Living Hope in the Midst of Trials

• Historical Context of 1 Peter [00:35:31 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor outlines Peter's background, his potential conflict with Paul in Antioch, his disappearance from the narrative, and his ministry to the 'elect exiles' in Asia Minor during the Neronian persecution.
• Doctrine of Election and Foreknowledge [00:37:46 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains that Peter places the doctrine of election at the very beginning of his letter to reassure persecuted believers that they are chosen by God's love and foreknowledge, not just philosophical predestination.
• The Nature of Christian Blessing [00:39:55 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts the American celebration of July 4th with the deeper, spiritual blessing of Christians, defined by being born again through God's mercy into a living hope.
• Regeneration (Born Again) [00:42:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor clarifies the theological meaning of being 'born again' as a sovereign act of the Holy Spirit bringing one from darkness to light, rather than just a cultural or evangelical term.
• Regeneration and the New Birth [00:42:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor defines being 'born again' not as a human decision but as a sovereign act of God's mercy, correcting the cultural misconception that it is merely a 20th-century evangelical slogan.
• The Resurrection as the Template for Hope [00:45:18 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the historical resurrection of Jesus and Peter's restoration to illustrate that Christian hope is 'living' and guaranteed by Christ's victory over death.
• The Indestructible Inheritance [00:49:07 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains the Roman legal concept of inheritance to describe the believer's future glory as imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, guarded by God's power.
• The Purpose of Trials [00:55:45 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that trials are necessary, multi-colored, and used by God to purify faith like gold in a furnace, producing patience, character, and enduring joy.
• Endurance and Character [01:00:56 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor links patience and endurance to the development of character and hope, citing Romans 5 and 2 Corinthians 4 to argue that present afflictions achieve an eternal weight of glory.
• The 'Now and Not Yet' Tension [01:03:27 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains the theological tension between being saved now (sins washed away) and not yet being fully in glory (having not passed through the river or entered the pearly gates).
• Trials as Divine Discipline [01:01:33 ▶️ 📄]
  > Using the analogy of George Whitefield's 'burrs' in the bed, the pastor describes trials as God's method to keep believers watchful, awake, and aware of their status as sons and inheritors.
• Ultimate Salvation and Joy [01:05:27 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts the temporary nature of earthly troubles with the permanent 'salvation of your souls,' urging believers to keep their eyes on Jesus to see earthly things grow dim in comparison to His glory.

• Sermon Illustration [00:40:15 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about having to put his dog to sleep with strong medication because she became distressed by the noise of July 4th fireworks, contrasting her experience with the 'blessed' nature of the day.
• Sermon Illustration [00:41:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts the story of an elder in the church who, despite facing significant personal difficulties, medical issues, and family problems, would consistently respond to inquiries about his well-being by saying, 'I'm blessed.'
• Sermon Illustration [00:41:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares an anecdote about a deceased church elder who, despite facing significant medical and family difficulties, consistently responded to inquiries about his well-being with the word 'blessed.'
• Sermon Illustration [00:46:00 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor describes the emotional pain of Peter's first meeting with the resurrected Jesus, noting that Peter had denied Christ three times and that this private encounter is tucked away in 1 Corinthians 15.
• Sermon Illustration [00:46:48 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references the story of Peter fishing all night and catching nothing before Jesus instructed him to let down his nets, resulting in a great catch and a shore-side encounter with Jesus.
• Sermon Illustration [00:54:21 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts the moment Peter denied Jesus, citing Mark's gospel (described as Peter's diary) which notes that Jesus looked at Peter from the other side of the fire, providing a 'glorious assurance.'
• Sermon Illustration [01:01:33 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor quotes George Whitefield, who compared God putting 'burrs' (prickly things) in our beds to keep us watchful and awake, illustrating how troubles serve as a wake-up call.
• Sermon Illustration [01:01:33 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts George Whitefield's analogy that God places 'burrs' (prickly things) in our beds to keep us watchful and awake, illustrating how troubles serve as a prospect of what is to come.
• Sermon Illustration [01:04:21 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses an analogy comparing the American Revolution to the Christian life: just as the Revolution brought blessings but did not solve all of America's problems, being born again brings blessings but does not remove all trouble or trials.

• Pastoral Charge [00:47:55 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor invites the congregation to verbally bless God, worship Him, and surrender their total self, affections, mind, will, and future to Him.
• Pastoral Charge [01:00:12 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor commands the congregation to actively use their trials for spiritual growth and to prepare themselves to disciple others.
• Pastoral Charge [01:06:31 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor commands non-believers to immediately call on the Holy Spirit, ask the Lord for salvation, and seek the joy of Christian faith.

