Living Hope

Ist Peter 1: 3-9

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this mornings meditation is recorded in the first letter of Peter, chapter 1, verses 3 through 9, particularly these words: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” This is our text.

In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dear Christian friends. “Happy Easter!” Obviously a lot of people think that Easter is over, because Church attendance today is not what it was last Sunday when we packed the house. But you know, there is some wonderful news for us today in our text. Peter tells us through in our text, that Easter is never over. Because of Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead that first Easter morning — the season of Easter will last forever — into all eternity. Because Jesus Christ lives — you and I have “Living Hope” that will continue forever.

The first point that Peter makes in our text for today is that this living hope that we have, does NOT rest on anything that we ourselves have done. Peter tells us in our text. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Isn’t it great that the eternal and living hope of heaven that is ours, does not rest on our accomplishments or good works? Compared with others in this world, you and I might look like pretty devout and conscientious Christians. We attend church regularly, and a lot of people never go. We support the work of the church faithfully — but a lot of people give nothing to God’s work or to help other people. We try to live up to God’s expectations of us in his ten commandments — while many people disregard God completely and live as if God didn’t even exist.

So looking at other people — we look pretty good! But God says that we shouldn’t judge ourselves according to other people. He says that we should judge ourselves according to Him. God tells us, “Be you perfect — even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” And when God sets his rules — he makes them pretty strict — not only shall you not steal something that belongs to your neighbor, but you must not even covet what is your neighbors. Not only are we to avoid adultery — but don’t even look with lust in your heart. Not only are we not to Kill other people — but don’t even hate anyone. And what about, “If you offend in one point of the law, then you are guilty of the whole thing?”

And so as we look into that perfect mirror of God’s law, we must echo the words of Paul who said, “I am chief of sinners, oh wretched man that I am.”

Obviously — there is NO hope if our salvation is a matter of our own doing. And that is why the Easter joy of Christ’s resurrection is a living and continuing hope — Because the Christian’s hope of eternal life rests NOT on what the Christian does for God — but on what God did for us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Peter’s second point about our Easter joy, our living hope, is that it is permanent. He says in our text, “We have a living hope which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Did you ever have a real important dream — a hope or desire of something for your life in the future that would just absolutely be a fabulous addition to your life. There have been some young people who dreamed of being great lawyers or doctors while they were very young — only to have those hopes torn apart in college by the very difficult studies that lay before them. There have been young married couples who had great dreams for their life together, only to have those dreams and hopes destroyed by separation, by divorce, and even by death.

Many of our earthly hopes come to a disappointing end as they are destroyed by the reality of life. But that “living hope” which is our through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ will never be destroyed. As Peter said, “It is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” What joy we have in our sure living hope.

But Peter does give warning that living that Hope in this world will have some problems involved with it. It’s not going to be a bed of Roses being one of God’s children while we are here on earth. Peter said in our text, “You rejoice in this living hope, even though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Jesus had warned his disciples that there would come a time “when the people of the world would think that they were doing God a favor by putting to death the Christians.” And it was true — for the martyrdom of most of the disciples was done in the name of religion and by the consent and encouragement of the existing church of that day. Just as the early disciples had their faith tested and strengthened through their trials, so we to must face trials each and every day of our lives. But Peter’s warning to us about these trials and temptations is that we are to hold onto that living hope even in those times of trial and temptation. Peter is telling us not to loose sight of Jesus’ great promise to us, “I am the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.”

So, When does that “living Hope” become a reality? Peter tells us in our text, “You are guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” That ‘Living Hope’ is only a partial reality right now. Right now, we are children of God through Jesus Christ. Right now, we have the forgiveness of sins which Christ earned for us by his death and resurrection. Right now we have God’s strength and support through His word and Sacrament — BUT the perfect reality of our ‘living hope’ awaits that second coming of Jesus Christ when he comes to take us with him to eternal life in heaven.

Peter’s last sentence in our text is good encouragement for all Christians, “As the outcome of your faith, you obtain the salvation of your souls.” It is your faith in Jesus Christ which will bring your living hope to a reality in heaven. So Peter is saying to all Christians, “Through the means of grace, hold onto that faith in Jesus Christ.” Stay with him in good times and in bad times. For the promise he gave you, the hope that is in you, is eternal.

Dear Christian friends — celebrate the living hope of Easter every day of your life, and you will be celebrating life eternal in heaven. That is God’s promise — that is our sure, unfading hope. Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.