Sermon Archives
We Now Have the Advantage
1 Peter 1:10-12Living as Chosen Exiles
Bob Bolander
July 8, 2018
Description:
Life is hard as a chosen exile. We live in a land that is not our home and that is antithetical toward the kingdom we represent. Life is full of trials and affliction. It is easy in the midst of trials to make all kinds of excuses for why we cannot walk in the joy Peter calls us to in chapter one of his letter.
“If only we received direct revelation from the mouth of God like the prophets of old, we could endure trials with joy” we may think. “If only we had walked with Jesus in the flesh like Peter,” or, “If only we were like the angels that experience God’s presence daily, then we could rejoice in affliction.” “If only’s” come in many different forms, but they all have one thing in common: They ignore the advantage that we have as citizens of Christ’s kingdom and participants of the New Covenant. This advantage is what Peter draws our attention to in 1:10-12.
As Christians, we are living in the last days; we are able to see clearly the sufferings of Christ and the glories that followed. By God’s grace we are able to experience victory over not only sin’s penalty but over sin’s power in our lives. We get to experience the new life brought about by God’s regenerating work.
Keywords:
Grace, Salvation