Sermon Synopsis
This sermon explores 1 Peter 1:1–9 and the theme of waiting well as Christians. Peter reminds believers that they are “elect exiles,” chosen by God yet living as strangers in the world while awaiting Christ’s return. Their waiting is sustained by a living hope and a secure inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. Even in present trials, suffering refines faith and points believers toward the future glory of salvation. Christians are therefore called to live with perseverance and distinct identity, fixing their hope not on the fading promises of this world but on the eternal promises of God.
Please note: This transcript is provided as close to verbatim record of the sermon.
Waiting Well
1 Peter 1:1–9
Introduction
Good morning everyone, and thank you for your prayers for me this morning. I really very much appreciate it. Before I begin, shall we open in a word of prayer?
Prayer
Dear God, we thank You for Your Word, which speaks of how we may await the coming of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us, Father, now to understand Your Word and apply it to our hearts. Amen.
For today’s sharing, I would like to start by flashing three pictures on the screen. As you can see on the slide, I would like us to take about thirty seconds to turn to your neighbors on your left or right and discuss: what is common across these three pictures?
You probably recognized the first one—especially if you shop online a lot.
As you may have guessed, these three pictures all involve waiting. But if we think one level deeper, each picture shows waiting not just for any random thing, but waiting for something that has already been promised to us—food at the hawker centre, an online e-commerce order, or, for some of us more relatably, the birth of a new child.
You see, friends, everyone is waiting for something.
Some of us might be waiting for this morning’s ministry to end at 10:30 so we can grab breakfast across the road. Students here might be waiting for exams to be over. Some of the older folks here may be waiting to turn 65 so you can finally touch your CPF.
But dear friends, what about us as Christians?
What does it mean for us to wait as Christians? How can we prepare ourselves as we wait for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, as far away and as seemingly uncertain as it may be?
That leads us to today’s message: Waiting Well.
Today we will be looking at the letter of Peter, where he writes to scattered Christians across what is now modern-day Turkey. Peter writes to encourage them to stand firm in their faith, even as they suffer and as they wait for the end.
Let us read 1 Peter 1:1–9 (ESV).
(Scripture reading)
Overview of Today’s Message
Although it may seem unusual to start a new series by covering only nine verses, I believe we will still be able to unpack much truth from this passage.
Today’s message will be divided into three parts:
First, a quick introduction and context to the book.
It is no surprise that 1 Peter was written by the apostle Peter. It was likely written around AD 62–64, roughly thirty years after the death of Christ. The letter was addressed mainly to Gentile Christians, which we can see hinted at in 1 Peter 2:10, where Peter writes:
“Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
This suggests that these believers were not originally part of Israel but had now become God’s people through Christ.
The purpose of the book can be summarized in 1 Peter 5:12, where Peter writes:
“I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.”
Peter writes to Christians who were not living in peace like we are here in Singapore. Instead, they were facing heavy persecution, particularly under Emperor Nero, who was infamous for persecuting Christians—even burning some of them alive as human torches.
It was in this context that Peter wrote to encourage believers to stand firm as they wait for the Lord’s coming.
Our Identity: Elect Exiles
When we think about waiting, nobody really likes to wait. Waiting often feels like a temporary inconvenience—something we endure before getting to the real thing.
But Peter tells these believers something surprising: waiting is actually part of their identity.
In his opening greeting, he addresses them as “elect exiles.”
This phrase is interesting because it brings together two words that seem almost contradictory: elect and exiles.
An elect person is someone who is chosen. We often associate being chosen with honor—perhaps being chosen for a promotion or to represent your country.
But Peter says these Christians are chosen to be exiles.
Why?
The word exiles suggests that this world is not their home. They are living in a place that is not their final destination. Their true home lies elsewhere.
In the New King James Version, the word used is pilgrims. The idea is similar: Christians are people on a journey, not yet at their destination.
Peter reminds them that their suffering and isolation are not random. They are part of God’s purpose.
The Work of the Trinity
In verse 2, Peter beautifully brings in the work of the Trinity:
God chose them beforehand. Their suffering was not an afterthought.
The Spirit sanctifies them—setting them apart for God’s purposes.
And they are called to obedience to Christ, through the sprinkling of His blood.
