Jack Graham - The Apostle of Hope
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God has given us a message of hope and we’re calling this message series LIVING HOPE, because it shows up right in the first sentences of 1 Peter chapter 1, that we have this living hope in Jesus Christ in the midst of a hostile world; filled with devils, filled with demonic activity, filled with all kinds of extremes and extremists. And so how then shall we live? That’s what 1 Peter is about. How are we going to live in a secularized world? How are we going live our Christian life in 2024? And what Peter, the author of this book, tells us in this Epistle…
Somebody said, «What is an epistle»? This is an epistle of hope written by «The Apostle of Hope», and that’s the title of this message. Somebody said, «What is an epistle»? Somebody said, «I know, I know. An epistle is the wife of an apostle». No, an epistle is a letter, it is a message inspired by the Holy Spirit and in this case through the pen and through the persuasion of Peter a mighty apostle of hope. Verses 1 and 2 says: «Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood», and watch this, «May grace and peace be multiplied to you».
More and more and more, may you experience the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. That’s the promise of this book. It is the promise of a living hope given by the Apostle Peter himself. It was a time of extreme persecution in the Roman Empire as Christians were being dispersed all around the world. Some from Jerusalem, Jewish believers who ultimately settled in other places. And then Gentiles, non-Jewish people who were living in other parts of the world because the Gospel was rapidly expanding. Moving. And the Roman Empire, along with others, the pagans of that day were attempting, Satan himself, of course, attempting to stop the spread of the Gospel, the message of Jesus, to stamp it out. And they often tried by sword or cross to destroy the message of the Christian faith, but it could not be stopped; it was unstoppable.
And so in the midst of all of that pain and persecution and suffering, and today all the secularism in the world, here is a message of promise and of hope. Hope is not wishful thinking or a positive mental attitude. I like positive thinking. I like have a positive mental attitude. But hope is much, much more. Hope is the resurrection; hope is the horizon that we just sang about. Hope is the promises of God; hope is what holds on to us; hope is a rope that we gain the presence and the power of His peace. It is confidence; it is certainty. I say it is the knowledge of knowing that our future is in His nail-scarred hand. Not only do you have hope, but hope has you.
And when we look at this book there are all kinds of subjects. For example, we’re going to be talking about the new birth and salvation; we’re going to be talking about redemption and the resurrection; we’re going to be talking about heaven and the Second Coming; we’re going to talking about how to live a godly life in a godless world; how to live a holy life in an unholy world. We’re going to talk about God’s Word, the Bible, the Jesus Book, and how this book is like milk to us, to help us grow in our faith stronger. We’re going to be talking about our position in Christ, the priesthood of the believer, how we have total access to God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
In an election season we’re going to be talking right out of 1 Peter about Christian citizenship and what it means to be a responsible citizen in our nation. We’re going to be talking about the marriage relationship and our relationship with our co-workers. We’re going to be talking about what it means to endure when we suffer, when there is grief. We’re going to be talking about how to resist the devil «who roars like a lion seeking whom he may devour». We’re going to talking about humility, how we humble ourselves before God and live in His likeness. We’re going to be dealing with anxiety and how to overcome. This has been called the anxious generation. We’re going to be talking about what God says about anxiety. We’ll talk about church leadership and so much more.
Can you see why I’m pumped about Peter and this life lesson that we’re going get? 1 Peter. This is why this and this is why now. Because it speaks to us today. And how does it speak to us today? Because we (and this is the audience) we talk a little bit about the aim of this book. But the audience are those saints who are scattered Because of the elect, we’ll talk about what that means next week, we call them the exiles. Have you ever been homesick? Who’s been homesick? Okay, most of us. I know I have. Well, we are also homesick for something far more than our earthly home; we’re homesick for heaven. Why? Because this world is not our home. There’s an old gospel song like that. «This world is not my home. I’m just passing through».
And so we are living like exiles, like pilgrims, all around the world, scattered around the world. And yet, if you’re a Christian and the longer you’re here, the more homesick for heaven you get. And you’re ready for the coming of the Lord. You’re really not just saying it or singing it; you’re praying it like John. It’s the last prayer of the Bible. «Even so, come, Lord Jesus, come». And so the audience is people like you and me. Have you ever felt alienated? Have you ever felt isolated? Have you ever felt distances from people? You can feel alone in a crowd like this. You may feel like that nobody is there for you. One of the themes that you will see again and again is the scene of the scattered saints of suffering.
First Peter wanted them to know that it was tough but it was going to get tougher. Nero was the emperor of Rome and it was just getting started. The fires of persecution were just beginning to ignite. And the theme of this book runs red throughout the chapters. For example, the theme of suffering in chapter 1, verse 6. We’ll put these on the screen; we’re going to hustle through them. But I just want you see the tone, the tender, the theme of this book. It’s all about dealing with suffering and secularism, and all the rest. Verse 6 says «In this you rejoice», yes, there’s joy in the journey, «though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials».
