First Mennonite Church
April 19, 2026
Born Into A Living Hope
Text: 1Peter 1:1-9
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Last Sunday, we considered the story of Jesus restoring Peter by shore of the Sea of Galilee. There, Jesus commissioned Peter to feed his sheep and to take care of his flock. Today, we will be considering the first part of Peter’s first letter to the Christians in Asia Minor. Asia Minor constitutes the majority of modern-day Turkey. During Peter’s time, Asia minor was composed of the Roman provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. And let us remember what happened on Pentecost Day. When God poured out of his Spirit upon those gathered and they began to proclaim the gospel in different languages, many came to inquire the commotion. Interestingly, those who came to inquire were people from these precise places Peter here addresses this letter (Acts 2:9). Therefore, it is very likely that the Christians to whom Peter addressed his letter were Christian communities that formed as the result the preaching of those heard Peter on the Day of Pentecost.
Here in this letter, Peter calls these Christians, “God’s chosen people, exiled and scattered” throughout the region of Asia Minor. Twice in this letter Peter refers to the believers as “exiles and strangers” or “foreigners.” This designation, however, is not because these Christians had come from somewhere else, rather because the nature of their Christian calling within their pagan setting, made them like strangers and aliens. Their identity as followers of Jesus made them look like foreigners and strangers to the locals. Their radical lifestyle, their love, their devotion to the Crucified, resurrected, and glorified Christ, whom they confessed as Lord made them unique and at odd with larger society. Their shared conviction with others, their life in community of brothers and sister, their caring and supporting each other distinguished them from the rest of society. Their godly lives contrasted with how Peter describes the larger society in chapter four, verse three.
Peter praises God, who in his mercy has called and formed these communities through a new birth. This new birth also ushers all believers into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And by being born of God, all believers are also heirs of God’s promises, protection and power. This glorious inheritance is secured in heaven, says Peter, where it can never perish, spoil or fade. In other words, the things God has for us, both for today and for our eternal enjoyment are kept in a safety deposit box before his presence. Nothing can take it away nor destroy it.
However, because of their new birth into a living hope these believers became poles apart, a radically different society; they were like day is to night from the rest of their society. It was because of their distinctive nature, their counter-cultural way of life that made these communities suspect and the object of harassment. That is why throughout the letter, Peter makes references to suffering. These communities of believers were living in a harsh and antagonistic environment because of their Christian faith. Further in the letter Peter warns them: Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
Peter presses hard to show that Jesus suffered, thus their suffering is in line with their Master’s. Thus, Peter said, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly (2:21-23).
And again, “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin” (4.1).
But Peter tells them that their suffering can serve as a test and purifier of their faith, just as gold that is refined by fire. However, Peter says, a faith that is tested by fire is more precious than gold. Genuineness of faith is more precious than even gold purified by fire, says Peter.
History has taught us that suffering has made people cling to God in faith as also made people abandon God.
Recently, I read a story of woman who was raised in church, participated in many church activities including doing short term missions abroad. Her mom sang in the choir and her dad was very much involved in the ministries of their very large congregation. When she was preparing to go to college, her Christian brothers and sister assured her that God will provide for her expenses. But after spending all her savings, she had to drop out of school after one year because and God did not provide as she was told. At that time, she began to question God faithfulness and felt she could no longer continue trusting in God. After telling her long story in much detail, she finished with this line: Faith can give your life immeasurable value, but so can losing it.”
Suffering have made people resent God or blame God or abandon God all together. As Scott, a young man who lost his mom to cancer, said, “After praying intensely and still losing my mother, I felt like raising my middle finger to God.”
However, there are countless people who despite the suffering they underwent and precisely for being faithful to the Lord, they found strength, peace, fullness, and unspeakable joy in God.
When the stakes are high or when the circumstance requires it and people did the right thing, you hear them say, “such and such brought out the best in me.” But as we have seen sometimes, even mild inconveniences or simple disagreements perceived as persecution have brought the worst in some despite calling themselves Christians. Peter here reminds us that suffering proves the genuineness of our faith, which will “result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
For it is in him that we have believed. Him, who Peter says, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” Yes, we are part of that group of people Jesus had in mind when he told Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).
The joy we find in the Lord will be tested at times. Our way of life will not always fit within the larger society and that might bring us discomfort. When our lives back up the claims we make about whom we follow, our loyalty to him will be tested. In following Christ, there is great joy and hope, secured like in safety deposit box in heaven. It is a hope that nothing will destroy it. But keeping our faith will not always be easy. So, I closing, let us be reminded of what Peter wrote to his dear Christian friends.
“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. Amen! Pastor Romero