Salem Church
People Under Pressure
Hope that Leads to Holiness
Locations & Times
Clove Lakes Campus
634 Clove Rd, Staten Island, NY 10310, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
Sunday 11:30 AM
Sunday, July 6, 2025
Dr. John Welborn
People Under Pressure
Hope that Leads to Holiness
1 Peter 1:13-25
This summer we are working through a powerful book toward the back of your New Testament titled First Peter. It was written by Simon Peter, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus and was written to People Under Pressure. Today, we will look at the next section of this book and the idea of HOPE.
Viktor Frankl, an Austrian neurologist and psychologist Vikto Frankl was sent to a concentration camp for continuing to treat Jewish people despite the Nazi occupation of Austria and pushing back against the euthanasia program against people with special needs. There he lost his father, mother, brothers, and wife while barely surviving three years in captivity. He wrote about his experience there extensively in his book, Man’s Search for Meaning.
We have all lost hope. Some of you might have given up hope on ever overcoming temptations to lust, greed, gossip, pride, or some other sin. Maybe you’ve tried everything and just can’t find victory. This message is for you and it’s not a TRY HARDER message; it’s a TRUST DEEPER one.
Main Idea: When our Hope is in Christ, we have Confidence to Live Differently
“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’ 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for ‘All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.’ And this word is the good news that was preached to you.”1 Peter 1:13-25
Three Elements of Hope that Leads to Holiness in 1 Peter 1:13-25
I. Faith in Promised Events – 1 Peter 1:13-16
Peter opens this section with “Therefore”, which means he’s building his case for Hope that Leads to Holiness based on what he had already written.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, & unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time…Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:3-5, 13 – Since that…then this!
Peter is encouraging his followers to fix their hope on God’s grace that will culminate in the second coming of Jesus Christ. Since we know that Jesus is coming back to make all things new, we can endeavor toward holiness with the strength that he provides! You can do it!
“But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” 1 Peter 1:15-16 – It’s Jesus!
“Our lifelong nostalgia, our longing to be reunited with something in the universe from which we now feel cut off, to be on the inside of some door which we have always seen from the outside, is no mere neurotic fancy, but the truest index of our real situation. And to be at last summoned inside would be both glory & honor beyond all our merits & also the healing of that old ache.”C.S. Lewis – Faith in the Promised Return of Jesus Fuels Holiness!
How long would you stay on a miserable diet or exercise program without the hope of a healthier body? We’re all prone to lose hope in our journey into deeper holiness, but when we consider that we’re headed toward the return of Jesus (the righteous judge) and that faithfulness will be rewarded…we have hope!
II. Trust in Past Victories – 1 Peter 1:17-21
“Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot….you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” 1 Peter 1:18-21 – Jesus Won
Peter notes that our freedom from sinfulness was paid for by the blood of Jesus on the cross. So, we do not have to continue enslaved to our sin but can walk holy and blameless because of what Christ has done! It’s done!!!
The word that Peter uses in verse 18 is ransomed (Gk – lutro o) which literally means to purchase, release by payment or deliver by the payment of a price. Commonly used to refer to a family or government paying for the release of a prisoner of war in ancient Greece. Imagine scraping together enough money to buy your loved one out of prison only to watch them walk right back into that same prison they were set free from. One question: WHY?
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”Galatians 5:1 – Don’t lose hope for holiness
How long would you stick to a strict budget if you don’t have any hope to get out of debt or achieve your goals? That’s the same reason you don’t resist temptation anymore, because you’ve lost hope. But…
When our Hope is in Christ, we have Confidence to Live Differently
III. Life in Present Abundance – 1 Peter 1:22-25
After addressing the future and past, Peter transitions to the present.
“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again…” 1 Peter 1:22-23a – What to do now?
Walking in holiness is not to make us self-righteous, judgmental, or condescending to others. No! It’s to help us love one another more purely!
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”John 13:34-35
Have you lost hope for holiness? I hope you will find the courage to believe again that you can overcome temptation, you can once-again consecrate yourself to God, and that your greatest days of life, worship, and service to the Lord are ahead of you! But you must stop focusing on the PROBLEM and instead focus on the PERSON of Jesus Christ.
Ascend into intimacy with Jesus and watch the rats of temptation suffocate. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory & grace.
Our only hope for holiness is in Jesus Christ. He lived the perfect life you could not live, died the death you should have died, rose again and offers salvation to anyone who turns to him in repentance and faith. That salvation assures you of heaven at his final return and provides the abundance you need to live a life of love and holiness today.
Sources and Further Reading Opportunities:
CSB Study Bible – Trevin Wax, General Editor (2021)
Wiersbe Bible Commentary – Warren Wiersbe (2007)
Swindoll’s Living Insights: James, 1& 2 Peter – Charles R. Swindoll (2014)
1-2 Peter St. Andrew’s Expositional Commentary – R.C. Sproul (2011)
1&2 Peter, Jude: Sharing Christ’s Sufferings – Helm & Hughes (2008)
New American Commentary: 1&2 Peter, Jude – Thomas Schreiner (2003)
MacArthur NT Commentary: 1 Peter – John MacArthur (2004)
Notes from my Bible – Dwight L. Moody (1895)
Tony Evans Study Bible – Tony Evans (2019)
The Spurgeon Study Bible – Charles Haddon Spurgeon (2017)
Dr. John Welborn
People Under Pressure
Hope that Leads to Holiness
1 Peter 1:13-25
This summer we are working through a powerful book toward the back of your New Testament titled First Peter. It was written by Simon Peter, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus and was written to People Under Pressure. Today, we will look at the next section of this book and the idea of HOPE.
