Tune in for an inspiring message about living a life infused with hope, as described in 1 Peter 1. The discussion emphasizes the significance of spiritual growth and obedience, likening it to the growth of a child. Learn how to fortify your faith and devotion, enabling you to rest your hope fully upon the grace offered through Christ Jesus.
Rest your hope fully upon the grace. Oh, what an awesome thought from 1 Peter 1, which brings forth an awesome study just ahead on the International Gospel Hour. Stay with us.
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Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. We’re so glad you’ve decided to listen to our program today. In a world of challenges, we need God’s Word to help us face those challenges. Thank you for joining us in this period of Bible study with our speaker, Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ. So let’s listen today.
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Here’s Jeff. Well, thank you to our J-Web for his kind words. And greetings to all of you. Thank you for joining me today for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. A couple of things from the very outset. First of all, we love to hear from our listeners. If you have just a moment, please call our toll-free number at 855-444-6988 That’s 855-444-6988. And just tell us where you’re listening to our broadcast, the location where you’re listening to our broadcast, or what radio station or platform you may be using. We’d love to hear from you. Just a small thing we’d like to ask. Also, second… Our mailing address is P.O. Box 118 Fayetteville, Tennessee 37334. The work of International Gospel Hour is under the oversight of the elders of the West Fayetteville Church of Christ in Fayetteville, Tennessee. Our website is internationalgospelhour.com. Please feel free to peruse it and see anything there that you can use. Please help yourself. And again, our toll-free number is 855-444-6988. As I began the study today and introduced it, I talked about an awesome study just ahead. It’s not awesome because I’m the one doing it. It’s awesome because of the content that we use, the Holy Bible, and what we will find today concerning resting our hope. Now, our lesson text is 1 Peter 1, 13-21, and I’m going to come to that in a moment. But a little bit of background. I want to go into chapter 1 of 1 Peter, and let’s look at a little bit of background. First of all, there is nobody better to speak of a never-ending hope for the Christian than Peter. I mean, nobody has hope like a New Testament Christian who has, through their faith in Christ, moved them to repent of their sins, to confess their faith in Christ, To be baptized into Christ for the remission of sins and added to the church of Christ. The church we read of in the New Testament. Nobody has hope like a New Testament Christian. And so as we talk about hope today, we’re going to rest that hope in Christ Jesus. Because the Christian is in Christ Jesus. Have you ever considered to get into Jesus Christ, one has to be baptized? Folks, I know a lot of people saying, well, wait a minute, that’s not right. Well, that is right. I made this statement one time, to get into Christ, you have to be baptized. And a guy reached for his little computer, pulled it up, and said, that’s right. In Romans 6, 3-6, and Galatians 3, 26-27, it tells us how we get into Christ. And that is through baptism. And so these Christians here in 1 Peter 1, how are they identified? Well, in verse 2, they’re identified as the elect, as those who are begotten to a living hope, verse 3. They have an inheritance reserved in heaven, verse 4. They are obedient children, verse 14. They are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, verses 18 and 19. They were purified through obeying the truth, verse 22, and born again through the word of God, verse 23. So to these Christians, here’s what Peter said. 1 Peter 1, beginning with verse 13. Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope. That’s our thought today. Rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. And, If you call on the Father who, without partiality, judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear, knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, he indeed. was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who through him believe in God, and raised him from the dead, and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. So, friends, it is our plea that all of our lives be of such that our faith and hope might be in God. Again, 1 Peter 1, verse 21. So, as we think about hope for just a moment, hope defined properly is desire plus expectation. Not simply, well, I hope I’m okay, but a desire plus expectation. Hope has a solid foundation. It is a hope that rests fully upon the grace of God. And let’s talk about resting our hope in God today. But first… A few moments, or a few seconds here, a little over 30 seconds, here’s some information about contacting us here at International Gospel Hour.
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The best way to reach us is our toll-free number at 855-444-6988. You can request free Bible study courses, ask a question, or make a comment. The number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That number again is 855-444-6988. If you can, give us a quick call and let us know where you hear International Gospel Hour. Tell us what city and what radio station. Thanks, and keep listening.
