Eulogy - His Honor and Praise to God

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces 1 Peter 1:1-4, noting Peter's use of a three-point Greco-Roman letter structure for identification and greeting. He explains that Peter then breaks into a…

Martin uses the common practice of a three-point sermon outline and the first-century Greco-Roman letter structure to explain Peter's introductory method in 1 Peter.

Speak then, O Lord, we plead, and help us for Your name's sake. Amen. Now, many of you know from your experience in this place and in other places where an effort is made to responsibly expound the Spirit of God. You have found the Scriptures that often preachers find a three-point outline helpful in trying to make clear that portion of the Word of God that they are expounding and also to give it some semblance of rhetorical symmetry or balance.

3:23 - 4:02 Read in full sermon

The point: Plead with God that something of Peter's understanding, fire, and passion for God will be kindled within your own hearts.

He uses the psalmist's phrase 'while I was musing, the fire burned' to describe Peter's intense, passionate meditation on truth, leading to his eulogy rather than mere explanation.

and his own spirit what he wants to convey to them of their privileges in Christ, of what they are by the grace of Christ, he does not begin with explanation and say, God, who is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has according to his mercy begotten us again unto a living hope. He does not take the posture of mere explanation, but as his own spirit feels the friction of the truth and remember who Peter is, this intense, volatile man made what he was made by God's sovereign disposition in his mother's womb, fashioned and shaped by the grace of Christ as we traced out the operations of that gr...

12:18 - 13:42 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Mercy is pity expressed in suitable action to relieve misery.

Martin defines mercy as 'pity expressed in suitable action to relieve misery,' clarifying the theological concept for the audience.

So this great salvation which the God of our Lord Jesus Christ is the sole author is one which comes to us taking all of its dimensions and contours determined by the great mercy of God. It is according to His great mercy. Well that raises the question what is mercy? And the best definition I've come across and I find it very helpful is that mercy is pity expressed in suitable action to relieve misery.

31:51 - 32:33 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Mercy is pity expressed in suitable action to relieve misery.

He uses the example of the blind beggar crying 'Have mercy upon me, thou son of David' to illustrate that mercy is sought for the relief of a miserable condition, not just pity.

Mercy is pity expressed in suitable action to relieve misery. For example when the blind beggar in the Gospel records hears that Jesus is coming by and he cries out have mercy upon me thou son of David. What does he want? Does he want Jesus just to take cognizance of his miserable condition and to feel something toward him?

32:33 - 33:04 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Mercy is pity expressed in suitable action to relieve misery.

Martin quotes Charles Wesley's hymn 'Depth of Mercy' to emphasize the profound need for God's mercy, especially for those who recognize their sinfulness.

By the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. Surely it was reflection upon this reality that triggered the words of Wesley in a hymn I wish we had in our hymn book. Depth of mercy. Can there be mercy still reserved for me?

34:50 - 35:09 Read in full sermon

The point: Ask yourself if there is something about you that defies all explanation except that Almighty God has birthed you with His own Almighty, gracious, life-giving power.

He compares God's divine begetting to physical birth, stating that God never brings forth a stillborn child, but rather children 'alive and kicking' with love for Christ, desire to please God, and hunger for His Word.

Could Peter assume that there is something about you that defies all explanation? No other explanation will wash but that Almighty God has birthed you with His own Almighty, gracious, life-giving power. You see, God never brings forth a stillborn child that has no heartbeat and has no breathing, has no appetite. All, God's newborn children are brought forth alive and kicking.

40:31 - 41:07 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be satisfied with anything less than having been birthed by God with graciously imparted spiritual life, as anything less is at the peril of your soul.

He uses Jesus' analogy of the Spirit being like the wind (John 3) to explain that while the circumstances of divine begetting may vary, its life-transforming effects are undeniable and what truly matters.

Jesus said, the ways of the Spirit are like the wind. It blows where it wills. You can't tell where it comes, where it goes, but you see the effect of it. And nowhere does the Bible say that we have a right to set up a complex of circumstances that must attend the divine begetting.

42:47 - 43:05 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Hope in the Bible is nothing less than a confident, patient waiting for a divinely promised blessing.

Martin contrasts the common, wishful use of the word 'hope' by children (e.g., hoping for a favorite meal or vacation) with the biblical meaning of confident, patient waiting for a divinely promised blessing.

Let's attempt to unpack them briefly. First of all, feature number one, a living hope. Now you kids, when you use the word hope, how do you mostly use it? Don't you use it as sort of a strong wish?

45:23 - 45:34 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second dominant feature is a 'glorious inheritance,' which is incorruptible (imperishable), undefiled (unstained by sin), and unfading (unimpaired by time). This inheritance…

He uses the analogy of baseballs (non-perishable) versus grapefruit (perishable) to illustrate the meaning of 'incorruptible' as applied to the believer's inheritance.

It is imperishable. Right now, some of you who are sports fans, you know this is called the Grapefruit League time. Major League Ball clubs are gathering at their various places in Florida. And it's also the time when people who have relatives up north like to show their affection and what they're thinking about by sending Florida grapefruit and oranges.

57:04 - 57:28 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second dominant feature is a 'glorious inheritance,' which is incorruptible (imperishable), undefiled (unstained by sin), and unfading (unimpaired by time). This inheritance…

He explains the word 'unfading' by referencing the mythical 'amaranthine flower' that never fades, then illustrates it with the example of long-stem roses that retain their peak beauty indefinitely.

You've got a sister word or a cousin word used in chapter 5 in verse 4 about a woman's meek and quiet spirit. And it's a cousin to this but this is the only time the word is used. And in seeking to get a handle on it I didn't realize that there is an English word that is a transliteration of it. If you wanted to talk about a mythical flower that never faded you know what you would call that flower?

60:27 - 60:49 Read in full sermon

The point: Whatever your circumstances, God is worthy to be contemplated and blessed by His people.

He uses the metaphor of Peter's quill melting on the parchment to convey the intense, passionate, and subjective nature of Peter's praise for God, contrasting it with dispassionate theological discourse.

and he tells them that they possess from the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ according to the contours of his great mercy of divine begetting that has resulted in a present living hope and has put in their hands this glorious unfading undefiled imperishable already and continue to be preserved inheritance in heaven and it's for you well I've attempted to unpack the verses in the few minutes that remain to me what are we to learn from all of this well I hope we've learned something along the way and I've sought to make application but may I just set several very obvious principles befor...

65:27 - 66:56 Read in full sermon