-- 1 Peter 1:3-9
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great Mercy He has given us New Birth into a Living Hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an Inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade -- kept in heaven for you, 5 who through Faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the Salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 In this you greatly Rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your Faith -- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire -- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

8 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

New Birth Into A Living Hope

(A Christian’s hope is a living principle, and sustains of spiritual life.)

++ The same great doctrines, as in St. Paul’s epistles, are here applied to same practical purposes. And this epistle is remarkable for the sweetness, gentleness, and humble love, with which it is written. It gives a short, and yet a very clear summary, both of the consolations and the instructions needful for the encouragement and direction of a Christian in his journey to heaven, raising his thoughts and desires to that happiness, and strengthening him against all opposition in the way, both from corruption within, and temptations and afflictions without.

-- 1.Peter.1:1-25
+ The apostle blesses God for his special benefits through Christ. (1:1-9)
+ Salvation by Christ foretold in ancient prophecy. (1:10-12)
+ All are exhorted to holy conversation. (1:13-16)
+ Such as is suitable to their principles, privileges, and obligations. (1:17-25)

(1:1) "To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout (the nations)"

+ This epistle is addressed to believers in general, who are strangers in every city or country where they live, and are scattered through the nations. (MT)

+ When people accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, God transfers their citizenship from the world to heaven (Phl 3:20). Thus, while they live on this earth, they are like foreigners in this world. (LAB)

(2:9-10) "9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

+ Believers are a chosen people, a distinct group from the rest of the world, unified by the Holy Spirit. Christians have become God's people, not by physical birth into a certain race but by spiritual rebirth into God's family through Jesus Christ. (LAB)

+ God's special people are to show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light. Christians were redeemed with a special purpose -- to glorify and praise the One who has called them out of the darkness of sin and of their hostile surroundings into the light of eternal life. (LAB)

(1:2) "who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance."

+ These are to ascribe their salvation to the electing love of the Father, the redemption of the Son, and the sanctification of the Holy Ghost; and so to give glory to one God in three Persons, into whose name they had been baptized. (MT)

+ God. Our salvation and security rest in the free and merciful choice of almighty God; no trials or persecutions can take away the eternal life He gives to those who believe in Him. (LAB)

+ This verse mentions all three members of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. All members of the Trinity work to bring about our salvation. The Father chose us before we chose Him (Ep 1:4). Jesus Christ, the Son, died for us while we were still sinners (Ro 5:6-10). The Holy Spirit brings us the benefits of salvation and sets us apart (makes us holy, sanctifies us) for God's service (2Th 2:13). (LAB)

(1:3) "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us New Birth into a Living Hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,"

+ The term New Birrth (or Born Again) refers to spiritual birth (regeneration) -- the Holy Spirit's act of bringing believers into God's family. Jesus used this concept of New Birth when He explained salvation to Nicodemus (see John 3). (LAB)

+ By rising from the dead, Christ made the necessary power available for our resurrection (1Cor.15:22). Christ's resurrection makes us certain that we too will be raised from the dead. Believers are "Born Again" from their sinful state into the life of grace, which, in the end, will become a life of glory. We shouldn't be discouraged by earthly trials, for we have the Resurrection to be our backup. (LAB)

(1:23) "For you have been Born Again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God."

+ (1:23) Peter gave another reason to love others: Believers have a common ground in Christ. We have all been born again; we are sinners saved by grace. Our new life did not come from our earthly parents; that life will one day end in death. Our new life will last forever because it was given to us by the eternal, living word of God. God's word lives and endures forever, because God who gave it lives and endures from eternity past to eternity future. The powerful, living word of God Himself, recorded in Scripture, brings new life to believers; the eternal word of God Himself assures the permanence of that new life. It is only through hearing and/or reading these Words that people can find eternal life, for the Scriptures tell the gospel message and make the way of salvation clear to those who seek it. (LAB)

+ (1:3) Do you need encouragement? Peter's words offer joy and hope in times of trouble, and he bases his confidence on what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. We live with the wonderful expectation of eternal life (1:3). Our Hope is not only for the future; eternal life begins when we trust Christ and join God's family. No matter what pain or trial we face in this life, we know that it is not our final experience. Eventually we will live with Christ forever. (LAB)

+ We find God's Mercy always at the center of any discussion of salvation. Only God's Mercy would allow Him to have compassion for sinful and rebellious people. Salvation is given to us because of God's boundless Mercy alone. That salvation is called the privilege of being Born Again. Jesus used this concept of New Birth when He told Nicodemus that He had to be “Born Again” in order to see God's Kingdom (see John 3). In the New Birth, we become dead to sin and alive to God with a fresh beginning. People can do no more to accomplish their “New Birth” than they could do to accomplish their own natural birth. (LAB)

+ Mercy is the spring of all this; yea, great mercy and manifold mercy. And this well-grounded hope of salvation, is an active and living principle of obedience in the soul of the believer. The matter of a Christian’s joy, is the remembrance of the happiness laid up for him. It is incorruptible, it cannot come to nothing, it is an estate that cannot be spent. Also undefiled; this signifies its purity and perfection. And it fadeth not; is not sometimes more or less pleasant, but ever the same, still like itself. (MT)

+ Hope, in the world’s phrase, refers only to an uncertain good, for all worldly hopes are tottering, built upon sand, and the worldling’s hopes of heaven are blind and groundless conjectures. But the hope of the children of the Living God is a Living Hope; not only as to its object, but as to its effect also. It enlivens and comforts in all distresses, enables to meet and get over all difficulties. (MT)

(1:4) "and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade -- kept in heaven for you,"

