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A Living Hope (1 Peter 1:3-5) Peter praises God for the hope that we have as Christians even in the midst of suffering. |
A Living Hope (1 Peter 1:3-5)
Peter praises God for the hope that we have as Christians:
- The Ground of Hope: God’s Abundant Mercy. It was not by our merit (Titus 3:5-7; Eph. 2:8-10), but by His mercy we are His children and therefore heirs (1 John 3:1; Rom. 8:16-17). One must respond to this mercy however (Titus 2:11-14; 1 Pet. 1:22-23).
- The Nature of Hope: It is a Living Hope. It knows no death, rather is full of life and lays hold on life eternal (Rom. 6:23; Heb. 6:19-20).
- The Assurance of Hope: Christ’s Resurrection. Our future hope is based on the historic reality of Christ’s resur-rection by which He secured life for us and assures us of our resurrection (Rom. 1:4; 2 Tim. 1:10; Heb. 2:14-15; 1 Cor. 15:20).
- The Object of Hope: An Inheritance. We have something to look forward to, beyond our present suffering.
- Described: incorruptible, undefiled, and fades not away. Unlike things of this earth and the hopes thereof, this inheritance is secure and everlasting (1 Pet. 1:23-25; 1 Cor. 9:25; 2 Pet. 3:11-13; Rev. 21:27; 22:5).
- Certainty: reserved, kept, and ready to be revealed. We have a place prepared for us (John 14:1-3) which only we can deprive ourselves of (Heb. 13:5-6; John 10:28-29; Rom. 8:38-39) for we are guarded/kept by the power of God through faith (Rom. 1:16; 2:6-7; 1 Tim. 1:19; 1 Pet. 1:9; Heb. 6:10-20; 2 Pet. 1:5-11).
