WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.660 Verse 3, it's printed in your worship guide. 00:00:01.760 --> 00:00:03.040 You also can find it on your phone. 00:00:03.160 --> 00:00:06.879 You can find it potentially in your Bible if you brought that with you. 00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:09.679 And as we come to this, remember that this is God's word. 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:15.240 And God tells us that his word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. 00:00:16.080 --> 00:00:20.039 In other words, God has not left us to walk alone in the dark, stumbling. 00:00:21.179 --> 00:00:24.679 But instead, he's given us his word to show us the way to go. 00:00:24.679 --> 00:00:27.679 And so that's why we read it starting with verse 3. 00:00:27.679 --> 00:00:31.980 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:37.640 According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope 00:00:37.640 --> 00:00:41.119 through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 00:00:41.820 --> 00:00:47.159 Verse 4, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:50.200 Kept in heaven for you, verse 5, 00:00:50.200 --> 00:00:57.200 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 00:00:57.679 --> 00:01:03.079 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:01:06.200 --> 00:01:08.920 Father in heaven, we praise you and we thank you. 00:01:09.400 --> 00:01:13.319 And we thank you that you haven't left us alone, but that you've spoken to us. 00:01:13.840 --> 00:01:16.579 We thank you that your word is powerful. 00:01:17.420 --> 00:01:20.200 That it's your word that brings dead things to life. 00:01:20.200 --> 00:01:22.760 It was your word that created the world. 00:01:22.760 --> 00:01:26.680 It's your word that called us to faith in you. 00:01:27.800 --> 00:01:30.380 And it's your word that you give to us this morning. 00:01:31.160 --> 00:01:33.439 We ask that you would help us as we come to it. 00:01:33.520 --> 00:01:39.500 That you would speak to us clearly in ways, in words that we can understand. 00:01:40.200 --> 00:01:41.920 Because you know that we're but dust. 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:48.019 We ask that you would do that now and that we would leave here loving you more and knowing you more. 00:01:48.060 --> 00:01:51.140 And believing that you are worth it and that you're our Father. 00:01:52.420 --> 00:01:57.240 We ask these things not because we deserve them, but because Jesus has earned them for us. 00:01:57.560 --> 00:01:59.359 And so we ask them in his name. 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:00.439 Amen. 00:02:00.439 --> 00:02:00.560 Amen. 00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:00.600 Amen. 00:02:03.939 --> 00:02:13.240 So a few weeks ago before we started 1 Peter, we looked at, I believe it was Psalm 133, which talked about the beauty and glory of relationships. 00:02:13.800 --> 00:02:20.219 And if you've been in the church for a while, you've lived in communities, you know there are varying levels of relationships, especially when it comes to closeness. 00:02:20.420 --> 00:02:23.640 There's people that maybe you just greet them on Sunday morning. 00:02:24.640 --> 00:02:27.780 There's people maybe they come over to your house if you invite them. 00:02:27.780 --> 00:02:32.240 And then maybe you've gotten to kind of the highest level of a relationship. 00:02:32.539 --> 00:02:35.979 You have people who they'll drop by your house even if you don't invite them. 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:39.259 Now hopefully you have that kind of relationship with them. 00:02:39.639 --> 00:02:45.000 There are certain people that have folks in their lives who drop by to their house uninvited even though they don't have that kind of relationship. 00:02:45.180 --> 00:02:46.000 That's a different discussion. 00:02:48.659 --> 00:02:52.620 But you know as we grow in community, there's people that we become closer and closer with. 00:02:52.699 --> 00:02:56.280 We live life with them together in their houses constantly. 00:02:56.280 --> 00:02:59.180 Some of you in this church have those kinds of relationships. 00:03:00.939 --> 00:03:04.759 Peter, writing this letter, had that kind of relationship with Jesus. 00:03:05.500 --> 00:03:08.659 He had a drop by the house anytime kind of relationship. 00:03:09.659 --> 00:03:11.120 In fact, it was probably more than that. 00:03:11.699 --> 00:03:15.620 We have indications in the Gospels that Peter and Jesus lived in the same house. 00:03:15.780 --> 00:03:21.400 When Jesus was in Capernaum where he met Peter, he would probably spend his time at Peter's family's house. 00:03:21.400 --> 00:03:25.939 At one point, they were so close that Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law. 00:03:27.540 --> 00:03:33.400 Now if you're like me, sometimes when you open up your phone, if you swipe to a certain section, it will give you suggestions about what you should do. 00:03:33.480 --> 00:03:35.640 It will list maybe apps that you open a lot. 00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:38.080 I'll get suggestions about who I should be texting. 00:03:38.280 --> 00:03:40.819 And it's usually based on who I've been texting a lot recently. 00:03:40.819 --> 00:03:45.719 When Peter opened up his phone, he got a suggestion to text Jesus. 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:53.539 When Jesus, if he lived today, opened up his iPhone, he may have gotten the suggestion to text Peter, James, or John. 00:03:54.060 --> 00:03:55.680 Because those are the ones that were closest to him. 00:03:56.319 --> 00:03:59.039 And so Peter had this incredibly close relationship with Jesus. 00:03:59.180 --> 00:04:02.280 And there's another thing that's less known about Peter that people don't always tell you. 00:04:02.359 --> 00:04:06.180 And that's Peter has a verb that goes next to his name constantly in the Gospels. 00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:07.740 And that's the verb remember. 00:04:07.740 --> 00:04:10.680 Peter is the one who remembers. 00:04:11.939 --> 00:04:17.259 And that's why church history tells us that Peter was the source for much of the Gospel of Mark. 00:04:17.400 --> 00:04:21.420 Because his job was to remember what Jesus taught his disciples. 00:04:22.560 --> 00:04:25.340 It's with that in mind that we come to verse 3. 00:04:26.280 --> 00:04:31.420 Peter tells us, according to his great mercy that's talking about God, he has caused us to be born again. 00:04:32.180 --> 00:04:35.040 Peter is telling us what he learned from Jesus. 00:04:35.040 --> 00:04:39.100 We read it as our preparation to worship this morning from John chapter 3. 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:43.700 Jesus has this conversation with Nicodemus about what it means to love him and follow him. 00:04:43.740 --> 00:04:45.660 And he says it's like being born again. 