Viktor Frankl, an Austrian neurologist and psychologist Vikto Frankl was sent to a concentration camp for continuing to treat Jewish people despite the Nazi occupation of Austria and pushing back against the euthanasia program against people with special needs. There he lost his father, mother, brothers, and wife while barely surviving three years in captivity. He wrote about his experience there extensively in his book, Man’s Search for Meaning.
We have all lost hope. Some of you might have given up hope on ever overcoming temptations to lust, greed, gossip, pride, or some other sin. Maybe you’ve tried everything and just can’t find victory. This message is for you and it’s not a TRY HARDER message; it’s a TRUST DEEPER one.
Main Idea: When our Hope is in Christ, we have Confidence to Live Differently
“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’ 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for ‘All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.’ And this word is the good news that was preached to you.”1 Peter 1:13-25
Three Elements of Hope that Leads to Holiness in 1 Peter 1:13-25
I. Faith in Promised Events – 1 Peter 1:13-16
Peter opens this section with “Therefore”, which means he’s building his case for Hope that Leads to Holiness based on what he had already written.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, & unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time…Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:3-5, 13 – Since that…then this!
Peter is encouraging his followers to fix their hope on God’s grace that will culminate in the second coming of Jesus Christ. Since we know that Jesus is coming back to make all things new, we can endeavor toward holiness with the strength that he provides! You can do it!
“But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” 1 Peter 1:15-16 – It’s Jesus!
“Our lifelong nostalgia, our longing to be reunited with something in the universe from which we now feel cut off, to be on the inside of some door which we have always seen from the outside, is no mere neurotic fancy, but the truest index of our real situation. And to be at last summoned inside would be both glory & honor beyond all our merits & also the healing of that old ache.”C.S. Lewis – Faith in the Promised Return of Jesus Fuels Holiness!
How long would you stay on a miserable diet or exercise program without the hope of a healthier body? We’re all prone to lose hope in our journey into deeper holiness, but when we consider that we’re headed toward the return of Jesus (the righteous judge) and that faithfulness will be rewarded…we have hope!
II. Trust in Past Victories – 1 Peter 1:17-21
“Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot….you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” 1 Peter 1:18-21 – Jesus Won
Peter notes that our freedom from sinfulness was paid for by the blood of Jesus on the cross. So, we do not have to continue enslaved to our sin but can walk holy and blameless because of what Christ has done! It’s done!!!
The word that Peter uses in verse 18 is ransomed (Gk – lutro o) which literally means to purchase, release by payment or deliver by the payment of a price. Commonly used to refer to a family or government paying for the release of a prisoner of war in ancient Greece. Imagine scraping together enough money to buy your loved one out of prison only to watch them walk right back into that same prison they were set free from. One question: WHY?
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”Galatians 5:1 – Don’t lose hope for holiness
How long would you stick to a strict budget if you don’t have any hope to get out of debt or achieve your goals? That’s the same reason you don’t resist temptation anymore, because you’ve lost hope. But…
When our Hope is in Christ, we have Confidence to Live Differently
III. Life in Present Abundance – 1 Peter 1:22-25
After addressing the future and past, Peter transitions to the present.
“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again…” 1 Peter 1:22-23a – What to do now?
Walking in holiness is not to make us self-righteous, judgmental, or condescending to others. No! It’s to help us love one another more purely!
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”John 13:34-35
Have you lost hope for holiness? I hope you will find the courage to believe again that you can overcome temptation, you can once-again consecrate yourself to God, and that your greatest days of life, worship, and service to the Lord are ahead of you! But you must stop focusing on the PROBLEM and instead focus on the PERSON of Jesus Christ.
Ascend into intimacy with Jesus and watch the rats of temptation suffocate. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory & grace.
Our only hope for holiness is in Jesus Christ. He lived the perfect life you could not live, died the death you should have died, rose again and offers salvation to anyone who turns to him in repentance and faith. That salvation assures you of heaven at his final return and provides the abundance you need to live a life of love and holiness today.
Sources and Further Reading Opportunities:
CSB Study Bible – Trevin Wax, General Editor (2021)
Wiersbe Bible Commentary – Warren Wiersbe (2007)
Swindoll’s Living Insights: James, 1& 2 Peter – Charles R. Swindoll (2014)
1-2 Peter St. Andrew’s Expositional Commentary – R.C. Sproul (2011)
1&2 Peter, Jude: Sharing Christ’s Sufferings – Helm & Hughes (2008)
New American Commentary: 1&2 Peter, Jude – Thomas Schreiner (2003)
MacArthur NT Commentary: 1 Peter – John MacArthur (2004)
Notes from my Bible – Dwight L. Moody (1895)
Tony Evans Study Bible – Tony Evans (2019)
The Spurgeon Study Bible – Charles Haddon Spurgeon (2017)
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