we read from Luke's gospel a little earlier and we saw that Peter was one of the first
eyewitnesses of the resurrection of Jesus Christ it radically changed and transformed his life
he went bringing the good news of that resurrection to others and he wrote a letter
to churches who needed encouragement and needed help so keep your Bibles open please at 1 Peter
chapter 1 we're just going to be looking at a few verses 3 and 4
and we'll be reading them in just a minute let's pray together
father we thank you for your word we thank you for your truth that has been written down
recorded for us today written so that we can read and hear good news encouragement
and help for our life today so father we pray that you would speak to us afresh
and fill us with living hope we ask this in Jesus name amen
so on a scale of 1 to 10 how hopeful are you
as tensions increase between Russia and Europe as wars intensify between Israel and Palestine
as the nations align themselves to world powers how hopeful are you that we can regain peace
or as climate patterns change causing floods and famine as migration expands and displacement grows
as the people of the world scramble for a better life how hopeful are you that we can turn
things around well let's bring it a little bit closer to home as we face our own health concerns
as we cope with broken relationships as we live with ongoing struggles and the fear of failing
as we face disappointments of broken dreams and unfulfilled desires how hopeful are you that you
can change it all on a scale of 1 to 10 how much hope do you have
well the world's answer is hope lies within us just dig deep and you will discover that untapped potential
that lies within you with just the right motivation and hope you can change your life and you can change the world
well sorry to burst your bubble
because no matter how hopeful we might be we can't seem to change our life
never mind trying to change the world
you see the greatest threat to our hope for a better world is in here the various sins that continue to flow and bubble out
from the human heart
greed and lies
hatred and injustice
corruption and racism and revenge and selfishness
all these things come from within we humanity is the problem
you see if we were to remove every human being from the face of this earth
well yes things would change dramatically
it would be a very peaceful place
but that's not really an option is it it doesn't sound very hopeful
but there is a solution
there is an answer
there is
resurrection
hope
let's read
verses 3 and 4
of chapter 1
praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
in his great mercy
he has given us new births
into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
and into an inheritance that can never perish
spoil or fade
this inheritance
is kept in heaven
for you
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
is our only source
of true hope
and it's God's hope
for the world
you see
the resurrection brings life
out of death
it provides a new beginning
and a fresh start
it guarantees joy
and peace
forever
now before we look at the hope
of the resurrection
we need to understand
what we mean
by the resurrection
of Jesus Christ
because people can be confused about this
so what do we mean
by the resurrection
well first the resurrection is a historical event
it is the true account
of Jesus Christ
who lived
who died
who was buried
and was raised again
from the dead
you see
Jesus Christ
was fully human
just like us
he wasn't a spirit
floating around
or some apparition
he was a physical
human being
who needed food
to eat
and drink
and needed to sleep
and as a human being
he went through the pain of death
and the agony of death
his vital organs
gave up
Jesus
stopped
breathing
Jesus
physically
died
but yet he also
experienced
being raised to life
after three days
of being dead
and buried
he breathed again
his lungs
filled with oxygen
his heart
began to beat
his nervous system
began to kick in
and he physically
and bodily
walked out of a tomb
the resurrection
of Jesus Christ
is a unique
literal
historical event
that took place
almost 2000 years ago
but how do we know
it is true
well it's not just
a historical event
it's a proven
fact
it's not
made up
do you remember
your reading
that we had
in Luke's gospel
chapter 24
when the women
they weren't expecting
any resurrection
and when they told
the men
they said
they were like
nonsense
nobody expected it
nobody knew
it was coming
it's not
made up
let me give you
the main piece
of evidence
the eyewitness
accounts
like those women
and the men
who followed after
Peter Williams
is a New Testament
scholar
and in his
little book
called
Can We Trust
the Gospels
he's grouped
together
all the eyewitness
accounts
and he records
it like this
you can follow
on screen
this is what
he says
the resurrected
Jesus is
recorded
as appearing
in Judea
and in Galilee
in town
and countryside
