The Goal of Faith part 6

The Image Restored

This week, we are going to look at the end result of our faith. At the beginning of this series, I posed the question, “Why does God save us?” We answered with, “He is restoring His original design for humanity.” The image of God in which we were created was corrupted by sin. That corruption met its cure in the resurrection of Christ. Now, whomsoever believes in the Risen Lord shall be saved from that very corruption. But, that is not the end of the story. God is not content with allowing this world to remain in the state that it is in. Instead, all of Creation is going to be restored—a process that began with Christ.

Today, I would like us to look at two letters in the New Testament. First, 1 Peter will remind us of who we are and whose we are. Then, we will turn to the very end of the Bible and take a peak of what is to come. We are looking at both of these books today, because I want to reinforce the main point for today:

As Christians, saved by the grace of God through surrendering to our Lord Jesus, we are the firstfruits of the New Creation.

Now, what do I mean by that? We are the very tip of the heavenly iceberg—the first flower you see when spring approaches. Christ came to inaugurate the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, and now each person who enters the Kingdom is one more sign of the coming New Creation. We shall see that this fact has a transforming quality to our daily ethic, because:

Christians are called to live as though the New Creation has come, because we know it is coming.

That second point may be a bit confusing, so let’s begin reading in 1 Peter, and hopefully, Peter can help us understand what God is calling us toward.

A life of hope

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:3-9

In verse 3, we read “he has caused us to be born again.” This phrase is simply one word in Greek, anagennesas. Listen carefully to the word out loud, and you’ll catch a familiar word—gennesas or genesis. “Ana” is a prefix which means “again”—like in ‘anabaptist’ meaning ‘to be baptized again’ or ‘anamorphic’ which is a film/photographic technique that manipulates light twice to alter the image size. “Gennasas” is the Greek word from which we get “genesis,” so together you get “to be created again.” But, the specific tense of the word is an active participle which gives that “caused.” Now, what is really interesting for language nerds is that the word is a participle which means it has to describe another verb or noun, and if you look at verses 3-5 which is the full sentence, you’ll notice the main part of the sentence is that first part of verse 3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!” The English has separated one Greek sentence into separate English sentences to help make the meaning clear (this is one of many examples of why the phrase ‘It’s Greek to me’ exists). What Peter is doing is calling a blessing toward God—it is a praise for what God has done. Well, what has He done? He has brought us new life to a living hope—anagennasas—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a living hope, meaning it is not a false hope, and it is kept in heaven for us. This truth brings up a couple of points.

God is honored and glorified in our salvation—He celebrates our salvation.

Our salvation is the subject of both God’s and our celebration. He is working His plan, and we are reaping the rewards. Next, notice Peter interjects in verse 6 that we rejoice in our salvation even though we have been grieved by various trials. The process of our salvation begins when we first surrender to Christ and are regenerated, but it also continues through this life with trials being evidence of our salvation, if it is genuine faith.

The trials of life bring us closer to the goal of our faith.

C. S. Lewis said the trials of life remind us this is not our home. When we find ourselves in a world that fails to satisfy our souls, we remember we were not made for this world.

Our salvation begins the day we receive Christ, but it continues onward until the day it is revealed in the New Creation.

A life of holiness

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

1 Peter 1:13-16

Because we have been saved, we are called to prepare our minds for action, or literally, “gird up the loins of your mind.” Muster your mental strength like someone who is about to engage in battle. Maintain a sober mind—not intoxicated by fear or the things of this world. He says to not be like we were when we were ignorant of Christ, but be holy in all our conduct.

Sometimes in life it is very easy to return to our former ways, because they are an escape for the difficulties of life. Many people find ways to ‘escape their problems’, whether through drugs, alcohol, or my personal favorite, tv. It is easier to shut out our problems rather than deal with them. But, unfortunately, our problems are still there when we sober up.

Likewise, when we are living a life of holiness, it is common for this world to become problematic. Conflict arises because each person is seeking their own pleasure, comfort, or goal over their neighbor’s. In our pursuit of holiness, we can either give up, following our old ignorant ways, or we can sober up and recognize Christ has already overcome this world. The answer to our problems is found in pursuing the wisdom of Christ.

Holiness comes through obedience and wisdom.

We have already discussed walking in wisdom a good amount, to which Peter refers when he calls us to be sober-minded, but he also says to be holy as ‘obedient children.’ When we understand what God is walking us through, we can walk in wisdom. But when we struggle to understand, we can still walk in obedience knowing that the fruit of our faith is on the way.

The next few chapters center around the ethical life that comes through living the transformed life in Christ. 1 Peter is a letter that balances the theological and the practical, so I would encourage you to study it further, however for today, I want to skip to chapter 4, because it speaks to living out God’s Image in light of the truth of the New Creation that is coming.

A life of glorifying

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 4:1-11

Looking to Christ as an example, we endure suffering as He endured suffering. We do not live this life in pursuit of human passions but for the will of God.

Our time on earth is best spent in pursuit of the will of God.