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:00:00] those freedoms and protect us so I would just ask if you have served in the military would you please stand so that we can honor you thank you for your service we are grateful for the blessings but also aware that we are but strangers and pilgrims here that ultimately we look for a city whose
[00:00:40] just as those before us did. So, we're going to read this morning from Psalm 46.
[00:00:47] Psalm 46. Let's stand together as we read. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change, and though the mountains shake into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its
[00:01:16] lofty pride. Selah. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling places of the Most High. God is in the midst of her. She will not be shaken. God will help her
[00:01:34] when morning dawns. The nations roar, the kingdoms shake. He gives his voice, the earth melts. Yahweh of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our stronghold, Selah. Come behold the works of Yahweh
[00:01:53] who has appointed desolations in the earth. He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth.
[00:02:00] He breaks the bow and cuts up the spear. He burns the chariots with fire. Cease striving and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. Yahweh of hosts
[00:02:19] is with us. The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. Let's bow in prayer. Father, as we come before you this morning we come as your children recognizing that there is a city whose maker and
[00:02:37] builder is you the father we look for that we long for that for our refuge and our hope is not in the nations of this world but our refuge lies in you our safety our protection is with you so father
[00:02:55] we come this morning thankful and grateful for all that we have as residents of this country we're thankful for those who have gone before us who have upheld righteousness who have proclaimed your word who have sought to govern by your principles and to uphold your holiness and we
[00:03:15] come before you praying for those in authority that first of all they would see the light of the gospel, that, Father, they would know you and walk with you. We ask, Father, that those who are
[00:03:27] in authority would make decisions that are righteous, that are just, that conform to your will. We ask, Father, that you would have mercy upon us, for our wickedness is great, and we are a sinful people, and we stand in need of your forgiveness, of your cleansing. Teach us, Father,
[00:03:47] to walk in your way. Teach us, Father, to obey your commands. Teach us, Father, to do your will that it would be done on earth as it is in heaven. So, Father, we cry out to you that you would
[00:04:01] shed your grace upon this land, that, Father, you would hear the prayers of people who seek to glorify you and seek to live in righteousness and seek to uphold your kingdom, and that, Father, you would send us revival, that your spirit would work among us, that, Father, we would be
[00:04:21] sensitive to the things of God, that, Father, we would walk in your spirit, that, Father, your word would be spread abroad, that, Father, your word would be obeyed, that your commands that you have given us through Christ, that we would seek to walk in those and to obey those. And, Father, we are
[00:04:39] grateful that we live in a place where we can proclaim your word, that we live in a place where we can obey your word so father help us to do so with the zeal and the passion that you give us
[00:04:52] and we ask this all in our savior's precious name amen and if you would take your hymnal and turn to number 656 as we have read from psalm 46 we will sing martin luther's paraphrase a mighty

[00:05:10] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:05:10] Fortress is our God. Singing together now. A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing.
[00:05:35] Our helper he amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe His grand arm could that assail Please turn and greet one another in the love of Christ

[00:09:15] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:09:15] Your bulletin has an insert with questions number 69 and 70 from the Heidelberg Catechism.
[00:10:28] I'll read the questions and ask you to respond with the answers.
[00:10:33] How does baptism remind and assure you that Christ's one sacrifice on the cross benefits you personally?
[00:10:41] In this way, Christ instituted this outward washing, and with it promised that as early as water washes away the dirt from the body, so does my blood, spirit, wash away my soul's impurity, that is, all my sins.
[00:11:04] What does it mean to be washed with Christ's blood and spirit?
[00:11:08] To be washed with Christ's blood means that God, by grace, has forgiven our sins.
[00:11:16] Because of Christ's blood poured out for us in his sacrifice on the cross, to be washed with Christ's spirit means that the Holy Spirit has renewed and sanctified us to be members of Christ, so that more and more we become dead to sin and live holy and blameless lives.
[00:11:40] Thank you.