Chapter 2, verse 21 says: «For this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you», we’re going to remember His suffering today at this table, «He suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in His steps». That includes the steps of suffering. Jesus said, «Pick up the cross and follow after Me». Chapter 3: 13 and 14: «Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled».
Chapter 4, verse 12, here’s another one. It’s in every chapter. It runs red. It’s like a bloody book: «Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you (to do what?) to test you, as though something strange were happening to you». In other words, when you go through a trial, when you go through a test and you face fire in your life or your faith in particular, or if you suffer in this world, don’t be surprised. Don’t be surprised because we’re warned it’s coming. And this book is a warning, it’s an exhortation and it’s also an encouragement in the midst of all this. Then one more: Chapter 5 and verse 10: «And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ», there’s the living hope, «will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you».
I know several years ago when I was going through a particular trial, a physical trial in my life, 1 Peter chapter 5, verse 10, I leaned on Him, that promise that He would restore and confirm and strengthen and establish me as a believer. He will do the same for you. How can we talk about 1 Peter without talking about the author himself, the apostle of hope? He speaks to us today. I’m looking forward to meeting Simon Peter. And so many of us love him because he’s so like us, he’s so human. But something happened in his life that totally turned his life around. He was living basically a good life.
As a fisherman he had a nice career going on. Had a family, he was married and he lived at a beautiful place, one of the most beautiful seas in the world is the Sea of Galilee. He lived on the northern shore and fished there for a living. He had a brother Andrew and a lot of good friends. He had a sailor’s mouth. We know that because that shows up later. But he’s living a good life and he could have lived and died and, of course, we would have never heard of him. Except one day Jesus showed up, a carpenter from Galilee, and He looked at Peter and the other fishermen that were there, and He was choosing His disciples. And He said to Simon Peter, «Follow Me and I’ll make you a fisher of men». Your life can matter more than this.
Again, he was living a good life. An ordinary life, if you will. But God had something more for him. Jesus had something better for him. He wanted to take his ordinary life and do something extraordinary through him. And that’s exactly what happened. And so Simon Peter and the others who were there, Andrew his brother introduced Simon. I love Andrew. He’s one of the great unknowns and unsung of the Bible. Every time we meet him, he is introducing somebody to Jesus, and he brought his own brother to Jesus. By the way, that’s the best kind of evangelism there is; same as Andrew. Andrew found his brother and he brought him to Jesus. Go find your brother, go find your friend, go find your neighbor, go find your co-worker and introduce them to Jesus. Jesus will do the rest. So he begins to follow Jesus.
And what an adventure for the next three years. He sees the power of Christ, the presence of Christ. He is a disciple. He becomes an apostle. An apostle literally means one with a message. But the apostles in the New Testament are one-of-a-kind apostles. And the 12 of them originally, and hand-picked by Jesus, and they weren’t necessarily the elite or the most educated of society. They were common ordinary people. Peter, like the rest of these disciples is an illustration of what we read about in 1 Corinthians chapter 1, «not being mighty, not being noble, not being powerful people are called».
The greatest ability is availability and expendability. And so this man was available and he saw the power of Christ. He saw Jesus walk on water, heal sick people, restore sight to blind eyes, make clean the skin of lepers. He heard those magnificent words, those incredible words. No words like him were ever spoken, the word of God, the word of Jesus. He was there; he had a front row seat to Jesus, the one and only one who can change the world. And changed his life. He saw it all. On one occasion Jesus said, «Who do people say that I am»? It was Simon Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He was often impulsive and impudent, and impetuous but he was inspired that day by the Holy Spirit, and he said, «You are the Christ, the Son of the living God».
And that bold fisherman, the big fisherman, Simon Peter was commended by Jesus. Jesus said, «You didn’t know this on your own; the Holy Spirit told you». He said, «Upon this rock, this confession that I am the Christ, the Son of the living God, I will build My Church». And we get to be the stones in the building of the Church of God. You know, Simon’s first name was Simon. That was his given name. Simon. And Jesus looked at him and changed his name to Petros, or Peter. Cephas in the Aramaic. So he kind of had three names. Simon, Peter, Cephas. You see those interchangeable. But in one sense when you look at it, his given name, his human name, his first name, if you will, Simon represents his old life, and there was a lot of the old life in Simon Peter. But when Jesus changed his heart and made his life the life of a changed, cleansed, transformed man, he became Peter, the rock.
You know, Simon was always fumbling and stumbling and bumbling, and you know, often, you know when he opened his mouth, it was to exchange feet. I mean he was always… But he said the right thing at the right time in this case and he was transformed, as we have been transformed by confessing Jesus, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God who died for me and rose again that I might have eternal life. So I could say a lot. It would be a whole message series on the life of Simon Peter but how can we talk about this man apart from the worst moment in his life Simon Peter during the trial of Jesus followed Christ at a distance, the Bible says. At least he was there at a distance but at a distance he was warming his hands in the fire of the Romans while his Master was on trial for His life, preparing to die for the sins of the world.
