1 Peter 1:3

1 Peter 1:3 ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to. living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead'

“Blessed” -This word means “praised, honored or well spoken of “(Vincent p. 629). It is from the same root from which we derive the words ‘eulogize' or ‘eulogy'. God is so worthy of praise that He is at times simply called ‘the Blessed' (Mark 14:61). This word reminds me of. shortcoming which. see in myself and others. We don't ‘talk up' God enough among others. It seems that we want to be the object of praise, rather than letting God get the praise. And it seems that we want to spend our time complaining -rather than praising God for the rich blessings which we do presently have, and the wonderful life to come.

“God and Father” -Not just any ‘god' is blessed. Rather, it is the God how has revealed Himself as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Notice, God hasn't revealed Himself as. female deity.

“of our Lord Jesus Christ” -When the Bible addresses Jesus as “Lord”, we need to remember that such is. title for Deity. The New Testament ‘Lord' is the equivalent of the O.T. Jehovah or Yahweh. W.E. Vine observes, ‘Jehovah of Hosts, Him shall ye sanctify' (Isaiah 2:13), becomes ‘sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord' (1 Peter 3:15). (‘Lord' p. 17). Note, there is only one Lord (Ephesians 4:5), which leaves no room for Mohammed, Buddha, etc..

“according to His great mercy” -the word ‘great' means ‘much, great, strong, intense, large'. God's mercy is called great because: It extends to all who desire it (Titus 2:11). It can forgive any sin of which one is willing to repent (Luke 17:3). It can forgive an unlimited number of times-as long as sincere repentance is present. It takes one from being lost, and elevates them to the status of. child of God (Ephesians 2:4). It has spared us from great suffering and eternal misery. It forgives the great evil associated with every sin.

POINT TO NOTE: Many people erroneously think that the Bible is. severe book. Friend, the Bible is. demonstration of God's mercy. No man deserves to be saved, all deserve to be lost (Romans 3:23). The fact that only one way exists to heaven-ISN'T STRICT, rather, it is an act of God's mercy that there exists any way at all! It was the grace of God that allowed Jesus to suffer for us in the first place (Hebrews 2:9).

“has caused us to be born again” -The expression ‘born again' means, ‘born anew”. The tense here refers to. definite point in time which these Christians were born again.

POINTS TO NOTE: 1. ‘Caused': This expression is used because without the grace of God or the Word of God, no man or woman could be born again. 2. From other passages one is born again, when they hear the word of God, faith is produced in their heart and they obey God's conditions for salvation, including baptism (1 Peter 1:23; James 1:18; 1 Corinthians 4:15; John 3:5; Titus 3:5; Romans 6:3). Peter's point is that God is to be praised for our new life, without His mercy, we would have no hope.

“to. living hope” -(Romans 8:24). 1. The hope of the Christian is ‘living', in contrast to the vain hopes of unbelievers. There is only one real hope (Ephesians 4:4). However attractive and alluring, all earthly hopes will fail. 2. It is also called ‘living', because ‘Hope invigorates and spirits up the soul to action, to patience, to fortitude, and perseverance to the end.' (Oberst p. 52) 3. ‘This hope is not. desperate holding-on to. faded dream,. dead hope, but. living one, founded on reality, for it is grounded in “the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”…it is this reality which will enable the readers to face even death without fear, for death is not an end for the Christian, but. beginning.' (Davids p. 52) 4. ‘Hope'-‘joyful, confident expectation' (Thayer p. 205)

“through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” -‘hope rose up with Christ from the dead' (Robertson p. 81) (1 Corinthians 15:17). POINTS TO NOTE: 1. It is the resurrection that gives meaning to the crucifixion (1 Corinthians 15:1). 2. It gives meaning and validity to our baptism (Romans 6:4). The power that raised up Christ from the dead will raise us up to. new life (Colossians 2:12). 3. His resurrection is. guarantee of our resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:40; 1 Thessalonians 4:14). 4. The resurrection is also the proof that sin will be punished and the righteous will be rewarded, thus our own retaliation is unnecessary (Acts 17:31). 5. The reader should note that the resurrection is. very easy event to prove. Everyone admits, believer and unbeliever that on the first day of the week, the tomb was empty. Concerning what happened to the body of Jesus-only. limited number of choices are available: (a) The Jews stole the body-but why didn't they ever produce it and stop Christianity dead in its tracks? (b) The Romans stole the body-again, why didn't they produce it?. The disciples stole the body-the tomb was guarded (Matthew 27:62). (d) Jesus didn't really die on the cross-but eyewitness testimony says otherwise (John 19:31). (e) Everyone went to the wrong tomb---but eyewitnesses had seen Jesus buried and this tomb was guarded.

“to obtain an inheritance” -Those born again (1 Peter 1:3) are God's children, thus the heirs (Galatians 3:26; Romans 8:17). In other passages this inheritance is described as eternal life (1 John 2:25). The sad thing is that many people spend their lives frustrating and hindering God's attempts to see that they get the chance to become an heir. Please note that God is trying to give everyone. fabulous future. (Acts 20:32; Colossians 3:24; Hebrews 9:15). Peter will now give us. detailed description of what heaven is like.

“imperishable” -‘not liable to corruption or decay' (Thayer p. 88). Earthly inheritances eventually decay. Everything in this life eventually dies and wears out (Hebrews 1:10; 2 Corinthians 4:18). Heaven isn't. rejuvenated earth, but an eternal home (2 Peter 3:10 ff). Heaven will not need repairs, heaven will not become like an old rich neighborhood, which through time becomes rundown.

“undefiled” -‘unsoiled' (Thayer p. 32), free from contamination. ‘Without defect or flaw' (Robertson p. 82). (Revelation 21:27). ‘Our future estate will not provide temptations to the flesh, hatred, sensualities or crime-all of which so frequently accompany the acquisition of earthly estates.' (Oberst p. 53) Nothing will spoil heaven. Corruption won't enter in, there will be no trouble-makers there. And heaven won't be like an exclusive club which is filled with all sorts of scandal. Everyone will simply be. child of God in heaven, no envy, jealousy, strife, etc…

“will not fade” -perennial. ‘because it will never wax old; and because its beauties will remain fresh through all eternity, and its pleasures will never become insipid by enjoyment.' (Macknight p. 435). POINTS TO NOTE: 1. Unlike the wonderful things in this life, the wonder of heaven will never fade or wear off. Heaven will never become ‘usual' or ordinary. We will never get so comfortable with heaven that its lustre begins to fade. 2. Throughout eternity, heaven will never lose its beauty, brightness, or shine. 3. This also infers that those in heaven will never fade. We will never grow old (Revelation 21:4). 3. Now how many people are desperately in this life trying to find eternal youth, beauty and something which never becomes dull or boring? Who says that the Bible is irrelevant for modern man?

“reserved in heaven for you” -POINTS TO NOTE: 1. This reward isn't found in the earth, it is in heaven (Matthew 6:19; Colossians 1:5; Colossians 3:1). 2. This reward isn't found in this life. Heaven isn't found in material things or material goals. True and lasting happiness isn't available in this life (Revelation 21:4). 3. All attempts to make heaven here and now will end in disappointment and failure. 4. This inheritance is real, it isn't. mere wish or pipe dream. Our inheritance is already awaiting, it is already prepared! And you have complete control over whether you obtain that inheritance (1 Timothy 5:22; Judges 1:21; 2 Timothy 2:11).

Encouragement In Suffering:

‘Peter's readers may have been anxious about whether they would have strength to remain faithful to Christ if persecution or suffering became more intense.' [Note: Tyndale New Testament Commentaries,. Peter, Wayne Grudem, p. 58]