Gathering Growing Going
Peter, the apostle of Jesus, writes a letter to Christians facing persecution to comfort them with the truth of who they are in Christ—children of God with every reason to rejoice in their salvation and future glory in eternity. 1 Peter 1:3-12 is one of the most loved passages. It begins as a blessing to God, but also describes how incredibly He has blessed us in Christ. Because Jesus has risen from the dead, our hope is not wishful thinking- it is as alive as He is. Our inheritance as God’s children is eternal, full of glory, and secured forever. Even in grief, suffering and persecution Christians have every reason to rejoice. The mystery of God’s plan has been revealed to us in Christ. We are being saved! Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
All hope has two related characteristics – it is held prior to the thing hoped for and it always looks forward to something in the future. We might hold a hope that is vague or detailed. We might hold a hope that is unlikely or certain. In addition, hope is usually based on something. We will have some reason for a hope that we hold. That reason might be good or bad. But we don’t hold a hope without there being a cause for us to have that hope. Today we are going to look at the particular hope that Paul talks about in his letter to the Roman church. What it hopes for, what it is based upon and how this particular hope changes us and our view of the world.
Two weeks ago, Trace left us asking the question ‘where is our foundation?’ It’s a question God’s people grapple with in chapter 4, and it is answered in chapter 5. When all is stripped back, where else are God’s people to go? In the midst of suffering, in the confusion of judgment, what is the people’s request of God? Our natural assumption would be the restoration of their material possessions and social structures… their land, the temple, homes, basic living supplies, health, safety and security. It’s striking that none of those are asked for. As God’s people face exile at the hands of the Babylonians, they turn in prayer to the only one who can aid them. They turn to Yahweh, their covenant keeping God. Lamentations 5 ends with a longing that God would restore His people to Himself. Hope that their covenant-keeping God who kept His promise of judgment would also keep His promise of restoration.
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