"Secure in Christ" - 1 Peter 1:3-5 (Larry Malament)

Sermon Quotes:

Edmond Hiebert: “1 Peter was not written to expound momentous doctrinal truths; rather, it is a practical appeal to courage, purity, and faithfulness to Christ in the midst of suffering for his name’s sake. It is full of that 'comfort' which only a true Christian, rich in faith and rich in love, can give to the suffering. Peter’s primary purpose was not to teach Christian doctrine but to strengthen Christian faith.”

Edmond Hiebert: “This beautiful passage is an outpouring of an adoring heart. It is the voice of one that prepares and encourages the suffering soul to steadfastly continue the spiritual battle. It evokes a song of praise to God amid present tests and afflictions. This opening paragraph offers an instructive blending of confident Christian hope and assurance with an open-eyed awareness of suffering for the faith characteristic of this epistle. Whenever men bless God, they declare that He, in his infinite excellence, is infinitely praiseworthy and express their celebration of what he is and does. Peter’s voice here is one of exultation – declaration – adoration for all that God has done through Christ. It is a heartfelt outpouring of praise for God’s marvelous salvation he has done.”

Edmund Clowney: “Christ’s resurrection spells hope for us not just because he lives, but because, by God’s great mercy, we live.”

Peter Davids: “This is important. For a suffering people who may see only more pain and deprivation ahead need to be able to pierce the dark clouds and fasten on a vision of hope if they are to stay on track. This hope is not a desperate holding on to a faded dream, a dead hope, but a living one, founded on reality, for it is grounded in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It is this reality which will enable the readers to face even death without fear, for death is not an end for the Christian, but a beginning. The point is that while Christians may suffer in this age and so have no future here, there is waiting for the faithful a reward as sure and as real as that of Abraham, a reward far better than an earthly land and far more lasting."

Ephesians 1:13-14 – “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” 

Edmond Hiebert:“The inheritance is certain because of God’s watchful care. It is immune from disasters that often befall an inheritance on earth. Its preservation in heaven adds to the assurance of safety. It is safely beyond the reach of all destructive forces. Its preservation in heaven indicates that the inheritance is not merely the believer’s arrival in heaven but all the fullness of our salvation promised to us in Christ. It assures that the trials and sufferings they were experiencing on behalf of their faith would not undermine the certainty of their coming inheritance; they would possess it in due time.”

Romans 8:31-39 – “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, 'For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.'  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”   

2 Timothy 4:6-8 – “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth thee is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”