1. We are to live with abundant grace and peace (vs.2). Go wants us to have abundant grace and peace.
A. We have grace when we remember we experience God’s unconditional love. - Grace = giving something undeserved. Also being shown goodwill. Also means the spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them by remembering that we are loved.
B. We have peace when we are not in conflict with God’s plan for living. It’s to be gracious to others as we live among humanity.
2. We are to live with hope. (3-4).
A. Our hope is in knowing that nothing can take our relationship with God away.
B. Our hope is in our receiving mercy. Jesus paid our debt of sin as our Savior. Because os our acceptance of this, we have a relationship with God.
C. Our hope is in God’s resurrection power. God resurrected Jesus from the dead. God is in control of the natural world. It is our belief in what God did through resurrecting Jesus that we have the hope of heaven. (4).
D. Our hope comes through faith. (5) It shields us. We believe in what God did for us and we trust Him to be our God.
3. We are to rejoice in our time of trials. (vs.6).
A. We know that our trials have a purpose. (vs.7). We prove the genuineness of our faith.
B. We prove the worth of a relationship with God. (vs.7) It is more valuable than gold. It is more valuable than anything in this world. The things of the world perish. In the end, they don’t save us. (vs.5) “In the last time….” When the relationship faces fire it does not perish. It remains. It strengthens because we learn to trust in Him more.
4. Our relationship with God is built on a strong foundation. (vs.8-10). What is to made of?
A. Our love for Him. Even though we don’t see Him, we love Him. (8).
B. Our belief in Him. (8). We believe that God is up to something good.C. Our joy. (8). Our joy comes in knowing we are saved. (9) We have nothing to fear about our future.
