NEW BIRTH INTO A LIVING HOPE

Passage: 1 Peter 1:1-12

Key verse: 3b,4a

NIV

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,(A)

To God’s elect,(B) exiles(C) scattered(D) throughout the provinces of Pontus,(E) Galatia,(F) Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,(G) 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge(H) of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit,(I) to be obedient(J) to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:(K)

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.(L)

Praise to God for a Living Hope

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!(M) In his great mercy(N) he has given us new birth(O) into a living hope(P) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,(Q) 4 and into an inheritance(R) that can never perish, spoil or fade.(S) This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,(T) 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power(U) until the coming of the salvation(V) that is ready to be revealed(W) in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice,(X) though now for a little while(Y) you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.(Z) 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness(AA) of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire(AB)—may result in praise, glory and honor(AC) when Jesus Christ is revealed.(AD) 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him(AE) 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.(AF)

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke(AG) of the grace that was to come to you,(AH) searched intently and with the greatest care,(AI) 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ(AJ) in them was pointing when he predicted(AK) the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you,(AL) when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you(AM) by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.(AN) Even angels long to look into these things.

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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

Greeting

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of (A)the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to (B)the foreknowledge of God the Father, (C)in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and (D)for sprinkling with his blood:

May (E)grace and (F)peace be multiplied to you.

Born Again to a Living Hope

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

10 Concerning this salvation, (X)the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring (Y)what person or time[a] (Z)the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating (AA)when he predicted (AB)the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 (AC)It was revealed to them that (AD)they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you (AE)by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, (AF)things into which angels long to look.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Peter 1:11 Or what time or circumstances
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
INTRODUCTION TO 1 PETER Among Jesus' twelve disciples, Peter was the most outspoken. Along with James and John, Jesus gave Peter special attention and training. Jesus called him, 'Rock.' But Peter had weaknesses. He denied Jesus three times on the night Jesus was arrested, put on trial and condemned to die. Still, Jesus prayed for Peter. Jesus' efforts and prayers were not in vain. As we see in Acts, Peter became bold after witnessing Jesus' resurrection and being filled with the Holy Spirit. When Peter preached in Jerusalem, 3 people repented and believed the gospel. Peter was changed into a bold witness of Christ's resurrection, willing to suffer for Christ, and who finally understood why Christ himself had to suffer. Peter writes this book from 'Babylon' (probably Rome, 5:13) to believers scattered throughout Asia Minor by persecution. He encourages Christians to rejoice in suffering for Christ (4:13). He reminds us that Jesus suffered for us. He tells us that those who challenge the non-Christian world with the gospel and with their obedient lifestyle can expect to suffer too. But this is not meaningless suffering because of our sins. This is meaningful suffering which results in praise, honor and glory when Jesus Christ is revealed. NEW BIRTH INTO A LIVING HOPE 1. To the scattered elect (1-2) Paul wrote this letter to God's elect, who had been scattered through persecution to the far reaches of Asia Minor. God's elect, then and now, are chosen by God Himself, sanctified by the Holy Spirit and sprinkled with the blood of Christ. 2. An unspoiling inheritance (3-9) Peter praised God for the new birth He has given us through Jesus Christ. Through His mercy we are shielded by God's power until such time as our salvation is revealed. Because of this, God's people can rejoice, even in the midst of grievous suffering. These sufferings have a purpose-praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 3. Concerning this salvation (1 -12) Even the Prophets spoke about the gospel through the Spirit of Christ. Angels long to look into these things.

Prayer: Lord, I thank and praise you for the salvation you have given us through Jesus Christ our Lord.

One Word: New birth into a living hope