Outrageous Hope Extravagant Joy | Week 1

Because He Lives!

Week 1 – 1 Peter 1:1-12

I. The Author – Peter – (v. 1)

II. Chosen by God – (v. 2)

“Scattered in the countries, and yet gathered in God’s election, chosen or picked out; strangers to men amongst whom they dwelt, but known and foreknown to God; removed form their own country, to which men have naturally an unalterable affection, but made heirs of a better.”1

Chosen not just for eternity, but also for obedience. Chosen to be holy unto God, priests, those who bring others to Him. But how can we talk knowledgeably and convincingly of a land and hope to which we have not truly set our own affections?

By faith Abraham when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to ‘receive’ for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:8-10)

“Yield to the Spirit. Recognize his indwelling. Do what He commands, and forbear from doing aught that his still small voice forbids. Every such act of consecration to his will must lead to the fuller light, and love, and power which make up holiness.”2

“Grace and peace be yours to the fullest measure” – there is no peace apart from grace.

As A. W. Tozer so aptly stated, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”3

If the God you have conceived is not the magnificent, omniscient, omnipotent God of the Bible, then as J. D. Greear said, “He cannot account for the complexities of creation or the mysteries of suffering. He’ll never incite passion, devotion, or worship. He’s too small. ‘A god small enough to be understood,’ the British philosopher Evelyn Underhill observed, will never be ‘big enough to be worshipped...His love at the cross didn’t move me because his magnificence in the heavens hadn’t humbled me”4

III. Born again to a living hope – (v. 3)

We see the Trinity in this verse. God the Father has caused us to be born again by the Spirit through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We become possessors of God to the degree that He possesses us.

A child born into a royal dynasty does not fully understand all that he has and will inherit. It is only as he grows and matures that he comes to understand and one day possesses all that is by birth already his.

A Believer experiences the living hope of eternal life that begins now!

IV. An Inheritance and Protection – (v. 4-5)

Our inheritance is incorruptible and undefiled (untainted) in its purity and unfading in its beauty.

“kept” – to fasten, to join battle

“The Greek word translated ‘kept’ is borrowed from the camp. It is used in 2 Cor. 11:32; Gal. 3:23; Phil. 4:7; and, in each case, conveys the conception of an armed force, employed in sentry or escort duty, surrounding their ward, and interposing a wall of enclosure and defense...Of what need were keeping, unless there were danger without and frailty within?”5

We face very real physical and spiritual danger in this life.

V. Greatly Rejoice - (5-9)

“Every sound Christian has always something wherein he may greatly rejoice. Great rejoicing contains more than an inward placid serenity of mind or sensation of comfort; it will show itself in the countenance and conduct, but especially in praise and gratitude.”6

“Faith, which is more valuable than gold because it lasts longer and reaches beyond this temporal order, is purified in the tests of life. Gold, not faith, is presently valued by men. But God wills put his stamp of approval on faith that has been tested and show this when Christ is revealed. Then the believer will openly share in the praise, glory and honor of God.”7

Joy inexpressible and full of glory is full of heaven. This joy cannot be described but only experienced. It is directly linked to our love of Christ.

v. 9 – the salvation of your souls – literally the deliverance from your enemies.

For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son. (Colossians 1:13).

VI. Things into which Angels Long to Look - (10-12)

Prophets proclaimed and angels longed to look into the mystery of this great love and deliverance.

The angels who cry out, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty” (Revelation 4:8). What angels desire to look upon, the cherubim did continually as they bent toward the mercy seat.

Andrew’s Song

Jesus, my joy, you are the prize I’m running for
You are worthy, worthy of my all
You are worthy, worthy of my all
What can I give to the Son of God, who gave himself for me Here I am, you are worthy of my all

--Andrew Brunson

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1. Meyer, F.B. The Works of F.B. Meyer, Volume 2. Loc. 27378. Kindle Edition.

2. Meyer, F.B. The Works of F.B. Meyer, Volume 2. Loc. 27403. Kindle Edition.

3. Tozer, A.W. (1961).The Knowledge of the Holy, p. 1. New York: NY: Harper Collins Publishers.

4. Greear, J.D. (2018). Not God Enough, p. 24. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

5. Meyer, F.B. The Works of F.B. Meyer, Volume 2. Loc. 27566. Kindle Edition.

6. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Compete and Unabridged in One Volume, p. 2422. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.

7. Blum, E. (2006). The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, p. 221. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

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