A. Opening illustration: Christian funerals are a place that we see worship in pain if they are sorrowing like Paul said to do “with hope.” The I thought about it more, and I think that so many go to corporate worship each week in pain. Some of us live our lives in more pain than others. Pain is a commonality to life.
B. Background to passage: after his greeting, Peter goes into a doxology/hymn of praise in order to accomplish what the entire letter is supposed to do: encourage suffering believers to endure pain and persecution well. The word “be” is not really in the original text, so Peter may have been saying, “praise God!” That’s the main sentence. The rest of these two sentences give the foundations for that encouragement.
C. Main thought: we are going to see several aspects of the go-to weapon to combat discouragement, depression, suffering, and pain – praise, and God worthy of it
1) Because of His Great Mercy (v. 3)
a. Same construction as “according to his foreknowledge” above, Peter describes the reason behind the main sentence structure of bless God because he has granted us to be born again. He brings up the character trait of God of his mercy. That would probably be a forgotten or questionable trait during a time of severe testing and suffering. I mean, who thinks of how God’s blessings are flowing while you are being unjustly accused, tried, jailed, beaten, fired from job, disowned from family, possessions confiscated, marriages wrecked because of one spouse’s faith, made slaves, ridiculed publicly.
b. Illustration: Jimmy coming in terribly distraught after listening to Jonathan Edwards’ sermon from July 8th, 1741. It speaks of the mercy of God as the only reason that our hearts don’t burst forth with the most vile evil, as the only reason we are not cast into hell immediately, the cauldron of fire and brimstone and the devils await our foot to slip to fall into, and God having no obligation to save or withhold his explosive wrath or cast us down from our precarious position at any moment.
c. In our pain, we should be quick to meditate on the attributes of God, all of them. Mercy in particular is a humbling perspective when we suffer. Often when we suffer it makes us call into question the “fairness” of God. It’s not fair that my father died at 55. It’s not fair that children get cancer, get sold into human trafficking, or have to dig for their food in garbage dumps. We weep when things don’t go our way, and not to invalidate your feelings, but we must keep them in perspective. God doesn’t owe us anything. It’s by his great mercy that we enjoy our next breath of air, that we live in a free country with access to the gospel, and on and on with blessings we could go. So, when we suffer, discipline yourself to praise God for mercy, even if you don’t feel it. We don’t get what we deserve 😊 2) Because of Regeneration to Hope (v. 3)
a. Peter praises God for the fact that he caused the believers to be born again or gave them new life. Regeneration just means born again. When we think about salvation it’s the beginning of our Christian experience here on earth. It’s when our eyes are opened to the beauty of Christ, we realize his value, exercise faith and repentance and are cleansed from our sin. The bondage of sin is broken, justification takes place (declaration of imputed righteousness), and the Holy Spirit indwells us. It’s a wonderful time. Gotta wonder if these elect exiles, these chosen sufferers, were wondering if this was such a good thing now. However, Peter says they were born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Christ.
b. Jesus’s story about a man who found the greatest treasure, and for the joy of it, he sold everything. He knew that all the things of this earth would pale in comparison, and that all sorrows would be surpassed
c. Illustration: ever met someone, or had someone in your life that had a near-death experience? Mackenzie (in the briars) and Shane Shirah’s sister-in-law.
d. Some of you have been saved for a long time. You were born again years ago distance seems to make everything fade. In your times of pain and suffering do you realize the blessed assurance that you have in Jesus? Our joy, our foundation to endure suffering is a living hope based on the resurrection of Christ. We have been given new spiritual life in exchange for our dead one. When you and I feel like the weigh of the world is crushing us, preach to yourself from the unshakable foundation of the resurrection of Jesus! Your hope is alive and will always be alive. Jesus can’t die, nor can your hope. Read the stories of the resurrections in the gospels – that’s your prescription for hopelessness. If you are a born-again believer, rejoice in the testimony that you share of your new life in Christ. Salvation lies in him, hope lies in him because of the resurrection, and it’s yours today if you haven’t experienced it.
3) Because of Inheritance (v. 4-5)
a. Peter ends this sentence with continued theological and practical depth as he speaks about the
culmination of our Christian faith. Knowing that some would suffer much then be killed or suffer so
much that they wish they were dead; he points to the prize. With the language of the OT promised land,
he tells of a home that they are exiled from now but will one day see. He describes is as one that does
not decay or rot, one that is pure and holy, and one that never dries and withers as the flowers or laurel
crowns do. I wish we had time to go into those three. After those three descriptions, he gives two more
points of encouragement. First, our salvation, our final glorification is guaranteed. Second, it is ready to
be revealed. Nothing else is needed. It’s simply a matter of time.
b. Argumentation
c. Illustration: One commentator so eloquently puts it, “The paronomasia of the three verbals is most
effective; the inheritance is untouched by death, unstained by evil, unimpaired by time; it is compounded
of immortality, purity, and beauty.” Some argue that nothing can take it from you, but you can take it
from yourself. Wouldn’t that make you more powerful than God?
d. The descriptions of heaven make it beautiful. We know that the bible promises that it will be greater than
we can imagine. And being in the presence of Almighty Jesus will be the ultimate absolute ecstasy for
eternity. It will not be boring, get old, or lack anything. This thought may be what gets us through the
worst times in our lives. You may be so down that there is nowhere to go but up. Hang in there; for a
great reward is coming to those who remain faithful. When we are depressed and can’t get out of bed,
when we are angry and can’t it under control, when we think about suicide, know that those thoughts of
evil can’t compare to the joy laid out for you. Know that when you think you have failed, when you are
unlovable, when you are wrestling with doubt, you can never lose what has been given to you. He keeps
salvation, and notice he guards you too, by his power, unbreakable, unassailable, incomprehensible,
absolute sovereignty over everything. He will not let us go. Know that if you possess this salvation, it is
ready to be revealed in you when the time is right.
A. Closing illustration: During times of uncertainty, stress, trials & struggles you can still find peace &
laughter. All you gotta do is encourage each other with support & understanding. Today there’s not one
single thing we can do to find answers or fix the situation. God tells us “take no thought for tomorrow for
tomorrow will take thought for the things of itself”.
Today has turned out to be a perfect day! Thank you, God!
The weather is beautifully perfect don’t need air conditioner or heat, so windows raised. Meat cooking
filling the air with the aroma that stirs during this time of year for us (Brunswick Stew). I found my
husband jamming without a care in the world! And to top it off the Ga/Fla game going.
These pictures represent The Lord carrying us through the midst of the storm. And for that my friends we
are blessed & thankful!
Thank you again to all who have reached out to us & especially those that are praying for our family.
May God bless us all.
Love Mac & Gloria
B. Recap
