Today on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. Peter shines this brilliant light, a living hope. Yes, the authentic Christian has a magnificent and glorious hope. Which is independent of our present circumstances. I want you to get that.
Our hope is greater than our trials. We are people of hope. We are people of a living hope. Welcome to The Verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe. In a world where everything is uncertain and even the best of things eventually end or become corrupted.
There is something extraordinary offered to followers of Christ. A living hope, which guarantees a future that is perfect, permanent, and protected by God Himself.
Now, here's Pastor John Monroe with part two of his message on our living hope. In spite of all of the advances in our world, many people have no hope. Trying to escape, they may turn to self-destructive attitudes and behaviors. The Christian life is totally different. Followers of Jesus Christ believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
The promise of the gospel is that if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you will receive eternal life. This magnificent and glorious hope is independent of present circumstances and applies no matter what we're facing. I trust you have experienced this mercy of God, His grace. is forgiveness of sins, which leads to a radical transformation. Listen.
As we continue to think of this living hope which begins now. First Peter one Verses three, four and five.
So read it with me and read it thoughtfully. Blessed be the God and Father. Of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He's caused us to be born again. to a living hope.
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. to an inheritance that is imperishable. Undefiled. and unfading. Kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Amen.
Well, the Apostle Paul writes of faith. The Apostle John writes of love. Peter writes of hope, as we just read. Hope for suffering saints.
Now let's reflect on this Christian hope, the hope of the gospel, this living hope. First of all, our living hope has a beginning, Peter is telling us, and our living hope begins not with some psychological trickery, but with our new birth. We are born again. Notice verse 3. 1 Peter 1.
Verse 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According To his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Our new hope begins with being born Again. Because we're spiritually dead in our trespasses and sins.
By ourselves, we're away from God. We are not following God. We're living for ourselves. Spiritually speaking, we're dead. What does a per a dead person need?
New life.
So it begins this living hope with being born again. But their new birth is, again verse 3, it's according to his God the Father's great Mercy. We're totally dependent. upon his mercy. That's why humility is key in the Christian faith.
Furthermore, It's clear that this new birth flows from the resurrection of Jesus. Again, verse 3, according to the great mercy He has caused us God does it, not you. He's caused us to be born again to a living hope. How does this come about? Through the resurrection.
Of Jesus Christ from the dead. Our living hope is grounded in and guaranteed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If our Lord Jesus did not rise from the dead, we have no hope. This hope that we've been singing about, this hope which we believe about, this hope which is so wonderful. comes through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
We have a living hope. which will never die. We have a living hope which will never end. Why? Because Jesus says, I am the resurrection and the life.
He who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. That is our living hope. Isn't wishful thinking? Stop playing a trick on ourselves.
It is based on the historical reality of the resurrection from Jesus Christ from the dead. No, this is not wishful thinking. This is not hoping that we're good enough, that we've done enough to get into heaven. No, this hope, this living hope, is a sure and certain assurance of eternal life. That's why Peter calls it a living hope, not wishful thinking, not a dead hope.
Not a stale hope, but a living, dynamic, and growing hope. Why? It is united to the promises of the living God.
So I ask you. Have you been born again? This living hope. Has a beginning. and it begins with the new birth.
It begins by claiming the promises of God. That whoever believes in the Son has life. Whoever does not believe in the Son. shall not see. Life.
So this living hope first begins With the new birth. But this living hope is a future, obviously. Verse 4, a perfect. Inheritance.
So read with me in verse four. For the sake of connection, let me read again verse 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to his great mercy, he's caused us to be born again to or into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to or into an inheritance. That is imperishable.
Undefiled. and unfading. kept in heaven for you. Isn't that magnificent? that the object of our hope is a future inheritance.
Our salvation Our hope Our spiritual inheritance are gifts. which we do not deserve and which we do not work for. Peter is told this is all according to God's grace. Mercy, you do not deserve, I don't deserve this future inheritance. Isn't that wonderful?
That when God in His grace saves us, Not only does he wipe out all of her sins so that they're remembered no more, He gives us There's a living hope of a future inheritance. And says Peter, it is kept in heaven. For you. Why? Peter's going to tell us later in the chapter, it's been purchased by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He loves me. He died for me. In His grace I've been born again. He's giving me eternal life. And we have this wonderful hope, which is based on the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, based on the reality that God always keeps his promises and that it is kept not by me, but is kept by God in me.
