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Quest for Truth 183 Hardships, Hope, and Faith
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Or: How to know our faith is based on a real hope.
From the earliest days in Christian history, encouragement to believers who faced hard times and persecution meant that faith, and the expectant hope of our future was in question. Peter addressed these doubts, and today, Keith takes a look at the situation in this solo episode.
The Passage
1 Peter 1:3-9,13
3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
5 You are being protected by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to struggle in various trials 7 so that the genuineness of your faith
more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.8 You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
13 Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be serious and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
We refer to hope in a lot of different ways, but such hope is often little more than a desire or a wish.
We hope for
- a winning season;
- that rain doesn’t ruin the picnic,
- our vacation is relaxing this summer.
The Bible offers a different perspective on hope, one that is far greater and far more certain.
Biblical hope is grounded in the same thing as biblical faith: Jesus Christ. Our faith is focused on a sure hope.
Resurrected into Living Hope.
1 Peter 1:3-4
The concept of hope:
- Based on Jesus resurrection
- He defeated evil and death
- He provides a guarantee that all evil will be judged.
- Our inheritance through Jesus is
- A certainty that cannot be taken away when times are hard.
- A solid truth that withstands even the heaviest of storms.
- Since we can have confidence in Christ’s victory over death,
- We can have assurance of His power over every kind of pain or sorrow.
- This is our firm anchor in times of trouble a mighty foundation for hope.
Looking on what Christ did for us in the past, enables us to face the future with confidence.
Faith in Power Through Struggles.
1 Peter 1:5-7
God’s protection and power can be a sensitive issue for those who’ve suffered or grieved over difficult circumstances.
In those extreme times, Peter reminds us to focus on our salvation in Christ,
- The result of faith, rather than on our current suffering.
- In this life, it’s our genuine faith that endures.
- We tend to look to faith as a last resort when all else fails.
- Faith should come first. It’s the driving force of life.
- We may not understand our suffering now, but we’ll find clarity with the appearance of Jesus at the end of time.
Have you seen faith tested and strengthened because of a trial?
Joyful Faith.
1 Peter 1:8-9,13
Have you experienced the connection between faith and joy?
What Difference Do trials Make in strengthening faith?
Hope in Christ can impact:
- health,
- relationships,
- finances,
- work,
- future.
The actions Peter recommended
- Be sober-minded and serious, with our minds in a state of readiness.
- Set our hope in the salvation that comes through faith in Jesus resurrection.
How can we reflect hope in a fallen world? Demonstrate a faith that’s focused on a sure hope.
Peter challenged his readers to live godly lives even as they faced trials, beginning with the mind: with your minds ready for action. Literally, to gird up the loins of your minds. To have a disciplined thought life.
We will see Him fully and know Him completely. We should live each day with that marvelous hope.
The challenge
- Seek out situations in which you can express your trust in God each day.
- Prepare your mind.
- Move your focus beyond the material world
- Read a book, listen to a sermon series, or podcast.
- solidify your understanding of basic Christian doctrines.
- Proclaim the gospel.
- When you meet someone who has lost hope, choose to share the good news of Jesus resurrection
- Share you’re sure hope for eternal life with Him.
Keep praying a prayer of praise. Proclaim your faith in the living hope
made possible through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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