Introduction:     Have you heard any good news lately? When we read the headlines and ponder the news that is happening in our world, and when we think of our own problems and burdens, we tend to get caught up in it to the point of losing heart. Sometimes, we are guilty of allowing the world around up to steal the glory that God has placed within our hearts. Peter addresses his letter to “the strangers scattered” and is writing to them, against the backdrop of pain and suffering. He is reminding them that in the midst of their trials, there are truly some things to be thankful for! One cause for thanksgiving lies in the word “strangers”. This word refers to one “who travels through a strange land. Peter is reminding these folks that they are not home yet! They are merely strangers passing through a foreign land. One day the journey will end and they will be home!

What are some of the things spoken of here that should excite us with thanksgiving?

I.          WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE (VV. 2-3)

These two verses are filled with the truth that salvation is a work of pure grace.

             A.        The Plan (v.2)

·        We Have Been Chosen By God -“elect according to the foreknowledge of God.” foreknowledge means far more than that advanced knowledge on the part of God. It refers to advanced planning on the part of God! If you are saved today, it is because God chose you in Jesus, before the world began, Eph. 1:4. That is a work of grace!

·        We Have Been Called By God - “sanctification of the Spirit”. Part of the process of bringing us to Jesus was the conviction of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God awoke us to our need of salvation, He spoke to ours hearts about our lost condition, He called us to repentance and He gave us to faith to respond to God’s free offer. This, too, is a work of grace!

·        We Have Been Cleansed By God - The precious blood that Jesus shed on Calvary has the power to wash away to vilest of sin! Any sinner who hears the call of the Spirit of God can come and have his sins washed whiter than snow in the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is nothing less than a work of pure grace!

             B.                 The Purpose (v.3a)

A “new birth” in all those who come to Him. All humans are born into this world as vile, dirty sinners! But, it gets worse, not only are we sinners by birth, but as we grow and our sin nature matures, we become sinners by choice, Isa. 53:6! As a result of our sins, we are separated from God, Isa. 59:2, and we are destined to suffer a second death in a place called Hell, Psa. 9:17. However, Jesus lived and died to change that! When a sinner repents and comes to Jesus, that sinner is instantly transformed into a saint. He gets a brand new start, 2 Cor. 5:17. All of his sins are forever forgiven, Col. 2:13-14. He is immediately adopted into the family of God, 1 John 3:1-3. And, his name is written in the Lamb’s book of life, Luke 10:20! Now those are some real reasons for rejoicing!

             C.                 The Product (v.3b)

“lively hope”. Our hope is a “living hope” that is sure, certain, and real, as opposed to the deceptive, empty, false hope the world offers. Many today are pinning their hopes on their 401K plan, in the stock market, or in their health or their family. This word “hope” means, “a confident assurance based on the Word of God and the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead that produces an excited response.” We are not talking about “pie in the sky, by and by.” We are talking about a sure thing! We are talking about something that is more solid that the ground under our feet. We are referring to something that is settled by the inerrant, infallible, Word of God! Friend, the world may be in turmoil today, but those who are saved possess a hope that is out of this world! This alone is enough to shout about!

II.         WE ARE SLATED FOR GLORY (V. 4)

             A.        A Guaranteed Place

“Inheritance” = a gift to those still living from one who isn’t. We have an inheritance provided by One Who did died, but Who now lives, Rev. 1:18. We are mentioned in Christ’s last will and testament, John 17:22-24!

             B.         A Glorious Place

Peter uses three negative terms to describe that inheritance to which we are headed in a very positive fashion.

1. It Cannot Be Destroyed - No enemy shall ever set his foot on that shore to destroy it. People in Peter’s day had seen the Roman legions destroy city after city. But, he tells them about a land that is beyond the reach of all invaders.

2. It Cannot Be Defiled - This literally means that it cannot be “soiled or stained”. None of the wretched evils that mar earth will rear their ugly heads in Heaven! Things like death, sin, Satan, suffering, troubles, etc, will quickly pass from our vocabularies when we reach that land of eternal bliss and glory! Notice: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Rev. 21:4. “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.” Rev. 21:27.

3. It Cannot Be Decayed - This phrase speaks of something that “cannot wear away.” All the great sites and possessions of this world are subject to decay. You home, your car, your body, everything you see around you is in the process of decaying and fading away. Not Heaven! That city will require no repairs, no fixing and no restoration. It will never wear away!

          C.              A Guarded Place

(Illus: olive trees left as an inheritance). Unlike an inheritance here on the earth that may pass away through theft, mismanagement or decay, what we have in Heaven is “reserved.” This word means “guarded”; “Kept under lock and key.” The bottom line is this: our heavenly home is as secure as if our feet were already planted on the golden streets, as if our eyes could already behold the Savior’s face, as if we were already living in glorified body!

III.       WE ARE SEALED BY GOD (V. 5)

           A.        The Promise

“kept”. The word means “garrisoned, or protected by a military guard.” The power that keeps us resides within us! The child of God has much better protection that the president of the United States! He has the Secret Service, we have Sovereign Service. He has armed guards, we have Almighty God. He has present protection, we have perfect protection!

           B.                 The Power

How is this possible? We are “kept by the power of God.” I just want to affirm the truth that we serve a God Who is able to save anyone and to safely deliver that person home to Heaven when this life is over! Have you ever messed anything up? Friend, salvation is one thing that even I can’t mess up. I’ve got it now, I’ll have it forever, and that is God’s promise to you and me!

           C.                 The Proof

We are partakers of a salvation that extends beyond the turmoil of today. Faith in Christ has secured for them and eternal hope that will culminate in their safe arrival in Heaven at the end of the journey. Since I am saved by grace, sealed by the Spirit and secured by the power of the Father, I can be absolutely certain that God’s salvation will last forever! I was saved when I trusted Jesus. I am being saved as I pass through each day. I will be saved when I arrive home in glory. And, to cap it off, all of this is God’s work in me! If He were to drop the ball anywhere along the way we would be in deep trouble. But, since God don’t “drop the ball”, you and I have nothing to fear! He will finish what He has started! He will keep those whom He has saved! He will personally see to it that His children “ALL” make it safely home to Heaven!

Conclusion:       Truly, those who are saved by grace have many things for which to be thankful. And, I would encourage you to get your eyes off the troubles and turmoil that is going on in the world today and rejoice in your salvation. "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;" (Eph 5:20)