1 Peter 1:3-9
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
Blessed to "to eulogize or speak well of"
· A couple translations say "praise be to God."
· Even in the midst of a temporary but difficult loss, we can and should speak of God's blessing and gifts and give praise to Him.
abundant mercy
· Mercy speaks of "kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted."
· Mercy reminds us of the sinful condition that God finds us in.
· All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
· The word abundant reminds that God's infinite mercy is so full and deep that it encompasses all of us.
· There is no sin so great or heart so hard that God's mercy cannot enfold it.
living hope
· The word living reminds us that our hope is not some dead platitude, but something that is grounded in reality.
· Early translations called it a "lively hope." This reminds us that this living hope should animate us in difficult times. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 reminds us that we should not "sorrow as others who have no hope."
resurrection of Christ
· The resurrection of Christ was preceded by His death to pay the price for our sins.
· In the garden God told the first man that the day he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he would surely die.
· In Romans 6:23, the Apostle Paul reminds us that the wages of sin is death.
· Later in this book of 1 Peter, the Apostle tells us.
· For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, (1 Peter 3.18)
an inheritance
· incorruptable,
· undefiled,
· and that does not fade away.
rejoice, though grieved
· for a little while
· the genuineness of your faith
· These words speak of the continuing working out of our salvation here between our regeneration an ultimate glorification.
1 Peter 3:9 "receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls."
Faith What are we to believe?
1. Believe in your sin and need of salvation.
2. Believe in Christ's death to pay for your sin.
3. Believe in Christ's resurrection
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved… Acts 16:31
Salvation mentioned here has three parts
1. Regenerating our spirit speaks of conversion.
2. Purifying our faith speaks of the ongoing work of sanctification and spiritual growth in this life.
3. Receiving our inheritance speaks of the expectation that we have of being freed from these mortal bodies and present with the Lord.
Letus consider three things.
1. Have you put your trust in Christ. Is that living hope a reality in your life?
2. Those of us who are here have been left here for a purpose.
3. Believers, comfort yourself with the temporary nature of death for God's saints. Temper your grief and heartache with hope.
1 Thess. 4
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. F5 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
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