My hope is that this series has been used to get you to stop and look at the size of God. My prayer is that we all may say along with Moses,
“Eternal Lord, You’ve only just begun to show me, Your servant, how very great and powerful You are.” - Deuteronomy 3:24 (The Voice)
With that in mind, I want us to stop and think today about the fact that God is big enough to keep me. Peter makes this assertion in our text.
Peter writes to a people suffering persecution. He writes to tell them to take hope, for God will never forsake them or let them down. He will keep them secure and see them through. Peter spoke from experience.
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” - Luke 22:31-32 (NLT)
A little girl was overheard praying about her sister: “Dear God, my older sister has a girlfriend named Tina who never quits talking. It would take a miracle to shut her up. Do you have any left?”
Ever needed a miracle? Ever feared that God wouldn’t see you through the tough times? Peter’s message is for you. Peter assures us God is big enough to keep us and see us through victoriously to the end, because:
1. We are chosen by God - v. 2
Peter says that we have been chosen. God chooses all who choose Him.
“My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them real and eternal life. They are protected from the Destroyer for good. No one can steal them from out of my hand. The Father who put them under my care is so much greater than the Destroyer and Thief. No one could ever get them away from him. I and the Father are one heart and mind.” - John 10:27-30 (MSG)
God chooses to keep all who choose Christ securely and to see them through victoriously, come what may.
“If God is for us, no one can stand against us. And God is with us.” - Romans 8:31 (Easy To Read Version)
Remember how special it made you feel when you were chosen to be on someone’s team as a kid? Well, we weren’t chosen by God because we are special; but we are special because we are chosen!
You are chosen of God! It is interesting to notice how the Trinity is at work in this business of making us the chosen of God. It was the work of the Father to predetermine the blessings of salvation in eternity past; it was the work of the Son to make possible the blessings of salvation on the cross; and it is the work of the Spirit to make personal the blessings of salvation in our lives.
And what blessings has God chosen for all who come to Him through faith in Christ? The key word in our text is “sprinkling.”
It is likely that the recipients of Peter’s letter had a Jewish background. Hence, the reference to sprinkling would have particular meaning and significance to them. From the Old Testament, we have a picture of the three-fold blessing that God brings into each life who is sprinkled by the blood of Christ as a result of choosing Him as their Savior:
1) The blessing of cleansing & restoration - Leviticus 14:1-7
In acknowledging the cleansing of a leper and restoring them to the fellowship of God’s family, the priest would sprinkle them with blood from a sacrifice. Even so, because of the sacrifice of the cross, we have been cleansed and restored to a right relationship with God.
2) The blessing of consecration & responsibility - Exodus 29:19-22
In dedicating a priest to service, they and their garments would be sprinkled with blood from a sacrifice. Even so, because of the sacrifice of the cross, we have been set aside to assume the responsibility of a priest, representing God before others.
3) The blessing of covenant relationship - Exodus 24:1-8
Moses, in sharing the commands of God with the people, offered sacrifices to God, collected the blood, and sprinkled it on the people. The sacrifice mentioned in this passage was a fellowship offering. The sprinkling here symbolized the covenant relationship God has with His people because of the cross (Matthew 26:28).
God has legally bound Himself to us by virtue of His satisfaction with the sacrifice of Christ made on our behalf. He has eternally obligated Himself to us. He is eternally committed to His covenant relationship with us.
2. We are heirs of God - vs. 3-4
Having been born again, we are children and heirs of God. Again, remember Peter was writing to believers who had a Jewish background. They would have thought of the Promised land as the inheritance of the people of Israel. Concerning the promised land, Moses told the people:
“It is a land with large, prosperous cities that you did not build. The houses will be richly stocked with goods you did not produce. You will draw water from cisterns you did not dig, and you will eat from vineyards and olive trees you did not plant.” - Deuteronomy 6:10-11 (NLT)
One similarity between the inheritance of Israel and our inheritance in Christ is that it is possible due to the work of another! But that is where the similarities end. The inheritance we have in Christ is superior to the inheritance of the Promised land because it cannot . . .
1) Perish - Enemies cannot take it away. Enemies were constantly taking the Promised land away from the Israelites; but when we enter into our eternal inheritance, all our enemies will be no more.
“God will swallow up death forever. The Lord, the Eternal, will wipe away the tears from each and every face And deflect the scorn and shame His people endure from the whole world.” - Isaiah 25:8 (The Voice)
2) Spoil - Impurity cannot ruin its perfection. The Promised land was constantly defiled by false gods and false worship. But not so our eternal inheritance.
“Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful.” - Revelation 21:27 (NIV)
3) Fade - Time cannot diminish its glory. All that Israel received in the promised land eventually wore away, but not so with the eternal inheritance awaiting God’s people. The nature of our inheritance gives us courage when facing this world’s temporary troubles.
Pliney, the roman governor of Bithynia, about the year 120 AD, in his effort to eradicate Christianity, arrested a Christian and told him: “Then I will banish you.” But the reply came from the Christian, “You can’t. For the whole world is my Father’s house.” “Then I will kill you,” said the governor. “You can’t. For my life is hidden with Christ in God.” “Then I will take away your treasures.” Again came the reply, “You can’t. For my treasure is in heaven.”
3. We are protected by God - v. 5
“Through faith, God’s power is standing watch, protecting you for a salvation that you will see completely at the end of things.” - 1 Peter 1:5 (The Voice)
By His power, God will keep you securely and see you through victoriously! Again, Peter speaks from experience.
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” - Luke 22:31-32 (NLT)
Peter learned that we can’t keep ourselves; but God can keep us.
“Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you without blemish before the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” - Jude 24-25 (RSV)
In a sermon, pastor Juan Carlos Ortiz spoke of a conversation with a circus 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 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 two turns, and once, I even made three turns - thanks to the net!”
Ortiz makes this observation: “We have security 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 keep us from falling.”
Conclusion: When faced with the trials and challenges of life, let us not be fearful, but be faithful, knowing that God is big enough to keep us secure and see us through victoriously!
