1 Peter 01:01-13 Fortifying the Focus of our Hope – audio

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Text: 1 Peter 1:1-13 (Reading by Andy Anderson)

Introduction

1. Up to this point in his epistle, Peter has summarized some of the blessings enjoyed by God’s pilgrims

a. Their election, sanctification, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus – 1 Peter 1:2

b. Their rebirth to a living hope – 1 Peter 1:3

c. Their incorruptible inheritance, reserved in heaven – 1 Peter 1:4

d. Their being kept by the power of God through faith for the salvation to come – 1 Peter 1:5

e. Their great joy, which is inexpressible and full of glory – 1 Peter 1:6-9

f. The honor of having been served by a distinguished group of individuals – 1 Peter 1:10-12

2. Starting with 1 Peter 1:13, we find a series of exhortations

a. These exhortations are based upon the wonderful blessings listed previously

b. These exhortations are found throughout much of the rest of the epistle

3. The first exhortation relates to the hope that we have as Christians – 1 Peter 1:13

a. In which we are charged to rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ

b. Put another way, we are being charged to fortify the focus of our hope

Body

I. OUR DUTY TO FORTIFY THE FOCUS OF OUR HOPE

A. THAT IS THE PRIMARY EXHORTATION IN THIS PASSAGE

1. The words rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you is the main point of 1 Peter 1:13

2. The other exhortations which precede it are subsidiary and will be considered later

B. WHAT DOES IT MEANS TO REST YOUR HOPE FULLY?

1. It means to set your hope perfectly, unchangeably, without doubt and despondency

2. As the NASV puts it: fix your hope completely on the grace

3. Therefore Peter is exhorting us to make our hope one that is complete, strong, and not wavering

C. THE CULTIVATION OF A STRONG HOPE IS THEREFORE A CHRISTIAN DUTY

1. We have a duty to develop and fortify our hope

2. Just as we need to cultivate patience, self-control, etc, so we need to cultivate our hope

3. For without a hope that is strong

a. Our faith may waver

b. We are subject to fear, doubt, and depression

4. Yes, the cultivation (Or fortification) of our hope is essential to living joyful and victorious lives as Christians!

II. IDENTIFYING THE FOCUS OF OUR HOPE

A. AS DEFINED IN VERSE 13, OUR HOPE IS

1. The grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ

2. The unmerited favor that we will receive when Jesus comes again!

B. AS ALLUDED TO IN THE PRECEDING TWELVE VERSES, OUR HOPE IS:

1. The inheritance…reserved in heaven for you – 1 Peter 1:4

2. The salvation ready to be revealed in the last time – 1 Peter 1:5

3. The praise, honor, and glory we shall receive at the revelation of Jesus Christ – 1 Peter 1:7

4. The end of your faith–the salvation of your souls – 1 Peter 1:9

C. IN VIEW OF ALL THESE VERSES, THE FOCUS OF OUR HOPE IS TO BE:

1. The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the wonderful grace He will bring!

2. The wonderful praise, honor, and glory we shall receive when He comes!

3. The complete and final salvation of our souls from sin and its effects!

4. The receiving of our wonderful inheritance, the heavenly city, which is incorruptible, undefiled, and that does not fade away!

III. WHAT IS NECESSARY TO FORTIFY THE FOCUS OUR HOPE

A. GIRD UP THE LOINS OF YOUR MIND

1. Gird up is an oriental expression

a. It refers to the act of gathering up around the waist the long, loose robes worn by those in the east

b. Such gathering up was necessary or one’s progress in running or some other act of exertion would be impeded

2. With the use of this metaphor, Peter is saying

a. We must put out of the mind all things that would impede the free action of the mind in connection with developing our hope – Romans 12:2

b. We must put out of the mind such things like worry, fear, or obsession with material possessions – Proverbs 23:7

3. In other words, remove anything and everything that is not conducive to having a strong hope in the coming of our Lord – Philippians 4:8

a. Such as carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life – Luke 21:34-35

b. Such things as these choke us and hinder our ability to bear fruit (Such as the fruit of a strong hope) – Luke 8:14

B. BE SOBER

1. The word sober means to be calm and collected in spirit

2. It is that state of mind in which the individual is self- controlled, able to see things without the distortion caused by worry or fear

3. To fortify the focus of our hope requires a CALM and SERIOUS attention to the task at hand – Luke 21:36

4. We cannot cultivate and fortify a strong hope if we are so weak-minded that we allow things to divert us away from our true calling!

Conclusion

1. And what is our calling? To travel this life as pilgrims, but with a hope that is resting fully upon the grace we will receive when Christ comes again!

2. The problem with many Christians today is NOT that they have no hope

a. But that their hope is weak and shallow

b. And that is because they are preoccupied with the affairs of this temporary life

3. To remain faithful to the Lord, we need to heed Peter’s exhortation to fortify the focus of our hope by:

a. Freeing our minds of those things which would hinder us

b. Being more serious about the kind of lives our Heavenly Father would have us live – Luke 12:35-40

4. Our next lesson will elaborate upon how God would have us live; but for now, are we living for God at all?