It is on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ our entire Christian hope is based. Paul tells us:
1 Corinthians 15:20–22 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
It is the resurrection that make the difference. Christ’s death atoned for our sins. We may be forgiven, but without the resurrection we would be still in the grave. We would be forgiven corpses. It is the resurrection that gives us hope for eternal life for those who are in Christ. The key world in experiencing this enteral life is “in Christ.” Are you “in Christ?” For those who are “in Christ,” who know Him personally and placed their trust in him (not a mere belief about Jesus), we have an eternal and living hope to be revealed at some point in our future.
Our reference today is from 1st Peter. Peter writes this letter to persecuted Christians and in these opening lines explains the reason they need to be joyful despite their sufferings.
1 Peter 1:3–9
Ill: Three years ago (March 30, 2018), George Weigel wrote an article for the Wall Street Journal, where he talks about the profound impact that hope had on the ancient world. He writes:
There is no accounting for the rise of Christianity without weighing the revolutionary effect on those nobodies of what they called “the Resurrection.” They encountered one whom they embraced as the Risen Lord, whom they first knew as the itinerant Jewish rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth, and who died an agonizing and shameful death on a Roman cross outside Jerusalem.
That first generation answered the question of why they were Christians with a straightforward answer: because Jesus was raised from the dead… As they worked that out, their thinking about a lot of things changed profoundly.
The article mentions some of the positive outcomes brought to the ancient world through Christianity:
• A new dignity given to woman in contrast to the classical culture.
• A self-denying healthcare provided to plague sufferers.
• A focus on family health and growth.
• A remarkable change in worship from the Sabbath to Sunday
• A willingness to embrace death as martyrs—because they knew that death did not have the final word in the human story. And
• Living as if they knew the outcome of history itself.
Weigel suggests that it's only through, what he calls “the Easter Effect,” that these changes make sense. The social changes that followed Good Friday occur only if they actually believed in the resurrection of Jesus. [1]
It made a difference then and we see around the world it is making a difference today. Isn’t interesting that church is growing in the areas of the world where persecution exist? Yet, the church is shrinking here in America.
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Other translation have “Praise be to God” (NIV, HCSB). The word we have as "blessed" means worthy of praise. Why? Because of "His great mercy" - unmerited favor toward us, sinners who have fallen short of the glory of God, we, in our helpless condition, when we could not save ourselves.
We need to be reminded that salvation did not come to us because of what we are or for what we may had done or accomplished, not because of who we are, but because of who God is. Salvation came only because of His great mercy. And His mercy "has caused us to be born again" – We became new creation, the old things have passed away and behold, all things become new (2 Cor 5:17).
And now as a new creation in Christ, we now have a living hope, not a dead hope but a hope that is alive because of resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Jesus ‘ resurrection is everything. We have a living hope, as Peter calls as our inheritance:
1 Peter 1:4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
This inheritance is in heaven. It is being preserved and reserved for us, we who are in Christ. Peter tells us it is “imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away.” The NIV says it will "never perish, spoil, or fade." No one can steal it, break it, or take away its purity, defiled it. Jesus tell us where our treasures should be:
Matthew 6:20–21 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Our new lives in Christ cannot be destroyed or stolen. Our new birth is from what is imperishable:
1 Peter 1:23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.
We have the very Words of God in our hands which is imperishable as well. Jesus tells us that heaven and earth may pass away but His words will never pass away (Matt 24:35). Because we know the Word is imperishable, we know it to be true when it tells about these things. And we ourselves are protected by God:
1 Peter 1:5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
We are "protected" (guarded- CSB, shielded -NIV)) – a military term. God’s power will guard us, our souls for that inheritance. This does not mean we will not experience difficulties in this life, but more on that in a moment. And just what is our inheritance? Peter explains it is our salvation, our “salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” Our completed salvation has yet to be seen.
Our salvation is three fold – past, present and future.
(1) Past: A Christian was saved from the penalty of sin the moment he first trusted the Savior: By grace we were saved through faith (Eph. 2:8).
(2) Present: A Christian is saved daily from the power of sin as he allows the Savior to live His life through him. We have the power to defeat sin daily if we would only rely fully on His Holy Spirit to work.
(3) Future: A Christian will be saved from the presence of sin at the time of our departure from this life.
Most of all, we are save from the wrath that will come on this sinful world around us.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.
God will preserve us for that time our salvation will be made complete. This why we rejoice, even in the midst of tribulation.
1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
It is in this living hope, because of the resurrection, that we can rejoice. This is why the church grows in areas of intense persecution. This is why the gospel is snatched up by disadvantaged peoples, this gives hope of something better.
It is because we have so much to look forward to. The completion of our salvation, our inheritance preserved and reserved for us in heaven. Trials prove the sincerity of our faith. A person who abandons their faith when the going gets tough, is only proving they had no faith at all. We will have trials. Remember that the trials we face often times is God refining our faith.
1 Peter 1:7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Trials proves, refines, and purifies our faith. A faith that is untested is no faith at all. A faith that is untested cannot be trusted. Genuine faith will result in praise, honor and glory when Jesus is revealed at the end of time. Through sharing in the suffering of Jesus we become His glory. Trails and suffering is part of Christian life. Peter charges us:
1 Peter 2:20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
We find favor with God and bring Him glory in our righteous suffering. And God will reward those who suffer for Him. Again, this is why we rejoice, even in tribulation because we know something better awaits us.
Matthew 5:11–12 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. The resurrection gives us this hope.
1 Peter 1:8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
We who believe are like these first century Christians. We have not physically seen Jesus, yet we love Him, believe in him and placed our trust in Him. Because in our hearts we know and sing “Because He lives …” we can be filled with Joy.
Biblical joy does not depend on circumstances. Joy is inseparably connected to love and trust. Even during pain, the fullness of joy comes from a deep sense of the presence of God in our lives. We can experience joy in suffering when we believe our suffering has a redemptive or refining purpose.[2]
Our faith in Jesus, resulting our living hope because of the resurrection of Jesus, gives us joy.
1 Peter 1:9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
That word "salvation" again. Salvation, past, present, and future. This is the significance of the resurrection, salvation is assured for our souls.
Here the word "soul" means the entire person of mind, body, and spirit including our whole life. We have salvation and that salvation is insured because of the resurrection of Jesus who is at the right hand of father making intercession for us.
Romans 8:34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
Yes Jesus’ resurrection is our living hope. Our inheritance, our salvation, preserved and reserved in heaven for us. Jesus was raised from the dead and in like manner, we will one day be raise with him.
1 Corinthians 15:22–23 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,
Christ is the first of those who will rise. Those who belong to Christ will rise at His coming. Are you among those who belong to Christ?
Is your hope living? Is your hope in Jesus?
[1] Sermon Central: www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/living-hope-c-philip-green-sermon-on-hope-254431. George Weigel, “The Easter Effect and How it Changed the World,” The Wall Street Journal, 3-30-18; www.PreachingToday.com
[2] David Walls and Max Anders, I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude, vol. 11, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 10.