[00:11:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:11:51] God is good.
[00:11:52] And all the time.
[00:11:54] Amen.
[00:11:55] Well, welcome to the King's Chapel.
[00:11:56] My name is Kenny Jones, and I serve as one of the associate pastors here at the church.
[00:12:00] And we are so glad that you're here worshiping with us on this beautiful Lord's Day.
[00:12:05] If you are a guest with us here at the King's Chapel, welcome.
[00:12:08] On the behalf of the elders and the pastoral staff and the ministry team here, I just want to welcome you here to the church.
[00:12:15] And in the pew before you, you should see a blue and white Connect card.
[00:12:19] And I would encourage you, if you would, just take a few moments and fill it out and then drop it in the offering plate so it should be passed around here in just a few moments.
[00:12:27] We count it a great honor to be able to get to know you, check out your… Hold on.
[00:12:35] I totally butchered that.
[00:12:38] Years of doing this, I can't even tell a guest how to connect with the church.
[00:12:43] So let me say it again.
[00:12:45] If you fill out that offering basket, Phil will give you an iPad.
[00:12:53] Just kidding.
[00:12:55] But we would love the opportunity to get to know you.
[00:12:57] So if you would drop in an offering basket, which will be passed around here in just a few moments.
[00:13:02] Well, if you will take open your bulletin for just a moment, and let's check out the events and the ministries that we have going on here in the life of our church.
[00:13:10] I would like to call out just one thing for your attention.
[00:13:13] We are now in the month of July, which means we have started our summer schedule.
[00:13:17] And so just as a reminder, we will continue to have worship at 1030.
[00:13:20] We don't have any life groups or summer classes that are starting off in the month of July, though I'll get to that here in just a few moments.
[00:13:29] And we also have no children's worship class.
[00:13:31] We'll continue to have child care for birth through four-year-olds, but no children's worship class through the month of July.
[00:13:39] And that starts this Sunday.
[00:13:41] but as you can see right there in the highlights section in the bulletin we have a senior adult luncheon this thursday at 11 30 a.m in the fellowship hall it's not too late to register
[00:13:51] so please go online or you can call the church office and we'd be happy to register for that on this thursday july 9th at 11 30 also women of the church it's not too late to sign up for women
[00:14:04] living well which is one-on-one discipleship and you can find out more information on our website and as well as to register for Women Living Well sign-ups, which will start back this fall.
[00:14:13] And just as a reminder, we are going to have Joe Knott and as well as Sam Bailey's class starting back their Bible study on Sunday mornings in the month of July.
[00:14:22] But just note, though, there is no child care class or life group class for the little ones on those Sundays, starting back next Sunday, July 12th.
[00:14:31] But as you can see, we've got a lot going on here in Life for Our Church, and even though it's summer, we ask that you continue to pray and to partner with us and as well as attend our multiple ministry events and plans that we have going on here in the King's Chapel.
[00:14:44] I'm going to ask now if our ushers will come forward to receive our tithes and offerings.
[00:14:48] And as they are coming forward, let's go to the Lord in prayer and ask him to bless our time this morning.
[00:14:55] Father, we are so grateful of your grace you've given to us this morning.
[00:15:00] Lord, it is by your mercy and your grace that we are even alive and here this morning on this Lord's Day.
[00:15:07] And Father, we thank you as Pastor Phil prayed, Lord, thank you for the 250 years that you've granted this country to be in existence. And it is by your grace alone, Lord, that we are able
[00:15:19] to celebrate and rejoice, Lord, at your providence that we see all throughout this land and these United States. Father, I do pray that you will, in this hour of worship, I ask, Lord, that your
[00:15:32] Holy Spirit will move in this place, move in our hearts and our minds, convicting us to sin, encouraging us to walk, Lord, in your righteousness and transforming us by your grace in the image of
[00:15:43] your Son. Lord, I pray for Dr. Thomas. Lord, I pray that your Spirit will move through him as he preaches, Lord, and allow the text, Lord, to sanctify us, Lord, because it is your truth. Father, I do pray
[00:15:55] for that man or woman or child, Lord, that is in this room or watching online that doesn't know you as Lord and Savior. I pray, Father, that you will bring them to saving faith today. Father,
[00:16:09] may everything we do in this hour of worship bring you glory, and may your name be magnified.
[00:16:15] Lord, we love you, and we pray these things in the good name of Christ. Amen.

[00:16:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:16:19] Let's continue our singing to God with the hymn, Here is Love. You may remain seated.

[00:19:54] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:19:54] Here is love, vast as the ocean, loving kindness as the flood.
[00:20:18] When the prince of life, our ransom, shed for us his precious blood.
[00:20:28] Who his love will not remember Who can cease to sing his praise He can never be forgotten Throughout heaven's eternal days On the mount On the mount of crucifixion Fountains open deep and wide Through the floodgates of God's mercy
[00:21:12] Float a vast and gracious tide Grace and love like mighty rivers Poured incessant from above Heaven's peace and perfect justice Kissed a guilty world in love Let me all, let me all Your love accepting
[00:21:51] Love you ever all my days Let me seek your kingdom only And my life be to your praise You alone shall be my glory Nothing in the world I see You have cleansed and sanctified me
[00:22:23] You yourself have set me free In your truth you still direct me By your spirit through your word And your grace my need is meeting As I trust in you my Lord Of your fullness you are pouring
[00:22:58] Your great love and power on me Without measure, full and boundless Drawing out my heart to Thee Of Your fullness You are pouring Your great love and power on me without measure, full and boundless, drawing out my heart to Thee, drawing out, drawing out
[00:23:39] my heart to Thee. We want to take the time now to read from God's Word. If you would turn,

