Vos Group | The Christian’s Hope (1 Pet. 1:3–5)

In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey leads a discussion with Lane Tipton and Danny Olinger on Geerhardus Vos’s sermon, "The Christian’s Hope," from his book Grace and Glory. The group explores the profound eschatological themes of 1 Peter 1:3-5, examining the nature of Christian hope as rooted in the resurrection of Christ and the believer’s heavenly inheritance. They unpack how this hope should shape the Christian life, influencing how we view suffering, earthly success, and our ultimate calling. The conversation highlights how Vos's insights are still relevant for modern Reformed believers, particularly in a world distracted by temporal concerns. Tune in for a rich discussion on how our eschatological hope fuels a life of faithful pilgrimage toward the new heavens and new earth.

00:07 Introduction
05:01 The Pilgrim Life and 1 Peter 1:3–5
07:49 The Historical Context of 1904
10:42 The Nature of Hope
21:15 The Christian Perspective on American and European Culture
27:02 Postmillennialism and Amillennialism
35:14 The Characteristics of the Heavenly Inheritance
40:48 The Powerful Witness of Christian Hope
48:17 Christ's Blessing upon the Church
53:42 The Christian Purpose
57:42 Conclusion

[AmiltonSolas]

I love how Christ is glorified! That’s before all else.

[παρεπίδημος]

I share the same concerns that Vos had about the American church. As a pastor I am constantly hearing of the influence of practical empiricism (realism). It is a never ending cycle to correct and raise the people’s eyes to heaven where their hope is seated at the right hand of the Father. People expect preaching to be anything but the proclamation of the person and work of the Son these days. They are looking to preaching to be strictly biblical counseling, or a transfer of knowledge, or ideas for practical weekday application. Tell us what to do rather than tell us what Christ has done. Tell us what to do practically instead of how we are applied to the scripture in union with Christ. Vos’ concern was prophetic.

[JonathanNYCity]

That "empty decadence" of European churches 100 years ago has been alive and well in the American church for at least several decades.