Born (Again) For The Glory – Part #1
1 PETER 1:1-25 – TEXT
1 PETER 1:2-5 – TODAY’S TEXT
The Apostle Peter wrote for/to God’s elect (1 PETER 1:2) who were scattered throughout what is now modern-day “Turkey”. The Apostle Peter knew that they were suffering from all kinds of trials, and he wrote to encourage them to persevere in a “Lively Hope”.
* 1 PETER 1:2 – “ELECT according to the FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE FATHER, through SANCTIFICATION OF THE (HOLY) SPIRIT, unto obedience and SPRINKLING OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST: GRACE UNTO YOU, and PEACE, be MULTIPLIED”.
* 1 PETER 1:3 – “BLESSED BE THE GOD and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His ABUNDANT MERCY hath BEGOTTEN US AGAIN unto a LIVELY HOPE by the RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD”,
“BLESSED BE THE GOD” – I am always concerned that we read this verse and so many other verses like it in the Bible, and we sadly miss “THE WONDER AND AWE”, this statement and other statements like it should evoke, from our innermost being, and from the very depths of our heart and soul.
Why? Because we are frail, weak, and given to commit sin (Even those of us who are “Born Again Believers”, for we still sin against the God we bless). Yet the Apostle Peter says we have the unspeakable privilege of offering blessings to the Most High God. AMAZING GRACE INDEED!
* DO YOU AVAIL YOURSELF TO THE HIGH PRIVILAGE AND DO YOU REGULARLY “BLESS THE LORD” AS DID THE WRITER OF PSALMS?
PSALMS 103:1 – “BLESS THE LORD, OH MY SOUL: AND ALL THAT IS IS WITHIN ME, BLESS HIS HOLY NAME”.
PSALMS 103:2 – “BLESS THE LORD, OH MY SOUL, AND FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS”:
PSALMS 103:3 – “WHO FORGIVETH ALL THINE INIQUITIES; WHO HEALETH ALL THY DISEASES”;
PSALMS 103:4 – “WHO REDEEMETH THY LIFE FROM DESTRUCTION; WHO CROWNETH THEE WITH LOVING KINDNESS AND TENDER MERCIES”;
PSALMS 103:5 – “WHO SATISFIES MY MOUTH WITH GOOD THINGS; SO THAT THY YOUTH IS RENEWED LIKE THE EAGLE’S”.
PSALMS 103:10 – “HE (GOD) HAS NOT DEALT WITH US AFTER OUR SINS; NOR REWARDED US ACCORDING TO OUR INIQUITY”.
PSALMS 103:11 – “For as the heaven is high above the earth, SO GREAT IS HIS MERCY TOWARDS THEM THAT FEAR HIM”.
PSALMS 103:12 – “As far as the east is from the west, SO FAR HATH HE REMOVED OUR TRANSGRESSIONS FROM US”.
PSALMS 103:13 – “Like as a father piteous his children, SO THE LORD PITIETH THEM THAT FEAR HIM”.
PSALMS 103:14 – “FOR HE KNOWS OUR FRAME; HE REMEMBERETH THAT WE ARE DUST”.
PSALMS 103:15 – “As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourishes”.
PSALMS 103:16 – “For the wind passes over it, AND IT IS GONE; and the place thereof shall know it no more”.
PSALMS 103:17 – “BUT THE MERCIES OF THE LORD IS FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING UPON THEM THAT FEAR HIM (GOD); AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO CHILDREN’S CHILDREN”;
PSALMS 103:18 – “TO SUCH AS KEEP HIS COVENANT, AND TO THOSE WHO REMEMBER HIS COMMANDMENTS TO DO THEM”.
PSALMS 103:19 – “The Lord has prepared his throne in the heavens; and His kingdom ruleth over all”.
PSALMS 103:21 – “Bless ye the Lord, all ye His hosts; YE MINISTERS OF HIS; THAT DO HIS PLEASURE”.
PSALMS 103:22 – “BLESS THE LORD, ALL HIS WORKS IN ALL PLACES OF HIS DOMINION: BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL”.
