He’s writing to a band of brothers and sisters in Christ who were increasingly experiencing opposition for their faith. The sparks of intolerance were increasingly fanning into flames of out-and-out persecution. Things were getting tougher . . . trials were not only increasing in frequency but in intensity. And so Peter writers to these “elect exiles of the Dispersion” to encourage them to keep on keepin’ on in the face of mounting difficulties.

And he comes out of the corner swinging. Bless God! We’ve been born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ! We have an inheritance awaiting us that won’t perish or fade. The story of our salvation is yet to be completed (v. 3-5). And what a salvation it is! The prophets who foretold such salvation were besides themselves trying to understand the grace that was to be yours . . . grace through the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories of His resurrection, His ascension, and His promised return . . . such good news that even angels are preoccupied with trying to fully understand the full breadth and depth of the salvation you’ve been blessed with (v. 10-12).

Throughout these opening verses Peter encourages these beat up believers by reminding them that their current situation needs to be viewed in the context of a complete salvation . . . a salvation which has dealt with the penalty of sin in the past . . . a salvation sufficient to sustain them as they battle the power of sin in the present . . . and a salvation which presents a the solid rock of hope that they will be delivered from the presence of sin in the future. They had found grace . . . they were living by grace . . . but there’s more grace to come . . .

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.   (1Peter 1:13 ESV)

The grace that will be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ. How much more grace can there be?

By faith, I have seen the Son, the blessed, holy, spotless Lamb of God, offer Himself for my sin . . . having paid the price in full on Calvary’s cruel cross for my failure. The debt I could not pay, He has paid in full . . . the life I was incapable of living, He lived . . . the holiness I was incapable of manufacturing He has imputed and is now imparting through the power of His resurrected life. I’ve experienced the unmerited favor of the Father who has not only forgiven my transgressions against Him, but has adopted me as a child and declared me a joint heir with Christ. I’m increasingly recognizing the reality of the undeserved blessing of the Spirit not only leading me into truth but doing so from the inside . . . having taken up residence within me through a spiritual connection that is beyond my feeble comprehension.

But there’s more to come . . . aspects of grace that will be evident when faith gives way to sight.

If I have a sense now of the favor extended by heaven, what will it be like when I’m there? When I am actually before the throne of God . . . when I am surrounded by hosts of angels crying, “Holy, holy, holy!” . . . when I am reunited with legions of believers who have all had their sin-stained garments washed in the blood of the Lamb and, in unison are declaring with all their might, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready” (Rev. 19:6-7)?

There’s more grace to be revealed . . . more blessing to reveled in . . . more fuel for the fires of worship.

Hang in there, saint . . . that’s Peter’s encouragement this morning . . . there’s more to come! Amen?