Easter Means No Fear of Judgment

Ever heard of the Ascension blue bird?  Why don't we ask people who look up if they can see Jesus coming back again?  There is no Santa Claus/Easter Bunny equivalent for Ascension.  That doesn't mean the holiday isn't a big deal.  The coronation of our king culminates our Lord and Savior's life's work and kicks off the New Testament church as he gives the disciples their marching orders.  Consider these questions as you read this sermon from 1 Peter 3:15-22.

• What day of the week does Ascension always fall on?
• How prepared are you to give the reason for the hope that you have?
• Why and when did Jesus descend into hell?
• Baptism save you.  Who is doing the "pledging" in baptism?
• When will Jesus come back again?  ...October 21st?

1 Peter 3:15-22 (NIV84)

^{ 15} But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ^16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. ^17 It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. ^18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, ^19 through whom^ also he went and preached to the spirits in prison ^20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, ^21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ^22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

If you look back over the course of church history.  Christmas – the birth of our Savior has always been a big deal.  Easter, the recent celebration of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead has always been high on the list.  And the third really big festival that the church has always celebrated is… Ascension.  The problem is that the 40^th day after Easter Sunday every year always falls on a Thursday.  The rest of society isn’t on board with Christianity like they are with Christmas.  So this third great festival of the church year kind of gets forgotten.  Today we will remember one last time that Easter means no fear.  On this festival of the Ascension we’ll see that Easter means no fear of judgment.  Judgment the rest of your days, yes even on the Last Day, Judgment Day. 

Our text starts with verse 15, but you’ll be happy to know that in verse 14 Peter says.  ^13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? ^14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear^; do not be frightened.”  He’s talking about having no fear!  Ah, but why?  The people around you and their threats are very real.  I know that might mean – they won’t be your friend.  You won’t be invited to a party.  You might feel alone – the only one who doesn’t do it.  You don’t fear because you know who is in charge.  Set apart Christ as Lord.  Don’t trust yourself.  How’d that go the last time you tried to pump yourself up.  Trust in someone – the only who will never let you down.

Now you have a crippling phrase.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  Are you always prepared to talk to the cult member who darkens your door – these are the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses?  Are you always prepared in school when a random science factoid provides an opening for the obnoxious atheist to slam your stupid faith?  Are you always prepared?  No.  I’m not.  Do you know how many times people have asked me something – this happens very quickly when folks find out I’m a pastor?  On a field trip.  Traveling on an airplane.  The most recent one was at the soccer party.  What about that guy in Californian?  What about him…  We’ll hit him later.  First off – know that you don’t have to have all the answers.  All Peter is saying is can you tell people where you found that hope? 

I turned 35 on Friday.  And for my birthday meal I wanted frozen pizza.  Normally it’s the cardboard crust Tombstone – great.  But Jenna found Frescheta rising crust on sale for less than the standby Tombstone pizza’s their at Food Lion.  That was very easy to do.  Peter is pointing out that witnessing your faith – the reason for your hope – is no different.  This next verse is just as important.

 

But do this with gentleness and respect, ^16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.  Nothing sounds worse than a braggart.  If I were to have asked you what you had for supper Friday, and then proceded to tell you how much better my frozen pizza was that might come off as a little haughty.  Know that it can be intimidating for people to talk to you.  If you are confident in your faith, you do look and sound like you know everything.  Peter acknowledges that you can’t stop people from talking, but you can keep your conscience clear.  Just as a sharp conscience can condemn you for your sin, it can defend your heart when you are wrongfully accused.

When you – lifelong WELSer – you who know your doctrine backwards and forwards.  You know that Jesus our great prophet and priest – has taken his throne in heaven as our king as rules all things for our glory.  You know this.  So when someone who is not confident in his or her faith is talking to you – when they say something that isn’t perfect, don’t stomp over their confession of faith.  There was a professor at the seminary who had a way of taking even the worst answer from a sem student and turning it around so that he could find some good.  Never did he say – that’s totally wrong.  He’d say, “Mr. Guldberg, you’re right, Jesus rose from the dead, but I’m pretty sure he didn’t go down to hell to suffer; he did that on the cross.”  You can gently and with respect correct people, that’s good, but remember to build up your fellow Christians.  Don’t tear them down.  One of the reasons Easter means no fear is because you can scatter that fear with the gospel.  The next verses are great examples.

