Sundays at Home

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A True Faith and a Real Hope

Sunday, July 26, 2020
Pastor Jojo Ma

 
 

Sermon Notes

A True Faith and a Real Hope
1 Peter 1:13-21

Misplaced hope is futile, well-placed hope is forever.

1 Peter 1:13-21

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." 17 And if you call on Him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

I. Motivated by a living hope
II. Motivated by a future judgment
III. Motivated by a past redemption

I. Motivated by a living hope

What do you do when life gets hard? How do you respond to difficulties or trials?

In other words, hard times, through our responses, reveal our hearts, our hopes, and often our idols.

Whatever we put our utmost trust in, that becomes our functional god or our practical savior. We will bow down to it and offer this god whatever it wants to give us what we want. And difficulties and trials are the true tests of where our hope lies.

We need God’s Word to align our hearts to the only true and living and lasting hope. We need to hear the apostle Peter’s words for us so that we will think biblically about God and rightly about our circumstances.

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

When we set our hope fully on God’s grace of final salvation and the day of Christ’s return, this hope won’t disappoint. We can live now with certainty. We can truly embrace a living hope.

It’s only when you have a doctrine of sovereign grace whereby God begins and completes His work to rescue sinners through faith, that’s the way to assurance. Resting in and trusting in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Know the truth so well that when religions and cults and gospel-distortions come your way or your children’s way, you and they know how to stand firm in the true grace of God’s gospel.

Always remember you have a living hope. Misplaced hope is futile, well-placed hope is forever.

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

Take time and think where you often fail to please God and fail to obey Him. What beliefs or thinking patterns are present in your disobedience? Repent of these things and ask for the Lord’s mercy and help.

II. Motivated by a future judgment

What happens when we’re not very motivated to live godly? What do we do when we don’t feel like being disciplined and self-controlled and pleasing to Christ? What if you just plain and simple want to be a disobedient child?

Be careful of future judgment. Be careful, my child. There is a place for this in New Testament theology. The real fear of the Lord and His judgment is a real consideration for the professing believer.

16 since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." 17 And if you call on Him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile.

Jer 17:10 I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.

Matt 16:27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Heb 9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.

Let’s be clear: Salvation is by faith, judgment is by works.

17 And if you call on Him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

C.S. Lewis: "Safe?" said Mr Beaver..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."

Do not mistake the righteous, impartial judgment of God for what you see going on in culture and in the church today.

III. Motivated by a past redemption

19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

If there is one discipline you must learn and practice, it is the discipline of rehearsing the good news to yourself and to your children.