[00:23:58] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:23:58] we're going to use the ESV version of 2nd John. If you use the Pew Bible, it's page 1025, but you might encourage your children to look. I'm going to read, and I ask you to follow along
[00:24:11] as we read the book of 2 John together. Let's stand as we read God's word. 2 John, as my friend Alistair says, 2 John, the elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth. Because of the truth
[00:24:42] that abides in us and will be with us forever. Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son in truth and love. I rejoiced greatly to find some
[00:24:59] of your children walking in the truth just as we were commanded by the Father. And now I ask you, dear lady not as though I were writing you a new commandment but the one we have had from the
[00:25:13] beginning that we love one another and this is love that we walk according to his commandments this is the commandment just as you have heard from the beginning so that you should walk in it
[00:25:28] for many deceivers have gone out into the world those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves so that you
[00:25:43] may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the
[00:25:58] Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting. For whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
[00:26:14] Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face so that our joy may be complete. The children of your elect sister
[00:26:27] greet you father we come to your word seeking that you would imprint it upon our hearts by the work of your spirit that father we would obey this commandment to love one another to walk in the
[00:26:44] commands of the father and of our savior given to us in grace and truth so guide us as we seek to do this for your glory. In Jesus' name, amen. Let's sing together, speak, O Lord. Together,

[00:27:15] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:27:15] speak as we come to receive the food of your holy. Take your truth, plant it deep in us, Shape and fashion us in your likeness That the light of Christ might be seen today In our acts of love and our deeds of faith
[00:27:55] Oh Lord, and fulfill in us all your purposes For your glory Teach us, Lord Full obedience Holy reverence Test our thoughts And our attitudes In the radiance Of your purity Cause our faith to rise
[00:28:39] Cause our eyes to see Your majestic love and authority Words of power that can never fail Let their truth prevail O God, speak, O Lord, and renew our minds Help us grasp the heights of your plans for us
[00:29:18] The sun changed from the dawn of time That will echo down through eternity And by grace we'll stand on your promises And by faith we'll walk as you walk with us We call, Lord, till your church is built
[00:29:52] And the earth is filled with your glory You may be seated

[00:30:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:30:04] We are privileged this morning to have a guest speaker while Grant is away Dr. Derek Thomas is a friend He's also an author You may notice that several of his books are out in our bookstore
[00:30:18] He has been a pastor He has since retired from that He is a fellow teacher with Ligonier Ministries he is also an adjunct professor at the master's seminary where he is a colleague of mine but more
[00:30:32] than that he is an opera aficionado I would call him that some of you may know that I was a professional opera singer for many years and I think he probably knows more about what I did
[00:30:47] than I know so we have struck up a friendship over our common knowledge and love for beautiful music and I'm thrilled that he has driven here from South Carolina to preach this morning.
[00:31:00] So, Dr. Thomas, would you come?
[00:31:01] And would you give him a welcome, please?