^18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.  You don’t work to reach God.  You don’t decide to come to God.  You do sin and run the other way, but Jesus died for you once for all so that you might be brought to God.  He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, ^19 through whom^ also he went and preached to the spirits in prison ^20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.  This verses places Jesus descent into hell – that we often confess in the creed – he descended into hell – that happened after Jesus resurrection.  Even though it says that he preached to them.  Don’t think Jesus is given the damned a second chance.  Think of Jesus doing the Lambeu Leap in the wrong stadium.  He is rubbing it in their faces.  I won.  It’s over.  Why did Peter pick Noah?  He mentions Noah in the previous chapter as an object of persecution – I’m sure a few people pointed and laughed as he built a big barge in he back yard.  Peter is about to use Noah’s rescue as an illustration of Baptism.  Before we leave this verse, why don’t we need to be afraid of the final judgment?  Easter means No Fear because you will never go to hell.  Satan lost; you belong to God.  Peter is going to tell you more.

In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, ^21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.  You don’t know how many people either have never heard of this verse or who twist it on its head.  This verse says baptism now saves you also.  Not because it cleans the pores and degreases your hair, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.  This word pledge works fine as long as you understand who’s doing the pledging in baptism.  God gives us the good conscience.  God is the one who washes the sins away.  As in the Sacrament of the Altar, God is the one who works.  We only benefit.

It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ^22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

Peter points you back one more time to the resurrection.  Easter is the proof that everything Jesus promised is true.  That it really happened just as he said.  But now to the why?  Why did Jesus leave us?  Did he abandon his church when he ascended into heaven?  No.

First he promised.  Never will I leave you.  Never will I forsake you.  But it sure looks like he left.  He’s no longer walking around the earth, is he?  This is true, but remember Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.”  This is VERY confusing to SO many people.  Jesus did not come to the world to make it a better place.  Jesus didn’t come to rid the world of disease or end world hunger.  Jesus came to redeem the world from sin death and the devil.  This he did perfectly. 

If he would’ve stayed, our ministry of telling the world about it’s redemption accomplished by our King would have been impossible.  Through out Jesus’ ministry even his own disciples didn’t understand his purpose.  On the Mt. of Ascension his disciples asked if he was going to restore the kingdom.  Jesus had to leave.  We have work to do. 

That work is not easy.  The recent events only make it more difficult.  Harold Camping has a radio ministry in California.  He also has stashed away millions in his bank account by people who support him.  He claimed that the world would end on Saturday, May 21^st.  He was so sure of this that he put some of his money where his mouth is.  He launched a nation wide billboard campaign to tell everyone that the world was going to end on that Saturday in May.  The problem is that he multiplied a few numbers that regularly occur in the Bible together and came up with the exact date of May 21^st.  Jesus tells us that no one knows the day except God alone.  He says that the day will come like a thief in the night.  Most thieves I know don’t take out a billboard warning that they will rob you blind on the third Saturday in May.  No one knows the day.  Instead Jesus warns us to watch and be ready for his return.  If there is something you need to do, if there is someone you need to speak with, God says, “Now the day of Salvation.”  Don’t wait, even if the world ends, what makes you think that you’ll have another chance to speak.

If you haven’t heard, the world didn’t end on May 21^st.  Harold is still setting dates.  He says that Jesus came – secretly – and that the world has already been judged.  No need to tell anyone the good news of Jesus anymore, according to him it won’t make any difference.  According to him the new day is October 21^st.  On that day the world will end.

Harold Camping is wrong about so many things – the end of the world is one of them.  For this sermon on the festival of the Ascension, you have no reason to fear the end whenever God decides bring the Last Day.  Don’t fear because Easter Means No Fear.  Jesus resurrection means no fear of judgment.  Amen.

Easter Means No Fear of Pain

There are plenty of people who try ans escape pain in many ways.  Come and read or listen what your Good Shepherd does for those who hurt.  The sermon from May 15th is based on 1 Peter 2:19-25.  The Apostle Peter points us and his persecuted readers back to the Shepherd and Overseer of their souls.

