Have The Living Hope

“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, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5, ESV).

In many points in our life we want something to happen. We cherish a desire to be realized. In short, we hope.

But not all we hoped for happened. Not everything we cherished with anticipation is realized. And there are hopes that we gave up. But what a great joy when what we hoped for became true!

What are you now hoping to happen in your life?

A student would want to finish his/her study. A graduate would want to find a job. An employee to have a promotion. A single to have a spouse. A young couple to have a child. A child to have a toy. A senior to have more years. A tenant or renter to become a homeowner. A sick to have complete healing. A poor to become financially sufficient. Our church to have its own church building.

We could rejoice for any of those hopes to happen. And the world could offer other hopes we could embrace. The Word, however, shows the kind of hope that will never give us disappointment. It is certain to happen. It will not tire us, as we hold firmly on it until it is realized.

So, as would be reflected in our title, let us desire to… HAVE THE LIVING HOPE …, as we discuss our text (1 Peter 1:3-5, ESV).

While many settle on the earthly hope that could bring disappointment, let us long for this “living hope.” While we could let go our other hopes, why should we hold on tightly and find more joy on this firmly established hope that lives on until it is fully realized? Why this kind of hope called “living”?

Our text was part of the first letter of the Apostle Peter, who could be in Rome, before A.D. 68. He addressed both the Jewish and Gentile Christians, who were scattered throughout Asia Minor and were suffering local persecutions.

Peter was aware of the difficult conditions of the believers. So, he would like to encourage or to strengthen them in the faith. At the very start of his letter, he directed their thoughts on what God had done to them.

He implied that the Christians then should live or react not according to their trials, but according to what God did to them. They should not focus on what their persecutors were doing against them. They should not live as persecuted, oppressed, or threatened.

Rather, they should live as true believers. They should live as an elect (verse 1). They should live as sanctified or set apart (verse 2A). And they should live as obedient and cleansed people (verse 2B).

In our text, Peter pointed out to the believers the extraordinary hope that they have. And in our time time, we need also to long for it. We need to hold firmly on it. Why?

It’s the hope based on the...

I – GREAT MERCY OF GOD (verse 3).

We read verse 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, .”

Before we dissect verse 3, let’s go first to verse 4 and see what this hope is pointing at here. Now, we read in verse 4, “…to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,…”

So, the hope that Peter was saying referred to “an inheritance.” The believers could hope for an inheritance. It is imperishable -- indestructible. It is undefiled -- pure, without blemish. It is unfading -- does not lessen its worth. And it is kept in a very secured place, not just in Fort Knox -- but in heaven.

And what is more interesting, as Peter pointed out the safety of the inheritance, he went on in verse 5: “who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

According to Peter, the inheritance “…kept in heaven for you” while you, “who by God’s power are being guarded…” -- you who have faith are being guarded until we are fully saved at the return of Christ.

Both the inheritance and the inheritors are safe.

Back in verse 3. Why cherish expectantly for this inheritance? Why hold firmly on the living hope?

First, it is based on the great mercy of God. It is not just the kind of mercy He showers to His creation -- the rain, the sunlight, the air, and other common grace for everyone. The living hope was based on the great mercy of God. It’s on the higher level. It’s greater than the ordinary. It’s special. It’s great, not just in its scope but also in its intensity. This kind of mercy is different.