1 Peter Chapter 1 Pt. 2 A Living Hope From our Living Savior, Jesus Christ.

Peter began by praising God for the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

He praised the Father for the many thousands of people who were regenerated by the Spirit of God, whose lives were dramatically changed. 

He praised God for each of the "strangers" who went out from Jerusalem as Christ's faithful witnesses.   

New birth and a new hope in Christ. 

1 Peter 1:3-5  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  4)  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

These verses are connected, so we will look at them together. 

Peter expressed blessing to God the Father, which is giving Him all praise and blessing for He is worthy.

Peter reminds us of the full atonement we have in Jesus Christ. 

Atonement is first, the expiating work of Christ, as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (See John 1:29). 

Atonement is also propitiation, which means the Father is satisfied and pleased with the sacrifice of His Son. 

Because Jesus fully atoned for all our sins, the Father extends His boundless grace and mercy to us. 

Mercy means that the wrath of God that we deserve for our sins, has been withheld, because the blood of Jesus paid our sin debt and covers our sins. 

The enmity has been removed and sinners who repent and trust Christ can be saved.

The words "begotten again" are another way of saying "born again." A repentant sinner who turns to Jesus for salvation, receives the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost (See Titus 3:4-6).

Justified by faith in Christ and given living hope. 

Romans 5:1-5  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3)  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5)  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Romans 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

The believer in Christ has a new, living hope in his or her heart. We were reconciled to the Father by the atoning work of Christ. 

Because of Jesus' resurrection from the dead, we shall be eternally saved by His life. Because He lives forever, we too, shall live forever in God's presence.

Hope is a joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. 

This blessed hope fills our heart with rejoicing over the glory of God. As we walk through this life, the trials, troubles and tribulations we experience strengthen our hope in Christ. 

We know that Jesus will keep His Word, His promises to us are sure and secure. We are not ashamed of our expectant hope in Christ. 

Our hope is complemented by the love of God being poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. 

Hope is like faith and will be fully realized when we leave this life. 

Romans 8:24-25  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25)  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 

Hope is very much like faith and the descriptions of each are very similar. Hope that is seen or realized, then becomes something we no longer hope for. 

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

However, hope for that which is unseen, that is promised by God, is something well worth waiting patiently for it to come to pass. 

Thus, faith is the substance of all unseen things we hope for. We hope for a new body, a new home in heaven, seeing our Lord Jesus Christ as He is, worshipping before the throne of God, and so much more.

This is what God the Father has given to each believer in Christ. A living hope that resides in our hearts, and that will carry us through this life, and into our eternal life.

It is the Gospel alone that gives the well grounded hope of eternal life. The basis on which our hope rests is the resurrection of Christ. 

The certainty of our Lord’s resurrection is the great seal of the Gospel. The physical resurrection of Christ, and the irrefutable proofs of His resurrection fill us with great hope.  

The ascension of Jesus to heaven in His person, is ample evidence that this is what God has for us (See Acts 1:9-11).  

A heavenly inheritance is awaiting us, prepared by God.

1 Peter 1:3-5  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  4)  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

A new heaven, new earth, new Jerusalem and eternal life is what God has given to each Christian. These blessings will never diminish or deteriorate. 

Our eternal inheritance as children of God is perfectly pure, without any blemish or shortcoming. The beauty of God's creation is fleeting. It has an expiration date that only the Father knows. 

Therefore, the grass dries up and goes dormant. Flowers fade and the beautiful petals fall off. The beauty of each sunrise and sunset lasts only for a few minutes, and then is gone from view.

Our hope is not like this at all. It is living hope, based upon our living Savior and King, Jesus Christ.

Rather, they will grow sweeter to us with the passing of time, until we are taken home with our Lord. 

Where is our focus? On earth or in heaven?

Matthew 6:19-21  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21)  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 

This is why Jesus teaches us about taking care to live a life that honors God. When we choose to live for His glory, we are laying up treasure in heaven, because we are doing His Great Commission work. 

All that is done for the kingdom of heaven will not rust, will not decay, and this work has eternal implications. 

As we live out the gospel by being the salt and light that Jesus said we should be, God will work in the lives of others with whom we come in contact. 

Our hope is to see other non believers become believers and disciples of Jesus Christ. Our hope is for our loved ones and friends to also be born again and heaven bound, as we are. 

Where our affection is set is where the things we treasure are found. Paul tells us to set our affection on things above where Christ is enthroned in heaven (See Colossians 1:1-3).

Thus, like Peter we can praise God for the fact that He keeps us safe and secure, by His mighty power, through our faith in Christ. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

We ought to have an eager anticipation, knowing that each day when we awaken, the full reality of our salvation is closer than it was the day before. 

The promises of God are true and each one will come to reality exactly as He said they will in His wonderful word. 

May the Lord of glory reorient our hearts each day, to see once again, with fresh eyes, the living hope that we have. 

May Jesus Christ become the reason for our very being. 

May we commit ourselves to living for His glory at all times.

Let us be His faithful witnesses. 

Let us be His joyous worshippers.

Let us be filled with His Word and His Spirit.

Bob