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Friends, let’s talk about a hope that rests in God’s grace is obedient like a child. Well, that was verse 14 we read moments ago. We see growth in this context, and it’s just as children grow. And many things are not known by children because of ignorance, but when a child learns them, they grow in their obedience to their parents. And we are to be as obedient children as Christians with a hope that rests in God’s grace. Jesus taught, Verily I say unto you, except you be converted and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven, Matthew 18, 6. And as newborn babes, one should desire the sincere milk of the word, that one may grow thereby, 1 Peter 2, verse 2. So obedience unto Christ is necessary for a hope that will rest in Christ. Now we may long for something. But have we traveled the path toward it? Have we obeyed the gospel of Christ? Here’s a second thought about hope that rests in God. A hope that rests in God’s grace knows how to live a better life. Well, that’s going back to verse 15. To be holy in our conduct. Hebrews 11.1 says, Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. And faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10.17 So man must know how to live a better life. And that is revealed through the only measure that God reveals to us clearly what He expects. The Holy Word of God. Now let’s build on this. A hope that rests in God’s grace, thirdly, knows the Word of God. Verse 16. Be holy for I am holy. In other words, we need to understand and God has revealed His Word that we may know. Later in 1 Peter 3… But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. Again, that’s 1 Peter 3.15. Now, how are we to give that answer of hope? So, friends, what are we doing daily with the Word of God? Are we able to give an answer for our hope? And, friends, that’s why we want to emphasize God’s Word so much. With a book, chapter, and verse teaching from International Gospel Hour, what we offer to you in study must be based thoroughly upon the Word of God. If not, we don’t want to share that. But you see, a hope that rests in God’s grace will know the Word of God, will study, and with that, here’s a fourth point. A hope that rests in God’s grace will continually call on the Father. That’s verse 17 of 1 Peter 1. Listen to Romans 12, verse 12. Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant or constant in prayer. Now, continuing instant means to be strong towards one. Or to make prayer a strong part of our lives. To have that continual conversation with the Father. The power of prayer. You know, I’ve often said about Romans 12 and verse 12. Rejoicing in hope and at the end continuing instant in prayer. And in the middle is to be patient in tribulation. To allow our hope and our prayer to squeeze that tribulation in. And to let it know who’s in control. Here’s a fifth point of our lesson text. A hope that rests in God’s grace will always know who redeemed the Christian. That’s verses 18 through 20. The blood of Christ in Ephesians 1, 7. In whom, Christ, we have redemption through His blood. The forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace. He’s writing there to those Christians in Ephesus. And these same folks once had no hope, and they were without God in the world, but they were made nigh or brought close by the blood of Christ, Ephesians 2, 12 and 13. So friends, one with hope continues to remember what Christ has done and how Christ will continually cleanse the child of God with His blood as one walks in the light. 1 John 1 verse 7 Oh friends, consider what all we’ve talked about today of a hope that rests in God’s grace. Would you like to know more? Would you like to grow in your knowledge? Would you like to come closer to Christ? We have a new Bible study available by mail. It’s available free from us here at International Gospel Hour through some beloved friends in Beaufort, Georgia. And it’s titled, God and Man, How to Be Saved from Sin. That little booklet addresses a number of questions about the salvation from God to man. And like all of our materials, it’s free. Here’s all you have to do. Call us at 855-444-6988. Leave us your name and address and just say, God and Man. That’s all you have to do. Or you can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com. Click on the contact tab and leave us the same information, name, address, and just type God and man in the message box. It’s another new Bible study that is free. And it’s free by mail from International Gospel Hour. And you can also download that lesson. If you go to God, and then put in the dash, andand-man.com, and you can also download that lesson. Friends, we want to help you learn more of Christ, and to have a hope that will rest in the grace of God. Thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour broadcast. I’m honored you’ve joined me. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
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May this study prompt your search of God’s word for his will in your life. To assist you in your study or to listen to our other programs, please visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com. To God be the glory.
