Living Hope 1 Peter 1: 3-5 & 13-15

1 Peter 1:1-3 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By 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, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Introduction “We are full of hope throughout our whole life” (Plato) – Hope enables human development because it imagines a different future – But hope can often fail us, when it is simply based on our expectations or fears – Hopelessness leads to despair, depression, apathy and an unhealthy focus on pleasures in the present Unlike secular hope that often fails us, Christian hope is living hope, for three reasons…

1. Because our hope is established in Christ (1:3) Christian hope is not based on futile things, nor does it depend on our attitude OT: Hope depends on the object upon which it is set – “The Lord is my hope!” (e.g. Ps. 71:5; 146:5) Peter: Jesus’ resurrection is God’s promise for all creation – By raising Jesus, God guaranteed and ‘enacted’ His promise – Our future is already decided in the resurrection of Christ Our hope arises from faith in God’s enduring promise (1:25) and from our experience of eternal life in the present

2. Because God keeps safe what we hope for (1:4) Peter describes Christian hope as an inheritance – In NT times, it is a legal claim the heir has on property while the parents are still alive – The content of our hope is already destined for us Unlike Israel’s inheritance of land (Deut. 15:4) our inheritance is… – Imperishable: untouched by death – Pure: unstained by evil – Unfading: unimpaired by time The content of hope is our inheritance/salvation (v. 5) = life with God under His rule of order, peace, security, justice and abundance

3. Because God keeps safe us who are hoping (1:5) Peter addresses the suffering of the believers ‘in exile’ – In view of their persecution and hardship, Peter assures them they are kept safe by God – Φρουρέω - They are like a fort, garrisoned by God’s protective care At the same time, their faith is shielding them too – God’s power does not work magically or automatically

Living hope transforms us (1:13-15) 13 Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. 14 Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. 15 Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct

Living hope transforms us (1:13-15) Conduct conforms to passions and desires – V. 14: Formerly we were ignorant of Jesus’ death and resurrection  desires  conduct 1.Hope empowers holy love by pushing out greed and self-pity 2.Hope empowers holy love as we imitate the One we desire for 3.Hope empowers holy love as we ‘dance to the music of the future’ in the present “Christian hope calls for an obedient human response: those who believe God’s promise live in the present in ways that are oriented to God’s future fulfillment of these promises.” (Moltmann)

Conclusion Our hope will not fail us, because… – It is founded on Jesus – God keeps what we hope for – God keeps us who are hoping Our hope is living, because it has the power to transform us in the present