Sermon: There Is A Reason For Our Glorious Hope In Christ

Sermon: There is A Reason for Our Glorious Hope in Christ

Scripture Lesson-1Peter 3:13-22 “Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!

Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. So he went and preached to the spirits in prison— those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood. And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.”

Introduction: Understanding the tremendous persecution plaguing the scattered saints, Peter writes a wonderful weighty and calm assuring epistle to undergird the faith of the Saints. His design is to stir their hearts to keep believing and stir up their minds to remember who they are and who they are following. Believers must guard themselves against errors of false teaching and guard their hearts against doubting because of persecution. These believers are the Elect of God, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, sanctified by the Spirit, who have been sprinkled by the blood of Jesus Christ, saved by Grace through faith and they have peace with God, and the peace of God. Peter reminds them, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein they stand.

These believers were a mixture of men and women, rulers and slaves, Jews and Gentiles living in a Roman dominated world, under Roman rule with a great number of demands that was the source of constant conflict in Christians. Persecution was certain. Yet believers are called to walk differently and be inflamed with love that bring forth the fruits of faith, hope, love, and patience.

Being born of God, these believers have both the benefits from God and of God and a duty towards a sinful, unbelieving world. God hath raised believers from the death of sin to a living hope in Christ, with an eternal inheritance, which give believers hope to the end. As obedient children, we must live out our faith and bring fruit to our heavenly Father. Being purified by the Spirit, born again to love God and others with a pure heart. Even though they are strangers in a hostile world, they must live holy lives, abstaining from fleshly desires, and show their faith by a good conversation as good Christian examples. Servants must be subject to their masters because of Christ. Model your lives after the example of Christ. Peter addresses every level of relationships, Wives and Husbands, and slaves and Masters. Knowing the limits of their power and influence in a hostile environment, Peter encouraged them to live above reproach by living a wholesome life, a good profession, and being always ready to give an answer to everyone who ask their reason for hoping in Christ.

Peter tells them how to act, then he tells them what to avoid. They must shun evil company and evil actions. Just as Jesus lived, modeling holiness by what he suffered, and how he responded, then leaving to judgment in the hands of God. Jesus exercised godly conduct and Christian virtues, using his miraculous gifts for the benefit of others. As his witnesses and fellow-heirs of his glory, believers must follow in his steps.

Our key verse: 1 Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

I pray that our Holy God and loving Father, would use our Christian influence and the quality of our walk to bring others to Jesus. Also, that He would give us wisdom as we seek to bring others to Christ. Peter wanted the words and actions of the scattered believers to be influential and successful as they witness for Christ in a hostile environment. This passage addresses some of the attitudes believers should have if they must suffer for doing the right thing.