Migrant Workers and Privilege in Singapore

• Pastor Jason begins by reflecting on the hard work of migrant workers in Singapore, who build homes for others but do not get to enjoy them themselves.
• He draws a parallel to fine dining, where many people work hard to prepare a dish, but only the customer gets to enjoy it.
• Pastor Jason emphasizes the privilege Christians have in the New Testament age, having a clear understanding of the message of salvation that was partially veiled to the Old Testament prophets.
• He references First Peter 1:10-12, where Peter speaks about the privilege of his readers in having the full revelation of the gospel.

The Prophets' Search for Salvation

• Pastor Jason explains that the prophets searched and inquired carefully about the grace that was to be given to the readers of First Peter.
• He emphasizes the importance of reading the Bible in its entirety, particularly concerning salvation.
• The prophets knew that a savior would suffer and be glorified, but they did not have full details about the person or time of this event.
• Pastor Jason highlights that the prophets' search was thorough and intense, and they were seeking to understand the sufferings and glorification of the Christ.

The Revelation to the Prophets

• Pastor Jason explains that the prophets were told by God that the details of the Christ's sufferings and glorification were for the subsequent generations, not for them.
• He compares this to construction workers who work hard but do not get to enjoy the buildings they build.
• The prophets' search was like craning their necks to see something, indicating their intense interest in understanding God's plan.
• Pastor Jason notes that even angels longed to look into how God would bring about the Messiah, showing their interest in God's dealings with men.

The Privilege and Priority of Salvation

• Pastor Jason summarizes the two main points of his sermon: the privilege of having the full revelation of the gospel and the priority of setting our hope fully on the grace that will be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
• He emphasizes the importance of thinking diligently and clearly about the preciousness of our salvation and the privileged information we have in the gospel.
• Pastor Jason explains that setting our hope fully on the grace means hoping in the inheritance reserved for us as Christians.
• He highlights that this hope is a gift from God via the new birth and that we need to direct or apply this hope correctly.

Preparing for Action and Being Sober-Minded

• Pastor Jason explains that preparing our minds for action and being sober-minded are participles that contribute to the main command of setting our hope fully on the grace.
• He uses the example of buying noodles to illustrate how participles contribute to the main command.
• The Greek term for preparing our minds for action means to gird up the loins of our mind, indicating the need to think diligently and energetically.
• Being sober-minded means thinking clearly, which is crucial for setting our hope correctly.

The Importance of Thinking in Christian Living

• Pastor Jason emphasizes that Christian living begins with the right thinking, and thinking is key to setting our hope correctly.
• He notes that many people do not like to think, but thinking is important for understanding and applying the gospel.
• Pastor Jason quotes Adrian Rogers, who said that one of the hardest things in the world is to get people to think.
• He highlights that thinking is important for both Christians and non-Christians, as it sets the direction of who we will become.

Fixating on the Object of Our Hope

• Pastor Jason explains that setting our hope fully on the grace involves fixating our attention on the object of our hope.
• He uses the example of NBA players who need to keep their eye on the rim to make free throws, indicating the importance of focus.
• Pastor Jason notes that Christians need to keep their eyes on the prize, which is the future glory and inheritance reserved for us.
• He emphasizes that thinking diligently and clearly about these realities is crucial for maintaining hope and holiness in the midst of hostility.
The Role of the Bible in Maintaining Hope
• Pastor Jason explains that the Bible is the key to maintaining hope, as it reminds us of God's love, blessings, and the inheritance reserved for us.
• He highlights the importance of sitting under the preaching of God's word every week and engaging in Bible study groups.
• Pastor Jason notes that fellowship around the word is more important than fellowship around food, as it fills us with hope and truth.
• He emphasizes that the first commandment in First Peter is critical for living a holy life in the midst of hostility.

Practical Steps for Setting Our Hope

• Pastor Jason provides practical steps for setting our hope fully on the grace, including thinking diligently and clearly about the realities of the gospel.
• He advises against allowing undisciplined thoughts to distort our perspective, especially during times of suffering.
• Pastor Jason emphasizes the importance of thinking hard and clearly when we feel forsaken, meaningless, or tempted to wallow in sorrows and despair.
• He concludes by encouraging the congregation to think diligently and clearly about the future glory and inheritance reserved for them.

Closing Prayer and Blessing

• Pastor Jason concludes the sermon with a prayer, thanking God for His grace and mercy and praying for friends in the church who are not in Christ.
• He prays for strength and hope for those going through hardships, that they may comprehend God's love and be filled with truth.
• Pastor Jason prays for the church to walk diligently and clearly in the scriptures and to be filled with hope.
• He ends the sermon with a blessing, asking for the hope that burns bright within their hearts.