Focusing Our Hope

Text: 1 Peter 1:13
Series: Sermons 2001 Rewritten
Date:
Speaker: Ed Rangel
Location: Waupaca Church of Christ
Bible Version: NASB 1995
Sermon Type: Expository

Learning Objectives

1. Explain what Peter means when he commands Christians to “fix your hope completely.”
2. Show how Christian hope is tied to the grace revealed at the coming of Jesus Christ.
3. Identify the mental discipline required by “prepare your minds for action.”
4. Apply sober-minded hope to worry, fear, distraction, worldliness, and spiritual discouragement.
5. Call sinners and Christians to place their hope fully in Christ and live faithfully until He comes.

Thesis

Christian hope must be deliberately focused on the grace to be revealed when Christ returns, because an unfocused mind will miss the target no matter how sincere it claims to be.

Introduction.

1. A man can aim and still miss. a. He may hold the rifle steady. b. He may line up what he thinks are the sights. c. He may squeeze the trigger carefully. d. He may still miss the target completely.
2. The problem is not always lack of effort. a. Sometimes the problem is focus. b. Sometimes the wrong eye is closed. c. Sometimes the sight picture is wrong.
3. That makes a good spiritual picture. a. Many Christians are active. b. Many Christians are sincere. c. Many Christians are busy. d. But their hope is not properly focused.
4. First Peter 1:13 gives the command. a. “Therefore, prepare your minds for action.” b. “Keep sober in spirit.” c. “Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
5. Peter does not tell Christians to drift into hope. a. He commands them to fix it. b. He commands them to focus it. c. He commands them to place it fully on Christ’s coming grace.
6. A weak hope creates a weak walk. a. A distracted hope creates a distracted Christian. b. A worldly hope creates a worldly life. c. A focused hope produces endurance, holiness, and courage.

I. Peter Commands Christians to Fix Their Hope Completely.

A. The command rests on what God has already done.

1. First Peter 1:3 says God caused us to be born again to a living hope. a. This hope is not dead optimism. b. This hope is grounded in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. c. This hope belongs to those born again.
2. First Peter 1:4 says the inheritance is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. a. It will not decay. b. It will not be polluted. c. It will not lose its glory. d. It is reserved in heaven.
3. First Peter 1:5 says Christians are protected by the power of God through faith. a. God’s power is real. b. Faith is still required. c. Salvation is ready to be revealed in the last time.

B. Hope must be fixed completely.

1. First Peter 1:13 does not call for partial hope. a. Not divided hope. b. Not occasional hope. c. Not hope mixed with worldly confidence.
2. “Completely” presses the whole weight of the soul toward the promise of God. a. The Christian must not lean half on Christ and half on this world. b. The Christian must not keep heaven as a backup plan. c. The Christian must not let temporary trouble become bigger than eternal grace.
3. Hope must be deliberate. a. It must be cultivated. b. It must be strengthened. c. It must be protected. d. It must be aimed.

C. Hope is not passive.

1. Farmers do not harvest by staring at a field. a. They break up soil. b. They plant. c. They cultivate. d. They fight insects and weeds.
2. Christians must cultivate hope. a. Through Scripture. b. Through prayer. c. Through worship. d. Through remembrance of Christ. e. Through endurance in trial.
3. Hope that is not tended will be choked. a. Worry chokes it. b. Sin chokes it. c. Worldliness chokes it. d. Neglect chokes it.

II. The Focus of Our Hope Is the Grace Revealed When Jesus Christ Returns.

A. Peter names the target.

1. First Peter 1:13 says hope is fixed on grace. a. Not on comfort. b. Not on money. c. Not on health. d. Not on human approval.
2. This grace will be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ. a. Christ will be revealed. b. His people will receive the fullness of promised salvation. c. Faith will become sight.
3. The Christian’s final hope is future and certain. a. Not wishful thinking. b. Not vague positivity. c. God’s promise anchored in Christ.

B. The inheritance is in heaven.

1. First Peter 1:4 says the inheritance is reserved in heaven. a. It is not stored on earth. b. It is not subject to theft. c. It is not ruined by age, politics, economy, disease, or death.
2. Jesus taught the same in Matthew 6:19–21. a. Do not store treasures on earth. b. Store treasures in heaven. c. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
3. The heart follows the treasure. a. If heaven is the treasure, the life aims upward. b. If earth is the treasure, the life bends downward. c. A Christian cannot focus on heaven while worshiping earthly security.