indoors
and outdoors
in the morning
and in the evening
by prior
appointment
and without
prior appointment
close
and distant
up on a hill
and down
by a lake
to groups
of men
and to groups
of women
to individuals
and to groups
of up to 500
when he was
sitting
and standing
walking
and eating
and always
talking
can so many
diverse
eyewitness
accounts
be wrong
you see
the resurrection
of Jesus
Christ
from the dead
is not
wishful thinking
it's not the
kind of hope
where I say
I hope I'm going
to win the lotto
or I hope
the weather
is going to be
nice tomorrow
no
resurrection
hope
is the sure
and certain
rock solid
foundation
on which
all of us
can build
our life
it is the
unique
and literal
truth
that saves
us
from the
crushing
weight
of our
own
broken
lives
so
as we
look at
first
Peter
we're going
to look
at three
things
that the
resurrection
of Jesus
Christ
brings
to us
it'll
change
your past
your present
and your
future
it brings
new birth
living hope
and eternal
inheritance
so three
things the
resurrection
brings to
us
first
it brings
new
birth
look at the
middle of
verse 3
in his
great mercy
God has
given us
new birth
into a
living hope
through the
resurrection
of Jesus
Christ
from the
dead
physically
all of us
here
this is a
fact
we were all
born once
right
do you
remember it
probably not
but you
were
but no one
is ever born
a second
time
that's
impossible
you can't
re-enter
the womb
of your
mother
however
God gives
us a
new birth
a new
spiritual
birth
we are
given a
new life
a new
start
a new
beginning
something that
we all
long for
you see
through the
resurrection of
Jesus Christ
from the
dead
we have
a new
birth
well how
does that
happen
well
I'm going
to turn
to Romans
you can
follow on
screen
or you
can turn
to it
Romans
chapter 6
I'm just
going to
read a
couple of
verses
there
this will
help us
to understand
how we
can have
new birth
because
of the
resurrection
chapter 6
verse 4
we were
therefore
buried
with him
that's
with Jesus
through
baptism
into
death
in order
that just
as Christ
was raised
from the
dead
through the
glory of
the father
we too
may live
a new
life
for if
we have
been united
with him
in a
death
like his
we will
certainly
also be
united
with him
in a
resurrection
like his
through
faith
in Jesus
Christ
which was
expressed
through
baptism
we are
united
to
Jesus
that
means
his
life
becomes
my
life
so
when
Christ
died
I can
say
I also
died
when
Christ
was raised
I can
say
I was
also
raised
you see
just as
God gave
life to
the dead
body of
Jesus
so God
has given
to us
new life
in Jesus
his life
is now
my life
I now
live
a new
way
let's
go back
to
first
Peter
with
that
in
mind
you see
all that
means
is that
my
past
is now
covered
it has
been
dealt
with
through
the death
of Christ
all
my
sins
have
been
punished
in
Christ
and
all
my
sins
have
now
been
forgiven
by
Christ
my
past
can
no
longer
be
held
over
me
or
against
me
it
is
now
dead
and
buried
with
Christ
and
now
I
have
been
raised
up
to
live
a
new
life
with
Christ
and
for
Christ
just
as
God
gave
life
to
the
dead
body
of
Jesus
just
as
Jesus
walked
out
of
the
tomb
and
lives
forever
more
so
God
gives
us
new
life
a
fresh
start
a
new
beginning
we
can
now
walk
a
new
way
by
the
power
of
the
spirit
you
see
through
the
resurrection
of
Jesus
Christ
from
the
dead
I
am
given
new
birth
my
past
is
covered
over
well
not
only
do
we
have
new
birth
we
also
have
living
hope
did
you see
it there
in
verse
3
in
his
great
mercy
he
has
given
us
new
birth
into
a
living
hope
through
the
resurrection
of
Jesus
Christ
from
the
dead
you
see
the
new
birth
is
just
the
start
it's
just
the
beginning
but
our
fear
is
is that
somehow
we're
going to
wreck
and
destroy
the
new
life
that
Christ
has
given
us
that
my
ongoing
sin
and my
failure
is going
to
somehow
crash
and burn
the
fresh
start
that he
gave
me
we
live
with
this
overwhelming
concern
that we're
not going
to be able
to live
up
we're
not
going
to be
able
to keep
going
but look
what it
says
in verse
3
he has
given us
new
birth
into
a
living
hope
not a
dead
hope
but a
living
hope
you see
just as
Jesus
now
lives
my
hope
lives
just as
Jesus
will never
die again
so our
hope
is never
ever
going to
die
this
new
beginning
the fresh
start
this new
birth
goes
and lives
forever
you see
through the
resurrection
of Jesus
Christ
from the
dead
we have
a living
hope
let me
show you
how this
works
just go
forward to
chapter 3
verse 21
chapter 3
and verse
21
down at the
second part
of verse 21
again he's
been talking
about baptism
which is an
outward expression
of our
faith
and how
that faith
saves you
so it
saves you
by the
resurrection
of Jesus
Christ
who has
gone into
heaven
and is at
God's right
hand with
angels
authorities
and powers
in submission
to him
so when
Christ
rose from
the dead
he ascended
into heaven
and the
risen Lord
is now
in the
position
of absolute
power
and supreme
authority
he has
power over
everyone
and everything
as it says
