Everything to Live For (1 Peter 1:1-12)
- so you think you’re having a bad day?
- I’ve learned that it could always be worse
- two German motorists were guiding their cars at a snail’s pace in opposite directions, in very heavy fog
- both of their heads were out of the window, when the cars passed by each other and their heads smacked together
- both men were hospitalized with severe head injuries, but ironically, their cars weren’t even scratched – very unusual with a head-on collision
- a man hit by a car in New York City in 1977 got up uninjured, but laid back down in front of the car when a bystander told him to pretend he was hurt so he could collect insurance money
- the car then rolled forward and crushed him to death
- surprised while burgling a house in Antwerp, Belgium, a thief fled out the back door, clambered over a nine foot wall, dropped down, and found himself in the city prison
- don’t ever complain that you’re having a bad day, because it could always be worse
- some of us have a hard time coping even when things are going fairly well
- life is not easy, and even the daily pressures of making a living, balancing time with our families, not to mention health problems and financial pressures – these all take their toll
- in this room, I can confidently say that for a good number of people present here this morning, life is very difficult, even if there aren’t any severe problems confronting us
- what’s going to keep us going when things get really tough?
- please open your Bibles to 1 Peter this morning, which is on page 1362 of the pew Bibles
- I want to share with you four things that keep you going, even in times of tremendous difficulty
- four things that God has given us, that offer us joy and hope in times of trouble
- 1 Peter was written by the apostle Peter – one of the key disciples of Jesus
- the time was in the early 60’s – just decades after the return of Jesus Christ to heaven
- read with me verses 1 and 2:
- (1 Peter 1:1) Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,
- (1 Peter 1:2) who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
- I want to tell you that the recipients of this letter were going through a very difficult time, and it was only going to get worse
- Peter calls them “God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered…” throughout what today would be the area of Turkey
- the recipients were probably primarily Gentile converts to Christianity
- the word “strangers” identifies the recipients of this letter as belonging to a very low social condition
- at the time, the word “stranger” was used for somebody who was a resident alien – not a Roman citizen, and not a slave
- if you were a stranger or an alien, you were restricted in regard to whom you could marry, in voting, holding property
- you were also subjected to higher taxes and severer forms of civil punishment
- you were away from your own country and people, and were subjected to all sorts of fear, slander, discrimination, and manipulation
- in other words, life was very tough for the recipients of this letter
- but don’t complain that life is tough, because it’s only going to get tougher
- because as difficult as their life had been, it was about to get worse
- these “scattered strangers” had already suffered as a result of their faith
- believers were at first tolerated by the Roman empire, but as it became apparent that Christians were not just a Jewish sect, they were beaten, jailed, and even killed
- probably, at the time that Peter wrote, the great persecution under Emperor Nero had begun
- throughout the Roman empire, Christians were being tortured and killed for their faith, and the church in Jerusalem was being scattered by persecution throughout the entire world
- this persecution climaxed when Rome determined to rid the empire of those who would not bow to Caesar – the “Christ ones”
- and according to tradition, Peter himself was martyred by being crucified upside-down
- Peter could say, “Life is tough, and it’s about to get tougher”
- I don’t think many of us are facing the sort of problems that the recipients of this letter were facing
- what’s going to keep us going when things get really tough?
- in this morning’s passage, Peter gives us four truths that are so great, they overcome any difficulty we’re going through
- four things that God has given us that make all the difference
- TRUTH NUMBER ONE: GOD HAS GIVEN US A NEW LIFE
- (1 Peter 1:3) 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,
- (1 Peter 1:4) and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you,
- (1 Peter 1:5) 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.
- the first thing that Peter says is that we’ve received “new life” or “new birth” in verse 3
- we’ve been “born again”
- think about it – these social nobodies that Peter was writing to had found that God, in his grace, had chosen them as members of his own family, and given them new life
- and according to verse 4, these nobodies who had very little were given something very significant – “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you”
- this inheritance isn’t subject to decay; it’s unable to be worn out with the passage of time; and it’s unfading
- it won’t spoil – it’s pure and completely undefiled
- and it’s unfading – it will never wither, grow dim, or lose its beauty or glory
- the readers might have wondered whether they had the strength to remain faithful to Christ, even if the suffering and persecution became worse
- and Peter replies, “Evidently, yes”
- because in verse 5 Peter says that they are people who by God’s power are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time
- in short, Peter says, “God’s given you a brand new life and everything to live for – a future in heaven and the future starts now! And it can’t be taken away”
- in our lives, we can choose to base our happiness on our circumstances – our success, money, relationships, and position
- or we can base our lives on what Christ has done for us
- Peter says, “You can base your life on external circumstances, which might not be so great – or you can base your confidence on what God has done for us in Christ Jesus”
- it might seem intangible, but God has given us a new life, and it begins now – and can never be taken away
- and no matter what pain or trial we go through, we know it’s not going to be our final experience
- eventually we’re going to live with Christ forever
- that’s why Peter could say we have everything to live for, even though circumstances might be tough
- I don’t know what circumstances you’re facing this morning, but I imagine that for some of you, life might be tough
- if you’ve given your life to Jesus Christ, and are trusting him for salvation, this passage tells us that you are a new person with a new life
- and regardless of circumstances, that new life will last forever
- this new life has led to an inheritance that is guaranteed
- and this new life is more real than even the troubles we’re going through
- I need to pause here and ask if this is your experience
- Jesus Christ came to give us eternal life, and that life begins now, in the present
- a ll the failures and sins in your life can become ancient history as you are made a new creature
- and what’s more, Jesus can give you an inheritance that is yours forever
- no-one can take it away
- it won’t depreciate
- it won’t be decay
- it won’t be affected by the millennium bug
- and it can be yours this morning
- I invite you to pause right now and make this experience yours
- TRUTH NUMBER TWO (THAT WILL KEEP US GOING EVEN IN DIFFICULT TIMES): GOD HAS GIVEN US A PURPOSE EVEN IN OUR SUFFERING
- (1 Peter 1:6) In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
- (1 Peter 1:7) These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
- Peter says “in this” (meaning our future hope) we rejoice, even though we’re now waste-deep in every kind of aggravation and trouble
- these believers are rejoicing even though they’re going through every kind of grief
- Peter reminds them that their suffering has a purpose: so that their faith – of far greater value than gold – may be proved genuine
- the situations of testing in our lives are deliberate occasions when God refines and purifies the faith of his people, as precious metal is refined in a fire
- (Isaiah 48:10) See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
- God never tries his people without reason
- God never afflicts us without cause
- we will experience grief in this life only as necessary in light of God’s great and infinitely wise purposes for us
- Peter then shows us that simultaneous grief and joy are normal in the Christian life
- even when times are tough, we can rejoice – because even when things are tough, God has a purpose in our sufferings
- does that sound trite?