00:04:46.640 --> 00:04:51.200 In other words, becoming a Christian is so radical, it's like becoming a whole new person. 00:04:51.920 --> 00:04:54.500 There's a whole new identity and reality that you exist in. 00:04:54.540 --> 00:04:57.040 And there's all kinds of things I could tell you about the new birth. 00:04:57.540 --> 00:05:00.640 We could spend multiple sermons talking about what it means to be born again. 00:05:00.740 --> 00:05:03.060 What this is that Jesus was teaching that Peter remembered. 00:05:03.060 --> 00:05:07.139 But Peter gives us a couple things to focus on specifically in this passage. 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:11.939 First of all, it's that he's been born again, not just in general, but we've been born again. 00:05:12.060 --> 00:05:14.060 This is still verse 3, to a living hope. 00:05:15.620 --> 00:05:19.399 And he's also going to tell us, verse 4, that we've been born again to an inheritance. 00:05:19.399 --> 00:05:28.079 When I was growing up, like some of you, I, during the summers, I would go to summer camp. 00:05:29.279 --> 00:05:34.159 And this was in the forest of West Virginia, right outside the George Washington National Park. 00:05:34.219 --> 00:05:35.879 And my brothers and I loved going to camp. 00:05:35.919 --> 00:05:36.959 It was one of our favorite things. 00:05:37.019 --> 00:05:42.139 In fact, we loved it so much that there was one year, one of us had a camp-themed birthday party 00:05:42.139 --> 00:05:45.639 where we tried to reenact what it was like to be at camp for our birthday party 00:05:45.639 --> 00:05:46.860 because we just thought it was the best. 00:05:47.259 --> 00:05:49.379 We looked forward all year to going to camp. 00:05:50.180 --> 00:05:53.719 We loved being there with the other kids, doing all these fun things outdoors. 00:05:53.919 --> 00:05:57.240 And so it was wonderful, except for one year. 00:05:58.599 --> 00:06:00.579 So I grew up going to camp, elementary school. 00:06:01.319 --> 00:06:05.339 And then I got to junior high, and I was no longer able to go to the camp 00:06:05.339 --> 00:06:08.699 where you just, you know, shoot guns and shoot bows and arrows, but you had to pick an activity. 00:06:09.279 --> 00:06:11.939 And so I decided that year I was going to go to a go-kart camp. 00:06:12.860 --> 00:06:15.779 And so you'd show up for the week, and you'd have different teams of kids, 00:06:15.800 --> 00:06:18.860 and they would build a go-kart, and the goal was at the end of the week you'd get to race it. 00:06:20.079 --> 00:06:21.360 Now that sounds wonderful. 00:06:22.699 --> 00:06:23.560 It was terrible. 00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:27.719 And it was terrible because this was a camp on a shoestring budget, 00:06:27.719 --> 00:06:30.299 and so part of what they would do is they'd break up these teams, 00:06:30.300 --> 00:06:32.180 and they'd have different volunteers who would lead them. 00:06:32.259 --> 00:06:36.120 So you'd have dads who had a background in mechanics who'd take a group of kids, 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:39.780 and they'd say, okay, we're going to build this go-kart, this dad's going to lead this go-kart, so-and-so. 00:06:39.879 --> 00:06:46.080 I got on a team with a dad and his son and me. 00:06:48.180 --> 00:06:52.540 And this dad and his son had an amazing time building their go-kart that week. 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:58.340 However, they didn't invite me to help them with things. 00:06:58.340 --> 00:06:59.100 I mean, I was there. 00:07:00.300 --> 00:07:01.620 I was 12 or 13 at the time. 00:07:01.699 --> 00:07:04.780 I didn't really know exactly how to self-advocate, you know. 00:07:05.340 --> 00:07:06.960 I would ask them at times, what can I do? 00:07:07.120 --> 00:07:08.079 There wasn't really a lot. 00:07:09.240 --> 00:07:11.620 And this father that I was working with wasn't the greatest man in the world. 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:14.080 At one point, he would tell us, you know, these other teams, 00:07:14.199 --> 00:07:16.300 they're not going to win at the end of the week 00:07:16.300 --> 00:07:19.400 because they don't understand how wheel alignment works in the front of go-karts. 00:07:19.900 --> 00:07:20.740 Like, we're 12. 00:07:20.819 --> 00:07:23.360 We're not supposed to understand how wheel alignment works in the front of go-karts. 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:26.439 It was terrible. 00:07:26.740 --> 00:07:29.100 On top of that, there was this other punk in my cabin. 00:07:33.139 --> 00:07:37.020 And he and I had interacted in previous summers, 00:07:37.020 --> 00:07:38.780 and he let me know that he had some tricks. 00:07:38.879 --> 00:07:41.540 He and his dad had figured out, you know, the right way to race go-karts. 00:07:42.040 --> 00:07:43.620 He was not going to share that with me, however. 00:07:44.460 --> 00:07:45.860 Capone, you're not going to get in on our secrets. 00:07:45.860 --> 00:07:49.439 It was awful. 00:07:50.400 --> 00:07:52.100 It was my worst week at camp. 00:07:52.180 --> 00:07:54.920 It was awful day after day, feeling like I was excluded from these people. 00:07:54.980 --> 00:07:57.160 I didn't belong right there of a different birth than I am. 00:07:57.199 --> 00:07:58.100 There's a father and a son. 00:07:58.139 --> 00:07:59.139 I can't break into this. 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:02.199 I'm supposed to be having this amazing week building go-karts. 00:08:03.840 --> 00:08:06.100 And yet it turned out to be quite the opposite, right? 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:07.840 I was feeling out of place in this situation. 00:08:08.540 --> 00:08:10.000 Wasn't doing what I was supposed to be doing. 00:08:10.060 --> 00:08:10.660 I was shut out. 00:08:10.660 --> 00:08:15.980 But I had one hope. 00:08:18.860 --> 00:08:21.200 With this camp, you got dropped off on a Sunday, 00:08:22.380 --> 00:08:24.800 and it went all the way until the next Saturday. 00:08:25.880 --> 00:08:29.700 And I knew that when Saturday came, there was a road in the camp, 00:08:29.760 --> 00:08:32.779 a dirt gravel road that ran across a creek on a bridge, 00:08:32.800 --> 00:08:33.720 and then it ran into camp. 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:35.360 And I knew that on Saturday morning, 00:08:36.019 --> 00:08:39.300 rolling down that road with dirt blowing behind it, 00:08:39.299 --> 00:08:44.959 there was going to be a red manual transmission, 00:08:45.439 --> 00:08:48.599 1998 Subaru Forester rolling down the road, 00:08:48.699 --> 00:08:49.799 probably in second gear. 00:08:51.139 --> 00:08:55.379 And behind the wheel of that 1998 red Subaru Forester 00:08:55.379 --> 00:08:59.699 was going to be Charles Capone Jr., my father. 