• The Marines have their own idea found in the slogan above.  What do you think pain is?  
• What do you think about the story of the shepherd and the runaway sheep?
• Why is it important to know that Jesus "has been there" when it comes to pain?
• How do you handle people who are afraid?
• How do you handle your own fears?

Pain is weakness leaving the body.  At least that’s what the marines say.  Pain is a real day to day thing for many of you.  Pain can cripple you.  Make you bitter.  Give you perspective on life.  On this 4^th Sunday of Easter we continue our theme of Easter Means No Fear of Pain.  

The 4^th Sunday of Easter is Good Shepherd Sunday.  The picture of a Good Shepherd is one that Jesus himself draws for us.  He calls himself the Good Shepherd.  In our Gospel lesson we are one verse short of those famous words.  In our gospel lesson Jesus contrasts himself with the bad shepherds – the Pharisees, who didn’t care about the sheep at all.  Before we talk about our Good Shepherd, I want to talk about the sheep.

Peter is talking to sheep – new sheep who have only known their Good Shepherd for a short time.  These new sheep have had it pretty rough.  ^19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.  In school it’s not easy to be the “idiot” who believes that God created the world.  At the water cooler tomorrow it’s fun to talk about weekend conquests outside of marriage.  The path that your Good Shepherd lays out for you is clear but rocky.  Don’t expect people support regular church attendance or Bible study.  If this is your lot you are to be commended for your suffering.  Peter isn’t saying anything new.  Our Good Shepherd wrote in the gospel of Matthew, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Why do sheep suffer?  It may be that all of the suffering in your life is because you are God’s sheep.  Wolves are waiting to rip you from limb to limb.  What if you are one of those sheep who loves walking on the edge of the cliff?  Do you like to frolic in the stream going ever deeper until it’s too late?  ^20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it?  Here Peter is talking about the other side of the coin.  People aren’t picking on you for walking away from a dirty joke – you’re under probation for showing up late and leaving early!  The boss doesn’t trust you because every other word out of your mouth is a lie!  Now we’re getting into a few different ways that people suffer.

I want to tell you a story – and I want to get your reaction.  This is difficult because I’m not actually going to take questions, but it’s a good one as we see how our Good Shepherd drives away our fear of pain.

There was a sheep that continued to run away.  First he was caught in a thicket.  His wool was hopelessly hooked into the thorns.  He was bloody and easy prey for a passing wolf.  The second time he fell down a ravine – and it was flash flood season.  The shepherd found him just in time.  After the third time the shepherd took the sheep and broke its leg, not because he hated the little sheep but because he love him.  Now the sheep couldn’t run but as it limped it stayed by the shepherd’s side.

That story is strong and in many ways very good, but we need to be careful with how we use it.  How do I feel if my 4-year-old twins take a table knife to the nearest power outlet over and over again?  After the third or fourth time, might I swat their little finger? The problem is that not all pain is your fault.  Another problem is that Satan works overtime to convince you that it is your fault. 

I want to take you to the center of out text where Peter writes.  ^24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. ^25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.  No matter what you think you’ve done, do you see that you are forgiven.  Even clearer is the Apostle Paul in Romans – There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  There is no sacrifice for sin left – says the author to the Hebrews.

That might leave you in an awkward place.  Carry the thought out to it’s logical end and God can only give you pain for a blessing.  You’re left with a few questions.  Why might be one of them.

^21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

^22 “He committed no sin,

and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

^24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

Peter is tracing the path for persecution.  Understand that this world is a veil of tear and your Savior knows where you’ve been. There was an unruly parent at one of my soccer games yesterday.  He wasn’t tased, but only of the referees explained to me that if you want to have a taser, you need to be tased.  Every police officer, security guard, or deputy has felt the jolt.  In the same way Jesus knows your miserable agony.  That means I can go to him when I suffer.  He knows what it’s like and he can help me. 

