PRAISE FOR A LIVING HOPE. 1st Peter 1:3 Born-again believers do not have to live in defeat or despair because the new birth has given us a vibrant new life in Christ. Whether we enjoy and experience that daily depends on our choices about what we do and how we nurture our fellowship with our Lord. When the Holy Spirit gave us new life, eternal life, it guaranteed that Satan, sin, and death could not have dominion over us. This new birth and "lively" (living) hope are not based on wishful thinking or our willpower, but on the promise that we have everlasting life. This is a secure assurance based on the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead and is alive forevermore.
Praise to "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" is certainly appropriate when we think of the mercy He has shown us, which gives us every reason to choose joy even in times of suffering. It is unthinkable for us to neglect God when we receive such blessings from Him. We praise Him for His mercy that surpasses our sin and need. We praise Him for the new birth He grants us through the Holy Spirit, who regenerates us from death in trespasses and sins. We praise Him for the resurrection of our Lord, which assures us that we have been justified. "He was raised again for our justification." We praise Him for the confidence that because "He lives, we shall live also." We praise Him for the new life He has given us, enabling us to pass through suffering as conquerors because our God is with us in our trials.
ABUNDANT MERCY (The first of seven salvation superlatives) Our salvation rests on God’s abundant mercy. He has shown compassion to us despite our sinfulness. It is only right to remember the Giver, not just His gifts. The Father directs and manages everything related to His divine will, and the Son responds and obeys. Praise begins with recalling God’s abundant mercy in forgiving us. We are saved on a righteous basis; sin has not been ignored; the demands of justice have been met and satisfied by our Lord Jesus Christ. Mercy has been extended to all who obey the Gospel.
Mercy is quite rare in most people because it requires doing something beneficial for someone else, often at the expense of what I believe is mine. “After all, isn’t it only fair to insist the miscreant pay the full penalty?” But then, circumstances shift, and I realize I am actually the one at fault. I am the one who needs mercy, as I have been sinning for so long. The sinking feeling of guilt penetrates every part of my life. Now, I long for mercy, even though justice demands full payment.
I am so grateful for God’s mercy, which goes far beyond what I needed. Through His mercy, not only did He save me, but He also satisfied the hunger inside me. That mercy, described as "abundant," extends far beyond deliverance from hell. It touches every part of my life until I can truly say, “He does all things well!" His mercy is unearned, but it has opened new doors, assuring me of a secure future. I will see the risen Christ! The troubles that come my way, His mercy handles with grace. He paid the price, so I won’t be ashamed when I see His face.
Again, I praise my God and Father for His great mercy. I thank the Lord Jesus, my Savior, for willingly taking my place. When the cost of sin was paid, abundant mercy became a reality for me. I also praise the Holy Spirit, who, through God’s Word in faith, prompted me to act. I have experienced mercy throughout my life, and I thank God that it continues to be a reality—mercy is still shown to me constantly.
BEGOTTEN US AGAIN Being “begotten,” or born again, means that believers receive a new life. It is a spiritual life that allows us to live differently from merely physical life. Physical life is limited to what we do with our bodies. We have been regenerated with a “living hope,” a confident expectation that God will fulfill all His promises, including us being in heaven with Him. God’s promises are certain, like faith and love. This hope is secured by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Peter's letter explained to them the extent of the blessing that the new birth has brought them now and will bring them in the future. The core of the living hope is eternal life. That life is everlasting in its very nature and is sustained by God Himself for us. He has given it to those who believe so they can enjoy it now, and it will never decay or fade. It cannot be contaminated by sin; it is undefiled. The inheritance Israel had was tainted by the influence of false religions and their own failures to follow God's word that He had given them. Their sins had caused the events that led to them losing their inheritance. It will not truly be theirs as a nation until Lord Jesus Christ rules as the true King on David's throne.
LIVING HOPE
This living hope began when we trusted Christ and became children of God. Our Father gives us the grace and strength to remain faithful to Him through the trials we face and as we go through all the difficulties of life here on earth. We not only have a living hope but also a permanent inheritance as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. We have been chosen by God, and as obedient children who have been cleansed by the blood of Christ, this new birth gives us a vibrancy of life caused by the sure hope of the inheritance we will share with our Lord forever.
Christian hope is not wishful thinking but a living reality rooted in the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was dead but is now alive forevermore. Despite the suffering, trials, and persecution mentioned in this chapter, our living hope is focused on the future when we will be resurrected like our Lord and will have bodies of glory like His.
Eternal life began when we put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and became part of the family of God. As those who belong to Him, He helps us remain true to the faith through difficult times. Our souls cannot be defeated because our confidence and trust are in One who cannot fail. The living hope is our confident expectation that what He says, He does.
RESURRECTION OF CHRIST: The Key to the Christian Faith. The transforming power of the Gospel is not just the ethical teachings of Jesus, but primarily the resurrection of Jesus and all the implications that come from that event. The resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ paved the way for the unprecedented arrival of the Holy Spirit into our world. Joel prophesied this 800 years before it happened. When people receive the Holy Spirit, it establishes a personal fellowship with God.
Jesus rose from among the dead as He promised. The living Christ is Ruler of God’s eternal kingdom. We can be certain of our resurrection because of His resurrection. The power that brought Jesus back to life is available to us. The basis of the Church’s witness to the world is the resurrection of Christ.
The Reality of the Resurrection: “He is risen,” not something like Him; “He is the firstfruits of resurrection”; “a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see Me have”; His resurrection was a literal resurrection. There were eyewitnesses: Mary; two on the road to Emmaus; Peter; the ten apostles; the eleven apostles; the apostles at Galilee; 500 brethren at once; all the apostles; James; and Paul. The eleven watched His ascension.
The Reason for the Resurrection: “Raised again for our justification”, [Rom. 4:25]. “That they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them and rose again”, [2Cor.5:15]. There was divine approval given in that “God raised Him from the dead.” He was raised again by “the power of the Holy Spirit.” He said of His life-giving power in relation to His own physical life, “I have power to lay it down, and I have power to raise it again.”
The Results of the Resurrection: Timid men were made bold [Acts 2:32]. Men were made resolute and strong. Christianity was made strong and spread. The way to heaven was made plain. Salvation was promised, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thy heart that God raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” [Rom.10:9.