Intro:
In this time of turmoil, trials and many temptations on this world we live in, it seems that we need a kind of hope that will sustain us with God’s strength and survive all these onslaughts. Praise God! Because Jesus is our “Living Hope” Si Hesus and ating Buhay na Pag-Asa. And on this month of April 2022, this will be our theme with a theme verse found in 1 Peter 1:3-4 which will be our text for today’s message.
Did everyone notice that every month our theme includes the word “hope”? Can we have a rundown of monthly themes so we can have a clear view of this month’s theme:
January - A Believing Hope – a faith of the hope we have
February – A Loving Hope – a love that continuously gives us hope
March – A Joyful Hope – the joy of keeping that hope within us
And that summarizes our 1st quarter of monthly themes. And today, God is exhorting us to have a new hope to know, a new hope to discover, when all our hopes are down, we can count on God that He is…
Our Living Hope (Buhay na Pag-Asa)
1 Peter 1:3-7
Where does our living hope come from? Yes, it can only be found in our God. And we have Apostle Peter state that in…
1 Peter 1:3-7 NIV
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. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 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. 6 In all 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 the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
MBB
3 Pasalamatan natin ang Diyos at Ama ng ating Panginoong Jesu-Cristo. Dahil sa laki ng habag niya sa atin, tayo'y binigyan niya ng isang panibagong buhay sa pamamagitan ng muling pagkabuhay ni Jesu-Cristo. Ito ang nagbigay sa atin ng isang buháy na pag-asa 4 na magmamana tayo ng kayamanang di masisira, walang kapintasan, at di kukupas na inihanda ng Diyos sa langit para sa inyo. 5 Sa pamamagitan ng inyong pananampalataya, iniingatan kayo ng kapangyarihan ng Diyos habang hinihintay ninyo ang kaligtasang nakahandang ihayag sa katapusan ng panahon. 6 Ito'y dapat ninyong ikagalak, kahit na maaaring magdanas muna kayo ng iba't ibang pagsubok sa loob ng maikling panahon. 7 Ang ginto, bagama't nasisira, ay pinapadaan sa apoy upang malaman kung talagang dalisay. Gayundin naman, ang inyong pananampalataya, na higit na mahalaga kaysa ginto, ay sinusubok upang malaman kung ito'y talagang tapat. Sa gayon kayo'y papupurihan, dadakilain at pararangalan sa Araw na mahayag si Jesu-Cristo.
Before we go into details of the living hope we have, let us have a quick background of the first letter of Apostle Peter.
First is that the writer is none other than The Apostle Peter himself and it was mentioned in verse 1 of o1 Peter chapter 1 “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ…” This is not the “old Peter” whom formerly named “Simon” the fisherman brother of Andrew. But this is a “renewed” Peter which is now called “Cephas” which is the Aramaic term for Peter which means “the rock” or in Greek “petros”. Here we can notice that Peter here is a matured child of God capable to being a witness of the greatness of God.
Second is that the audience was the Christians that are elected, exiled and exhausted because of the persecutions they suffer in the hands of the Greeks. We can see that on verse 1b to 2 “To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:”
This means that the exhortations of Peter were intended for Christians who may be beleaguered, burdened with pain and battered with sufferings. The message of the first letter of the Apostle Peter is all about the kind of encouragement and hope that we especially need today. It is a kind of hope that will sustain us with God’s strength through His promises mentioned through the Apostle Peter. What is this encouraging hope that we need to know?
1. There is a Living Hope (v3) Mayroon tayong Buhay na Pag-Asa
Peter begins the main body of his letter in verse 3 with praise for the wonder of salvation. “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”
God has caused us to have a living hope by having a new birth and through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. What does that mean? It means that our hope is alive and will never die; therefore, it grows from changing us from our old selves to a new one. (State how God changed Peter from being immature to a mature believer of Christ) This means that we can only start to have a living hope once we have accepted God’s grace and mercy by saving us and the manifestation of it is a changed life or a new birth in Christ. Apostle Paul mentioned this in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Our changed life or new birth in Christ is a byproduct of God’s grace and mercy and this is not because of our own strength and capacity. That’s why Peter said “In His great mercy…”
Second is that it is based on the “living Christ” which was stated later by Peter in 1 Peter 1:21 “Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.” For if our hope is based on man alone then it is not living hope anymore for our time destroys most of our hopes. They fade and then die afterwards (politics is just like that). But the passing of time only makes a Christian’s hope much more glorious! Man’s glory simply does not last but God’s glory lasts forever! And He designed that glory to be shared with us!
