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, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5
What in this world gives you hope? This is an important question that we should be asking , because without Jesus Christ there is no hope for your life. That is the reality of everybody's life, whether you're a Christian or you're an Atheist or a Muslim, we are all under the curse of sin and death. The question is what is your hope from the grip of death in this fallen world?
As the Apostle Peter reveals to us here, Jesus Christ is our Living Hope. Regardless of what happens to you in this world, regardless of pain and suffering, sickness, and health, you have victory in Jesus Christ. Why? Because Jesus Christ is Risen, He has overcome the grave, Christ has paid in full the wrath for your sins. Jesus Christ is sitting at the right hand of God the Father, as King of Kings and Lord of Lords
Outside of Christ, there is no hope! You must understand this, nobody else is able or willing to die for your sins. Nobody else is able or willing to rise from the dead, defeating sin, death, and Satan. Christ is the only one who can and did, just for you because He loves us! But outside of Christ there is no hope for salvation! (John 14:6, Acts 4:12)
Jesus not only justified us before God, but Jesus also transforms us and make us Born Again (John 3:3) Notice what Peter says here "According to His abundant mercy has begotten us again " Some translations say "Has given us a new birth" other translations say "Has caused us to be Born Again" The reality is you are never the same when you have an encounter with Jesus Christ , you are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Then Peter goes on to tell us "A living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" This is why the resurrection of Christ is the center of Christianity, this is your living hope! The Church gathers on Sunday morning because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are Born Again because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we always have hope because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Living Hope!
As a Born Again Christian in Christ we have an inheritance, eternal life, that is incorruptible or undefiled. Again, we are not just saved, we are transformed. Notice what Peter says we have a reservation or inheritance in Heaven. Jesus Christ is preparing a place for you (John 14) because Christ has overcome the grave!
We are kept and protected by the power of God, by the Holy Spirit living inside of you, through faith unto salvation is ready to be revealed, Amen!
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