Tag: 1 Peter 1
Faith’s Outcome!
Scripture reading for November 7: 1 Peter 1
“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. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith–more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire–may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:3-9
Peter was chosen by Jesus Christ to become a disciple and follower. He was a brash fisherman who followed Jesus at His invitation. After three years of following, Peter denied Jesus three times during Jesus’ trial before His crucifixion. He wept bitterly and went back to fishing. But Jesus came to him after His resurrection and restored him asking the question, “Do you love Me?” (John 21:15-19) Peter was restored and given the mission to feed Jesus’ sheep as an apostle and pastor. This first letter of Peter talks much about faith and suffering and the expected return of the living Lord Jesus for His people.
Peter worshipped the Lord Jesus for His great mercy and work of salvation through His death, burial and resurrection from the dead. Through this Gospel message, we can all be born again into a living Hope. Believers become part of God’s forever family and have obtained an eternal inheritance that can not be ruined. Believers have their inheritance guaranteed by the Holy Spirit and guarded by their faith until the fulness of salvation appears with Jesus Christ at the resurrection. Even though we don’t see Jesus now, we believe and rejoice in a joy inexpressible in anticipation of eternal glory. Jesus is coming and our joy and love will be complete in resurrection glory.
Have you been born again into this living Hope through faith in Jesus Christ? How does faith guard you from losing this living Hope? Is your faith based on what you see or feel? What outcome do you expect from your faith?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Jesus Christ, the Author and Perfector of my faith. Thank You for His death as a sacrifice for my sin, His burial in a grave, and His glorious resurrection on the third day. I await my promised inheritance and joyfully share the Gospel of Grace with those You send me to. Amen.
New Birth and a Living Hope!
Scripture reading for November 9th: 1 Peter 1
Peter, along with James and John, was one of the three disciples closest to Jesus Christ. Peter also denied His Lord three times during Jesus’ trial before the crucifixion. Peter wept bitterly and was later restored by the Lord after the resurrection. As recorded by John, Peter was told by Jesus that he would eventually die for his faith. (John 21:18-19)
“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, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you, 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. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 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.” (1 Peter 1:3-7)
Peter understood the ‘new birth’ because of his own experience! Jesus Christ had breathed on him and sent him to preach the good news of forgiveness of sins. (John 20:22) He had seen Jesus Christ in His resurrection body and knew Him as the ‘Living Hope’ for his own life and all who would believe! (2nd Peter 1:16) He knew that at Jesus’ return, he and the Church would enjoy the full salvation promised by Christ–a resurrected body–like His glorious body! He also knew that only genuine faith would result in joy at Christ’s return! Are you resting totally Christ’s sacrifice for you? Only those who have experienced new birth in Christ will enjoy full salvation!