Our hope is based on the solid evidence of Jesus’ resurrection. That’s why Apostle Paul mentioned this in 1 Corinthians 15:19-20 “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” ASND “Kung ang pag-asa natin kay Cristo ay hanggang sa buhay na ito lamang, tayo ang pinakakawawa sa lahat ng tao. Ngunit ang totoo, muling nabuhay si Cristo bilang katibayan na muling bubuhayin ang mga patay.”
Aside from the manifestation of our new found faith and hope in God which is our new birth, we have our living hope based on Christ’s resurrection from the dead. This is the very hope that Christians have and without Jesus’ resurrection we are all doomed! Everything is wasted, all our efforts to be righteous in His sight, all our efforts to be faithful until the end is nothing if we don’t have this living hope based on His resurrection!
The Bible tells us that over 500 people witnessed the resurrected Christ, including the disciples, and Paul himself (1 Corinthians 15:4). Seeing the resurrect Christ changed their lives. Those who have been born again have a living hope through their new life in Christ. This means that the living hope we have is that death is not the end.
Illustration:
A man had A CHECKUP and then went in to see his doctor to get the results. The doctor said he better sit down – that he had bad news and worse news for him. Then the Doctor asked the man, “Which do you want to hear first?” The man was a bit puzzled and said he'd rather hear the bad news first. The doctor said, "The bad news is that you have only 24 hours to live." When he heard that, the man jumped up, totally shocked. He paced back and forth and said, "24 hours to live? I can't possibly get my affairs in order that quickly. I can't believe this! What could possibly be worse news than this?" The doctor said, "The worst news is that I was supposed to tell you this yesterday, but I forgot."
Death is sure to come, but so is the Christian’s hope of eternal life. The hope we have in Christ is as certain and sure as the fact that Jesus is alive! Ang kamatayan ay tiyak na darating, ngunit gayon din ang pag-asa ng mga Kristiyano sa buhay na walang hanggan. Ang pag-asa natin kay Kristo ay kasing-tiyak ng katotohanang si Hesus ay buhay!
Although for some, life after death is still an unacceptable truth. For many, life here on earth is the only life we can live and that there is no life after here. Remember that we are only pilgrims here and that our true citizenship is in heaven.
Because of Jesus’ resurrection we have a certain hope that even if we die, one day we will live again. Not only do we have a Living Hope…
2. There is a Lasting Hope (v4) Mayroon tayong Tumatagal na Pag-asa
Our hope includes the promise of a better tomorrow – “and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you”
This lasting hope is our inheritance in heaven that is kept in heaven reserved for us. Friends, we have a promise not only of living again, but we have the hope of a future inheritance (may mamanahin tayo!) Yes, we will surely die, and we will gain a better inheritance. This seems indifferent and unnatural, doesn’t it? Because in this world once a wealthy man/woman dies, he/she can leave all her wealth to his/her heirs or to his/her beneficiaries. The death on this world is simply a loss and all their worldly wealth and treasures can never be brought to the second life after their death!
But to be a child of God is totally a different thing! This heavenly inheritance is better than any and everything this world has to offer. Remember when Jesus told His disciples that He will go away from them momentarily to prepare a place in heaven?
John 14:1-4
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
As the children of our King, we share His inheritance in His glory. Romans 8:17 “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” ASND “At bilang mga anak, mga tagapagmana tayo ng Dios at kasama ni Cristo na magmamana ng mga pagpapalang inilaan niya. Sapagkat kung magtitiis tayo kagaya ni Cristo noon, darating ang araw na pararangalan din tayong kasama niya.”
People who have an inheritance are called heirs. But being an heir only has value if the person leaving the inheritance has something of value to give. We're so blessed there because the Bible says we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ". This means that all that God has is ours!