* BECAUSE OF THE DEATH, BURIAL, RESURRECTION, AND ASCENSION OF CHRIST JESUS, “BELIEVERS HAVE BEEN BEGOTTEN AGAIN (BORN AGAIN) TO A “LIVELY HOPE” ( A LIVING HOPE) AND THAT “HOPE” INCLUDES “THE GLORY OF GOD” AND IT WILL BE FULLY REVEALED, IN “THE LAST DAYS”!
The “Glory of God” means that some total of all that God is and does. God’s glory is not a separate attribute or characteristic of God, such as His holiness, wisdom, or mercy. Everything that God is and does is characterized by His glory. God is glorious in wisdom and in power, so that everything He thinks and everything that He does is marked by His glory. He reveals His glory in creation (PSALMS 19), and in His dealings with the people of Israel, especially in His plan of salvation for lost sinners.
WHEN WE WERE “BORN” THE FIRST TIME, WE WERE NOT “BORN” FOR “GLORY”! “For all flesh is like grass, and all the glory of men like the flower of grass (1 PETER 1:24, QUOTED FROM ISAIAH 40:6). Whatever feeble glory man has achieved, eventually fades and disappears; but the glory of the Lord is eternal. The work of man, done for the glory of God, WILL LAST AND BE REWARDED (1 JOHN 2:17).
But the selfish human achievement of sinners, but one day, will vanish to be seen no more. One reason that we have history books, encyclopedias, monuments, museums, the internet, and tombstones is so that we can learn about famous people in the history of the world, who are now nearly forgotten!
“THE LIVING HOPE” PROCLAIMS THAT THE “BORN AGAIN” CHRISTIAN WILL RECEIVE THE GLORY OF GOD!
* All “Born Again” believers have a “LIVING HOPE” because it’s grounded on the “LIVING WORD OF GOD” (1 PETER 1:23), and was made possible by the “LIVING SON OF GOD”, who arose from the dead (1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-9). “A Living Hope” is one that has life in it and therefore can give life to us. Because it has life, it grows and becomes more beautiful, as time goes on. TIME DESTROYS MOST “WORLDLY HOPES”; they fade, and they then die. But the passing of time only makes a “CHRISTIAN HOPE” that much more GLORIOUS!
The Apostle Peter called this “CHRISTIAN HOPE” an “INHERITANCE” (1 PETER 1:4). As the children of the King, we share His inheritance and glory (ROMANS 8:17,18; EPHESIANS 1:12-19 ). We are included in Christ Jesus’ “Last Will and Testament,” and we share the “Glory” with Him (JOHN 17:22-24).
* Note, the description of this “INHERITANCE”, for it is totally unlike any “EARTHLY INHERITANCE”. For one thing, it is “INCORRUPTIBLE”, which means that nothing can ruin it. Because it is “UNDIFILED”, it cannot be stained or cheapened in any way. It will never grow “Old” because it is “Eternal”, it will never wear out, nor can it disappoint us in any way.
In 1 PETER1:5, 9, this “Inheritance” is called “Salvation”. The believer is already saved through faith in Christ Jesus and His Word, but the completion of our salvation waits for the return of the Savior. Then we shall have new bodies and enter into a new environment, the “Heavenly City”. In 1 PETER 1:7, the Apostle Peter calls this “HOPE” – “THE (SECOND) APPEARING OF JESUS CHRIST”. The Apostle Paul called this “THE BLESSED HOPE” in TITUS 2:13.
* WHAT A THRILLING THING IT IS TO KNOW THAT WHEN WE WERE “BORN AGAIN” FOR GLORY – WE EXCHANGED “THE PASSING GLORY OF MEN” FOR “THE GLORY OF GOD”!
* 1 PETER 1:4 – “To an INHERITANCE incorruptible, and undefiled, and that FADETH NOT AWAY, RESERVED IN HEAVEN FOR YOU,”
* THE “INHERITANCE”, THAT IS RESERVED FOR THE “BORN AGAIN” BELIEVER IN HEAVEN – IS “KEPT” BY THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH FAITH UNTO SALVATION
* 1 PETER 1:5 – “WHO (THE BORN AGAIN BELIEVER) ARE KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH FAITH UNTO SALVATION READY TO BE REVEALED IN THE LAST TIME (THE LAST DAYS)”,
* THE VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL “SECURITY OF THE BORN-AGAIN BELIEVER”, WHO IS “KEPT” BY THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH FAITH UNTO SALVATION.
