A living Hope
1 Peter 1:3-7
By Ysrael De la Cruz
When someone becomes a Christian or follower of Jesus, such person makes a transition from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. The Bible says that we transition from dead into life. We are giving a new identity in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says we are a new creation in Christ. Today, I would like to talk about something else that happens when you become a follower of Jesus. You are born into a living hope. The Christian is born into a living hope. A hope that is alive and not dead. As Christ’s followers we do now have a living expectation or hope of our future.
God made this possible: v.3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
God provided the way by which people can possess a living hope. Paul said something similar in Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.

The resurrection of Jesus gives us this hope.
Through or by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.(v.3) Without the resurrection of Jesus there is no Christianity, there is no hope for the future. Christ’s resurrection made it possible for his people to have this living hope.

What is this hope? It is called an inheritance. Imperishable, undefiled and unfading. These adjectives describe a never-ending inheritance, one that is eternal. A heavenly inheritance for those who belong to God.

This inheritance is for you who in the meantime are being guarded by God through faith. God is keeping you or guarding you through your faith until the day salvation is revealed. God is faithful to keep us or guard us until the day we receive this inheritance.
Here we see the importance of faith on our part to receive that never ending salvation. You are saved by grace through faith. God is guarding you or protecting you through faith until the last day.
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
This conviction should bring joy to our lives. v6 In this you rejoice though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials.
This living hope does not exempt you from trials in this world. You should rejoice in the living hope you have despite the trials you face.
The purpose of the trials is to test the genuineness of your faith. (v.7)
Just like gold is refined by fire, you may experience storms, affliction in your life to refine your faith. It is the suffering or tribulation that show if your faith is real or not.
A genuine faith brings honor and glory to God.

It was God’s will and purpose to give us this living hope, accomplished through the resurrection of Jesus. A living hope, an eternal inheritance kept in heaven for us whom God is protecting through our faith until the day we obtain it. This should cause us to rejoice even when we may suffer trials of all kind; but these trials come to test our faith; to see how authentic our faith is. A genuine faith brings glory and honor to God.

The outcome (end result) by product of our faith is the salvation of our souls. (v.8-9)
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

My friends, keep the faith no matter how many trials you face because your faith will bring you into the glorious inheritance prepare for you in heaven. The conclusion of your faith is eternal salvation.