Heaven. And this future inheritance, Peter takes a little time to describe it. Is it Perfect. inheritance. Notice what he says first.
to an inheritance that is imperishable. Imperial. Earthly inheritance sometimes decreases in value. They Perish, property deteriorates, stock values decline, heirlooms are. Lost.
I remember when I was practicing law, one of our clients was inherited from his great uncle. An island, a small island in Scotland, with a castle on it. That's very exciting, isn't it? You would be excited. I would be very excited.
And there was how many people on the island? That would make me even more excited. And so there I go. But the problem was when he actually saw it It was in a state of tremendous disrepair. Once it had been a beautiful castle.
But it had been neglected because his great uncle hadn't lived in it, had been living in England. But in his will, he bequeathed it to his great-nephew, and his nephew comes to claim the inheritance, and it has perished. He did some repairs a couple of times, invited Gutney and me for dinner there. And I thought, you know, this is a great location, but it's a really lousy place to live in. It had perished.
Our inheritance Says Peter is him. perishable. Secondly, he says it is undefiled. Earthly inheritance sometimes can be defiled. Money left to someone in inheritance may be made by corrupt means.
May I have Someone may have made money because of illegal practices and the inheritance is defiled. No, this inheritance in heaven, which is reserved for you, is free from moral pollution. It's unstained by evil. It's not subject to corruption. Third, says Peter, it is unstained.
Feeding. Oh, I like that, don't you? Earthly inheritance often fade, don't they? The age Something which Once was very desirable.
Now it's faded, it's worthless. By the time it's inherited, it's not worth anything at all. But our inheritance This inheritance, which is kept for us in heaven, is unfading. in its timeless, eternal Beauty. One commentator writes: He says, This inheritance is untouched.
By death. unstained by evil. unimpaired. By time. Do you get that?
Untouched by death. Unstained by evil. Unimpaired by time. This is our glorious living hope, our future inheritance, our perfect future inheritance, reserved. in heaven.
to prepare a place for For you. And when I come, says Jesus, I will receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also. This is our glorious living hope, brother and sister. Uh perfect. Future.
Inheritance is reserved in heaven. As I say, what an encouragement that must have been to exiles who are battered by the culture, who are isolated, who may be driven from their homes, lose their jobs. What an encouragement to them. We sang in that song Ancient gates that we're going to a place where Every tier. is wiped away.
And we will know No.
Sorrow. Christian friend, there's nothing to fear in death. Don't fear death. I know you think well. Going from time to eternity might be difficult, and I realize.
Sometimes it is.
Sometimes people are ill for a long time.
Sometimes we die suddenly. Of course, we're all praying that the Lord will come and take us all to be with Him without going through death. but do not fear death. In God's grace, That living hope which was begun by the new birth. Is a future inheritance and it is perfect.
And notice what he says now thirdly. While our living hope has a past the new birth, While we look forward to a future inheritance, what about the present? Verse five. Hmm. This is incredible, isn't it?
Who by God's power are being guarded Through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Let me read the three verses again for the power of the statement. Verse three. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to his great mercy, he's caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection from the dead to an inheritance that is imperishable.
Undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Not bad for a fisherman from Galilee. What a statement. Bye, Peter. Apostle riding under the inspiration of the The Holy Spirit.
To elect exiles of the dispersion and so on. A living hope. As a present. Guard it. By the power of God.
We As we live our lives, are presently guarded By the power of God. Our inheritance is not only kept in heaven for us, that's future. We are presently protected. By the power of God. We are shielded by the power of God.
As we live our lives, God has a shield round us, a protection around us. And this power which raised Jesus Christ from the dead is the same power which keeps us safe. This word guarded. Verse 5: Who by God's power are being guarded through faith is a military term. The picture is of soldiers guarding.
protecting the garrison. We are being guarded, not by soldiers. We are being guarded by God's power. Is it why do we need that? That there are evil forces out there, aren't there?
forces which try to destroy marriages. forces which try to destroy homes. Forces which try to have children as they grow up to rebel against their parents. We live in a world which increasingly is anti-Christian. anti the word of god And so we understand, we are to understand.
That there are forces, spiritual forces, out there trying to destroy us. trying to take our inheritance, trying to rob us of our living hope. trying to get us to be depressed and discouraged. and to deny our faith. But we bless.
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. who is guarding us. in the middle of hostile territory. God is holding you. God is protecting you through faith.
Trust them. This is the power, I say, which raised Jesus Christ from the dead. What an incredible security system! Unbreakable as it is guarded by God Himself. Left to ourselves, all of us would fall away.
