May 4, 2014
Series: True Knowledge; True Assurance | Category: 1, 2, 3 John | Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3–1:5 |
John tells us that "when we sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." Jesus constantly advocates for His people to the Father in heaven. Beyond that, He is "the propitiation for our sins." In other words, our heavenly lawyer is also the heaven sent lamb who gave Himself in sacrifice for sin.
Peter's grave failures (sins) include his statement concerning building tabernalces for Jesus, Moses, and Eiljah, thus putting Jesus on equal plain with these other men; his rebuke of Jesus, a rebuke so serious that Jesus said to him, "Get behind me Satan"; and his denial of Christ on three occasions during the trial of our Lord. If anyone could have lost his salvation, surely Peter would have. This fact makes his words in 1 Peter 1:3-5 all the more amazing and wonderful. We see in these verses:
I. God gives believers the gift of hope.
A. God give two vital reasons for hope.
1. We can hope because Jesus Christ lives. (1 Pet. 1:3)
2. We can hope because the Word of God lives. (1 Pet. 1:23)
a. We can rejoice because of future is glorious. (see 2 Thess. 2:16-17; Titus 2:13)
b. We can rejoice because our present contains elements of this glory.
B. God gives a heritage to all who trust in the Lord Jesus. (1 Pet. 1:3b-4)
1. You will only receive this inheritance if you are a descendant of God through faith in Christ.
2. You will receive a distinctive inheritance.
This is an inheritance that is:
a. Incorruptible
b. Undefiled.
c. Unfading.
II. God works on our behalf in the past, in the present, and in the future. (1 Pet. 1:3-5)
A. God regenerates all believers. (1 Pet. 1:3)
B. God reverses our inheritance. (1 Pet. 1:4)
From Adam all mankind inherits corruption, but from God we inherit incorruption.
C. God reverses us. (1 Pet. 1:5)
We who could not keep ourselves are now kept by the power of God.
D. God will reveal all the glories of our salvation to us. (1 Pet. 1:5b)