THE EXILES DOXOLOGY

 

1 Peter 1:3-5

When Paul was teaching some the heaviest doctrines in Scripture to the church in Rome, it would always cause him to suddenly praise God in doxology (Glorifying words). “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” Rom 11:33-36

 

When you faithfully study Holy Scripture, it automatically draws you closer in that relationship with God in active worship. It causes your heart to overflow with joy, and hope; despite what you are presently enduring to look at who, and not the what. Peter does the same thing here in this letter, as he sends his greeting to encourage the hearts of the preserving Christian. Christians who are faced with many obstacles, their sinful flesh, the world system, home life, trials, and persecution. 

He opens with a doxology of praise as he comforts the scattered exiles who are waiting for their eternal promise that we have in Christ Jesus. (v3-v5) 

God gets the glory always in everything, all our worship is directed to Him alone.

It’s His excellent greatness we rest in as we press on for His glory.

It’s His mercy that has brought us to salvation and the hope of future things.

It’s His sustaining grace and providential plan, is the reason we have hope.

It’s His will for my life to endure for His glory and my good.

 

Peter reminds us of that hope in this doxology of praise to our Great God. Why? 40 years leading up to this letter, Peter was challenged and failed miserably to be a light for Christ amongst a rebellious and angry people. Peter was warned about his failings before he even did it, “Simon, Simon, (repeating his name two times indicates Jesus’ affections and intimacy with Peter.) behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." Peter said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death." Jesus said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me." Luke 22:31-34

It’s interesting to see that Jesus reverts back to Peter’s old name “Simon, Simon” Why? You can almost feel the pain in Jesus’ voice when he calls him by this name. Three times he was challenged to confess that he was a follower of our Lord. Three times he denied any knowledge of Jesus, and the last time he responded with curses. “I never knew the blasted man. How many times do I have to tell you?” We read in Matthew’s Gospel, “After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you." Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.” Matt 26:73-75. In Luke’s account we read, “But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.” Luke 22:60-62

If you were a fly on a barrel that night you would have thought to yourself, it’s all over for this guy, he blew it. But Jesus said something before he did fail that night that would cause you to find hope and grace.  Jesus said, “And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." Luke 22:32. “turned again” could be translated “Once you have retraced your steps go strengthen the brothers”. So don’t squander this falling Peter, but use to remind others of this grace we have in Christ. “Strengthen the brothers” means: “Confirm them, warn them, and encourage them. Use your experience to warn them of their danger, and to comfort and sustain them in their temptations.

 

Christians who fall into sin is to show their own

weakness and dependence on God.

 

Peter’s sin and failings is a reminder for us, as Peter pens this letter that even when we fall we are continually kept by God. Even when we fall, our experiences are as demonstration, or a warning, to preserve others from the same path. Peter, in all his failings demonstrates that he was an example of perseverance despite some of his past, present, and future short-comings. We know that Peter presses on for the glory of God, and we are to do the same as we face our own sin, and the struggles of this world. 40 years later Peter writes this letter to remind us of this hope as we suffer for His glory.

 

What hope? (v3-v5)

 

“A hope that is according to His great mercy” (v3) God takes a sinner in misery, our miserable condition, by showing us mercy to our sinful state and gives us a change of condition. 1 Peter 2:10. Mercy is the motive behind God’s granting believers eternal life. Eph 2:4-5. Where grace takes us from the guilt of sin, to a position of change, which is the forgiveness of sin. Rom 3:24; Eph 1:7. The Apostle Peter called it a living hope as he later describes this hope in his second letter, “But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” 2 Peter 3:13

 

The unbelieving world only knows dying and death! But for the person who is born again through the gospel, we know there is a living undying hope. The Christian hopes and rests in the promises of a new Heaven and new Earth in which righteousness dwells through Christ. This living hope is caused by God’s sovereign workings amoung the Godhead who has caused us to be born again. John Calvin wrote in his commentary, “He shows that supernatural life is a gift, because we are born the children of wrath; for had we been born to the hope of life according to the flesh, there would have been no necessity of being begotten again by God.” The language Peter uses in (v3) is the same that we find in Genesis. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.” Genesis 1:1-3. No life is created from cosmic accident; and the same is true when it comes to regeneration. This reality of regeneration was clearly explained to Nicodemus in John’s gospel. John 3:1-15

 

Can a sinner change his or her nature apart

from the workings of God?

 

The answer is no! Just as Jeremiah asked the same question, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Jer 13:23. That’s what makes the gospel so amazing, it’s God’s redeeming grave is  what produces this living hope in us. Humanity’s sinful nature needs changing, but only God working through Spirit, can transform the sinful heart. We who were by nature destined to death, and destruction, have been restored to life, meaning eternal…… by God’s causing mercy. Just as it did for Peter, despite his lack of faith and short-comings before writing this letter. We have been born again… Not just to have a better quality of life in this world, it’s not simply we have been given a second chance. But, given a living hope to a life that is forever and it’s sustained by the power of God through the resurrection of Christ. And that is guaranteed and sealed in our inheritance.

 

INHERITANCE: is the idea of having something handed down to a family member or somebody special. By today’s standards it refers to wealth or something of value passed down. We cannot cash in on this inheritance now, like the prodigal son did, and nor do we want to. The inheritance Peter speaks of is the eternal inheritance that Christ has secured in Heaven for those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone! Paul said, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Col 3:1-2. This promise is something that is to come, something far better. Peter doesn’t tell us the exact content of the inheritance, but He does describe it, and he does it using negative terms.