I think we know that. We're weak. We're inconsistent. There's temptations, there's discouragements, there's difficulties in life, and we may think, How did this happen as I try to follow Jesus Christ? This is so unfair, and we.
may fall away. But if blood is for us, Who can stand against us? We're guarded by God's power. This is a living hope of our so great salvation. And we are to remind ourselves of this because this is.
Entered into through faith. I am to remind myself in times of difficulty. In times of hostility, in times of temptation. And times When God acts in ways I don't understand, I'm to remind myself that I have this future inheritance and I am presently being guarded by the power of God. I am to afresh trust God.
He will not let me go. There is no force in the whole universe which can separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus my Lord. Yes, I may be battered by the world. But no one and nothing can take away this living hope. This inheritance, all of the forces of hell.
All of the demons against us. All of these forces Wicked forces. That Paul talks about in Ephesians 6. Even if they were all to come against us, We withstand. Why?
Because of the protection of the power of God. Those who are truly born again will never ever be lost. Your inheritance in heaven is totally secure, not because we're good people, not because we come to church, not because I'm a pastor, but entirely through God's great mercy revealed in Jesus Christ, and that I am kept by that magnificent power. Think of the security that must have given to these believers. Think of the power of Rome.
Think of his army. The mighty power of Rome, the power of the emperor. But Peter is reminding them: listen, you've got this future inheritance. And Who, by God's power Are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. The last time is about to come, and that wonderful day will come in that full revelation and power and magnificent, glorious manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Is our living Hope. Barely Christians use the symbol of the dove. The symbol of the fish. and the symbol of the anchor. They have symbolized the Holy Spirit.
The leaders of the Of the Greek word for fish, ichthus, spells out Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior. The dove the fish, but also the anchor. The anchor assures the Christians. and assures us that when going through difficult times, and stormy waters. This living hope in Jesus Christ anchors our souls.
The old hymn says, We have an anchor. which keeps the soul Steadfast and sure while the billows roll. fastened to the rock which cannot move, grounded firm and deep. In our Saviour's love. That's it.
The anchor of our soul, this living faith. This living faith rejoices our hearts. as we consider our past salvation. This living hope stabilizes and strengthens us in the present. This living hope.
inspires us for the future and is all according. Please remember, all according. to God's great Mersey. What's your response? Yeah.
Have you been born again? If not, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. And you'll be saved. If you're a follower of Jesus Christ, rejoice. That we have this future inheritance which is imperishable, which is undefiled, which is unfading, which is kept in heaven for us.
This. is our living hope. which transforms the past. The present and the future, all. according to God's great mercy.
We vow in prayer. And if you are I've never yet been born again, cry out. to the Lord. Because the one who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, will you rejoice in this future inheritance?
Rejoice that you're kept. By God's power. and live a life Not of despondency, not of despair, not of self-pity. But a life of strength. Demonstrating the security we have in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through the great mercy. of our father. and his son. Jesus Christ. Our God and our Father, we humble ourselves before you.
Thank you for this magnificent passage of Scripture. Give us understanding through your Spirit, may it transform our lives.
Some here are Discouraged.
Some here have gone through very difficult circumstances. Work in their hearts, Father. Bring them comfort. May we look up to this wonderful future inheritance. And it's kept.
It's reserved in heaven for us. Thank you. for your great mercy. And may we by our lives demonstrate that all that we are and have. is because of your Great mercy.
We pray. In Christ's name, amen. This is the verdict with Pastor John Monroe and the conclusion of his message titled Our Living Hope. But stay with us, because John will be right back with closing remarks. In today's lesson, John reminded us of the security we have in Christ, an inheritance that will never perish, spoil, or fade.
and when we live with that eternal promise in mind, our entire perspective is changed. and to help you continue to develop that eternal perspective. we're offering John's special resource titled, For the Time is Near. This helpful booklet examines what Scripture teaches about the future and how our living hope in Christ transforms our daily perspective. It addresses common questions while providing practical encouragement for today.
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Now, here's Pastor John Monroe with closing remarks.
Well, what's your verdict? Just think of the future we have as followers of Jesus Christ. For all of eternity, we will be with the Lord. There is no force in the entire universe which can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So experience this hope. And whatever your circumstances are, rejoice that this hope. Points us to the perfect and eternal inheritance which lies ahead.
Next time, we'll continue in 1 Peter and think of the very practical and the very important subject of holiness. Thanks for joining us today on The Verdict. I'm Michelle Davies. Today's program with Pastor John Monroe was produced and sponsored by Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
