Introduction
If you are a Christian, why did you first decide to be baptized?For many, this starts with a fear of hell but then turns to the reward of heaven with maturity.Peter gives the incentive for obedience as hope. I Peter 1:3-21Hope should produce gratitude in us.
I Peter 1:3Compare Ephesians 1:3.God should be blessed! Do we do this?God has acted according to His great mercy.God has caused us to be born again. We are His children because of what He did (see John 1:9-13). God chose me to be His son.I Peter 1:4We have an inheritance because of a family relationship we have with God. Our inheritance will never age or tarnish.I Peter 1:5See I Peter 3:12. God listens to us! God keeps us. The only thing that will separate us from God is us.Hope should make us the most contented people in the world.
I Peter 1:6We should be rejoicing!We need to be thinking about where we are going every day.Difficulties in life make us selfish because we focus only on the problem.Rejoicing in the Lord is remembering that no matter how bad it gets, I’m going to heaven to be with God.I Peter 1:7Difficulty should remind us of the folly of this world and of the glory of heaven to come.“Hasten the day” should be our motto!Hope should prompt holiness in us.
I Peter 1:13We can’t be unintentional Christians. Everyday we must remind ourselves of these things. We must avoid things that intoxicate us, whatever that may be (money, job, sports, etc.).Our hope should rest fully on going to be with God.I Peter 1:14 – Be holy!
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