- some of you might be thinking, “Here these people are facing persecution and even death, and the best Peter can say is ‘Chin up; if it doesn’t kill you, it will make you stronger.'”
- I’m not an old person, but already I can look back at periods of trouble in my life
- not once have I enjoyed going through troubles in my life
- but do you know what?
- in almost every case, I can look back and say, “Thank God I had to go through that difficulty”
- it’s not trite at all to realize that God has his hand in every situation and every trouble, working every circumstance in our life to his own glory
- it’s great to realize that even in the difficulties and severe trials of our lives, we can rejoice because God has his purpose
- knowing that in everything that takes place – even in our suffering – God has a purpose
- Peter says that we keep going, even in difficulties, because (1) God has given us a new life and an inheritance that can never be taken away; (2) because God has a purpose even in our suffering
- TRUTH NUMBER THREE (THAT WILL KEEP US GOING EVEN IN DIFFICULT TIMES): GOD HAS GIVEN US AN INEXPRESSIBLE JOY THAT COMES FROM KNOWING CHRIST
- a man once entered a pharmacy, and the pharmacist said, “Oh dear, you must be sick – you don’t look well at all”
- the man replied, “Don’t worry, I’m a pastor – I always look like this”
- or you might have heard about the church where all the members were sour and joyless
- one day they figured out why
- it turns out they had been filling the baptistry with pickle juice
- do you ever wonder why so many Christians are joyless?
- I’m baffled, because look at what verses 8 and 9 say:
- (1 Peter 1:8) Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
- (1 Peter 1:9) for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
- Peter tells us that without having seen Jesus, we have as our normal and continuing experience a love for Jesus Christ
- a personal and daily relationship, if you will, with the ascended Lord Jesus
- and this love for Jesus and belief in him has given us “an inexpressible and glorious joy”
- have you ever been so overwhelmed by something that you literally are speechless?
- Peter says here that our love for Christ and belief in him has given us a joy so profound that it’s beyond the power of words to express
- we might have to sing to really express it – words sure aren’t going to do it alone
- Peter says that our response to the Lord is so potent that we’re already receiving the goal of our faith – the salvation of our souls
- that’s the Christian’s experience, even in the middle of great suffering
- a joy in the Lord that is so profound that it can’t be expressed in words
- that’s the joy that Christ has given us – and that keeps us going even in the midst of difficulties
- I love the words of G.K. Chesterton: “Joy is the gigantic secret of the Christian”
- and it’s a secret that keeps us going in tough times
- one more thing
- TRUTH NUMBER FOUR (THAT WILL KEEP US GOING EVEN IN DIFFICULT TIMES): WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN US IS TRULY AMAZING
- I don’t want you to miss verses 10 to 12, because they’re verses that are incredible
- (1 Peter 1:10) Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care,
- (1 Peter 1:11) trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
- (1 Peter 1:12) It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
- let’s try to find out what Peter is saying
- the Old Testament prophets received all sorts of revelation and insight, and it’s recorded for us in the Old Testament
- many times I think, “Wouldn’t it be great to understand everything that the Old Testament prophets did?”
- Peter says, “Wait a minute! The Old Testament prophets searched diligently for information about salvation, but no matter how intense their search or profound their vision, they only served a preliminary role in the plan of God”
- “They were only preparing the world and God’s people for a later time – and that time is now”
- “It was their job to prepare for God’s salvation in Christ. It’s your job to enjoy it”
- we have a tremendous privilege of enjoying salvation in this era – the privilege of living in the “A.D.” rather than the “B.C.”
- but look what else Peter says in verse 12:
- “Even angels long to look into these things.”
- both angels and people fell into sin
- but Christ never died for angels
- not one angel has been saved by grace through faith
- the eternal destiny of an angel has never been transformed from death to life
- and Peter reminds us that angels long to look into the amazing salvation that we often take for granted
- as one translation puts it, “Don’t you realize how fortunate you are? Angels would have given anything to be in on this!”
- what an amazing salvation!
- so I don’t know what kind of a day you’re having
- I don’t know what suffering is ahead in your life
- but I know that God has given you everything to live for
- why?
- because he’s given you a brand new life
- he’s given you a purpose in suffering
- he’s given you an inexpressible joy that comes from knowing Christ
- indeed, what he’s given you is truly amazing
- let’s pray
