-The theme of 1 Peter 1:1-3 is HOPE

Author

Written to

Greeting

The Author is Peter  – Matthew 16:13-18

Peter is petros – stone

Rock is petra and refers to Jesus – means a huge boulder

Rock refers to two principles:

– We can stand on Jesus no matter what – He is our Rock  – Matthew 7:24-29

-Peter does not use any titles before his name –  he was emphasizing Jesus and not himself

Peter shouts out – THERE IS HOPE… – 1 Peter 1:3

Definition of hope – Hope is a sure, certain, confident expectation of the Lord and His promises

Our hope is in the Lord – 1 Peter 1:21 & Romans 15:4,13

-Our hope is only in Jesus and nothing else

-John 6:66-69 – there is no one else we can turn to

We have great hope because of what Jesus has =given to us – every spiritual blessing – we can know who we are in Christ

***We are who the Lord says we are

The Gentiles at this time had no hope…the culture was against them

Peter said they were something special – the elect, chosen, handpicked, and called out by the Lord to do great things

1. We receive all of the Lord’s spiritual blessings immediately at salvation

2. All of the spiritual blessings we receive from the Lord can never be reversed

-our imperfections, issues and sins, and problems cannot reverse who we are in Christ

-We are imperfect and perfect at the same time