Not only that, we are included in Christ’s last will and testament!
Ephesians 1:9-12
“9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.”
Heaven itself is part of that inheritance, our future home where all that is wrong on earth will be set right and we will enjoy God's presence forever. Here on earth, estates can change in value over time, or even lose value. Buildings and other property that are part of an inheritance can become rundown if they're not maintained. But there are no such problems with our inheritance in heaven. Peter used three distinct terms to get his point across. The things that God has in store for those who love Him will never "perish, spoil or fade."
I remember Jesus told His disciples to store up riches in heaven…
Matthew 6:19-20 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
And Peter remembered this that’s why he used three terms are combined to describe the permanence of our inheritance’s: can never perish (Greek “aphtharton”, indestructable), can neither be spoiled (Greek “amianton”, unpolluted and fresh), or even fade (Greek “amaranton”, remains bright and vibrant).
That is our inheritance which can't be destroyed, it won't decay like a piece of overripe fruit, and it won't fade like an old shirt that's been washed too many times. Even though the Christian life often includes fiery trials (vv. 6-7), the outcome is assured in Christ.
Illustration:
The Last Supper, the great masterpiece of Leonardo da Vinci. Thousands of dollars are being spent in an attempt to restore some of the fading colors. Even the greatest of masterpieces ultimately fade. But the heavenly inheritance that our Lord provides for us will never fade.
Being co-heirs with Jesus Christ means we have an inheritance reserved or kept in heaven that's beyond anything we can imagine! What a place heaven will be! What a time that will be!
1 Corinthians 2:9 “However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him—"
Now that Apostle Peter encouraged us with a living and a lasting hope. He mentioned the last kind of encouraging hope…
3. There is a Latter Hope (v5) Mayroon tayong Huling Pag-asa
Because of our Living Hope, we can place our faith in God’s protection, as verse 5 teaches us “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.”
Not only our inheritance is kept in heaven, but as heirs who have been born into that inheritance are shielded (binabalutan) or protected by God’s power. “Shielded” (Greek “phrouroumenous”) is a military term, used to refer to a garrison within a city [Phil. 4:7 uses the same Greek word].
God has promised not only to reserved that inheritance for us but also to shield us with His power as we walk in faith with Him. While we are here on earth, Jesus promised us His protection. Remember the hedges of protection of Job? How about His promise on Hebrews 13:5 that says “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
God will never abandon us for He will protect us! Psalm 55:22 “Cast your cares on the Lord
and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.”
Illustration:
I remember last December when we went to Baguio when we were supposed to have a reservation for 2 suite rooms only to find out that they over-booked their guests and we only have a reservation for 1 room instead of 2. Fortunately, we were transferred to a much bigger and newer hotel nearby and they paid for our stay at that new hotel.
But this will never happen to us in heaven as our reservation and power to get that inheritance is protected by God! What a 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!
We believers are not protected by our own strength but by the power of God that guards us and guides us until we reach our place in heaven and until Jesus returned for the second time – this is our Latter Hope in God!
How long will God guard and protect us? Until Jesus Christ returns and we will share in full revelation of His great salvation 1 Peter 1:9 “for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” What is the end of our faith? It is when Christ return take home with Him what is His. He will divide who are the goats from the sheep and He will protect what He owns. That’s why we need to be owned by God, that’s why He wants everyone would come into repentance to be saved and be His own.
However, before we can experience that Latter Hope, we must endure the trials, the turmoil and the temptations of this world to prove the truthfulness and faithfulness of our faith to God until Christ is revealed. Because we know that it is all temporary.
Let me repeat that verse again in…
John 14:1-4
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Again, Peter remembered this, that’s why he said in verses 6-7 of our text:
6 In all 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 the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Many times, we have been placed by God to test our faith in order to prove if we are placing our trust to our Latter Hope.
Illustration:
A young man who was being HAZED by a college fraternity was taken to a secluded spot where he was told to hold on to a knot at the end of a greased rope as his fraternity brothers lowered him into a dark well. Thinking they would pull him up after a few minutes, he was terrified to see them tie their end of the rope to the bar across the top of the well, leaving him suspended in midair.
