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Hope in the Midst of Trials

January 8, 2017 Speaker: Gibson Largent Series: A Living Hope

Passage: 1 Peter 1:3–9

Main Text - 1 Peter 1:3-9
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Main Points
1. You have been grieved by various trials - verse 6
-Vs. 6 - though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials

2. You rejoice (in this) - verses 3-6
-You have a living hope
-We do not grieve like those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 - "13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.")

3. You have an inheritance
-Imperishable, undefiled, unfading, kept in heaven for you

-You understand an important function of trials (or have insight anyway into trials - see Job)
"6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

4. You are confident and assured and convinced of your faith in Jesus - verses 8-9
-"8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

Application:

-In a season of suffering it's most natural to ask "why?"
-It's natural to ask how God could allow suffering
-Tim Keller - "The Reason for God" - After explaining why God might allow suffering, Keller asserts that God, rather than giving an explanation for suffering, quietly entered our suffering, through humble means and a humble existence, and then he suffered and died. "Therefore, though Christianity does not provide the reason for each experience of pain, it provides deep resources for actually facing suffering with hope and courage rather than bitterness and despair."
-Our "deep resources" for enduring pain and trial and suffering stem from the very fact that we have been born again to a living hope - to a person who suffered terribly and endured and now lives as our guide and Lord in this life.