But that doesn’t answer the question why, does it?  Why is there pain?  I have to say pinch yourself.  Do you have flesh?  Is it sinful?  Does it lead you astray?  Turn on the news.  How is the content?  Is there any question that our world is sinful.  Read the Scriptures and you’ll find that your old evil foe is waiting for you – to pounce and destroy you.  He would have already had he not been beaten back by the Good Shepherd.  That is why there is sin. 

Why do I have to suffer through it?  Go to your Good Shepherd.  Pray to him, “Please take this suffering away.”  What are the possible answer?  It might be YES!  I can’t stand seeing my sheep suffer.  It might be wait or it might be no.  That can be a hard answer.  He doesn’t give us any information.  If he says wait or no he promised to give you the strength to bear up under it or he might take you home.  He might deliver you not by taking the pain away from you, but by taking you away from the pain.  You will be by his side.  Safe, secure and pain free.

This doesn’t answer the question directly.  How does Easter mean no fear of pain?

^25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.   On Easter Sunday I told you about how my three girls were trapped by a bee.  The terror was real.  For Emmerson that terror is still real.  Almost every night – including last night – she’ll reduce herself to a ball of tears because of bugs.  How do you comfort a four-year-old?  You don’t lecture.  Threats can work, but there’s a better way.  I take her to the window.  It’s closed and locked.  I remind her that she hasn’t seen a bug in her room ever.  I take every chance to tell her that she is one hundred times bigger than the bugs.  I give her a hug and kiss and she reluctantly lays down and goes to sleep. 

When you are afraid, go back to the empty tomb and look in.  There is a reason that the Easter season of the church year lasts seven weeks.  We need to go back again and again.  We forget so quickly.  The fears keep coming back.  That is how Easter drives away fears.

I think that the marines are wrong.  I don’t think that pain is weakness leaving the body.  I think that pain is one way God keeps us close.  Pain is one way that God keeps us safe.  Pain is one way that we know that God loves us – not because he loves to see us suffer, but because it forces us to trust his promises.  There’s nowhere else to go.  If it drives us back to the cross, it can only be good.  Easter means no fear pain.  Amen.

Easter Means No Fear of Judgment 

The picture above is Chris Paul the New Orleans Hornets star standing next to his grandpa, Papa Chili.  The sermon this week went over the tragic events that surrounded Papa Chili's death.  As you listen to the sermon by clicking here or reading below I want you to consider these discussion questions.  Your comments and questions are welcome.

• If Papa Chili was your grandpa what would justice look like if you determined the fate of the five teens?
• Do you think that Chris Paul is being fair to the five men or is he wrong?
• Fear of judgment can be a powerful motivation.  Describe what gospel motivation means to you.
• What do you love most about your mom?
• What are a few ways we can combat the empty way of life that surrounds us these days?

1 Peter 1:17-21

^17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. ^18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, ^19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. ^20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. ^21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

On the evening of November 15, 2002 Nathaniel Jones had closed up shop at his filling station and was taking groceries out of his white van, when something tragic was about to happen. 

But you need to know a few things about Nathaniel.  His friends called him “Papa Chili”.  Papa Chili was the first black man to open, own and run his own gas station in North Carolina.  He was known to let people run tabs when times got tough.  Plenty of times he had handed people money right out of the till so they could get by.

Probably the most important thing about Papa Chili was that he was Chris Paul’s grandpa.  Chris Paul is the point guard for the New Orleans Hornets NBA basket ball team.  Chris Paul played his college ball right here at Wake.  Chris Paul went to the same high school as many of our teens, West Forsyth.  Chris called he grandpa – Papa Chili – his best friend.

On November 14^th Chris Paul signed to play for Wake and guess who was the first person to put that Demon Deacons hat on Chris?  Papa Chili.  The next day five teens bound the 61-year-old’s wrists, duct taped his mouth and beat him with a pipe until his heart stopped beating.

None of the five teen were hardened criminals.  One of them had run away from home and stolen his mother’s car but for the other four this was their first crime.  They decided that evening that they wanted to rob someone and when they saw Papa Chili, one of them said “Let’s go get him.”  According to the judge who sentences them they beat in a "relentless, remorseless, conscienceless" attack.  Nathaniel Jones died in his carport.

Dear friends, Easter Means We Have No Fear of Judgment.  Listen to what the Apostle Peter says, ^17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.  What is your judgment on these five?