C. The final salvation is worth every hardship.

1. First Peter 1:6–7 acknowledges trials. a. Christians may be distressed by various trials. b. Faith is tested. c. Tested faith is more precious than gold.
2. The outcome is praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. a. God sees faithfulness. b. God refines faith. c. God will vindicate His people.
3. Revelation 21 gives the picture of final hope. a. No more death. b. No more mourning. c. No more crying. d. No more pain. e. God dwelling with His people.
4. That is the target. a. Not merely surviving another week. b. Not merely escaping a problem. c. The grace, glory, inheritance, and salvation revealed when Christ comes.

III. Focused Hope Requires a Prepared Mind.

A. Peter says to prepare your minds for action.

1. The older expression is to gird up the loins of the mind. a. Men in long garments gathered loose cloth before running, fighting, or working. b. Loose clothing could trip them. c. They had to bind up what would hinder movement.
2. Peter applies that picture to the mind. a. Loose thoughts must be gathered. b. Distracting fears must be controlled. c. Mental laziness must be rejected.
3. A Christian cannot run well with an ungirded mind. a. Wandering thoughts weaken hope. b. Unchecked fears weaken faith. c. Undisciplined desires trip the soul.

B. The mind must be guarded against hindrances.

1. Luke 21:34 warns against hearts weighed down. a. Dissipation. b. Drunkenness. c. The worries of life. d. These can make the day come suddenly like a trap.
2. Worry is not harmless. a. It can choke the word. b. It can cloud judgment. c. It can make a Christian spiritually reckless.
3. The Christian must bind up what hinders. a. Fear. b. Anger. c. Covetousness. d. Envy. e. Lust. f. Bitterness. g. Obsession with earthly matters.

C. The mind must be renewed by truth.

1. Romans 12:2 commands transformation by the renewing of the mind. a. Do not be conformed to this world. b. Be transformed. c. Discern the will of God.
2. Colossians 3:1–2 commands Christians to seek things above. a. Christ is seated at the right hand of God. b. The mind must be set on things above. c. Earthly things must not control the heart.
3. Philippians 4:8 gives the mind proper material. a. Whatever is true. b. Honorable. c. Right. d. Pure. e. Lovely. f. Of good repute. g. Excellent and worthy of praise.
4. Focused hope demands a disciplined mind. a. What we feed the mind will aim the heart. b. What we rehearse will shape our hope. c. What we dwell on will either strengthen or sabotage faith.

IV. Focused Hope Requires Sober Living.

A. Peter commands sobriety.

1. First Peter 1:13 says to keep sober in spirit. a. Clear-minded. b. Self-controlled. c. Spiritually alert.
2. Sobriety is not gloomy Christianity. a. It is not joyless. b. It is not fear-driven. c. It is serious, awake, and steady.
3. A sober Christian sees clearly. a. He sees the world as temporary. b. He sees sin as dangerous. c. He sees Christ’s return as certain. d. He sees heaven as worth the fight.

B. Lack of sobriety creates spiritual danger.

1. A distracted driver is dangerous. a. He may intend to arrive safely. b. He may know the route. c. But distraction can kill him before he arrives.
2. A distracted Christian is also in danger. a. Worried about what people think. b. Consumed by inconveniences. c. Overwhelmed by earthly plans. d. Forgetful of heaven.
3. Luke 21:36 commands alertness and prayer. a. Keep on the alert at all times. b. Pray for strength. c. Stand before the Son of Man.
4. Sobriety keeps the destination in view. a. Not panic. b. Not recklessness. c. Steady, prayerful focus on getting home.

C. Sober hope refuses worldly intoxication.

1. The world intoxicates without a bottle. a. Entertainment can intoxicate. b. Money can intoxicate. c. Politics can intoxicate. d. Romance can intoxicate. e. Pride can intoxicate.
2. First Peter 4:7 says the end of all things is near. a. Be of sound judgment. b. Be sober in spirit. c. For the purpose of prayer.
3. First Peter 5:8 says to be sober and alert because the devil prowls. a. The enemy is real. b. The danger is real. c. The need for vigilance is real.
4. Hope loses focus when the soul is drunk on the present age. a. Heaven becomes blurry. b. Sin becomes attractive. c. Christ’s coming feels distant. d. The heart starts missing the target.

