. The New Testament never seems to use teleios, for a gradual advance to Christian perfection or for a two-grad ideal of ethical perfection. In the context, Peter employs them to have a complete, perfect, unchanging, to the utmost extreme without doubt, to be supremely solid out and have actualized the second return of Jesus Christ in their heart. He tells them to have an undivided and unchanging dedication to the end of this temporal world to the point that it is marking the aim of an action in their lives. Thus, this verb teleios qualifies the verb elpizo and describes the nature of this hope. In other words, Peter say that Christians are to posses anxious expectation, confidence, to trust, it is far more than wishful thinking, but a firm assurance about things that are unseen and still in the future of His second coming. Lastly is the Greek word charis, which translates the word “grace”. Basically means the kindness, joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness, good will, and favor that God bestows towards sinful and ill- dissevering, fallen humanity; the grace is also regarded as the sustaining influence enabling the believer to persevere in Christian life. Out of love, He calls covenant people who were nothing (Deut. 7:6-9), delivers them, and gives His law (Exodus. 20:2-6). This grace calls covenant people to loyalty (Num. 14:18-10) and graciousness towards one another (Mic. 6:8; Ps. 109:16). In the context, Peter employs them to have a complete, perfect, unchanging, to the utmost extreme without doubt, to be supremely solid out to the anxious expectation, confidence, and have a firm assurance about things that are unseen and still in the future; the kindness, good-will, and the unmerited favor that God's rich rewards He has in store those who have place their trust in Him. When He returns.
Illustration: Peter and his wife at crucifixion. Under Emperor Nero, the Apostle Peter suffered a martyr's death around A.D. 65. According to tradition he was crucified. At his crucifixion he told his executioner that, "he was not worthy to die like his Lord;" thus, as a result and at his request he was hung/nailed on the cross upside down. Peter was married, because the Gospels mention that Jesus healed his mother-in-law (Matt. 8:14-15 cf. Mark 1:30; 1 Cor. 9:5). The apostle Paul later mentioned that Peter took his wife on his missionary travels (1 Cor. 9:5. His wife's name was Concordia, or Perpetua, and at the time of Christ's Galilean ministry they lived in Capernaum (Mark 1:21, 29). Furthermore, according to tradition she also suffered a martyr's death by way of crucifixion on the same day, as Peter encouraged her to be brave, saying, "Remember, dear, our Lord!”
Application: (Read and reflect the key Center, Verse 1:13) Even if it is to the point of death you are to place your hope in Christ above all else. Peter believed in Christ to the end and led his wife into the Kingdom of God in death also. You see, for Peter is wasn’t what happen in this life, it was what was going to happen in the next that was at the forefront of Peter’s mind, and not only for him and his audience but even his own wife. A perfect example of leadership in the home, he lead his family into eternity with Christ. Are you willing to lay your life down for the gospel, do you really believe that Christ is coming back beyond a shadow of a doubt? (Read key Center, Verse 1:13, out loud)!
Key Center:
1:13, “13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled, set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
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