The Living Hope

The Second Coming of Christ is a great truth revealed in scripture. We believe in His visible, imminent return. If this be so, and it is, we should think about how it affects the way we live. The main theme of I Peter is "conduct in crisis." How to handle your life in light of the soon coming of Christ (II Peter 3:9-12); Christian living in the light of Christ's coming (I Peter 1: 5; 1: 7; 1: 13; 2:12; 4:13; 5: 1; and 5:4). Running throughout this epistle is the theme of the coming of Christ:

(1) Motive for faithfulness to Christ.
(2) Motive for his loyalty in living for Christ.
(3) Motive for gallant endurance in trial.

Because he knows Christ is coming back, Peter is writing to Jews as well as Gentile Christians who were being persecuted. There was a campaign of slander and slaughter being brought against Christians. Peter is writing to emphasize that circumstances do not control or dictate our discipleship. We should live the same in times of trial as in times of triumph.

What kind of suffering were they having?

July 19, 64 AD, Rome burned for three days and nights, while Nero fiddled, "charmed by the flames". History records that everything was destroyed. Nero blamed the Christians. Why?

I .They were already hated.
2. They were connected with the Jews.
3 . The Lord's supper was closed to unbelievers therefore the Christians were accused of eating human flesh, and of having an orgy.
4. Christians were always talking about God judging the world by fire.

So, from 65 AD, Christian persecution broke out. They were beheaded, rolled in pitch and burned, thrown to lions, etc. Peter writes this book about 1 1/2 years later, and when he talks of suffering, he knows and they know what suffering for Christ is all about. But, we are not to live in view of our suffering but in the light of the soon return of Christ. In the midst of death and dying, Peter reminds them of three living things:

1. Living hope (I Peter 1: 1-22)
2. Living Word (I Peter 1:23-2:4)
3. Living stone (I Peter 2:5-10)

Our consideration now is the living hope



1. LIVING HOPE IS FOUNDED ON REDEMPTION (I Peter 1: 1-3)

No man without Christ has hope. We were strangers to the family of God and the goodness of God. In Vs. 2, there are three great truths of redemption:



I . Elect according to foreknowledge of God. Salvation is a design of God, not of flesh, but of God. Salvation has its origin in the eternal counsel of God.
2. Sanctification of the Spirit. The spirit comes into our life to turn us to God.
3. Sprinkling of blood of Christ. The blood cleanses us. (I Peter 1: 17-21)



II. LIVING HOPE DEPENDS UPON REVELATION (I Peter 1:3-5)

Three facets of our inheritance:


1. Means of our inheritance (vs. 3) "resurrection"
2. Measure of our inheritance (vs. 4) Quality of it.
3. Miracle of our inheritance (vs. 5) 1 don't keep it... HE does.


III. LIVING HOPE RESULTS IN REJOICING (I Peter 1:6-9)

Rejoicing that the suffering is going to make us what we ought to be and when we become what we ought to be, will be found unto praise and glory at the appearing of Christ (I Peter 4:16). We can suffer along the way if the glory is there at the end. A football player suffers pain and injury during a game, but there is the joy of winning at the end.

IV. LIVING HOPE HAS A REQUIREMENT (I Peter 1: 13-16)

1. Holy by Christ's righteousness in us.
2. Holy by Christ's righteousness through us.

True holiness consists in a conformity to the nature and will of God, whereby a believer is distinguished from the World and is not controlled by its principles or precepts, nor govemed by its customs. There are degrees of holiness. All gold is not refined to the same degree of purity, but true gold will always endure the furnace. The Holy Spirit places within every believer a nature to Holiness (New Nature).

I . A girded mind (vs 13)
2. A sober spirit
3, A quiet heart


Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. "