00:08:59.700 --> 00:09:04.440 And no matter what happened that week, 00:09:04.660 --> 00:09:08.800 I knew at the end, he was going to come and pick me up. 00:09:11.340 --> 00:09:13.060 And that wasn't a faint hope. 00:09:13.740 --> 00:09:15.100 It was a living hope. 00:09:16.280 --> 00:09:18.940 It was a living hope because my father was alive. 00:09:19.920 --> 00:09:23.040 It was also a living hope because I knew my father's character, 00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:27.140 and Charles Capone Jr. was not going to be late on Saturday morning to pick me up. 00:09:27.139 --> 00:09:30.279 He had picked me up in previous years from camp. 00:09:30.360 --> 00:09:31.460 He was my father, right? 00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:32.620 He loved me, he cared for me. 00:09:32.659 --> 00:09:34.819 There was no way he was going to forget that that was his day 00:09:34.819 --> 00:09:39.679 to come to camp and give me full and final salvation from this situation. 00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:46.840 Why does it matter that God is our father? 00:09:46.840 --> 00:09:52.060 No matter what happens in this world, 00:09:52.160 --> 00:09:54.800 no matter what the people reading this letter face, 00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:57.320 they know no matter what, 00:09:57.759 --> 00:10:01.300 God is going to come for them. 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:04.420 And he is going to give them, 00:10:05.060 --> 00:10:05.960 verse 5, 00:10:08.519 --> 00:10:09.700 a salvation 00:10:09.700 --> 00:10:12.220 that's going to be revealed in the last time. 00:10:12.220 --> 00:10:14.920 And when he comes back, 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:16.279 he is not coming back 00:10:16.279 --> 00:10:18.420 on a red manual transmission, 00:10:18.580 --> 00:10:20.300 1998 Subaru Forester, 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:21.379 but he is coming back, 00:10:21.420 --> 00:10:23.680 as the Old and the New Testament tells us, 00:10:23.740 --> 00:10:25.180 on the clouds with all authority 00:10:25.180 --> 00:10:27.160 and power and glory and dominion. 00:10:27.580 --> 00:10:28.440 And as Philippians 2, 00:10:28.500 --> 00:10:30.220 chapter 2, verse 10 tells us, 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:32.100 every knee is going to bow down 00:10:32.100 --> 00:10:35.080 and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. 00:10:35.080 --> 00:10:41.000 Because God is our father, 00:10:41.200 --> 00:10:44.480 we know that he is coming for us. 00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:49.160 And no matter what happens in this world, 00:10:49.379 --> 00:10:50.960 nothing can change that. 00:10:54.139 --> 00:10:56.180 It's according to his great mercy. 00:10:56.300 --> 00:10:57.580 This is the word from the Old Testament 00:10:57.580 --> 00:11:00.040 that we've translated as God's never stopping, 00:11:00.200 --> 00:11:01.360 never giving up, unbreaking, 00:11:01.560 --> 00:11:02.720 always and forever love. 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:05.480 He's called us to be born again to a living hope. 00:11:05.560 --> 00:11:06.480 It's not a dead hope. 00:11:07.100 --> 00:11:09.160 It's a living hope because Jesus is alive. 00:11:09.259 --> 00:11:10.759 It's happened through the resurrection 00:11:10.759 --> 00:11:12.980 of Jesus Christ from the dead. 00:11:15.300 --> 00:11:18.620 Because Jesus died and actually rose from the dead, 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:20.980 these people have real hope in real time 00:11:20.980 --> 00:11:21.980 because God is their father. 00:11:22.080 --> 00:11:23.420 As they look back to something 00:11:23.420 --> 00:11:25.060 that actually happened in the past 00:11:25.060 --> 00:11:26.660 that Jesus died and rose from the dead, 00:11:26.899 --> 00:11:27.960 they can also look forward 00:11:27.960 --> 00:11:29.639 to a real historical event 00:11:29.639 --> 00:11:31.800 that is going to happen when Jesus comes back. 00:11:31.799 --> 00:11:34.240 And so they can live in the present 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:35.799 with hope and faith 00:11:35.799 --> 00:11:37.579 no matter what's going on around them. 00:11:40.500 --> 00:11:42.359 Now Peter would have known 00:11:42.359 --> 00:11:43.819 that Jesus rose from the dead. 00:11:45.099 --> 00:11:46.379 And he would have known 00:11:46.379 --> 00:11:47.799 because he would have met Jesus 00:11:47.799 --> 00:11:49.159 after he rose from the dead. 00:11:50.179 --> 00:11:51.399 Peter interacted with Jesus. 00:11:52.099 --> 00:11:53.099 He walked with Jesus. 00:11:54.539 --> 00:11:56.519 One thing that Peter's going to tell us 00:11:56.519 --> 00:11:57.179 later in this letter 00:11:57.179 --> 00:11:58.240 is that we need to have a reason 00:11:58.240 --> 00:11:59.859 for the hope that's within us. 00:11:59.860 --> 00:12:02.120 In other words, 00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:03.220 we need to know why it is 00:12:03.220 --> 00:12:04.919 that we believe that Jesus rose from the dead. 00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:08.180 We need to know why we have a living hope. 00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:10.720 Now of course ultimately we have this living hope 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:12.539 because God works it in us through his spirit, 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:13.680 but of course there's many things 00:12:13.680 --> 00:12:15.060 that encourage us that he uses. 00:12:15.259 --> 00:12:17.440 One of them is the testimony of Peter. 00:12:19.379 --> 00:12:22.300 Remember that Peter is a middle class fisherman, 00:12:22.500 --> 00:12:23.500 small business owner, 00:12:23.500 --> 00:12:25.600 and after Jesus died 00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:27.779 he could have easily gone back to that business. 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:30.139 There's no indication 00:12:30.139 --> 00:12:31.200 that there was a tank 00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:33.700 in the fish business in Capernaum 00:12:33.700 --> 00:12:34.580 during the couple years 00:12:34.580 --> 00:12:36.159 when Peter was following Jesus. 00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:39.019 In fact, we were told 00:12:39.019 --> 00:12:40.419 at the very end of the Gospel of John 00:12:40.419 --> 00:12:41.840 that Peter did that at one point. 00:12:41.919 --> 00:12:43.440 He went back to his fishing boat. 00:12:44.919 --> 00:12:47.480 Had Jesus not risen from the dead, 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:49.080 Peter would have had every reason 00:12:49.080 --> 00:12:50.539 to go back to his old life. 00:12:50.539 --> 00:12:54.419 But instead, because he knew 00:12:54.419 --> 00:12:55.339 and had experienced 00:12:55.339 --> 00:12:56.939 that Jesus had risen from the dead, 00:12:57.039 --> 00:12:57.639 he chose something 00:12:57.639 --> 00:12:58.980 that was much more challenging, 00:12:59.339 --> 00:13:00.139 hard, and difficult. 