"A Living. Hope "

A living Hope 1peter 1:3 - 12

Hope
Noun
A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.

Peter is talking about the hope of eternal life .

Tts 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;


Lam 3:26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.



Pester is writing this letter to Jews who have converted to Christian life.and experiencing persecution for their faith. Those who suffer for being Christians become partners with Christ in His suffering. This is a letter of Hope Don't give up.

As we suffer we must remember that Christ is both our hope in the mist of suffering. Don't give up. He is also our example of how to endure suffering faithfully.


1Pet.1:3-5 God Blessing To His People.

1Pe 1:3 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,
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Verse 3 The term "begotten again" or "born again" according to His abundant mercy He is refers to spiritual birth- the Holy Spirit's act of bringing believers into Christ

When does one receive mercy


You see, then, mercy delivers you only if you receive Christ as your Redeemer. You must reckon that He died for your sins, that He died in your place, to pay your penalty. Trusting nothing of your own position or effort, you must receive Jesus Christ, by faith, as your own personal Savior. Rejecting God's mercy allows sin, when it is finished, to bring forth death and God will not temper His judgment.

Did you know you can be in the church all your life and not be born again . Nicodemus was a leader in the church. Every law had to be approved by him. " Born again " is how you get into the family of God.

Verse 3 we all so see encouragement . Peter words offer joy and hope in time of trouble and he bases his confidence on what God has don for us in Christ Jesus . Eternal life begins when we believe in God and join the family of God. We are called into that hope.

No matter what pain or trials we face in this life, we know it is not our final experience . One day we will live with Christ forever

Verse 4 The Jews had looked forward to an inheritance in the Promise Land of Cannon ( numbers 32:19;Deuteronomy 2:12;19:8)

Christians now look forward to the inheritance of living with God in the eternal city. God has reserved it .Peter said it will never grow dim or decay. It will be unstained by sin. The Good part is this it is there for every one who have trusted Christ as your Savior.

Verse 5 pester said we will have help to remain true to our faith whatever the trials may be God will help us.


Verses 6-7 Faith's Trials.
Why was these Christians persecution?
They refused to worship at a pagan temple
They exposed and rejected the immorality of pagan culture
Verse 7. When Peter speaks of trials, he is not talking about natural disaster or GOD'S punishment. He is talking about the response of an unbelieving world to people of faith. All believers All Christians faces trials when they let there light shin in darkness.


Verse 7 Peter uses fire and gold to prove his point on trials.
As gold is heated, impurities float to the top and can be skimmed of. Steel is tempered or strengthened by heating it in fire. Likewise , our trials, struggles. And persecutions strengthen our faith and make us useful to God. Testimony's are born through trials and tribulations

1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1Pe 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Pester's readers did not receive some special revelation from The Lord to bolster their faith.Like us they came to believe because they heard (Romans10:17)


Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Because they come to know The Lord. They could " rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory

Verse 9 The ultimate goal of faith is"the salvation of our souls"l



1Pe 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1Pe 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

10-12. The plain of salvation was a mystery to the Old Testament prophets, they still suffered persecution and some even died for God
Now some of Peter's readers had seen Jesus for themselves and knew why He came. They biased there assurance on Jesus' death and resurrection With firsthand knowledge and personal experience of Jesus

Verse 11. The Spirit of Christ is another name for the Holy Spirit. Jesus left his ministry on earth to return to heaven He promised to send the Holy Spirit the comforter, to teach, help, and guide his followers ( John14:15-17,26;16:7)
The Holy Spirit tells us all about Jesus and reveal His glory (John15:26;16:14)
The Old Testament prophets, writing under the Holy Spirit's inspiration (2Peter1:20,21) described the coming Messiah. The New Testament Apostles through the inspiration of the same Spirit, preaches the crucification and risen Lord

Have a Blessed Day