BLESSED PEOPLE

Passage: 1 Peter 1:3-9

Key verse: 3

NIV

Praise to God for a Living Hope

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!(A) In his great mercy(B) he has given us new birth(C) into a living hope(D) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,(E) 4 and into an inheritance(F) that can never perish, spoil or fade.(G) This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,(H) 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power(I) until the coming of the salvation(J) that is ready to be revealed(K) in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice,(L) though now for a little while(M) you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.(N) 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness(O) of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire(P)—may result in praise, glory and honor(Q) when Jesus Christ is revealed.(R) 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him(S) and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.(T)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Born Again to a Living Hope

3 (A)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! (B)According to his great mercy, (C)he has caused us to be born again to a living hope (D)through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to (E)an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and (F)unfading, (G)kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded (H)through faith for a salvation (I)ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by (J)various trials, 7 so that (K)the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes (L)though it is tested by (M)fire—may be found to result in (N)praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 (O)Though you have not seen him, you love him. (P)Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining (Q)the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. New birth through Jesus' resurrection

Once we put our hope in worldly things or in people, and we were slaves of fear and of our own feelings. But our merciful God gave us a new birth into a living hope. We are born again, not by human effort, but by the power of God who raised Jesus from the dead. Once we trusted things that perish, spoil or fade. Now we have an inheritance that will be ours forever. God not only keeps it for us, he also protects us by his power until we can claim it fully.

2. In this you rejoice

Only a loving heart can know real joy and real sorrow. Even though we have not seen Jesus, we love him. He is our source of joy. Even though we suffer painful and difficult trials, our faith grows brighter and purer because we love Jesus. Even though we do not see him, we believe in him and are confident that he will keep all of his promises.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the living hope you have given me. Thank you for giving me your sure promise to hold in my heart.

One Word: Love Jesus; be filled with joy