This language echoes Exodus 24, where Moses sprinkled the blood of the covenant on the people as a sign of their commitment to obey God.
Similarly, Christians today belong to God’s covenant people, committed to live in obedience to Christ.
So Peter reminds them of their identity: they are chosen by God, even though they live as strangers in this world.
Next, Peter turns our attention to the question: What makes waiting worthwhile?
Why are we willing to wait an hour in line for certain things—like a famous Michelin-star dish—but complain if our food buzzer takes more than fifteen minutes?
The answer is simple: the object of our waiting.
If something is valuable enough, we will gladly wait for it.
Peter directs the believers’ eyes to the glorious prize at the end of their waiting.
A Living Hope
First, Peter praises God because believers have been born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In everyday language, hope often means something uncertain—something we merely wish for.
But biblical hope is different. It is an eager and confident expectation.
Romans 5:3–5 reminds us that Christian hope does not put us to shame because it is grounded in the love of God poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
This hope is living because Christ Himself is living. Just as He rose from the dead, so our hope remains alive.
An Imperishable Inheritance
Second, Peter speaks about an inheritance awaiting believers.
He describes it using three striking words:
Interestingly, Peter does not use flashy adjectives like beautiful or glorious. Instead, he describes this inheritance by emphasizing what it is not.
It is not perishable.
It is not defiled.
It does not fade.
Why? Because Peter wants to contrast it with the things of this world.
In Singapore, when we think about inheritance, we might think about property. Many people know that after the Minimum Occupation Period of five years, it can make financial sense to sell a property while its value is still high.
But even the best houses decay over time—paint flakes, toilets leak, buildings age.
Cars depreciate even faster.
Everything in this world fades.
But the inheritance God promises never fades.
Peter says this inheritance is kept in heaven for you, and believers themselves are guarded by God’s power through faith.
God protects both the inheritance and the inheritors.
Finally, Peter turns from the future to the present.
Even though the future inheritance is glorious, the present experience of waiting can still be difficult.
Interestingly, Peter himself once struggled to understand suffering.
When Jesus first spoke about His coming death, it was Peter who rebuked Him, saying it would never happen. Jesus replied, “Get behind me, Satan.”
Peter was also the one who drew his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant when Jesus was arrested.
But now Peter has learned that suffering precedes glory.
Three “Thoughs”
In this passage, Peter uses three “though” statements to describe the Christian experience.
Peter reminds believers that their trials are temporary.
When we are suffering, time feels long—like holding a plank for one minute that feels like an hour.
But compared to eternity, our suffering is only for a little while.
Trials are like fire refining gold.
Suffering is not random punishment. Instead, it reveals and purifies genuine faith.
Peter even says that tested faith is more precious than gold, which perishes despite being refined by fire.
Finally, Peter acknowledges that these believers have never seen Jesus.
Yet they love Him.
They believe in Him.
And they rejoice with inexpressible joy.
Their joy comes from lifting their eyes beyond their circumstances and focusing on Christ and the glory to come.
Conclusion
As we reflect on this passage, we may feel that it sounds almost like a storybook—something distant from our lives.
After all, most of us here in Singapore have not suffered persecution for being Christians.
But actually, this passage is deeply relevant for us.
Why?
Because we share the same identity.
We too are elect exiles.
Our true home is not here, but in heaven.
We too have been born again to a living hope.
And we too are called to patiently persevere through temporary trials.
There are many ways we define ourselves today—student, worker, parent, professional.
But as Christians, our most important identity is this: we are God’s chosen people living as strangers in this world.
The tragedy would be if we became indistinguishable from the world—sharing the same hopes, dreams, and pursuits that will ultimately fade.
Until we realize that we belong to God and that we are heirs of a glorious inheritance, we will never truly be able to wait well.
And so may we echo the words of verses 8 and 9:
Though you have not seen Him, you love Him.
Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
Let us pray.
Closing Prayer
Dear God, we thank You for choosing us according to Your foreknowledge. Thank You that we have been born again to a living hope and to a glorious inheritance. Help us to cherish what You have given us in Your Son, Jesus Christ, and enable us to live distinct and purposeful lives for Your glory. Amen.