Glorious Appearing

I Peter 1:1-12

Introduction: Hope literally means “confident expectation.” Peter was writing to those who were suffering. Lenski calls this a doxology for foreigners.

I. Living Hope --- (v.3)

A. Blessed comes from the words “eu” -- meaning good -- and “logos” -- meaning, “to speak.” Thus, we have Eulogy. We should praise God for Salvation.

Fanny Crosby, who was blind, wrote “Blessed Assurance Jesus is mine…praising my Savior all the day long.”

B. Mercy, according to Tyndale, is sympathy in action, i.e. the Good Samaritan. A good Old Testament word is “Chesed,” a love that won’t let go. There are four results of mercy:

1. Born again experience (vs.3,23)

2. Hope (v.3) (Ephesians 2:12)

3. Inheritance (v.4)

4. Salvation (vs.5-12)

II. Lasting Hope --- (v.4)

A. Inheritance – remember Israel’s inheritance

According to Walvoord & Zuck in the LXX, inheritance referred to Israel’s promised possession.

1. It is incorruptible – Barclay says that in light of the military word kept (v.5), it means no invading army can penetrate

2. It is undefiled – no false gods will pollute it

3. It is unfading – never disappointing

(Note: all three of these words start with “alpha”)

III. Lustrous Hope --- (v.5)

A. Kept -- a military term meaning continuously guarded by an all powerful God, Christ the Captain. Richard De Haan calls this hope “a fortress.” Colin Brown says this is our “secure abode.” It is not based on our futile works but His finished work.

B. Salvation -- literal meaning is glorification. The words salvation, lively hope, and inheritance are all preceded by the same Greek preposition.

Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (I Corinthians 2:9)

Conclusion: When the bills are unpaid, there is hope; when the marriage is failing, there is hope; when the body is weak, there is hope.