+ Happy are those whose hearts the Holy Spirit sets on this inheritance. God not only gives His people grace, but preserves them unto glory. (MT)

+ Christians look forward to a family inheritance in the eternal city of God. God has reserved the inheritance; it will never fade or decay; it will be unstained by sin. The best part is that you have an inheritance if you have trusted Christ as your Savior. (LAB)

(1:5-7) "5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith -- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire -- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

+ Every believer has always something wherein he may greatly rejoice; it should show itself in the countenance and conduct. The Lord does not willingly afflict, yet His wise love often appoints sharp trials, to show His people their hearts, and to do them good at the latter end. Gold does not increase by trial in the fire, it becomes less; but faith (spiritual gold) is made firm, and multiplied, by troubles and afflictions. Gold must perish at last, and can only purchase perishing things, while the trial of faith will be found to praise, and honour, and glory. (MT)

+ (1:5) God will help us remain true to our faith through whatever difficult times we must face. The "last day" is the judgment day of Christ described in the Bible (Mat.25:31-32; Ro.2:14-16;14:10-12; Rev.20:11-15; 1Cor.4:5; Ecc.12:14;...). We may have to endure trials, persecution, or violent death, but our souls cannot be harmed if we have accepted Christ's gift of salvation. We know we will receive the promised rewards. (LAB)

+ Believers have already received salvation through their acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior, but the fullness of that salvation, its complete rewards and blessings, will be revealed on the last day -- that is, the judgment day of Christ. What has started will be fully disclosed when He returns. (LAB)

+ (1:6) Because of the promises of the inheritance, believers can be truly glad -- referring to deep, spiritual joy (see Lk.1:46-47; Ac.16:34; 1Pe.4:13). This type of rejoicing remains, unhindered and unchanged by what happens in this present life. (1Peter.4:13) "But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed."

+ Grief and suffering do not happen without cause or reason. While it may never be clear to us, God must be trusted to carry out His purposes, even in times of trial. All believers face such trials when they let their lights shine into the darkness. We must accept trials as part of the refining process that burns away impurities and prepares us to meet Christ. Trials teach us patience (Ro.5:3-4; Jas.1:2-3) and help us grow to be the people God wants. In comparison to the wonderful joy ahead, the trials last only for a while. Because of this they could rejoice, even as they suffered grief (1Pe.4:13). (LAB)

+ (1:7) As gold is heated, impurities float to the top and can be skimmed off. Steel is tempered or strengthened by heating it in fire. Likewise, our trials, struggles, and persecutions refine and strengthen our faith, making us useful to God. (LAB)

+ Even as these believers faced persecution, they could remember God's grace and continue to live as God desired. Not all believers are persecuted for their faith, but everyone faces times of stress, discouragement, or despair. This section introduces the blessings of salvation (1:3-12). Peter's words echo through the centuries, reminding us of God's grace and sovereignty over all of life, encouraging us to glorify and live for Him. (LAB)

(1:8-9) "8 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

+ Believers express joy (1:8) because of their belief in and love for Jesus Christ. The reward for trusting Christ will be the salvation of their souls. Believers receive salvation when they accept Jesus Christ as Savior, yet salvation will not be complete until Jesus Christ returns and makes everything new. In the meantime, we continue growing in the Christian life and experiencing more and more of the blessings of salvation. As we continue to believe and rejoice, we also continue to grow toward maturity in Christ and to our promised salvation. (LAB)

+ Let this reconcile us to present afflictions. Seek then to believe Christ’s excellence in Himself, and His love to us; this will kindle such a fire in the heart as will make it rise up in a sacrifice of love to Him. And the glory of God and our own happiness are so united, that if we sincerely seek the one now, we shall attain the other when the soul shall no more be subject to evil. The certainty of this hope is as if believers had already received it. (MT)

(John.20:29) "Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

(2.Corinthians.4:18) "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

(2 Corinthians 5:7) "We live by faith, not by sight."

(Hebrews 11:1,6) "1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. + 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."

-- Matthew Henry (MT)
-- Life Application Bible (LAB)

New Birth (Born Again)

-- John 3:5-7
5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is Born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives Birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be Born Again.'

-- James 1:18
He chose to give us birth through the Word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created.

-- 1 John 5:1,4
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is Born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His Child as well. 4 for everyone Born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

-- Galatians 3:26-27
26 You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

-- Romans 6:3-5
3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a New Life. 5 If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.

-- 1 Peter 1:23
For you have been Born Again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God.

-- 2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a New Creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

---

Living Hope

-- Matthew 12:21
In His name the nations will put their Hope.

-- Romans 5:1-5
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the Hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, Hope. 5 And Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

-- Romans 8:24-25
24 For in this Hope we were saved. But Hope that is seen is no Hope at all. Who Hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we Hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

-- 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ++ 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

-- 1 Corinthians 13:7, 13
7 Love always protects, always trusts, always Hopes, always perseveres. 13 And now these three remain: Faith, Hope and Love. But the greatest of these is love.

-- Psalms 25:5,21
5 Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my Hope is in You all day long. + 21 May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my Hope is in You.

-- Psalms 31:24
Be strong and take heart, all you who Hope in the LORD.

-- Psalms 33:18-22
18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose Hope is in His unfailing love, 19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. 20 We wait in Hope for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. 21 In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. 22 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our Hope in You.

-- Psalms 43:5
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your Hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.

-- Psalms 62:5
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my Hope comes from Him.

-- Psalms 119:114, 105
114 You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my Hope in Your Word.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

-- Psalms 130:5
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His Word I put my Hope.

-- Isaiah 40:28-31
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; ++ 31 but those who Hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

-- Romans 15:13
May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with Hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.