00:13:00.299 --> 00:13:00.899 He chose something 00:13:00.899 --> 00:13:03.179 that was going to be less lucrative 00:13:03.179 --> 00:13:04.159 for him financially. 00:13:04.319 --> 00:13:05.559 Instead of going back to his job 00:13:05.559 --> 00:13:06.319 as a fisherman, 00:13:06.439 --> 00:13:07.519 he followed after Jesus, 00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:08.579 preaching about him. 00:13:08.620 --> 00:13:09.679 We see this in the book of Acts 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:11.279 and suffering for him. 00:13:13.339 --> 00:13:14.199 Peter's testimony 00:13:14.199 --> 00:13:15.699 is part of the reason 00:13:15.699 --> 00:13:16.919 that we have confidence 00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:19.099 in Jesus' resurrection from the dead. 00:13:19.100 --> 00:13:22.019 Why else would Peter, 00:13:22.300 --> 00:13:23.940 a man who hated suffering, 00:13:24.840 --> 00:13:25.540 choose to suffer? 00:13:27.560 --> 00:13:29.120 And why else would Peter, 00:13:29.240 --> 00:13:30.700 a man who could have gone back 00:13:30.700 --> 00:13:31.300 to fishing, 00:13:31.960 --> 00:13:33.060 instead transition 00:13:33.060 --> 00:13:34.320 to preaching the Gospel 00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:36.639 and being persecuted for it? 00:13:38.980 --> 00:13:39.899 Peter does it 00:13:39.899 --> 00:13:41.019 because he knows 00:13:41.019 --> 00:13:43.200 that God is his Father 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:45.460 who has caused him 00:13:45.460 --> 00:13:46.440 to be born again 00:13:46.440 --> 00:13:47.740 to a living hope 00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:48.920 through the resurrection 00:13:48.920 --> 00:13:50.160 of Jesus Christ 00:13:50.160 --> 00:13:51.140 from the dead. 00:13:54.420 --> 00:13:56.020 And so that no matter what, 00:13:57.580 --> 00:13:58.620 he has a salvation 00:13:58.620 --> 00:14:00.120 that's ready to be revealed 00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:01.900 in the last time. 00:14:03.900 --> 00:14:06.480 If we have faith in Christ, 00:14:06.740 --> 00:14:09.140 the same is true of us. 00:14:11.580 --> 00:14:13.580 Saying that God is our Father 00:14:13.580 --> 00:14:15.900 is not a sentimental story 00:14:15.900 --> 00:14:17.100 to end a sermon. 00:14:19.300 --> 00:14:20.639 And it's not a line 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:21.500 in a devotional 00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:23.300 to make us have a warm feeling. 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:27.639 But it is the actual reality 00:14:27.639 --> 00:14:28.379 and fact 00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:29.700 that we need to know 00:14:29.700 --> 00:14:30.720 to give us hope, 00:14:30.800 --> 00:14:31.780 to look forward 00:14:31.780 --> 00:14:33.180 as we live now 00:14:33.180 --> 00:14:34.980 to what God is going to do 00:14:34.980 --> 00:14:35.600 in the future 00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:37.120 and we have confidence in that 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:38.540 because of what he has done 00:14:38.540 --> 00:14:39.360 in the past. 00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:42.039 And that is how 00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:42.919 we're going to be able 00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:43.560 to do 00:14:43.560 --> 00:14:45.139 what Peter is going to tell us 00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:45.980 at the very end 00:14:45.980 --> 00:14:46.840 of chapter 5 00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:48.379 which is stand firm. 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:53.539 That's why it matters 00:14:53.539 --> 00:14:54.159 that God 00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:55.399 is our Father. 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:00.120 That's not the only thing 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:01.019 that this new birth 00:15:01.019 --> 00:15:02.879 has given, however. 00:15:06.600 --> 00:15:07.840 When I was at this camp 00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:09.500 and things weren't going well, 00:15:10.220 --> 00:15:11.280 this was in West Virginia. 00:15:12.280 --> 00:15:13.139 Now I didn't live 00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:13.780 in West Virginia. 00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:16.320 I lived in Southern Maryland 00:15:16.320 --> 00:15:18.899 right outside Washington, D.C. 00:15:19.960 --> 00:15:21.320 And while I was at camp, 00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:24.300 my home in Southern Maryland 00:15:24.300 --> 00:15:25.399 still existed. 00:15:26.160 --> 00:15:26.780 Imagine that. 00:15:28.560 --> 00:15:29.899 I had a room in this home. 00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:32.720 That room could not be touched 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:33.840 by anything that happened 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:34.300 at the camp. 00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:37.200 I had relationships 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:37.780 at this home. 00:15:37.860 --> 00:15:38.400 I had a family. 00:15:39.400 --> 00:15:40.020 There is nothing 00:15:40.020 --> 00:15:40.560 that happened 00:15:40.560 --> 00:15:41.640 in West Virginia 00:15:41.640 --> 00:15:42.740 that could touch that. 00:15:46.560 --> 00:15:47.600 When Peter says, 00:15:47.700 --> 00:15:48.440 we've been born again 00:15:48.440 --> 00:15:49.300 to an inheritance 00:15:49.300 --> 00:15:50.560 that is imperishable, 00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:51.720 undefiled, 00:15:51.900 --> 00:15:52.900 and unfading, 00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:54.700 kept in heaven for you, 00:15:55.100 --> 00:15:55.940 he is saying 00:15:55.940 --> 00:15:56.840 not only 00:15:56.840 --> 00:15:58.320 what we've already seen 00:15:58.320 --> 00:15:59.180 that no matter 00:15:59.180 --> 00:15:59.800 what happens, 00:15:59.879 --> 00:16:00.980 God is coming for us. 00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:03.040 He's also saying 00:16:03.040 --> 00:16:03.800 that no matter 00:16:03.800 --> 00:16:04.660 what happens, 00:16:04.659 --> 00:16:05.659 there is nothing 00:16:05.659 --> 00:16:07.139 in this world 00:16:07.139 --> 00:16:07.939 that can touch 00:16:07.939 --> 00:16:08.799 or affect 00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:09.500 what God 00:16:09.500 --> 00:16:10.620 is preparing, 00:16:10.819 --> 00:16:11.480 has prepared, 00:16:11.579 --> 00:16:12.299 and is securing 00:16:12.299 --> 00:16:13.000 for us. 00:16:16.419 --> 00:16:17.919 Nothing that happens 00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:19.439 to these readers 00:16:19.439 --> 00:16:21.279 in modern-day Turkey 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:22.240 as they're experiencing 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:22.860 persecution 00:16:22.860 --> 00:16:23.559 as Christians 00:16:23.559 --> 00:16:24.519 will affect 00:16:24.519 --> 00:16:25.480 their inheritance. 