Introduction

• If you are a Christian, why did you first decide to be baptized?
• For many, this starts with a fear of hell but then turns to the reward of heaven with maturity.
• Peter gives the incentive for obedience as hope. I Peter 1:3-21

Hope should produce gratitude in us.

• I Peter 1:3
  • Compare Ephesians 1:3.
  • God should be blessed! Do we do this?
  • God has acted according to His great mercy.
  • God has caused us to be born again. We are His children because of what He did (see John 1:9-13). God chose me to be His son.
• I Peter 1:4
  • We have an inheritance because of a family relationship we have with God. Our inheritance will never age or tarnish.
• I Peter 1:5
  • See I Peter 3:12. God listens to us! God keeps us. The only thing that will separate us from God is us.

Hope should make us the most contented people in the world.

• I Peter 1:6
  • We should be rejoicing!
  • We need to be thinking about where we are going every day.
  • Difficulties in life make us selfish because we focus only on the problem.
  • Rejoicing in the Lord is remembering that no matter how bad it gets, I’m going to heaven to be with God.
• I Peter 1:7
  • Difficulty should remind us of the folly of this world and of the glory of heaven to come.
  • “Hasten the day” should be our motto!

Hope should prompt holiness in us.

• I Peter 1:13
  • We can’t be unintentional Christians. Everyday we must remind ourselves of these things. We must avoid things that intoxicate us, whatever that may be (money, job, sports, etc.).
  • Our hope should rest fully on going to be with God.
• I Peter 1:14 – Be holy!