This inheritance cannot be destroyed which means it’s imperishable: refers to what’s not corruptible, not liable to death, or subject to destruction. This spiritual inheritance will never be subject to destruction for the believer, because it is a glorious treasure that will never be lost. A genuine salvation in Jesus Christ is so precious of a gift that it will never be lost or lose its value! Eph 1:18 says “having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,”

 

This inheritance is not defiled with dirty money, it’s undefiled: describes things that are unstained or unpolluted, something that is perfect and purely given. Everything on this earth is stained and polluted with sin. All earthly inheritance is defiled, but not the undefiled inheritance the Christian has in Jesus Christ and His finishing work on the cross. This gift is flawless and perfect for those who put their trust in Jesus Christ alone. Eph 2:8-9 speaks of this gift! “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

 

This inheritance will never wither and die, it’s unfading: Peter describes it like a flower that doesn’t wither and die. The believer’s inheritance will never fade away like a bouquet of flowers will after a period of time. This gives comfort for the believer that when the time comes their inheritance will never lose its splendor. This fallen sinful world will never decay the perfection found in heaven for those who love and are waiting for His coming! As Peter said “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory” 1 Peter 5:4. Nothing on this earth can touch the believer’s inheritance!

 

Why? Because of what Peter says 

at the end of (v4). 

 

This inheritance will never be revoked because it’s reserved: Our spiritual inheritance was permanent in nature, but also secured in Heaven. Our inheritance is fixed and unalterable, and so is its place.  “Reserved” this means guarded or to watched over with great care and concern. This gives the idea that the inheritance already exists being carefully guarded and watched over in Heaven. This living hope, we have in Christ, is being protected, watch over, guarded by the sovereign God of the universe. The One who spoke everything into existence and the One who provided a Savior for sinners like you and me.

See, Heaven is the securest place

in the entire universe.

This is why Jesus said this to the people listening "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matt 6:19-21

The Apostle John characterized it as a place where “nothing unclean, and no one who practices abominations and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those who names are written in the Lamb’s book of Life.” Rev 21:27; Rev 22:14-15. Peter gives us details to this place are to provide the believer with an undying hope for Heaven. This is what keeps us going as we live the exile life for His glory. That one day the child of God will receive this inheritance from the One who caused us to be saved by His grace. A hope that was secured in the sovereign hands of God, as Jesus said “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.” John 10:27-29

 

This is persevering living with an eternal hope, not an earthly hope that leads to death and separation form a holy God. A God who loves us and gave us His Son to die in our place, so that we could taste and have genuine joy in this life. We press on and lay up our treasures that will never fade or rust away in Christ alone. John MacArthur wrote, The Christian continued faith in God, is evidence of His keeping and protecting work. At conversion, God energizes faith in believer’s hearts and as He keeps then He continues to energize their faith. By His grace God’s omnipotent, protecting power and the believer’s perseverance of faith always work hand in hand. This is the believer joy and desire, as we persevere by looking beyond this life and human history. We look forward to that day when He rescues or delivers us to the fullness of Christ in Heaven. (v5)

 

This cannot happen until the last episode of redemption in history comes; the return of Jesus Christ. And when it’s done we will see, and hear, our King say, “And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matt 25:33-34. This is the believers hope that is secured in the sovereign hands of a holy God who is transcendent above all the earth. As the Psalmist said, “The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” Psalm 16:5-6. This is the regenerating work of God and the eternal promises it produces for those who love Him. As the great late Apostle Paul said “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Tim 4:7-8

 

"Live in Christ, live in Christ, and the

flesh need not fear death." John Knox

Christians possess some of the benefits of salvation in this life, but the greatest fullness of redemption is yet to come. Nothing can take that away from the living hope found in Jesus Christ! Even as exiles in land that is not our home. 

Hymn Writer Fanny Crosby gave us more than 6,000 gospel songs. Although blinded by an illness at the age of 6 weeks, she never became bitter. One time a preacher sympathetically remarked, "I think it is a great pity that the Master did not give you sight when He showered so many other gifts upon you." She replied quickly, "Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I should be born blind?" "Why?" asked the surprised preacher. “Because when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior!" One of Miss Crosby's hymns was so personal to her that for years she kept it to herself. "One day at the Bible conference in Northfield, Massachusetts, Miss Crosby was asked by D.L. Moody to give a personal testimony. At first she hesitated, then quietly rose and said her “There is one hymn I have written which has never been published. I call it my soul's poem. Sometimes when I am troubled, I repeat it to myself, for it brings comfort to my heart.' She then recited while many wept, “Someday the silver cord will break, and I no more as now shall sing; but oh, the joy when I shall wake within the palace of the King! And I shall see Him face to face, and tell the story saved by grace!'" At the young age of 95, Fanny Crosby passed into glory and saw the face of Jesus.

 

Why could Fanny Crosby say those words? Death might, and will, destroy our bodies, but God has promised to protect our souls and raise us up with Him one day. She understood the truth of the gospel and the eternal hope that it brings to broken and lost souls. She knew of this eternal inheritance that Peter reminds of so boldly and clear for the exile child of God. That God is the source of our permanent inheritance. That God is the source of mercy and grace in the new birth. That God remains perfect and eternal who hold you secure for future things.