This can’t be! he thought as he called for help. But none came. As he approached the fifteen-minute mark, his arms aching unbelievably, and his shoulders feeling as though they were on fire, he started to cry. Finally, after about twenty-five tortuous minutes, able to hang on no longer, he let go—and fell two inches—just as his fraternity brothers had calculated.
How many times we thought that it is over and yet what God wants only is to let go and let God and lead us to His own will and purpose? We just need to trust Him and let His Latter Hope gave us an assurance that God will always be there holding us!
Conclusion:
To summarize the encouragement or hope that Apostle Peter mentioned is that…
1. There is a Living Hope
2. There is a Lasting Hope
3. There is Latter Hope
Illustration:
Bill and Gloria Gaither are two of the most prolific and popular Southern Gospel music writers and performers in the world. Bill normally serves as the composer and his wife Gloria writes most of the lyrics for their songs, and they have performed these songs on the Bill Gaither Trio as well as the Gaither Vocal Band. Their many songs include “The Longer I Serve Him,” “The King is Coming,” “Something Beautiful,” “He Touched Me” and “Let’s Just Praise the Lord,” as well as 700 more! Arguably the most popular of them all is “Because He Lives,” and there is an interesting story behind it.
The Gaithers’ story began in the community of Alexandria, Ind., where Bill and Gloria met while teaching high school together. Bill had roots in Southern Gospel music and began the Bill Gaither Trio (joined by his brother Danny and his sister Mary Ann) while he was a student at Anderson College (now Anderson University), a Christian college in Anderson, Ind. Soon after Bill and Gloria met, they began to share ideas about songs. Gloria had been an English major in college so she had a strong command of language and vocabulary. Not long after they were married (in 1962), Gloria took Mary Ann’s place in the trio and, by 1967, Bill was devoting his full-time attention to their career in music.
But the 1960s were a chaotic era and the quantum shift in values was deeply disturbing to Bill and Gloria. They had begun to wonder if God hadn’t given up on the world. The winter of 1969 was a particularly bleak one for them. Not only had the Indiana winter been a long and hard one, with the north wind blowing even more fierce than usual for that region, Bill had been stricken with a severe case of mononucleosis. At the same time, Gloria and some other members of their church family encountered some painful false accusations and belittlement. As you can imagine, this was a very hard time for both Bill and Gloria.
She remembers sitting in their living room in agony and fear on New Year’s Eve. Across the nation, the educational system was being infiltrated with the “God is dead” idea, while drug abuse and racial tension were increasing. The older generation felt that the country’s best days were behind them and their baby boomer children agreed (yet, both felt that the others were to blame). Sound familiar? It was about this time that Bill and Gloria discovered that they had a baby on the way. It was wonderful news, yet it also concerned them. Was it really a wise thing to bring a baby into such a world?
One sunny day in the early spring, Bill, Gloria and Bill’s father George walked across the paved parking lot at their small A-frame offices. George called Bill and Gloria’s attention to a spot they had not noticed. He pointed out a tiny blade of grass that had pushed aside layers of dirt, rock and concrete to reach the sunshine of the world above. It had such a strong will to live; it had overcome all the odds to fulfil its destiny. That blade of grass became a symbol to the Gaithers of how God works in His creation. And it inspired Gloria to write a song expressing the hope that was shaped by the resurrection of Jesus, as well as that blade of grass and the birth of her son.
Let us sing that song “Because He Lives”
God sent His son
They called Him Jesus
He came to love
Heal and forgive
He bled and died
To buy my pardon
An empty grave
Is there to prove
My savior lives
And because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
All fear is gone
Because I know
He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because He lives
And then one day
I'll cross the river
And I'll fight life's
Final war with pain
And then as death
Gives way to victory
I'll see the lights of glory
And I'll know He reigns
Do you fear what tomorrow may bring to us? Election 2022, Ukraine and Russian War, Covid 19, Our Changing World’s Climate? Name it we have all the reasons to worry. But all we need is His Living Hope today!
HOW CAN YOU OBTAIN THIS LIVING HOPE? You must be born again by entrusting yourself & committing yourself to the truth of Christ’s death, burial & resurrection!