They didn’t need the money.  They didn’t particularly hate PaPa Chili, who would?  They didn’t have any reason to kill Nathaniel Jones.  They were sitting around with nothing better to do so they robbed someone.  They committed that crime because they could.

Dear friends as you live here as strangers in reverent fear I want you to know, that is terrifying.  While I know that none of you have ever beaten and killed anyone, to my knowledge, the same evil that welled up inside those boys, lurks in your heart.  That scares me.

I’m going to be blunt.  Do you think that God is impressed if you have avoided having sex outside the marriage you are in – or sex outside of marriage in general only because there has been nobody who was willing to break it with you. 

Do you think that God is impressed if you have avoided murder only because you either didn’t have these five thugs to your dirty work, or because you lacked the guts to do it yourself.

There was once a missionary in a remote village in the Third World.  His family, his sending church, and the people whom he served all thought he was the kindest, saintliest man they had ever known.  In his journal he reflected on what a high opinion everybody had of him, and what a farce it all was.  He wrote, “If the children in my village knew the thoughts that sometimes pass through my head, they would have every right to take me out and stone me to death.” 

There are some things about this that are hard to understand and some that are not so hard.  The hard question is not, “How could these five boys do that?”  When you think about it, that’s really not such a difficult question at all.  There is a part of you that understands and is terrifying of the evil.  You know that your Father will judge your sins.

Justice is blind.  But do you understand that your God is blind from one sin to another? “The one who judges each man’s work impartially.” All sins even the ones you hide in your heart are an open book for our God.  Maybe you could call it complete blindness.  God doesn’t care if you did something wrong, thought something wrong, or said something wrong.  All of it is sinful.  Do you understand the depth of your sin?  That bush tribe missionary understood it.

Sadly we know what sin is.  We understand it all too well.  What is hard to understand is this comment from Chris Paul.

I wish I could talk to them and tell them, 'I forgive you. Honestly.' I hate to know that they're going to be in jail for such a long time. I hate it."  How could he?!  They killed Papa Chili!  The defense attorney in the case almost nine years ago called Chris Paul’s comments generous.  I’ll say!  There is no way!  Would I be happy if they had killed my grandpa.  It’s mother’s day.  If they killed my mom?  They should rot in jail.  ^17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.  Generous doesn’t quite touch it.  The theme of the sermon is…  Easter Means We Have No Fear of Judgment.  How do we get to that generous place with God?  Peter lays it out so eloquently in the next couple verses. 

^18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, ^19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 

Gold is worth a little under $1500 an once right now.  The lamb is worth less than that in dollars and sense.  The lamb that Peter is talking about is really special.  That lamb gave up his life so that you could be bought back body and soul.  The empty way of life handed down to you could be different for everyone here – I’m talking about your ethnic heritage, your religion – not everyone was Christian even all of this life, your customs.  All of us inherited a sinful nature that was truly empty – sinful.  Those blind scales God’s justice don’t care who you are.  Your redemption is complete.  You are bought body and soul.  Easter takes away the doubts. 

^20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. This had been the plan all along. Those disciples on the road to Emmaus knew the facts, but couldn’t put it together.  If you haven’t watched the dramatized version of the Road to Emmaus video, the actors go deeper than the gospel account and show how Jesus had to die and rise from the dead.  Share it with a friend.  This had been the plan all along.  And so your faith and hope are in God. 

You have no fear.  How could God do that?  The only way is through Jesus, that lamb.

As for the “Why?” You end up at the same place if you talk to Chris Paul or your Heavenly Father who judges each man’s work impartially.  It’s not fuzzy math or a shell game.  By faith in Jesus you are perfect.  That doesn’t mean God’s impartial or blind justice means he has no idea who you are or what you’ve done.  No, when God looks at you he judges his son’s work.  Your sins are forgiven.  Your sins are covered under the blood of the lamb.  There is nothing more for you to do.

That is great place to be.  While Jesus did everything for us, our souls cry what can I do?!  How can I thank you, Jesus?  If Chris Paul used his leverage as an NBA star to go to jail and take their place, what would they owe him?  At least a few years of their lives, right?