[00:31:16] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:31:16] Well, thank you.
[00:31:18] Thank you, Phil.
[00:31:20] And yes, I was listening to...
[00:31:24] Do I need to put this on?
[00:31:27] We're good?
[00:31:28] Good.
[00:31:29] That's better.
[00:31:33] So, thank you, Phil, for that wonderful introduction.
[00:31:37] It's wonderful to be here.
[00:31:38] and I was listening to some opera on the way up, and I intend to do so on the way down today.
[00:31:48] And thank you also for including a Welsh tune this morning, and it made me feel quite at home.
[00:32:00] and as a recent naturalized citizen of these great United States. I've been a citizen now for 11 years, and I love being a citizen of the United States. Let me join in wishing you all a
[00:32:18] very, very happy 4th of July. I have to remind my British family that it is the 4th of July, and otherwise they might just forget. So, our passage this morning is in 1 Peter, 1 Peter chapter 1, and I'm going to read the first nine verses, including the introduction
[00:32:47] verses 1 and 2. Now, do you normally stand for the reading? Please stand. 1 Peter chapter 1, beginning at the first verse. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ to those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge
[00:33:23] of God the Father in the sanctification of the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with His blood. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
[00:33:43] 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, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for
[00:34:08] you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
[00:34:20] In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and
[00:34:48] honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
[00:34:52] Though you have not seen Him, you love Him.
[00:34:57] Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your soul.
[00:35:16] So far, God's holy and inerrant Word, and may He add His blessing to the reading of it.
[00:35:24] Please be seated.
[00:35:31] Now, let me just say a quick word about the introduction, the greeting.
[00:35:39] Peter is writing perhaps a year and a half, at most two years from the time of his crucifixion in Rome.
[00:35:52] He was crucified upside down at his request because he did not feel worthy to be crucified in the manner of his Savior.
[00:36:05] After the spat with the Apostle Paul in the church in Antioch, you remember that Peter went and sat with his Jewish friends, thereby in Paul's eyes when the men of James appeared from Jerusalem, in Paul's eyes he had by de facto denied the doctrine of justification
[00:36:34] by faith adding some significance now to ceremonial food laws and obedience to those laws.
[00:36:42] And there was a showdown at the High Corral, as we might say, in the church at Antioch.
[00:36:50] And Peter more or less disappears for the next fifteen years or so.
[00:36:55] He appears in Jerusalem for the Jerusalem Council, but after that he kind of disappears.
[00:37:02] And here we see a little hint that Peter's ministry lay in these dispersion, these exiles of the dispersion, Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bithynia, in what we would now call north and west Turkey.
[00:37:22] And perhaps his ministry was here among these churches quietly, not the ministry that we read of in the first twelve chapters of the Acts of the Apostles, where he is center stage.
[00:37:36] But then he is outstaged, I think, by the appearance of Saul, and he's writing to these elect exiles.
[00:37:46] Interesting, isn't it, that Peter has no qualms in the opening verse of using the doctrine of election.
[00:37:54] I mean, he could have waited until the end, he could have hidden it somewhere in the middle of chapter 3, but now it's right up close and personal in verse 1.
[00:38:05] These exiles, they are exiles because of persecution, the same persecution that will kill both Peter and Paul, the Neronian persecution.
[00:38:20] Rome demanded the worship of Roman gods and public gods, and in particular, the worship of Caesar as God, and Christians, especially living in the cities, were of course unable to do that, and they fled, they became exiles, they went to the smaller towns where they
[00:38:38] were less likely to meet a garrison of Roman soldiers, and he's writing to them, they've lost everything.
[00:38:46] They've lost their homes, they've lost their jobs.
[00:38:50] Some of them feel as though they've lost their identities, but he wants them to know that are elect in the sight of God. God has chosen them. And He means that in a precious way. He
[00:39:02] means that in a loving way. Peter doesn't want to get all engrossed in all the philosophical problems of predestination, and he uses the word foreknowledge in verse 2. According to the foreknowledge of God, God had set His love upon them from before the foundation of the world,
[00:39:21] and therefore they were special. And he wants them to feel special. Notice how Peter uses the doctrine of the Trinity. He mentions the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, this Trinitarian faith into which they have been brought by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ that has
[00:39:41] cleansed them from all of their sin. And now in verses 3 to 9, he wants to say something to encourage them. This is a word of encouragement, and it begins in verse 3 with the word
[00:40:00] blessed. Of all people, Christians are blessed. Now, Americans are blessed, and we celebrated that yesterday. I had to put my dog to sleep with some very strong meds because she goes to pieces at the celebration of July 4th and fireworks and so on. So, she did not think of it as blessed,
[00:40:31] but it was a blessed day, and I trust you had a lot of fun and gave thanks to God for all the freedoms that we enjoy. But Christians know a blessing that's way beyond that,
[00:40:46] a blessing that touches not just now and not just the future. Wow, this pulpit moves. I need to… Okay. Have you ever had an accident where it's landed on the floor? I'm going to step back.
[00:41:05] Blessed. There was a man, an elder in the church who's gone to glory, and you'd ask him, how are you? And he'd say, I'm blessed. Actually, he was going through a lot of personal difficulties and a lot of medical issues and a lot of personal issues with his
[00:41:29] wife and family and so on, all the typical things that we go through in the later stages of our lives, but you ask Him how He was doing, and blessed, He would say. Blessed. Here,
[00:41:43] blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The source of this blessing is the great mercy of God. According to His great mercy,
[00:42:05] He has caused us to be born again to a living hope. This idea of being born again, it's not, as you might think in the 20th century, Billy Graham and so on, you must be born again. And
[00:42:26] Actually, it doesn't occur that often in the New Testament, and it doesn't appear to be a term that the Apostle Paul, for example, uses. John, you remember, records in John chapter 3, Jesus' encounter with Nicodemus, unless a man is born again. Actually, the translation might be born
[00:42:45] from above, not so much a second birth, but a sovereign birth. Unless you experience the divine sovereignty of the Holy Spirit, bringing you out of darkness and into light. You cannot see, you cannot enter the kingdom of God. He's talking about the doctrine of regeneration.
