I Peter 1:3-5
Verse 3, 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,
I. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
A. The word "blessed" means to be praised, not to be happy as in Matt. 5:8.
1. God is happy regardless of whatever circumstances come along, because He knows the outcome will be what He wants.
2. When we think of the fact that we have been saved, we ought to give praise to the proper place.
3. We can't praise ourselves because we are aren't saved by any work, faith, prayer, or believing which came from within ourselves.
B. Notice that praise is given to the God and Father of Jesus Christ.
1. It is not wrong to praise Jesus for His part in our salvation, but if we don't praise God the Father, we are apt to see only Jesus in the flesh.
2. It is wrong to forget that Jesus is the physical embodiment of God.
3. Some religions are completely involved in worshipping Jesus in the flesh, which is false worship.
II. Abundant mercy hath begotten us again
A. Abundant mercy
1. Eph. 2:4,5 - But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
2.
B. Begotten us again - "born again".
1. John 3:3, Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
2. John 3:7, Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
3. I Pet 1:23, Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
III. Lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
A. The lively hope we have in Christ is because of the abundant mercies of God the Father.
1. God has allowed his only begotten son to die for our offences that He might prove to us, in a very tangible way, that He will also raise us from the dead.
2. Even after we die physically, we still retain the lively hope of eternal life.
B. Lively hope.
1. A living hope, not a dead hope.
2. A spiritual hope, not a fleshly hope.
C. Resurrection
1. We have a living hope because Christ is our example.
2. We were dead in trespasses and sins, and He quickened us.
3. He was physically dead, but came to life again.
4. We were spiritually dead and he has brought us to spiritual life.
Verse 4, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
I. Inheritance.
A. An inheritance is something we haven't worked for. We receive an inheritance because we have been born into a particular family. Somebody must die so we can receive an inheritance.
B. This is not a reward. A reward is what we earn by using the grace God gives us. An inheritance is what we receive by being born into the family of God.
II. Incorruptible. endure forever. We will not have to leave the inheritance like we have to leave the inheritances of this world.
III. Undefiled.
A. Pure, It was not obtained by dishonesty, nor will it cause dishonesty.
1. There will be no sin in eternity, therefore there will be perfect harmony.
2. Not only will our inheritance be undefiled, it will be un-defileable.
B. It will not corrupt or tempt to extravagance, or cause family splits like earthly inheritances.
1. There will be plenty to go around for everybody.
2. Everybody will receive much more than they deserve, and they will know they have received more then they deserve.
IV. Fadeth not away.
A. Not like the flower that loses its youth.
B. Our inheritance will retain all its brilliance and splendor.
C. The crown of glory will always be shiny even though it is "one million years old", and the streets of gold will never lose their luster.
1. Actually, there is no way we can understand what eternity will be like.
2. We measure everything in this age by time, but there will be no time in eternity.
3. Every "instant" will be the ever present now, and nothing will ever wear out or get old.
V. Reserved for you.
A. John 14:1-4 - Not because of anything I have done, but because of what God has done for me.
1. I will receive my inheritance in heaven, not upon this earth.
2. There are those that believe they should receive special good things because they are the sons of God.
3. This is not taught in the Scripture, rather it is taught that if we are true sons of God, the world will hate us, and despitefully use us.
4. There are no scriptures that says we can "name it and claim it" as some teach.
B. It is reserved and cannot be taken away.
1. Rewards are given for faithfulness, therefore, I can lose rewards by being unfaithful.
2. I receive my inheritance because I am a son of God, joint heir with Christ, therefore, I cannot lost my inheritance.
Verse 5, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
I. "Kept by the power of God"
A. We do not keep our salvation by our power or wisdom.
B. God is the one that saves us, and God is the one that keeps us saved.
II. "Through faith"
A. Faith is the means whereby God keeps us.
B. He gives us the faith, which causes us to look to the promises of His Word.
III. "Unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
A. This scripture does not mean that salvation is revealed to us in the last time, as the hard-shells believe.
1. If this were so, we could not know we are saved now.
2. Peter believes he is saved before the last time.
3. I know I am saved because the Spirit of God bears witness with my spirit that I am a child of God, Rom. 8:16.
B. It means that in the last time (when time is over) it will be clearly revealed that salvation is totally of God.
1. "salvation ready" - there is nothing lacking in salvation.
2. I Cor. 13:12 - We now see all spiritual things through a dark glass, but in eternity, the vail will be removed, and we shall see all things clearly.
3. What a day that will be!!