in verse 22
all peoples
everything
authorities
and powers
submit
to him
so Jesus
is risen
into a
position of
all power
and authority
for you
his power
is living
and active
and it's
ensuring
that your
hope
will remain
now all of
this means
that your
present hope
is
secure
we have
a living
hope
that cannot
be taken
from us
go back
to chapter
one
verse
five
because
his power
is at
work for
us
look at
verse five
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
our
new
life
is
guarded
our
hope
is
secure
just as
a bank
secures
its
treasure
in a
deep
vault
down
into
the
bottom
and
puts
a
great
big
safe
around
it
and
puts
guards
and
all
the
protection
that
is
there
so
in a
sense
we
are
shielded
by
God's
power
the
very
power
that
raised
Christ
from
the
dead
is
now
a
power
at
work
to
keep
you
and
secure
you
now
that
doesn't
mean
to
say
nothing
bad
is
going
to
happen
to
you
we
will
face
all
kinds
of
trials
and
temptations
but
nothing
and
no
one
no
outside
force
no
personal
failure
can
ever
destroy
your
hope
not
even
your
sin
not
any
suffering
not
even
Satan
himself
can
rip
you
or
take
you
from
your
living
hope
you
see
through
the
resurrection
of
Jesus
Christ
from
the
dead
we
have
a
living
hope
so
new
birth
living
hope
and
third
an
eternal
inheritance
what
happens
when
we
die
because
that
day
will
one
day
come
won't
death
destroy
our
new
birth
when
death
visits
us
won't
it
take
our
living
hope
absolutely
not
read
with me
verse
three
and
four
again
in
his
great
mercy
he
has
given
us
new
birth
into
a
living
hope
through
the
resurrection
of
Jesus
Christ
from
the
dead
and
into
an
inheritance
that
can
never
perish
spoil
or
fade
do
you
see
that
unbroken
progression
we're
given
new
birth
into
a
living
hope
and
into
an
eternal
inheritance
through
the
resurrection
of
Christ
from
the
dead
in
fact
we
have
an
inheritance
verse
four
that
is
never
going
to
perish
spoil
or
fade
through
the
risen
Jesus
we
have
an
eternal
life
to
come
how
does
that
happen
how
could
that
possibly
be
true
for
you
and
for
me
well
through
the
resurrection
Jesus
Christ
destroyed
the
grave
through
the
resurrection
Jesus
Christ
crushed
death
to
death
has been
defeated
it has
been
obliterated
it has
no
hold
or power
over to
you
if
you
are
trusting
in
Christ
just
as
Christ
rose
physically
and
bodily
from
the
dead
so
one
day
we
will
rise
physically
and
bodily
from
the
dead
this
new
birth
this
living
hope
is
just
the
beginning
of
something
that
will
never
ever
end
do
you
see
what
it
says
in
verse
four
it
will
never
perish
it
will
never
spoil
it
will
never
fade
can
you
imagine
what
that
will
be
a
world
untouched
by the
pain
and
heartache
of
death
a
world
unspoiled
by
selfish
evil
actions
of
people
a
world
that
is
unfading
through
the
course
of
time
and
seasons
this
is
our
resurrection
hope
death
will be
no more
evil
will be
banished
suffering
will be
removed
our
future
is
assured
because
Jesus
is
alive
nothing
and
no one
can
take it
from
us
why
well
look at
the end
of
verse
four
this
inheritance
is
kept
in
heaven
for
you
it's
kept
for
you
may
have
had
the
experience
of
having
to
write
out
your
will
your
last
will
and
testament
a
legal
and
binding
document
sealed
until
the
day
of
your
death
when
it
will
be
opened
and
it
will
all
be
revealed
to
the
inheritor
well
our
eternal
inheritance
has
been
sealed
and
secured
by
the
resurrection
of
Jesus
it
is
kept
for
us
no
one
and
nothing
can
take
it
from
us
one
day
when
the
risen
Lord
Jesus
returns
we
will
experience
our
new
birth
and
living
hope
in
all
its
fullness
heaven
has
been
kept
for
you
and
you
are
kept
for
heaven
you
see
through
the
resurrection
of
Jesus
Christ
from
the
dead
we
have
an
eternal
inheritance
so
let me
ask
is
this
your
hope
is
this
your
hope
today
have
you
experienced
resurrection
hope
this
rock
solid
foundational
truth
on which
you can
build
your life
today
and
forever
the
resurrection
of
Jesus
Christ
alone
gives
you
new
birth
that
covers
all
your
past
it
gives
you a
living
hope
that
secures
all
your
present
and
it
gives
you
an
eternal
inheritance
that
assures
and
guarantees
your
future
is
this
your
hope
well
this
hope
is ours
today
because
have
you
noticed
what
we've
been
saying
all
along
the
middle
of
verse
three
in
his
great
mercy
he
has
given
us
he
has
gifted
you
new
birth
living
hope
and an
eternal
inheritance
what
you do
to earn
this
what
you
have
to
do
to
have
this
in
his
great
mercy
he
doesn't
treat
us
as
our
sins
deserve
he
gives
us
the
gift
of
the
resurrected
Christ
received
by faith
and
kept
for
all
eternity
the
resurrection
of
Jesus
Christ
is
your
gift
today
trust
him
believe
him
and
he
will
hold
you
fast
today
and
forever
more
let's
pray
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
and
into
an
inheritance
that can
never
perish
spoil
or fade
this
inheritance
is
kept
in
heaven
for
you
thank
you
God
thank
you
father
thank
you
Jesus
thank
you
spirit
for
life
today
amen
I
heart
you
I
you
I
,
you