A Letter of Encouragement: Who Are Chosen
SERMON TOPICS
1) You cannot save (redeem) yourself from your sin (1 Peter 1:18)
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold from your futile conduct inherited from your forefathers,
Rom 7:24–25, Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
Titus 3:3 “For we ourselves also once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2) Only Christ can save (redeem) you from your sin (1 Peter 1:19)
19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
Thomas Watson a great puritan preacher said, “Great was the work of creation, but greater the work of redemption; it cost more to redeem us than to make us; in the one there was but the speaking of a Word, in the other the shedding of blood.
3) Believe Christ as the pre-existent God
(1 Peter 1:20)
20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but appeared in these last times for the sake of you (1 Peter 1:20)
John 1:1–2 “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.
4) Those who believe are God’s children
(1 Peter 1:21)
21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Philippians 2:9-11.
9 Therefore, God also highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.
When you believe and when you desire Christ as the only Saviour and the only person who could save you and change your life you have God. God is in you.
Having faith and hope in God is the greatest achievement you could have. The most important thing and possession in your life. It is more precious than gold, than your family and marriage, than your money and education.
The result of having faith and hope in God is love for God and love for others. You will bear fruit. Your attitude in life will change. Your behaviour will change. Your perspective will change. Your life will be transformed. You will have more joy knowing that all things work together for good, for those who love God and for those who are called according to His purpose.
Four elements of the Gospel according to Peter.
1) You cannot save (redeem) yourself from your sin (1 Peter 1:18)
2) Only the precious blood of Christ can save you from your sin (1 Peter 1:19)
3) Believe Christ as the pre-existent God
(1 Peter 1:20).
4) Those who believe are God’s children
(1 Peter 1:21)
Charles Spurgeon said, “The church is the dearest place on earth.”
The Psalmist said in Psalm 84:10 “For better is a day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would choose to stand at the threshold of the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”
Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
Galatians 2:9, “and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.”
1) Fix your hope in Christ (1 Peter 1:13)
13 Therefore, having girded your minds for action, being sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:6–8
“6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.”
Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all lawlessness, and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good works.
2) Do not go back to the world (1 Peter 1:14)
14 As obedient children, not being conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,
3) Be holy in all your ways ( 1 Peter 1:15-16)
15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your conduct; 16 because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”
1 Thessalonians 4:1 “1 Finally then, brothers, we ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.”
"The Word reveals God's mind, so we should learn it; God's heart, so we should love it; God's will, so we should live it. Our whole being—mind, will, and heart—should be controlled by the Word of God. . . . Thomas Constable. (n.d.). 1 Peter Commentary.
4) Fear God (1 Peter 1:17)
17 And if you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your sojourn,
Hebrews 12:28 “28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;”
1 Peter 3:15 “15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and fear,”
2 Corinthians 5:9–10 “9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
How to respond to God’s gift of grace to us:
1) Fix your hope in Christ (1 Peter 1:13)
2) Do not go back to the world (1 Peter 1:14)
3) Be holy in all your ways ( 1 Peter 1:15-16)
4) Fear God (1 Peter 1:17)
They study the coming salvation of Christ
(1 Peter 1:10)
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, made careful searches and inquiries,
Isaiah 35:5–10 “5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. 6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness And streams in the Arabah. 7 Then the scorched land will become a pool And the thirsty ground springs of water; In the haunt of jackals, its resting place, Grass becomes reeds and rushes. 8 And a roadway will be there, a highway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not pass by on it, But it will be for him who walks in that way, And ignorant fools will not wander on it. 9 No lion will be there, Nor will any vicious beast go up on it; These will not be found there. But the redeemed will walk there…
Luke 4:16–21 “16 And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, 19 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” 20 And He closed the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.””
Matthew 11:2–5 “2 Now when John in prison heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the One who is to come, or shall we look for someone else?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”
They are being led by the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 1:11)
11 inquiring to know what time or what kind of time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He was predicting the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.
They keep proclaiming the salvation of Christ
(1 Peter 1:12)
12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been declared to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5, 1 And when I came to you, brothers, I did not come with superiority of word or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the witness of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my word and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Keep reading, studying, and meditating the Bible
Joshua 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way successful, and then you will be prosperous.
Psalm 1:2 “But his delight is in the law of Yahweh, And in His law he meditates day and night.”
2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”
Be filled with the words of God and with the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 5:18 “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,”
Acts 1:8 “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the end of the earth.””
Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with gratefulness in your hearts to God.”
Keep proclaiming the Gospel of Christ
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
1 Corinthians 1:23 “but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,”
Colossians 1:28 “Him we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.”
In the book, The resolution of Men, “many fathers today lost their sense of purpose and struggle to fulfil their vital role in their children lives.”
What is the problem with the prodigal son?
11 And He said, “A man had two sons. 12 “And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. 13 “And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate living recklessly. 14 “Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.
James 4:13-17 say, 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” 16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to one who knows to do the right thing and does not do it, to him it is sin.
The Repentance of the son:
15 “So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 “And he was desiring to be fed with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18 ‘I will rise up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you. 19 “I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’
Matthew 7: 7-11 say, 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
What was the response of the Father?
20 “So he rose up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet, 23 and bring the fattened calf, slaughter it, and let us eat and celebrate, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Matthew 11:28–30 “28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.””
John 1:12 “12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,”
Revelation 3:20 “20 ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
The faith of the older son:
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 “And summoning one of the servants, he began inquiring what these things could be. 27 “And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’
28 “But he became angry and was not wanting to go in, and his father came out and began pleading with him.
29 “But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and never have I neglected a command of yours. And yet never have you given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends.
30 ‘But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’
31 “And he said to him, ‘Child, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32 ‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive, and was lost and has been found.’”
1) Rejoice in everything (1 Peter 1:6)
6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
1 Peter 2:12 “12 by keeping your conduct excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good works, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
1 Cor 15:55–57“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
2) Prove your Faith is genuine (1 Peter 1:7)
7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 Therefore, having girded your minds for action, being sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:13.
13 But to the degree you are sharing the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 1 Peter 4:13.
“4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” 1 Peter 5:4
3) Believe the goodness of God (1 Peter 1:8)
8 And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
4) Trust in God’s salvation (1 Peter 1:9)
9 receiving as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
Romans 8:36–39 “36 Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were counted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
There is a joy which is not given to the ungodly, but to those who love Thee for Thine own sake, whose joy Thou Thyself art. And this is the happy life, to rejoice to Thee, of Thee, for Thee; this it is, and there is no other.
Saint Augustine of Hippo
The key to the Christian’s joy is its source, which is the Lord. If Christ is in me and I am in Him, that relationship is not a sometimes experience. The Christian is always in the Lord and the Lord is always in the Christian, and that is always a reason for joy. Even if the Christian cannot rejoice in his circumstances, if he finds himself passing through pain, sorrow, or grief, he still can rejoice in Christ. We rejoice in the Lord, and since He never leaves us or forsakes us, we can rejoice always. R. C. Sproul
Our responses to trials and testings in life.
1. Rejoice in everything (1 Peter 1:6)
2. Prove your Faith is genuine ( 1 Peter 1:7)
3. Believe the goodness of God (1 Peter 1:8)
4. Trust in God’s salvation: Present and future (1 Peter 1:9)
Ephesians 1:4-5. 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
1 Peter 1:20. 20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you
Romans 8:29-30. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
Colossians 3:12 “12 So, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience;”
2 Timothy 2:10 “10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they also may obtain the salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.”
1. God has chosen us to be born again
(1 Peter 1:3)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
2. God has given us a living hope
(1 Peter 1:3b):
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
3. God has given us an inheritance
(1 Peter 1:4)
4 to obtain an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, having been kept in heaven for you,
4. God has been protecting our faith (1 Peter 1:5).
5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
The elements of Being Chosen by God
1. God has born again us
2. God has given us a living hope
3. God has given us an inheritance
Incorruptible, Undefiled, Unfading, and having been kept in heaven.
4. God has been protecting our faith (1 Peter 1:5).
Revelation 22:1–5 “1 Then he showed me a river of the water of life, bright as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His slaves will serve Him; 4 and they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. 5 And there will no longer be any night, and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them, and they will reign forever and ever.”
1) God has chosen us before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:1-2)
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as exiles, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen
9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:9
44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:44
22 “Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Matthew 24;22
God has chosen us before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:2)
2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to the obedience of Jesus Christ and the sprinkling of His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Ephesians 1:4-5. 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
1 Peter 1:20. 20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you
Romans 8:29-30. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
The elements of “You are chosen by God”
According to the foreknowledge of God the Father
By the sanctifying work of the Spirit of God
To the obedience of Jesus Christ
Sprinkling of His blood
The Grace and peace multiplied and abundant
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