"A living hope"
Text: 1 Peter 1:3
GOD’S PROFOUND PLAN OF SALVATION
It was not easy to fully comprehend all that the Lord Jesus sought to teach His Disciples. The lesson about being born again was not easily comprehended by Nicodemus. It wasn’t easy for the Disciples too. In time, they understood and that helped them to proclaim the Gospel of salvation better!
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who according to His abundant mercy
has begotten us again to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
1 Peter 1:3
1. Essential ideas of salvation
a) Salvation involves faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
b) God enables a person to be “born again”.
c) God’s mercy was an important undergirding truth.
2. “A living hope”
a) Faith creates a living hope.
b) This Hope is truly alive, and the following may be noted:
i) Hope in God’s mercy to forgive sins.
ii) Hope to be born again and to enter into the kingdom of God.
iii) Hope in relating to God as Father.
iv) Hope in the work of sanctification by the Spirit of God.
v) Hope that we are sprinkled clean by the blood of Christ shed for us.
3. “Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”
a) The death of the Lord Jesus
i) He had to shed His blood for our sins.
ii) He had to literally die for our sins to be forgiven.
iii) Without the shedding of His blood there would be no forgiveness.
b) The resurrection of the Lord Jesus
i) This would be a special confirmation from God.
ii) That His atoning death has been accepted.
iii) His resurrection gives to us a hope that is truly living.
iv) Our salvation and the certainty of it is tied to Christ’s resurrection.