Grace, Mercy, and a Living Hope
1 Peter 1:1-12
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]
Hope is a key theme in 1 Peter, a living hope as highlighted in v.3 above, and a future hope described thereafter.
Firstly, we have a living hope because Jesus ever lives to make intercession for His children [Heb 7:25]; He is no longer on the Cross and no longer in the tomb. He is risen! He is alive! Our hope is living.
Secondly, we have a future hope because we too, those in Christ, will rise to see Jesus face to face, in that future day when our faith turns to sight. Our hope is not only living today in Christ; it will be literally alive in a future day when we are raised [ref. 1 Thes 4:16-17; 1 Cor 15:50-55].
Our living hope, who is Jesus, is the foundation for our future hope when we are raptured and see Him face-to-face. Glorious!
This hope has come through Him begetting us again, that is, He has made a way for us to be “born again” by the Spirit of God through grace and mercy, two more central themes in this 1 Peter epistle.
The definition of grace is unmerited favor. God favors us, yet by no merit of ours. He exercises unmerited favor upon His children. Grace is receiving something you don’t deserve: salvation. We don’t deserve salvation; we deserve judgment because of our sins. But God in His grace sent the gift of His Son to take upon Himself our sins so that we might become the righteousness of God. This is bona fide grace, unmerited favor.
The definition of mercy is longsuffering, patience. God in His mercy is patient with us, longsuffering as He awaits repentance. It is God extending patience to those who deserve to be punished. If grace is receiving something you don’t deserve [like salvation]; mercy is not receiving something you do deserve [like judgment].
1 Peter gives us numerous references to God’s grace and mercy, and a living and future hope.
These three principles are foundational to the Christian, and will establish him through the trials and tribulation and suffering in this life of faith. It is the in the world yet not of the world value that comes in these three.