Verse 3 reminds us that, yes, there was a time when we pursued foolishness and sin, but enough time has been spent on such things. As Christians, we are done with that. We have moved on to greater things. The first century was much like today, pagans couldn’t understand why Christians did not join in the “fun” of debauchery. Today, it can be difficult to explain why we don’t pursue drunken stupidity, but if someone asks, we can simply say, “I’ve moved on from that life.” It is not a denial of our past, it is a confirmation of our future. God has something else in store for us.

Then, in verse 7, Peter says quite plainly, “The end of all things is at hand.” This world is coming to its end. And so, he repeats to be self-controlled and sober-minded, but this time adds for the sake of your prayers.

Wisdom and obedience helps us know how to pray, which helps us know how to serve.

Prayers are essential for us to understand God’s will and for interceding on behalf of our lost family and friends. Maintaining control of how we think helps us knowing the best ways and for what to pray. Praying helps set our minds on what God wants, and if we have self-control over our thoughts, then we will be ready to listen when God speaks.

Last, Peter says to keep loving one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. He then gives a list of ways to keep loving, and if you look at the list, you’ll notice that each positive action prevents us from a negative sin. Showing hospitality prevents us from selfishness and greed. Using our gifts to serve one another prevents avarice and selfish ambition.

Last, look at 5:6-11.

A life of humility

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:6-11

We are to humble ourselves so that when the time comes, God is the one who raises us up. We cast our cares on him, because He cares for us. And in verse 8, Peter repeats once again, “be sober-minded.” But look at the context, it comes right after cast your cares on him. We tend to think of ‘sober’ as ‘not drunk,’ but here, the ‘drunkenness’ is worry. Anything that causes us to think improperly is unhealthy—whether drink, drug, or worry.

We resist worry by remembering who Christ is, what Christ has done, and what Christ is doing.

And verse 8 reminds us to not the devil lie to us. Resist the lie that you are the only one who suffers like you do. Peter says, “knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experience by your brotherhood throughout the world.” There is a world of Christians who know what you are experiencing.

We can lean on other Christians during times of trouble, because we all face similar trials.

Christian, if you believe no one understands what you are going through right now, know that God does, and God will put someone in your life to help you through your struggle if you will seek Him out.

But the best promise in the Bible comes in verse 10.

The same God who saved you from your past is the same God who is sovereign over your present, and is the same God who has restored your future.

And what does that future look like? Turn with me to Revelation 7. Normally, when we talk about the new heaven and new earth, we think of the final chapters of Revelation, but chapter 7 gives us a glimpse that has something specific I’d like us to finish today with.

A life that continues on

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

“Therefore they are before the throne of God,

and serve him day and night in his temple;

and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;

the sun shall not strike them,

nor any scorching heat.

For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,

and he will guide them to springs of living water,

and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Revelation 7:9-17

First, in verses 9-12 we see the great multitude of people singing praise to God, along with the four living creatures, the elders, and the angels. Then, in verse 13, an elder asks John about the ones in white robes, to which John replies, “Sir, you know.” And the elder explains these are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation.

Sometimes Christians ponder what people do in heaven, and these three verses offer a glimpse.

In heaven, we serve God day and night in His presence.

There is work to do in heaven. Now, I can’t tell you exactly what kind of work, but there is work to do. God never created us to sit on clouds and play harps for eternity. He created Adam and Eve to tend a garden and build a civilization. He saves us to proclaim His Kingdom bringing others into the fold. It makes sense that when we all get to Heaven, He will have something more for us to do.

Now, for those like me who struggle with laziness and get uneasy about working in heaven, look at the next verse.

In heaven, we will not struggle in our existence.

We do not hunger or thirst, nor do we suffer under environmental conditions. Sure, we work, but it ain’t the kind of work we do down here!

In heaven, we will know clearly what God wills for us.

Sometimes we find ourselves second guessing our decisions and careers. But in heaven we will not have to second guess, nor will we be bound to the guilt of our past. The Lamb, Jesus Christ, will be right there to guide us, and God will wipe every tear from our eyes. I’ve heard it said, “There’s no more crying in heaven,” but that’s just not true. I believe people will cry, at least at first, because of the overwhelming emotion that comes in experiencing the love of God. For those who have struggled with the guilt of their past, it is overwhelming when we finally experience the freedom that comes knowing God has forgiven it all. But also, I believe that when we get to heaven, we will finally understand what Paul meant by “redeem the time” and what Peter meant when he said “be sober-minded,” and we will lament at our failure to live that out. We will remember the times God stretched our faith, and we just couldn’t keep hold. But again, God will wipe away those tears reminding us of the tremendous love He has for us. Our first day in heaven will certainly be the most emotional day of our existence.

But as we long for that day, we must remain vigilant and sober-minded, because the Day has not come yet. There is still work to be done. Today, celebrate our salvation through Christ Jesus getting ready for the spiritual battle that will come this week. For some of you, that means surrendering to Christ for the first time. Get yourself ready for the New Creation by getting rid of the sin that is destroying you. For others, it means surrendering your worries and your old sinful habits to Jesus once again. Renew your faith and your hope, because it is a living hope that cannot be taken from you.