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:27.100 It cannot be touched. 00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:28.059 It's imperishable. 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:29.620 Nothing can ruin it. 00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:30.799 It's undefiled. 00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:31.939 Sin doesn't have 00:16:31.939 --> 00:16:32.519 any effect. 00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:33.759 It's unfading. 00:16:34.699 --> 00:16:35.840 No matter how long 00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:36.340 it's there, 00:16:36.519 --> 00:16:37.679 it will still be 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:38.819 as beautiful as ever, 00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:39.379 and it's kept 00:16:39.379 --> 00:16:40.799 in heaven for you. 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:44.179 When I was in 00:16:44.179 --> 00:16:44.819 West Virginia, 00:16:45.579 --> 00:16:46.679 just because I was 00:16:46.679 --> 00:16:47.559 separated from my 00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:48.139 home in Maryland 00:16:48.139 --> 00:16:48.980 did not make that 00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:50.639 home any less real. 00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:54.919 When we live 00:16:54.919 --> 00:16:55.779 in this world 00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:56.759 feeling out of place 00:16:56.759 --> 00:16:57.699 and facing opposition 00:16:57.699 --> 00:16:58.500 from the world 00:16:58.500 --> 00:16:59.259 and in the world, 00:16:59.259 --> 00:17:01.419 the fact that we 00:17:01.419 --> 00:17:02.120 cannot see 00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:02.580 and are not 00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:03.480 with our inheritance 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:04.220 from God 00:17:04.220 --> 00:17:04.859 right now 00:17:04.859 --> 00:17:05.779 does not make it 00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:07.119 any less real. 00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:12.379 The salvation 00:17:12.379 --> 00:17:13.220 that's talked about 00:17:13.220 --> 00:17:14.339 in verse 5 00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:15.579 is not just 00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:16.660 a salvation from, 00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:18.000 but it's a salvation to. 00:17:18.099 --> 00:17:18.619 My Father 00:17:18.619 --> 00:17:19.819 was not just coming 00:17:19.819 --> 00:17:21.900 in his Subaru Forester 00:17:21.900 --> 00:17:22.960 to rescue me 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:25.440 and provide 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:25.960 a salvation 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:26.640 to be revealed 00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:27.559 in the last time 00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:28.400 from West Virginia, 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:30.780 but he was also 00:17:30.780 --> 00:17:31.600 taking me back 00:17:31.600 --> 00:17:32.300 to Maryland. 00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:36.200 The readers 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:36.800 of this letter 00:17:36.800 --> 00:17:37.680 are not just going 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:38.680 to experience 00:17:38.680 --> 00:17:40.040 salvation 00:17:40.040 --> 00:17:40.840 from 00:17:40.840 --> 00:17:43.820 their struggles 00:17:43.820 --> 00:17:44.600 in this world. 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:45.380 They're also being 00:17:45.380 --> 00:17:46.300 delivered to 00:17:46.300 --> 00:17:47.420 this full 00:17:47.420 --> 00:17:48.200 and robust 00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:48.820 salvation 00:17:48.820 --> 00:17:49.620 that includes 00:17:49.620 --> 00:17:50.560 their inheritance. 00:17:54.840 --> 00:17:56.240 They have become, 00:17:56.600 --> 00:17:57.280 because God 00:17:57.280 --> 00:17:58.060 has adopted them 00:17:58.059 --> 00:17:59.019 through the resurrection 00:17:59.019 --> 00:18:00.039 of Jesus Christ 00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:00.779 from the dead, 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:02.359 brothers and sisters 00:18:02.359 --> 00:18:03.179 of Jesus 00:18:03.179 --> 00:18:04.099 and sons 00:18:04.099 --> 00:18:04.740 and daughters 00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:05.200 of God, 00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:05.819 which means 00:18:05.819 --> 00:18:06.960 that they are heirs. 00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:08.720 Everything that God 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:09.720 has given 00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:10.539 his son 00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:12.319 belongs to them 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:12.899 as well. 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:14.319 That's the full 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:15.460 salvation. 00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:16.720 Of course, 00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:17.259 the salvation 00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:19.019 includes being removed 00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:19.659 from the penalty 00:18:19.659 --> 00:18:20.179 of sin, 00:18:20.339 --> 00:18:20.480 right? 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:21.539 It's not less than that, 00:18:21.859 --> 00:18:22.940 but it's more than that. 00:18:22.940 --> 00:18:23.880 It's taking part 00:18:23.880 --> 00:18:24.860 in the world 00:18:24.860 --> 00:18:25.840 that God has prepared 00:18:25.840 --> 00:18:28.259 that no longer 00:18:28.259 --> 00:18:29.000 has the effects 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:30.059 or presence of sin. 00:18:30.140 --> 00:18:31.480 It's like the new creation. 00:18:31.620 --> 00:18:32.840 It's like the original creation 00:18:32.840 --> 00:18:34.759 in Genesis 1 and 2 00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:36.259 and even better. 