An Encouraging Message for God's Children (1 Peter 1:3-4)
Introduction:
1. In these verses Peter praised God for blessing His people. a. One blessing is revealed in vs.3 -- Through His mercy, God has begotten His people unto a living hope by His Son's resurrection. b. Vs.4 reveals another blessing -- God has blessed His people with an incorruptible, undefiled, and everlasting inheritance reserved in heaven. c. These are excellent reasons for offering praise to God. 2. Peter continued in vs.5 by showing how God will keep His people by His power until Jesus returns. 3. These verses contain "an encouraging message for God's children." 4. The first point we need to make is that . . . Introduction: I. JESUS PAID A HIGH PRICE SO WE CAN BECOME GOD'S CHILDREN AND RECEIVE THESE BLESSINGS (1 Peter 1:18-21)
A. The price paid for our redemption is revealed in vs.18-19. 1. We have not been redeemed with corruptible things such as silver and gold. 2. We have been redeemed with the Lord's precious blood (Ephesians 1:7). a. Jesus shed His blood when He was crucified (John 19:33-35). b. The Lord's blood was the price He paid so we can have "the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:27-28). c. The Lord's blood provides continual cleansing for His followers as we walk in the light and confess our sins (1 John 1:7, 9). B. Additional details about God's plan for our redemption are revealed in vs.20-21. 1. God's plan was made before the world was created (Ephesians 3:8-11). 2. God's plan involved Christ being raised from the dead. 3. God's plan should lead us to have faith and hope in Him. C. This brings us to our next point. II. WE GAIN ACCESS TO THESE BLESSINGS WHEN WE ARE BEGOTTEN OF GOD (1 Peter 1:22-25)
A. Jesus commanded the new birth in John 3:3, 5. B. This new birth is not a physical birth from corruptible seed. C. It is a spiritual rebirth from the incorruptible and everlasting Word of God that we experience when we are baptized (1 Peter 3:21). D. Those who are born again have an important responsibility to "love one another with a pure heart fervently." E. Those who are born again look forward to receiving an incorruptible, undefiled, and everlasting inheritance in heaven. III. FINALLY, GOD WILL KEEP HIS PEOPLE BY HIS POWER UNTIL JESUS RETURNS (1 Peter 1:13-17)
A. God has provided helpful instructions designed to keep us faithful. B. Let us: 1. gird up the loins of our minds 2. be sober 3. hope to the end for the grace that Christ will provide when He returns 4. conduct ourselves as obedient children, avoiding old ways 5. be holy in all manner of conversation (2 Peter 1:10-11). Conclusion:
1. Peter wrote his letter to Christians who were facing great trials (1 Peter 1:6). 2. Let us appreciate and give heed to his encouraging message (1 Peter 1:7-9).
