Blessed Be the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ
1 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV)
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.
In this passage, Peter begins his first epistle by expressing his praise and gratitude to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He uses a doxology, a hymn of praise, to glorify God for His great mercy in giving us new life through Jesus Christ.
The Great Mercy of God
Peter writes that God has caused us to be born again according to His great mercy. The phrase "born again" is a significant concept in Christianity, emphasizing the transformative power of God's grace in our lives. It signifies a radical change, where God takes the initiative to regenerate us, giving us a new nature and a new purpose.
This new birth is not a human achievement but a divine work, accomplished by God's mercy. Mercy is not just a feeling or an attitude but a deliberate action that flows from God's character. It is an expression of His love and compassion towards us, demonstrated in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.
A Living Hope
Through this new birth, Peter says we have been given a living hope. This hope is not a vague optimism or a fleeting feeling but a confident expectation rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Jesus' resurrection is the guarantee of our own resurrection and the key to our eternal inheritance.
This hope is not simply a feeling but a living, breathing reality that sustains us in the midst of trials and challenges. It is a hope that is anchored in the character of God and the finished work of Christ on the cross.
An Imperishable Inheritance
Peter also describes our inheritance as imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. This inheritance is not something we will receive in the future but is already ours in Christ, kept in heaven for us. It is an inheritance that will never perish, spoil, or fade, unlike the things of this world that are subject to decay and corruption.
In summary, Peter's doxology in 1 Peter 1:3-4 is a powerful expression of praise and gratitude to God for His great mercy in giving us new life through Jesus Christ. We have been born again to a living hope, with an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us. This hope is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is a confident expectation of eternal life with God.