00:18:38.320 --> 00:18:39.640 And not only is it even better, 00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:40.519 it's like the creation 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:41.720 that never had Genesis 3. 00:18:41.840 --> 00:18:42.840 No sin was introduced. 00:18:43.400 --> 00:18:44.380 That's what these people 00:18:44.380 --> 00:18:46.059 have to look forward to. 00:18:47.420 --> 00:18:48.299 Why does it matter 00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:49.279 that God's their father? 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:51.359 It matters that God's their father 00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:52.680 because he has given them 00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:54.019 and is and will give them 00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:54.720 an inheritance. 00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:56.420 And it's an inheritance 00:18:56.420 --> 00:18:57.879 that cannot be touched 00:18:57.879 --> 00:18:58.619 by anything 00:18:58.619 --> 00:18:59.980 in this world. 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:07.519 It's kept in heaven, 00:19:07.660 --> 00:19:08.139 verse 4, 00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:08.899 for you. 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:12.899 Now, how do they access 00:19:12.899 --> 00:19:15.899 all these privileges 00:19:15.899 --> 00:19:17.299 of the sons and daughters 00:19:17.299 --> 00:19:17.759 of God? 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:20.899 Peter tells us 00:19:20.899 --> 00:19:21.480 that this is something 00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:22.680 that happens through faith, 00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:23.759 verse 5. 00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:26.160 Now, we've talked about faith before. 00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:27.660 Remember, faith is three things. 00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:28.799 It's, first of all, 00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:29.279 knowledge. 00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:30.619 It's knowing the facts, 00:19:31.139 --> 00:19:32.000 knowing that Jesus died 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:32.539 for our sins 00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:33.680 and he rose again from the dead, 00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:34.740 that he's paid the penalty 00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:35.440 that we deserve 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:36.099 and therefore we're going 00:19:36.099 --> 00:19:37.119 to have life with him. 00:19:38.079 --> 00:19:39.119 It's not just knowledge, 00:19:39.180 --> 00:19:39.639 though it's belief. 00:19:39.700 --> 00:19:40.420 It's actually believing 00:19:40.420 --> 00:19:41.720 that those things are true. 00:19:43.399 --> 00:19:44.180 And then finally, 00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:45.200 it's not just belief, 00:19:45.339 --> 00:19:45.879 but trust, 00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:47.299 living as if those things 00:19:47.299 --> 00:19:47.759 are true. 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:52.079 And what does that faith 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:52.619 look like? 00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:52.940 Well, 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:54.839 it looks like 00:19:54.839 --> 00:19:55.799 Peter kind of faith. 00:19:57.379 --> 00:19:59.460 Peter had so much faith 00:19:59.460 --> 00:20:01.319 that when Jesus 00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:02.460 was suffering 00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:04.220 and praying, 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:08.000 Peter fell asleep. 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:17.599 Peter had so much faith 00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:20.400 that when Jesus 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:21.640 was going to the cross 00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:23.319 and people asked Peter 00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:24.400 if he knew Jesus, 00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:25.759 Peter said no 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:28.599 because he was afraid 00:20:28.599 --> 00:20:29.500 of being persecuted. 00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:33.059 And Peter had so much faith 00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:34.359 that after Jesus 00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:35.259 went back to heaven 00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:36.839 and he'd been given 00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:37.379 his mission 00:20:37.379 --> 00:20:38.359 to evangelize, 00:20:38.599 --> 00:20:39.720 there was one point 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:41.140 where he avoided the Jews 00:20:41.140 --> 00:20:41.900 because he thought 00:20:41.900 --> 00:20:42.940 it would embarrass him. 00:20:44.879 --> 00:20:45.920 And so Paul 00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:46.359 had to come 00:20:46.359 --> 00:20:47.000 and rebuke him. 00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:50.420 That's the kind of faith 00:20:50.420 --> 00:20:51.200 Peter had. 00:20:52.879 --> 00:20:54.059 That's the kind of faith 00:20:54.059 --> 00:20:55.079 that God uses, 00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:56.440 faith that is imperfect, 00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.180 flawed, 00:20:59.180 --> 00:21:00.759 and faltering 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:03.620 to provide 00:21:03.620 --> 00:21:04.440 his sons 00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:05.259 and his daughters 00:21:05.259 --> 00:21:06.380 with salvation 00:21:06.380 --> 00:21:07.560 and an inheritance. 00:21:13.340 --> 00:21:14.400 And that faith 00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:16.080 God used 00:21:16.080 --> 00:21:16.860 in Peter's life 00:21:16.860 --> 00:21:17.480 to grow him. 00:21:18.560 --> 00:21:19.220 And so he also 00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:20.140 had other kinds of faith. 00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:21.220 He had the kind of faith 00:21:21.220 --> 00:21:22.380 in the book of Acts 00:21:22.380 --> 00:21:23.200 where he boldly 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.060 proclaimed the gospel 00:21:24.060 --> 00:21:24.960 even when it led him 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:26.680 to suffering. 