[00:43:09] Well, let me ask you, are you born again? Have you felt the Holy Spirit bringing you out of darkness and into light, taking away that great load and burden of sin and casting it upon the
[00:43:28] shoulders of our Lord Jesus Christ and giving you a new birth, a new energy, new life, new insight, new affections, a new heart. The cause of it, you see, is not just your decision. You make a
[00:43:45] decision. We're not robots. God doesn't work over our heads. He works through us. He engages us. He engages our minds and our wills and our affections, but the cause of it, according to His great
[00:43:58] mercy, He has caused us. He has caused us. God the Father has caused us to be born again.
[00:44:12] Even Arminians, you know, they acknowledge this. Deep down they acknowledge this.
[00:44:19] When you hear an Arminian pray who believes in total free will, absolute total free will, But then when they get down to pray, what do they say? Time out, Lord. I just want to thank myself.
[00:44:31] I just had a wonderful moment there. I've never heard that prayer. They thank God for their salvation because they know deep down that they in and of themselves cannot affect their salvation because they're dead in trespasses and in sins. And unless they experience the sovereign wind of
[00:44:51] the Holy Spirit, bringing them to new life in Jesus Christ, they will remain dead in trespasses and in sins. The ground, do you notice, of their great assurance of their rebirth is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. What does the new birth look like? It looks like
[00:45:18] resurrection. When Jesus, who was dead in the tomb, no pulse, no heartbeat, no brainwaves, for thirty-six hours from Friday afternoon until early Sunday morning, they put Him in a borrowed tomb because He only needed it for the weekend, and God brought Him to life, and Peter saw Him.
[00:45:52] Oh, we don't read much about it.
[00:45:57] It's tucked away in 1 Corinthians 15.
[00:46:00] Peter had let Jesus down.
[00:46:02] He had denied Him three times, and I think that first greeting of the resurrected Jesus with Peter must have been emotionally painful, and so Scripture doesn't record it.
[00:46:16] It just says, he appeared to Cephas.
[00:46:18] It was a private meeting.
[00:46:23] Peter was there in the upper room when Jesus appeared with the ten and then with the eleven when Thomas reappeared. He was there on the shores of the Sea of Galilee when he thought he would go back fishing because it was the only thing he now knew how to do, and God said no,
[00:46:48] and he caught nothing. He fished all night and caught nothing. And then this voice that says, let down your nets. This great catch of fish, and there on the shore was Jesus. He is the great
[00:47:13] guarantee that we have a living hope, do you see? Not a dead hope, not a hope-so hope, but a hope that is alive through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
[00:47:36] what an extraordinary thing. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, because He has caused us to be born again, and the template is the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
[00:47:55] Blessed be the God. Is that what you want to say this morning? Lord, I bless you. I worship you.
[00:48:04] I set you apart. I give you my total self. I give you my affections. I give you my mind and my will.
[00:48:12] and my future, because look at what you've done for me. You've given me a living hope.
[00:48:26] A lot of people have no hope. A lot of politicians have no hope. Their message is one of no hope, no future. In the culture wars that we live in, isn't it a wonderful thing to say I'm a Christian?
[00:48:43] But of all things, I know, I know that I've been born again. I know that I'm heading for glory.
[00:48:57] I have this living hope, this living assurance. Isn't it great to be able to say that this morning?
[00:49:07] The second thing in verse 4 is an indestructible inheritance, a living hope, an indestructible inheritance. You see, these folk, these exiles that Peter is writing to in north and west Turkey, they were despised. They had nothing in this world. They'd probably lost much of what they had,
[00:49:38] their homes, their employment, their earthly futures, separated perhaps from members of their families as they've been dispersed to an inheritance. It's a very Roman word. He's writing to the first century folk living in the Roman Empire, and it's writing in their
[00:50:09] language of Greek, and it's a very Roman word, inheritance, that sons inherited.
[00:50:21] Now, I know in 20…we want to say sons and daughters, but that doesn't…see, that doesn't make sense in the first century because daughters didn't inherit.
[00:50:31] That's why Paul talks about sonship, that we are sons.
[00:50:36] Yes, we are sons and daughters, but in the Roman sense, sons inherited.
[00:50:41] And Peter is saying, to an inheritance, well, it doesn't come across so well in the English, in the Greek, all three of these words begin with the first letter of the Greek alphabet, alpha, to an inheritance that is imperishable, it cannot decay from within, undefiled, it
[00:51:05] cannot be destroyed and stained from without, and unfading in the sense that it never loses its beauty and its capacity to delight.
[00:51:22] Is that how you think of your salvation this morning? Imperishable and undefiled and unfading. You have something that no one can take from you. Nothing can take it from you. Not even the devil himself can take this from you. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life,
[00:51:55] nor angels, nor powers, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor anything in all of God's creation can separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, kept in heaven for you, kept in heaven for you.
[00:52:29] Our ultimate prize, do you see, is not this world. Here we have no continuing city, but we seek one which is to come whose builder and maker is God. We're on the glory train, and the final stop is heaven. Actually, the final stop is the new heavens and the new earth in which
[00:52:57] righteousness will dwell. And notice in verse 5, he goes on to say, who by God's power are being guarded, that you're being guarded. It's a military word.
[00:53:16] God has set a garrison around you to protect you as you make your journey from the city of destruction to the new Jerusalem, that you're guarded and protected and garrisoned. You won't arrive in heaven and find that your inheritance has been stolen. He protects you now, and He
[00:53:48] will protect you forever. The powers of Almighty God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, the One who sent His Son into the world to die for us, the One who raised Him from the dead,
[00:54:08] He protects you. He guards you every step of the way. Peter, you see, had let the Savior down.
[00:54:21] Oh, it's incalculable the damage that Peter did, that he denied the Lord three times.
[00:54:31] And Mark tells us, and Mark's gospel is actually Peter's diary, that his notes.
[00:54:39] and Mark tells us that when he denied the Lord three times, the Lord from the other side was looking at him, that he made eye contact with him. What a glorious assurance. What did Newton say?