What do you owe your God?  Don’t pass down an empty way of life.  Pass down “No Fear.”  Pass down forgiveness.  Pass down redemption so that your kids can hold their heads high.  You don’t bear shame – you can be proud to be God’s child.

I had a friend who finally figured out what life was like.  Life is about family.  He came home and wanted to make amends with all the people he hurt.  Then mom died.  He realized that it is all about family not your family here but your family in heaven.  You are an adopted child of God, your heavenly Father.

You can live as strangers here because heaven is your home.  You can live in reverent fear and say with the psalmist Lord with you there is forgiveness therefore you are feared.  Stand in the awe and mercy of your God.

Easter Means No Fear of Judgment.  Amen.

Easter Means No Fear of Poverty

The chances are very good that neither of these two will ever be below the poverty line.  In fact Dutchess Catherine will not be able to have employment; she's too famous now.  Our God promises that we have nothing to be afraid of.  So when I say Easter Means No Fear of Poverty, that mean we don't need to fear poverty of the wallet (not having enough money) or poverty of the soul (not believing that Jesus is alive).  Click here to listen to Sunday's sermon based on.  Consider these discussion questions as you listen or read the manuscript listed below.  Your comments and questions are welcome!

• Do you think that marrying into royalty would solve all of your problems?
• Why aren't the people with the most wealth also the same people with the most happiness?
• Why can't evidence alone fill spiritual poverty?
• What makes a Christian's hope different from anything else on the planet?  On what alone does this hope rest?
• How does God fill spiritual poverty?

Peter 1:3-9

3 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, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5 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. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

You may or may not know who these two newly weds are.  They were married in England on Friday.  No one knows exactly how much their wedding cost.  Most figures have it in the millions.  After the wedding she was given a title, Duchess Catherine to match her husband’s title of Duke William.  Now that Catherine is royalty there are lists of how her life will be changed.  One of the ways is that she won’t be able to finish eating at a family dinner.  When the queen stops eating, the meal is over.  Another is that Catherine will no longer be able to have a job.  Royalty and common work simply don’t mix.  I tell you of Catherine’s fairy tale wedding because today we continue our series on Easter means NO FEAR. 

Today we will see how Easter Means: No Fear of Poverty because Easter Gives You a Lasting Inheritance.

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 

Every year our federal government determines the poverty level in America. For example, if you have a family of 4, and your combined family income is less than $22,350, then you and your family would be considered below the poverty level. And the government uses that information to estimate how many people in our country are living below the poverty level – what percentage of Americans are living below the poverty level, and they can compare it to past years. According to the poverty guidelines, the there are more people below the poverty level now than there were in 2000 – in fact, the percentage of people considered below poverty has increased 3%. And they can also use that information to study various groups within society to compare them. In 2009, for example, more than 20% of children under 18 were considered to be in poverty – that’s 1 in 5 children in America.

7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

On the heals of the wedding of the century, did you know that the average wedding in America cost just under $25,000?  Or roughly two thousand more than people in poverty make in a whole year.

Part of our fear of poverty is that we compare ourselves to the newly crowned Duke and Duchess ignoring all that God has given us.  God’s promise.

What if? – persecuted for faith, stripped of all your possessions, stripped of the home where you live, or maybe the land where you farm, and make your living.

I say this because it is not unusual in the pages of history for Christians to be persecuted for their faith. It happened to Jesus, it happened to his disciples, it has happened to thousands of Christians over the last 2000 years, it is happening today to Christians in other countries.

You remember, of course that the Christians were persecuted by the Jewish leaders really from the very beginning – starting with the stoning of Stephen, and later, James, the brother of John was put to death – he was the first of the 12 Apostles to die.

But as Christianity grew and expanded throughout the Roman empire, it faced persecution from Gentiles, too. In the year 64, the Roman Emperor Nero blamed Christians for a devastating fire that broke out in Rome – so for the first time – the emperor of Rome not only allowed Christians to be persecuted, but demanded it. Many Christians were put to death – some by crucifixion, some by ravenous dogs, and others were burned to death. According to the historian Tacitus, “mockery of every sort was added to their deaths.”