00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:30.259 And Peter had 00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:30.980 the kind of faith 00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:31.440 that at the end 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:32.080 of his life 00:21:32.080 --> 00:21:33.380 he was willing 00:21:33.380 --> 00:21:34.100 to be crucified 00:21:34.100 --> 00:21:35.200 upside down 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:36.360 because he did not believe, 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:37.360 this is what church history 00:21:37.360 --> 00:21:38.140 tells us, 00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:39.200 he did not believe 00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:40.380 that he was worthy 00:21:40.380 --> 00:21:41.460 of suffering a death 00:21:41.460 --> 00:21:42.400 like Jesus did. 00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:43.299 He believed he needed 00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:44.380 something that was 00:21:44.380 --> 00:21:45.240 a step further 00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:46.140 going upside down. 00:21:48.940 --> 00:21:49.900 In other words, 00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:51.220 it is Peter's faith, 00:21:52.220 --> 00:21:52.960 verse 5, 00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:54.100 but also, 00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:54.920 verse 5, 00:21:55.900 --> 00:21:57.120 God's power. 00:21:59.180 --> 00:22:03.019 these people 00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:04.019 facing the potential 00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:04.860 of loss 00:22:04.860 --> 00:22:05.720 in this world, 00:22:07.320 --> 00:22:08.519 perhaps wondering 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:09.400 if they have 00:22:09.400 --> 00:22:10.340 what it takes 00:22:10.340 --> 00:22:13.580 to stand strong 00:22:13.580 --> 00:22:14.640 and remain firm, 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:17.400 have the example 00:22:17.400 --> 00:22:18.120 of Peter 00:22:18.120 --> 00:22:19.759 who's writing to them 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:20.320 who failed 00:22:20.320 --> 00:22:21.580 over and over again 00:22:21.580 --> 00:22:22.920 as an illustration 00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:24.560 of God's power 00:22:24.560 --> 00:22:25.480 to his people 00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:26.799 in their weakness, 00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:28.140 guarding them 00:22:28.140 --> 00:22:29.440 and holding them firm. 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:32.360 We're told in verse 4, 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:33.000 this inheritance 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:34.340 is kept in heaven 00:22:34.340 --> 00:22:34.860 for you, 00:22:34.900 --> 00:22:35.700 so the inheritance 00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:36.700 is being guarded 00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:40.520 who by God's power 00:22:40.520 --> 00:22:42.560 you are also 00:22:42.560 --> 00:22:43.360 being guarded 00:22:43.360 --> 00:22:44.000 through faith 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:44.860 for salvation 00:22:44.860 --> 00:22:46.259 ready to be revealed 00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:47.240 in the last time. 00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:50.980 In other words, 00:22:51.080 --> 00:22:52.160 we can't lose 00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:52.900 our inheritance 00:22:52.900 --> 00:22:54.259 because if we have 00:22:54.259 --> 00:22:55.040 faith in Christ, 00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:56.440 God refuses 00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:58.180 to lose us. 00:23:01.300 --> 00:23:03.080 We cannot lose 00:23:03.080 --> 00:23:04.019 our inheritance 00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:05.420 because God 00:23:05.420 --> 00:23:07.620 refuses to lose us. 00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:08.800 It is by faith 00:23:08.800 --> 00:23:09.620 our faith, 00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:10.360 but it's not 00:23:10.360 --> 00:23:11.300 our power. 00:23:11.300 --> 00:23:14.320 It was Peter's faith, 00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:15.860 not Peter's power. 00:23:15.859 --> 00:23:20.559 the beginning 00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:21.179 of his time 00:23:21.179 --> 00:23:21.699 with Peter, 00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:24.079 Jesus says to him, 00:23:24.939 --> 00:23:25.519 calls him, 00:23:25.579 --> 00:23:25.959 he calls him 00:23:25.959 --> 00:23:26.939 to follow after him. 00:23:30.219 --> 00:23:31.240 And then Peter 00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:32.259 fails dramatically 00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:33.000 as I've already 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:33.479 discussed 00:23:33.479 --> 00:23:34.219 in this sermon. 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:36.299 And so he goes 00:23:36.299 --> 00:23:37.439 back to what he knows, 00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:38.039 he goes back 00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:38.819 and fishes again. 00:23:39.179 --> 00:23:39.819 This is at the end 00:23:39.819 --> 00:23:41.059 of the Gospel of John. 00:23:41.059 --> 00:23:44.419 And Jesus comes 00:23:44.419 --> 00:23:45.500 and finds him 00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:46.659 and performs 00:23:46.659 --> 00:23:47.720 the same miracle 00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.259 that he did 00:23:48.259 --> 00:23:49.000 at the very beginning. 00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:50.500 He causes Peter again 00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:51.960 to catch a whole boat 00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:52.559 full of fish 00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:53.539 when he can't catch anything. 00:23:55.179 --> 00:23:56.440 And then he makes 00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:57.799 Peter breakfast 00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:58.759 over the same 00:23:58.759 --> 00:23:59.899 type of charcoal 00:23:59.899 --> 00:24:01.179 that was in the fire 00:24:01.179 --> 00:24:02.559 that Peter was standing by 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:03.579 when he betrayed Jesus. 00:24:06.399 --> 00:24:07.200 And finally, 00:24:07.339 --> 00:24:07.779 at the end, 00:24:07.899 --> 00:24:08.679 Peter asks him 00:24:08.679 --> 00:24:10.319 about another disciple 00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:11.700 and Jesus says, 00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:11.960 Peter, 00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:12.759 don't worry about 00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:13.539 that other disciple. 