[00:55:00] Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God. He whose word cannot be broken, formed thee for His own abode on the rock of ages founded? What can shake thy sure repose with salvation's walls surrounded? Thou mayest smile at all thy foes, a living hope,
[00:55:31] an indestructible inheritance. And then in verses 6 through 9, a persistent joy.
[00:55:45] In this you rejoice. Now, Peter wants to be realistic. I think he can foresee his own end.
[00:55:59] I think he knew that he would be brought before Nero and that he would be killed, he would be crucified. I think he knew it. The gathering storm is all around. The chains are rattling. The cage doors are opening. And he has a realism, if necessary, you have been grieved by
[00:56:29] various trials. He is writing in all likelihood to people that he didn't necessarily know and certainly not know in an intimate way, but he knew this, that if they were Christians, there would be trials, there would be difficulties. He uses the word various trials,
[00:56:54] poikilos in Greek, meaning multi-colored, multi-variegated. There are all kinds of trials, psychological trials, imaginary trials, real trials, health trials, identity trials, the loss of loved ones, disease, all kinds of trials. In a room this size, there are all kinds
[00:57:29] of trials. You come here the day after the 4th of July, and you have your trials. A loved one who is sick, your health is in danger, a son, a daughter who's become a prodigal, all kinds of
[00:57:52] trials. You notice how he puts it, if necessary. These trials, you see, only occur if God deems them to be necessary. They're not whimsical. They're not happenstance. They don't just occur.
[00:58:17] are. There's something necessary about them. God, in His inscrutable wisdom, a wisdom that He may not disclose to us, do you see? Like Job, he never answered any of Job's questions. It wasn't necessary for Job to understand why. All that was necessary for Job was to know that God was
[00:58:44] in control, and that He trusted Him, that God had a purpose and a reason, and that He trusted Him.
[00:58:53] And what is the purpose of these trials? Trials have a purpose, that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that perishes though it be tested by fire. Your faith is precious, more precious than gold. What a wonderful thing it is to be a Christian, to have faith that God
[00:59:24] God puts it through the fire like impure gold.
[00:59:31] He puts it in the furnace so that the dross will rise to the surface and it can be scraped away so that what is left is pure.
[00:59:44] You must see your trials as effecting that, do you see?
[00:59:51] We can get angry at our trials.
[00:59:54] We can stop speaking to God.
[00:59:57] I've met people.
[00:59:59] have come into their lives, and they've just stopped talking to God. If you ask them, do you still believe? They would probably say yes, but they've just stopped talking to Him.
[01:00:12] But don't waste your trials. Use them. Let them use you. Let them employ you so that you come out on the other side purer, stronger, one who can disciple others who are passing through similar
[01:00:33] trials. It's the perspective of Scripture, isn't it, everywhere? In Romans 5, suffering produces patience and patience, endurance and endurance, character and character, hope that makes us not ashamed. It's Romans 8, I consider the present sufferings are not worthy to be compared with the
[01:00:56] glory that shall be revealed hereafter. It's 2 Corinthians 4, our light and momentary afflictions are achieving for us an eternal weight of glory that far exceeds them all.
[01:01:15] So we fix our eyes not on what we can see, but what we cannot see.
[01:01:22] It's Hebrews 12.
[01:01:24] It is the evidence that we're not illegitimate children, but sons and inheritors.
[01:01:33] George Whitefield, the great evangelist of the 18th century and ministered, of course, here in the Carolinas, and he says, God puts burrs, little prickly things that fall off bushes, God puts burrs in our bed to keep us watchful and awake.
[01:02:05] our troubles, you see, our birth pangs, and they are a prospect of what is to come. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice
[01:02:24] with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. You see through the trials, you see through the difficulties to the joy of what is to come. Well, my dear friend, Christianity is a religion of joy,
[01:02:54] exceeding joy, where you want to burst out with acclamation, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because what is the glorious end of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Oh, yes, we're saved now, but we're not yet
[01:03:27] fully saved. Yes, we have a salvation now that cannot be taken away, but there's a now and a not yet tension in the New Testament. Now are we the sons of God, but it doth not yet appear what we
[01:03:47] shall be, but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him even as He is. We've already obtained our salvation. Our sins are washed away, but we're not yet
[01:04:01] in glory. We haven't yet passed through the river. We haven't entered the pearly gates.
[01:04:09] We're not yet with the angels and archangels and the church triumphant.
[01:04:14] We're still in the battle. We're still in the warfare, but ultimate peace is coming.
[01:04:21] The Revolution brought about many great things, but it didn't solve all of America's problems, did it? You're living in cloud cuckoo land if you think that. You probably need therapy if you actually think that. It brought about many blessings. It's similar to the Christian life.
[01:04:55] Being born again brings many blessings, but we're not out of trouble. There are still various trials, poikolos, multicolored, multivariegated trials that we go through.
[01:05:12] But coming, coming is the salvation of your souls, the ultimate salvation of your souls.
[01:05:27] Keep your eye upon Jesus and look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. Well, may God bless His Word to us.
[01:05:46] May we sense something of the joy that Peter experienced, even though he knew that he was going to be crucified in a year, year and a half from writing this epistle.
[01:06:01] He could see it coming, I think, but he wanted to see beyond that to the glory that is the true end of every believer in Jesus Christ. My dear friend, do you know anything about this
[01:06:23] blessedness? Do you know anything about this hope? Do you know anything about this peace?
[01:06:31] If not, call upon the Holy Spirit to cause you to be born again and brought to a living faith in Jesus Christ. And do so. Do so now. Ask the Lord to save you, that you might know an end
[01:06:51] to the things of this world that can only bring despair and doubt, and that you may experience something of the joy of the certainties of the Christian faith. Father, we thank You for Your Word. Thank you that it's just a wonderful thing to be a Christian, to know you, our Heavenly
[01:07:18] Father, and your Son, Jesus Christ, to know the assurance of sins forgiven, to have this living hope, this persistent joy. And though we pass through many trials, to know that at the end there is the salvation of our souls as we trust you every step of the way. We ask it in Jesus'

