1 Peter 1 v 3-12				Salvation						4.3.01

These verses from 1 Peter 1 are rather like a densely packed shopping bag.  With just a glance we can see they are jammed full of good stuff but to really appreciate what's here we have to unpack the bag and spread things out a little.  That's why you have a minister, to help you open up and unpack and appreciate the things God says in His Word.

And there's no doubt that God is the "star of the show" in this particular passage.  Although many people don't see or acknowledge Him, Peter sees God clearly in control of everything, working out His purposes in creation, bringing this world's history to a climax where He will judge the lives and actions of everyone.  Evil will be eternally punished make no mistake, but in the run up to this final judgement God is mercifully providing salvation for His people.  And it's this salvation, this rescuing action of God that Peter is so enthusiastic about.

If we were to ask people on the street what Christianity is about they might say going to church or giving to charity.  These things are good and right but if that's all your Christianity amounts to then you've missed the point.  Christianity is all about God saving His people!

So let's try and "unpack" these verses and we'll use three headings:
1. What God does
2. How it's done
3. The Results of God's work

1. What God does.  What does God do?  He saves - and He does this by giving.  He gives three things and they relate to the past, the future and the present.  He gives people a fresh start, something Peter calls "new birth".  Jesus Himself told a religious man Nicodemus he needed to be "born again", to start life over again with God's help.  Don't we sometimes wish we could erase bits of the past that are embarrassing or painful or shameful?  Humanly speaking this is so difficult.  If we commit a crime we owe a debt to society.  If we mess up our relationships we have to live with the consequences.  What God gives is a clean slate, a new license to live with no points or endorsements because He chooses to forgive us and not remember or hold our sins against us.  Others may hate us forever for what we've done but God offers the chance of a fresh start with Him.  While there may still be external consequences to face, this gift of new birth from God deals with and heals so much of the guilt and grief we struggle with internally.  God's gift means healing for our past.

This is great but there's more.  God gives a promise of inheritance in the future.  So much of what we get in this life is perishable, breaks or fades.  Waiting in Heaven is a reward that is eternal and eternally satisfying. The future is secure.  We have God's word on it.

And if these weren't enough God gives us protection in the here and now.  Peter says Christians are "shielded by God's power" even in the middle of our present lives.

Now some might say these are in the wrong order, it should be past, present and future, not past, future and present but Peter puts it this way deliberately.  For it's only when we have our past sorted out and our future guaranteed that we can face our present with any confidence. God is mercy saves us by giving a fresh start, a promise of heavenly inheritance and protection here and now to those who trust in Him.  This is what God does.  He saves.  He gives.

2. Here's how it's done. It's a bit like a magic trick, part seen and part unseen.  Peter has already mentioned Jesus' blood, His death on the cross, now he speaks of His resurrection in v 3.  These were visible historical events.  God offers the gifts we've mentioned "through" what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross and in His resurrection.  In His death He "atoned" or paid for our sin, in His resurrection He defeated death, and paved the way for his followers to receive eternal life.

Also visible we have the Bible, inspired by God to point people to Jesus and explain what He has done and how we need to respond.  This is the bit in v1 off where Peter talks about "the prophets" and he's at pains to point out that the Gospel message of salvation isn't really anything new.  It's the same God that told Noah to build an ark and Moses to challenge Pharaoh, that enabled David to fight Goliath, that rescued Daniel from the lions' den and brought the exiles home to Jerusalem.  The God of the Bible is a God who saves.  And this has been the message all along.

Sometimes people question this born again phenomenon.  Is it something new dreamt up by American evangelists?  Is it a modern trend among young radical evangelical Presbyterians?  No!  This is Jesus, this is Peter, this is the Bible, this is Christianity the way it was always meant to be.

So we have Jesus and the Bible both seen.  The "magic" that is unseen is the work of the Holy Spirit referred to in v12 and by implication also in v11.  What God does is save people from their past, for the future, effective in the present.   How He does it is through the visible, historical death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the message recorded in the Bible and the invisible, unseen work of His Spirit in people's hearts and minds.  The Spirit impresses the truth on our minds, challenges our consciences and prompts a response from our hearts and wills.  It's God's Spirit Who in effect makes people real Christians from the inside out. 

Now we've almost emptied the "shopping bag" of these verses but let's not miss one final thing:

3.  The result of God's work.

What's the result of God's saving action in a person's life?  They're saved!  Safe in His care.  Forgiven.  A new life started with Heaven assured and God's help promised.  Peter describes it as a "living hope" in which we can face the worst of trials and come through with faith strengthened.  While outwardly Christians may have cause for anxiety, fear and great sorrow inwardly we can experience great assurance of God's love and therefore deep joy.

This is true "confirmation", not a formal ceremony in a church service, but the inner witness of God's Spirit that we are His that gives us the conviction and courage to face whatever the world may throw at us.

The bag is unpacked.  The message is spread out before us.  Nothing remains but to respond.  If you're not a Christian better decide quick.  If you are join with me in doing what Peter does here - give praise to God.

AMEN