Peter did exactly what Jesus predicted he would do. Peter with bluster had said, «all these other guys, they may deny You, not me! Not me! I’ll go to death for You»! And Jesus said, «No, before morning, before the rooster crows, you’re going to deny Me three times». «No! No»! Well, if you know the story of the Bible, you know that Peter did deny the Lord. He was asked «Aren’t you one of the disciples? Aren’t you one of the followers? Aren’t you one…» And three times with profanity he blasphemed the Lord by denying the Lord. «I never knew Him. I never knew Him. I never knew Him».
And then shortly after when the rooster crowed, he saw the face of Jesus. Looked right at him. Can you imagine what he felt? How he denied the Lord. He was such, in his own eyes, a loser. He had denied the one who had given him everything and life would never be the same, or so he thought. Well, Simon Peter was restored. You say, «I did a lot of wrong things but I really never denied the Lord». Well, what about that time you didn’t speak up when His name was blasphemed? What about the time the Holy Spirit prompted you to witness, to share the Gospel with a friend, and you were afraid, and you said nothing? What about the time when you could have made a bold stand for Christ among your friends and you cowered back; you went to the shadows? What about the time you didn’t live for the Lord though you told people that you would?
The various ways we all deny the Lord. But there’s good news and grace that is seen right here in this passage in the close of the second verse. He says «Grace and peace be multiplied to you». Because what happens, and this is what I’m going to call the aspirations of this passage, this is the hope of this passage. So often when we deny the Lord, we think that we can never be forgiven. That we’ve gone too far and we’ve lived too fast. Simon Peter must have thought, «Even if Christ is alive, it will never be the same. He’ll never take me back».
Oh, yes, Christ came out of that grave and Peter was an eye-witness to the resurrection. He knew that Christ was alive. I love the little phrase in the Gospels when the angel said of the disciples, said, «Go tell the disciples and Peter…» Jesus said this actually, «Go tell the disciples and Peter that I’m alive». He singled out Peter. He said, «Go tell Peter». When they did, Peter ultimately said, «I’m going fishing». That didn’t mean he was going to go on a vacation. What he was saying was, «I’m going back to Galilee. I’m done as a disciple. I can’t do this. I’m a total failure». But Jesus, the risen Christ, met him on the shores of Galilee and said, «Do you love me»?
And three times Peter said, «Yes, Lord, You know I love You. I love You, I love You, Lord. You know». And so Peter is writing here to men and women like you and me, some who have denied the Lord, some who have defected from the faith because the heat was on, some who were discouraged, some who were disillusioned, and gave them hope. This hope that our past is forgiven. Listen to the words of Lamentations 3:21–23 in your Old Testament. It’s all about hope. «But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness». Someone said, «What oxygen is to the body, hope is to the soul».
You can’t live without hope. This is why so many take their lives. They’re hopeless. And even when we fail God, or fail our families, or fail ourselves, there is hope. God’s grace and peace is available every single day! New every morning. And the message of the Bible is that there is good news that you can begin again. You can get multiple do-overs in your life. Now we all have regrets we wish we didn’t have. This is not to celebrate our sin or our past, but the fact is there are mulligans of mercy available to us. You know what a mulligan is? Yeah, I know, a lot of you know what a mulligan is on the golf course. It’s that do-over.
Aren’t you glad that we have a God of the do-over because of what Christ has done? Because there in that sentence of this introductory message, these first verses, it speaks of the sprinkling of the blood. You see the Trinity there in those first two verses. God the Father who planned and prepared the salvation; God the Son who procured it and paid for it by His blood on the cross, the sprinkling of the blood; and then the work of the Holy Spirit who procures it for us, possesses us in Christ. You have the Trinity right there. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit at work in us. And why? All for His multiplied grace and peace.
Grace, the unmerited favor and faithfulness of God, the steadfast love of God in our lives. The hope that never lets us go. Peace, that thing that you cannot explain. When you’re hurting in ways you cannot even imagine, when you cannot even breathe, there is a peace that you can’t explain because you know Christ and Christ knows you. And it’s multiplied. More and more grace, more and more peace. And we are restored. You know, you can hide your sin, you can cover your sin, or your sin can be cleansed by the power of the cross and of His blood.
This is what happened to Simon Peter. He was a mess and became a miracle, and a message from the Lord. Jesus loved Simon Peter and He never mistakes the moment for the man. You think you’ve gone too far and done too much. But Jesus doesn’t mistake the moment for the man or the woman you are or could become. Do you realize how much potential Christ sees in you? He looks at you and He doesn’t see a loser, a loudmouth like Simon Peter. He sees someone loved. And so His blood purchases us. We are blood-bought and heaven-bound. That is hope, the grace and peace be multiplied to you. Jeremiah 29:11 says, «I know the plans I have for you. Plans not to harm you, but to give you a future and a hope». Simon Peter at one point thought he was done; his future was over, but it was just beginning because of hope in Jesus. Amen?