Hope in Grace
Pastor Tan Thai · May 2, 2021
This sermon based on 1 Peter 1:13 explores the meaning of true biblical hope and contrasts it with various worldly perspectives on hope. The pastor calls the congregation to prepare their minds and place their complete hope in the grace of God, rather than in the temporary things of this life.
This sermon is part of the series 'Living Like the One Who Called You' based on 1 Peter 1:13-19, focusing on the Apostle Peter's instruction that believers must prepare their minds and place their complete hope in the grace to be given at the revelation of Jesus Christ. The cultural image of 'girding up the loins'—tucking up a long garment to prepare for work or running—is used to illustrate the necessity of mental preparation before action. Because actions and attitudes are the fruit of thoughts, controlling the mind is the first step toward living a holy life.
The sermon presents five worldly perspectives on hope, from the Roman poet Horace to the English scholar C.S. Lewis, to demonstrate that no earthly hope can fully satisfy or endure. Examples include movie stars who achieved all their dreams yet felt empty, and C.S. Lewis's observation that humanity's deepest longings point toward a heavenly home that nothing on earth can replace. The self-reflection of Vietnamese musician Trịnh Công Sơn on despair is also quoted to highlight the consequences of lacking lasting hope.
The concluding section affirms that biblical hope is grounded in faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promise of eternal life in heaven. The pastor cites Romans 4:17-18, Romans 8:18-25, Philippians 4:11-12, and 1 Timothy 6:6-9 to show that believers can be content with what God provides on earth, while placing their complete hope in salvation and the life to come. This hope cannot be taken away because it rests on God's promises rather than on earthly circumstances.
The sermon applies these truths practically by asking the congregation to consider the difference between two kinds of hope: hope in material things versus hope in God. When earthly things are lost, the believer still has hope, because death is only the beginning of eternal life and the opportunity to be reunited with loved ones in a blessed place. The final call is for every Christian to prepare their mind, set aside hopes that belong only to this life, and hold firmly to the grace of God as the only enduring and eternal source of hope.