* The English word “KEPT” is translated from 19 different Greek words in the New Testament Bible. The Greek word #5432, in the Strong’s Concordance, is found five times in the New Testament Bible, in four verses. The four verses are: 2 CORINTHIANS 11:32, GALATIANS 3:23, PHILIPPIANS 4:7, AND 1 PETER 1:5.
* The Strong’s Greek word #5432 means: “To guard, protect by a military guard, either to prevent hostile invasion, or to keep the inhabitants of a beside city from flight and metaphorically means: “To be under the control of the Mosaic Law, that he might not escape from its power; To protect by guarding, to keep; By watching and guarding to preserve one for the attainment of something”.
HOW IS THE GREEK WORD “KEPT” APPLIED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT BIBLE:
(1). 2 CORINTHIANS 11:32 – “In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king KEPT (#5432) the city of the Damascenes with a GARRISON (#5432), desirous to apprehend me”:
2 CORINTHIANS 11:33 – “And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands”.
* The Apostle Paul was led over the fortified walls of the city, in a basket, and escaped the apprehension of the king and from the king being able to keep him within the city walls.
(2). GALATIANS 3:23 – “But before faith came, we were KEPT (#5432) UNDER THE LAW, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed”.
HEBREWS 3:7 – “Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if you will hear His voice”,
HEBREWS 3:8 – “HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the WILDERNESS.”
HEBREWS 3:12 – “Take heed, BRETHREN, lest there be any of you an evil heart of UNBELIEF, IN DEPARTING FROM THE LIVING GOD”.
HEBREWS 3:13 – “But exhort one another daily, what is called today; lest any of you be HARDENED THROUGH THE DECEITFULNESS OF SIN”.
HEBREWS 3:14 – “FOR WE ARE MADE PARTAKERS OF CHRIST, IF WE HOLD THE BEGINNING OF OUR CONFIDENCE STEADFAST UNTO THE END”;
HEBREWS 3:15 – “While it is said, Today if Ye will hear His voice, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS, as in the provocation”.
HEBREWS 3:16 – “For some, when they had heard, did provoke: albeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses”.
HEBREWS 3:17 – “But with whom was he grieved 40 years? Was it not with them that had sinned whose carcass fell in the WILDERNESS”?
HEBREWS 3:18 – “And to whom swear He that THEY SHOULD NOT ENTER INTO HIS REST, but to them that believe not”?
HEBREWS 3:19 – “SO WE SEE THAT THEY COULD NOT ENTER IN BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF”.
* We as believers, today, are given an “EXAMPLE”, in the Old Testament Bible, that as God’s people came out of Egypt and we’re headed to “The Promised Land”, they were “KEPT BY THE LAW”, as long as they did not “HARDEN THEIR HEARTS WITH UNBELIEF”.
* THE WRITER OF THE BOOK OF HEBREWS, EXHORTS THE “JEWISH BELIEVERS” – “TO HOLD THE BEGINNING OF OUR (THEIR) CONFIDENCE STEADFAST UNTO THE END (OF THEIR LIVES)”!
(3). PHILIPPIANS 4:7 – “And the PEACE OF GOD which passeth all understanding, shall KEEP (#5432) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.
(4). 1 PETER 1:5 – “Who are KEPT (#5432) by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the LAST TIME (LAST DAYS)”.
THE BEST IS YET TO COME – TO THOSE LIVING IN “THE LAST TIME” OR “THE LAST DAYS” (REVELATION 12:7-17).
REVELATION 12:10 – “And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, NOW IS COME SALVATION, AND STRENGTH, AND THE KINGDOM OF OUR GOD, AND THE POWER OF HIS CHRIST: for the accuser of the brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night”.
2 CORINTHIANS 3:4 – “And such trust have we THROUGH CHRIST GOD-WARD”:
2 CORINTHIANS 3:5 – “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but OUR SUFFICIENCY IS OF GOD”.
2 CORINTHIANS 12:9 – “And He said unto me, MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE: for my strength is made perfect in WEAKNESS. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my INFIRMITIES, THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST MAY REST UPON ME”.
