"A Protected, Living Hope"

December 30, 2011

“A Protected, Living Hope”

Blessings Folk!

Yesterday we saw that we as True Believers are…
  • temporary residents
  • chosen
  • set apart
  • sprinkled with the blood of Jesus
  • vessels of obedience.

Now, read the following and give close attention to all it tells us about Believers…

1 Peter 1
 3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
5 You are being protected by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to struggle in various trials
7 so that the genuineness of your faith—more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
8 You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy,
9 because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.


According to God’s great mercy He has…

  • given us a new birth into a living hope…
    • think on that…
    • new birth…
    • living hope...not a “dead” hope...not hope yet to come, though there is such...but, hope here and now
  • how?
  • through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Never forget the resurrection.
So often when discussing faith with others folk forget the foundation of the resurrection.

There is more…
  • we have an inheritance
    • imperishable...will not die
    • uncorrupted
    • unfading
    • kept in heaven for you

We have an inheritance awaiting.

We are being protected.
  • by God’s power
  • through faith
  • for a salvation ready to be revealed...in the last time!

Therefore…
Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rejoice in this...resurrection, inheritance awaiting, salvation yet to come.

Though…!

For a short time there may be struggles, various trials.
To what purpose are they allowed?

To manifest the genuineness of your faith.
Do you ever think of trials and tribulations in the way?
As conduits of genuine faith?

Faith if more valuable than gold.

Faith will result in praise, glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

We are Living Hopes with a goal.
Salvation.

We love Him, though we have not seen Him.
Though not seeing, we believe in Him.

We rejoice because we are receiving and will receive the goal of our faith - the salvation of our souls.

In this we should rejoice at the end of a calendar year.
In this we should rejoice at the beginning of a year.
In this we should rejoice with every breath.

Conclusion:

We have…
  • new birth
  • a living hope
  • an inheritance - imperishable, uncorrupted, unfading, kept in heaven for us
  • protection through God’s power
  • faith for salvation - now and yet to be revealed in the last time

Now, do you see how God has provided?
Why then should we doubt?
Why then should we ever fear?

The last days in which we live will increase in darkness and fear.
But, those who are Believers will shine!

Blessings!!