00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:16.559 You follow me. 00:24:22.759 --> 00:24:23.639 Peter's faith, 00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:25.220 God's power, 00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:25.919 calling him 00:24:25.919 --> 00:24:27.059 over and over again 00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:27.939 despite Peter's 00:24:27.939 --> 00:24:29.039 failures and mistakes. 00:24:29.220 --> 00:24:29.879 It is Jesus 00:24:29.879 --> 00:24:30.779 who comes to him 00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:32.119 with his grace, 00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:33.139 the same grace 00:24:33.139 --> 00:24:34.399 that Peter offers 00:24:34.399 --> 00:24:35.720 to his readers now, 00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:36.759 helping them understand 00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:37.700 why it matters 00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:39.220 that God is their father 00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:40.319 and why that's not 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:40.759 a sentiment 00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:41.500 but a true 00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:42.500 and living hope 00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:43.180 that they can, 00:24:43.360 --> 00:24:44.319 like he has, 00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:46.319 stake their lives on. 00:24:49.339 --> 00:24:50.440 And so he offers 00:24:50.440 --> 00:24:51.440 that same power 00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:52.579 to anyone else 00:24:52.579 --> 00:24:53.180 who is willing 00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:54.279 to follow after him 00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:54.960 like Peter 00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:56.519 in faith. 00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.500 Why does it matter 00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:04.559 that God is our father? 00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:07.779 it matters 00:25:07.779 --> 00:25:08.980 because he is coming 00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:10.319 back for us 00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:11.819 to provide a salvation 00:25:11.819 --> 00:25:13.559 in the last time. 00:25:15.559 --> 00:25:16.379 And it also, 00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:17.119 and there's nothing 00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:17.980 in this world 00:25:17.980 --> 00:25:18.579 that happens 00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:19.559 that can threaten that 00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:20.859 and take us from it. 00:25:21.859 --> 00:25:22.960 It also matters 00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:23.779 that he is our father 00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:24.779 because he has provided 00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:26.619 an inheritance for us 00:25:26.619 --> 00:25:27.619 and no matter 00:25:27.619 --> 00:25:28.720 what is taken away 00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.940 from us in this world, 00:25:30.079 --> 00:25:30.819 that inheritance 00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:31.859 cannot be touched. 00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:36.279 And finally, 00:25:36.439 --> 00:25:37.519 God being our father 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:38.539 matters because 00:25:38.539 --> 00:25:39.779 like my father 00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:40.779 driving down the road 00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:41.659 in West Virginia, 00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:42.819 it is not us 00:25:42.819 --> 00:25:44.199 and our faith 00:25:44.199 --> 00:25:45.679 that seek out God. 00:25:47.139 --> 00:25:48.659 But like with Peter, 00:25:48.740 --> 00:25:49.339 it is God 00:25:49.339 --> 00:25:50.119 and his power 00:25:50.119 --> 00:25:52.059 that seeks out us 00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:53.679 and guards us 00:25:53.679 --> 00:25:56.000 through faith 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:57.019 for salvation. 00:25:58.819 --> 00:25:59.619 And so that's why 00:25:59.619 --> 00:26:00.419 we can say 00:26:00.419 --> 00:26:01.939 as Peter begins here, 00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:02.599 verse 3, 00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:04.599 blessed be the God 00:26:04.599 --> 00:26:05.219 and father 00:26:05.219 --> 00:26:06.639 of our Lord 00:26:06.639 --> 00:26:07.699 Jesus Christ. 00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:10.739 Please pray with me. 00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:15.319 Father in heaven, 00:26:15.439 --> 00:26:16.479 we thank you 00:26:16.479 --> 00:26:17.319 that you are our father. 00:26:18.439 --> 00:26:19.359 And we thank you 00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:20.639 that we can approach you 00:26:20.639 --> 00:26:21.659 boldly, 00:26:21.739 --> 00:26:23.000 knowing that you guard us. 00:26:24.159 --> 00:26:25.099 And while it's our 00:26:25.099 --> 00:26:25.939 small and weak 00:26:25.939 --> 00:26:26.459 and feeble 00:26:26.459 --> 00:26:27.299 and faltering faith, 00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:28.179 it is your power 00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:28.900 that holds us 00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:29.519 and keeps us, 00:26:29.580 --> 00:26:30.180 we ask that you 00:26:30.180 --> 00:26:30.799 would help us, 00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:31.880 that you'd remind us 00:26:31.880 --> 00:26:32.880 of the hope 00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:33.880 that you hold out to us 00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:35.320 and you'd help us 00:26:35.320 --> 00:26:35.940 to stand firm. 00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:38.380 We ask these things 00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:39.400 not because we have 00:26:39.400 --> 00:26:39.820 earned them, 00:26:40.060 --> 00:26:41.039 but because Jesus 00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:42.120 has earned them for us 00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:42.880 and so we ask them 00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:43.560 in his name. 00:26:44.100 --> 00:26:44.340 Amen.