1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ… If I had to say in a word what the Christian's hope is, I should say it is the hope of an unfading inheritance, the hope of being made meet for it, the hope of what is condensed into that all-comprehensive word "salvation!" And can you make mention of any other hope that does not pale when placed beside this? I. IT IS A LIVING HOPE. 1. The living hope of a living man. A man spiritually dead cannot possess this hope. It is not a phantasy. It is not an effeminate wish, or a masculine wish for that matter; it is not a mere sentiment or a fond desire. It is a living hope! It is an indivisible, inalienable part of his new life, and it cannot exist in any other heart than that of the spiritually transformed man — the man who is "begotten again." 2. It is a living hope because it centres in a living Christ. Begotten to it, how? "By the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." The life of Christ, so full of goodness, and love, and purity, and self-sacrifice, and His death, so awful, the culminating sacrifice of all, were not enough. He must come back into life, or no sinner can be forgiven. Blessed be God! He did come back! 3. The Christian's hope is a living one as contrasted with and opposed to hopes that perish. God hath pledged its realisation under the seal of His own oath. II. GOD IS THE AUTHOR OF THIS HOPE. He hath begotten us again to it. It is all of His abundant mercy. Therefore let us bless Him for it. And let us show our gratitude to Him by letting the light of our hope shine on others. III. THE INHERITANCE TO WHICH THE CHRISTIAN'S HOPE POINTS. (E. D. Solomon.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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, |
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