A Living Hope
Pastor Chang Kim
1 Peter 1:3-6
Born Again to a Living Hope
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
Introduction: Peter’s letter has been called the gospel of hope and the power with which Peter aims to equip these beleaguered saints is the power of hope. If Christians are to live and love like Jesus commands us, no matter the situation, struggles, stress, worry, Peter wants Christians to be filled with “living hope.”
A Living Hope v3
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
Peter had written this letter about 30 years after Christ’s death and resurrection. He was writing this to encourage the persecuted Christians of Asia Minor.
What is a living hope? A living hope is a hope that never dies.
Death is certain, but so is the Christian’s hope of eternal life. Because Jesus rose from the grave we know that death is not the end. We know God forgives. We know the blood of Christ cleanses and protects. We know new life is an option. We know a better tomorrow is coming.
2. A Future Hope v4
4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you
Our hope includes the promise of a better tomorrow. We not only have a promise of living again, but also of a better tomorrow. We have the hope of a future inheritance.
How did we ever get in on something so good? Because God is so good.
3. A Present Hope vvv5-6
5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials
God has promised to guard us with His power as we walk in faith with Him.
This is what Peter is telling the believers. “I want you to know, you have an inheritance waiting for you that can’t be taken from you. You are kept by the power of God, and He is committed to seeing you through. All that remains for you to do is believe.”
This is what Peter will emphasize over and over throughout his epistle as he set our sights on the big picture, on heaven.
Conclusion
Peter encourages his readers to trust in Jesus, live obediently in hard circumstances, and keep their hope fixed on God’s ultimate purpose of deliverance and their heavenly reward.