V. Focused Hope Produces Holy and Faithful Living.

A. Peter moves from hope to holiness.

1. First Peter 1:14 says Christians must be obedient children. a. Not conformed to former lusts. b. Not living in ignorance. c. Not returning to the old life.
2. First Peter 1:15–16 says to be holy because God is holy. a. Hope does not excuse sin. b. Grace does not lower holiness. c. Future glory demands present consecration.
3. A man with focused hope lives differently. a. He says no to sin. b. He endures hardship. c. He refuses to sell eternity for a temporary appetite.

B. Focused hope helps Christians endure trials.

1. Romans 8:18 says present sufferings are not worthy to be compared with coming glory. a. Suffering is real. b. Glory is greater. c. Hope gives perspective.
2. Second Corinthians 4:16–18 says affliction is momentary and light compared to eternal glory. a. The outward man decays. b. The inward man is renewed. c. The unseen things are eternal.
3. Hope changes how Christians suffer. a. We do not pretend pain is nothing. b. We measure pain against glory. c. We keep walking because the destination is sure.

C. Focused hope keeps Christians faithful until the end.

1. Hebrews 6:19 says hope is an anchor of the soul. a. Sure. b. Steadfast. c. Reaching within the veil.
2. Titus 2:11–13 connects grace, holiness, and hope. a. Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness. b. Grace teaches us to live sensibly, righteously, and godly. c. Grace teaches us to look for the blessed hope.
3. Revelation 2:10 calls Christians to be faithful until death. a. Trials may come. b. Prison may come. c. Death may come. d. The crown of life is promised.
4. The Christian must finish with hope still focused. a. Not almost aimed. b. Not nearly faithful. c. Not distracted at the end. d. Fixed completely on the grace to be revealed.

Application.

1. For the distracted Christian. a. Your problem may not be lack of effort. b. Your problem may be lack of focus. c. Gird up your mind and aim your hope where Peter tells you.
2. For the worried Christian. a. Worry will choke your focus. b. You cannot add a single hour to life by anxiety. c. Pray, obey, and keep moving toward heaven.
3. For the worldly Christian. a. You cannot focus on the coming grace while living for present lusts. b. The target is not earth. c. Repent and set your mind above.
4. For the discouraged Christian. a. Trials are not the end of the story. b. Tested faith will result in praise, glory, and honor. c. Keep your eyes on Christ’s appearing.
5. For the sinner. a. Your hope cannot be focused on heaven while you remain outside Christ. b. Obey the gospel. c. Begin the journey with your eyes fixed on the Lord.

Conclusion.

1. A man can miss the target because his focus is wrong. a. He may be steady. b. He may be sincere. c. He may still miss.
2. Christians can do the same. a. Busy but unfocused. b. Religious but distracted. c. Active but not anchored in hope.
3. Peter gives the command. a. Prepare your minds for action. b. Keep sober in spirit. c. Fix your hope completely on the grace to be revealed.
4. The target is clear. a. Christ is coming. b. Grace will be revealed. c. The inheritance is reserved. d. Salvation will be completed.
5. Do not miss the target. a. Gird up your mind. b. Put away distractions. c. Live soberly. d. Walk in holiness. e. Fix your hope completely on Christ.

Invitation.

1. Hear the word. a. Romans 10:17 says faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
2. Believe Christ. a. John 8:24 warns that unless you believe that Jesus is He, you will die in your sins.
3. Repent. a. Acts 17:30 says God commands all people everywhere to repent.
4. Confess Christ. a. Romans 10:9–10 teaches confession with the mouth and belief in the heart.
5. Be baptized for the remission of sins. a. Acts 2:38 commands repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.
6. Live faithfully. a. Revelation 2:10 calls the Christian to be faithful until death.
7. Focus your hope today. a. Not on this world. b. Not on your own strength. c. Not on empty religion. d. On the grace to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Word Study.

Scripture Interlock Table.