Do you think it was difficult to be a Christian in a society where Christians were considered evil? Do you think it was difficult to be a follower of Christ under a government that put to death follower of Christ?

The Apostle Peter writes a letter to his suffering brothers and sisters in the faith during that time of persecution under Emperor Nero.



8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Last week on Easter we heard about Peter and John who found that Jesus was missing.  Mary met Jesus he revealed himself to her by simply calling her name.  She believed.  But there was another small group of people who realized that Jesus was alive. These were the guards who “became like dead men,” the Bible tells us, when they saw the angels who rolled the stone away from the entrance of the tomb.  11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.  The soldiers acted like little evangelists.  They told the chief priests what happened.  These Jewish leaders knew without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus had risen from the dead.  But they refused to believe.  How?  Why? 

The Gospel for the Sunday after Easter is about doubt, poverty of spirit.  Our lesson from 1 Peter is about removing any doubt from your minds.  3 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.   I asked the questions how and why do people refuse to believe the great things that God has done?  One thing’s for sure it wasn’t for lack of evidence.  Faith or lack thereof isn’t necessarily about logic and making sense.  How and why can anyone doubt what God has accomplished?  The Jewish leadership for example placed their hope in a dead Jesus.  They had killed him!  But he wasn’t dead.  He had risen.  No matter how many times they saw Jesus walking down the street they refused to believe.

Christianity isn’t the only religion that holds out hope to its followers.  Most religions offer some kind of hope.  But to achieve the goal usually depends on whether or not you have earned them.  Kind a weak or tainted hope, isn’t it.  How could a “believer” ever be certain about the future?  Regardless of how sure or unsure you may be, on Judgment day any hope not founded on Christ will be a false hope, call it a dead hope.  Someone once said, Life with Christ is an endless hope, without him a hopeless end.

Easter Means: No Fear of Poverty because Easter Gives You a Lasting Inheritance.

Because of Easter we have 4 an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5 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 text describes this as an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you.  The children of Israel were given an inheritance.  The land of Canaan, flowing with milk and honey.  But because they turned their back on God, they lost it.  Invading armies took it away.  God says in Romans that we are heirs of God, co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).  Friends our inheritance of eternal life is our birthright or since we’re born again, I suppose you could call it our re-birthright.  Yes you have a retirement that is out of this world and you can count on it for all eternity.

Since 911 many a “nest egg” vanished in thin air.  Inheritances aren’t a sure thing for us.  Taxes, inflation, the untimely rise and fall of the economy and stock market all can take away our savings.  God says that our inheritance can never perish, spoil, or fade.  The famous hymn abide with me reminds us “Change and decay in all around I see.”  Everything changes in our sinful world eventually for the worse, but our changeless God keeps our inheritance safe – untouched by sin and time.  Ours is the joy in the riches of our living hope.

We’re not quite in heaven yet.  No one understood that better than Peter.  He had been tested – even warned about the coming test.  Before the rooster crows you will deny three times that you know me.  He did this and went out and wept.  This was a bitter pill to swallow for Peter.  But the Savior he denied was the same one to died to give him the sweet message of forgiveness. 

God was not setting Peter up for failure, but success.  He tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 

Just because you fail doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love you.  Just because you’re struggling doesn’t mean you’re not a Christian.  God tells us that life will be rough to set us up for success not failure.  This is the joy of the comfort we cling to in our living hope. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  (2 Corinthians 4:17)

You’ve sat down with your family for supper.  An impossible scene in your house?  Dream with me for a moment.  You pass the corn to your son when the phone rings.  The voice says, “Congratulations! You’ve won!  How do you feel?”  Your instant reaction at this point is to hang up.  Why?  It’s too good to be true.  There’s always a catch.  The “free” vacation that you’ve just “won” will really cost you over $500.  This is not like the goal that Jesus gives us.  Ours is the joy in the goal of our living hope.  Jesus has paid our way in full.  We don’t need to do anything more!  Jesus says in the Gospel of John I tell you the truth.  He who believes has everlasting life.  That’s right, now.  You don’t have to wait until you pass on.  Congratulations you really have won.

Easter Means: No Fear of Poverty because Easter Gives You a Lasting Inheritance.