[01:07:43] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[01:07:43] name. Amen. Let's sing together, Turn Your Eyes. Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
[01:08:08] Look full in His wonderful face And the things of earth will grow straight In the light of His glory And you'll turn your eyes to the hillside Where justice and mercy embrace There the Son of God gave His life for us
[01:08:54] And our measureless debt was erased Jesus, to You we lift our eyes Jesus, our glory and our praise We adore You, behold You Our Savior ever true O Jesus, we turn our eyes to you.
[01:09:42] Turn your eyes to the Lord.
[01:09:49] Be Christ the Lion awake.
[01:09:55] What a glorious dawn.
[01:09:58] Fear of death.
[01:10:00] We carry his life in our face.
[01:10:09] He's us to lift our eyes.
[01:10:13] Jesus, our glory and our praise.
[01:10:23] We adore you, behold you, our Savior ever.
[01:10:30] O Jesus, we turn our eyes to you.
[01:10:44] To the head, our King will return for his own.
[01:10:52] We'll bow, every tongue will shout.
[01:11:01] All glory to Jesus alone.
[01:11:06] Jesus, to you we lift our eyes Jesus, our glory and our pride We adore you, behold you, our Savior ever true Oh Jesus, we turn our eyes to you

[01:11:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[01:11:49] And if you would, let's stand together as we raise our hands and close with the doxology.

[01:12:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[01:12:03] Praise God from...
[01:12:06] To him who is able to keep you from stumbling

[01:12:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[01:12:50] and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, blameless with great joy.
[01:12:58] To the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, might, and authority before all time and now and forever.
[01:13:11] Amen.
[01:13:12] God bless you.
[01:13:13] You're dismissed.