1 Peter 1:1–9 · Hope that endures through trials because it’s anchored in Christ’s resurrection.
Big Idea: Your hope for 2025 is secure only in Jesus.
1) Who We Are (vv. 1–2)
- Elect Exiles: Chosen by God, yet living away from home. This world ≠ home.
- The Trinity’s work:
- Father: foreknows (loving, covenantal knowing).
- Spirit: sanctifies (gifted holiness, ongoing growth).
- Son: calls us to obedience and has sprinkled us with His blood (forgiven, cleansed).
- Implication: We obey because we’re already made His— not to earn it.
2) What We Have (vv. 3–5)
- New Birth: God “caused us to be born again”—salvation is mercy-made, not self-made.
- Living Hope: anchored in the resurrection of Jesus, not our resolutions.
- Inheritance: imperishable · undefiled · unfading — kept in heaven for you.
- Protection: You are guarded by God’s power through faith. (That frees you to take holy risks.)
- Picture it: The end-of-job payoff is better than “$50B.” Work with joy now because of what’s guaranteed then.
3) How We Live (vv. 6–9)
- Expect trials: grief “for a little while” is real in exile.
- Refined faith: your faith is more precious than gold—trials prove and purify it.
- Love and joy: though you don’t see Jesus, you love Him; you believe and rejoice with inexpressible, glorious joy.
- Designed for joy: pursue joy in Christ to resist counterfeit satisfactions.
“Though you have not seen him, you love him… you rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.” — 1 Peter 1:8
Make It Concrete (Next Steps)
- Refocus hope: Shift from “because of me” → “because of Him.”
- Live bold: you’re guarded by God’s power—share the gospel, give generously, join a group, serve.
- Rejoice in trials: name the grief, trust the Refiner, worship anyway.