A Living Hope.

1 Peter 1:3: “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.” - A Living Hope.

What is Hope? Biblical Hope is full assurance, not uncertain desire. It’s not the Hope we speak of when we say, “I hope I get a PFD next year.” You may or may not! That is what we often mean by Hope! But that’s not what the Bible says about Hope. This living Hope is not an uncertain longing but a confident expectation.

When Psalm 42:5 says, “Hope in God!” it does not mean cross your fingers. It does not mean God might work for his servant. It means to be confident that he will! Be strong in God! Be courageous in God! Live your life with the full assurance of Hope!

Hope is one of the most powerful forces in a Believer’s life. In a world of uncertainty and despair, the Hope of Christ is our anchor, light, and guide. Hope is essential to life. Without Hope, people lose direction, purpose, and joy. In 1 Peter 1:3, the apostle Peter writes about a living hope—a hope that is alive, eternal, and transformative. This Hope is anchored in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is a gift of God’s mercy.

This living Hope is not an uncertain longing but a confident expectation.

I asked myself the other day. What has believing in the Hope of Christ done for me? I don’t have time to tell you everything, but:

Hope in Christ has given me peace amid life’s circumstances.

Hope in Christ gives me joy the world can’t take away.

Hope in Christ gives me love deep down in my soul.

Hope in Christ gives me strength for my life and ministry journey.

Hope in Christ gives me the focus to fulfill my divine calling from God.

Hope in Christ gives me help in the pains and problems of life.

Hope in Christ gives me encouragement that God will complete what He started in me.

This living Hope is not an uncertain longing but a confident expectation. Let’s explore the core, characteristics, and climax of this living Hope.

1. The Core of Living Hope

1. The Core of Living Hope God’s Mercy: Peter says we should “Bless the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy.” We receive the gift of Hope through God’s mercy, not our merit. Ephesians 2:4-5 reminds us that “because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ.” God’s mercy is always at the center of any discussion on salvation. Only His mercy would allow God to have compassion for sinful and rebellious people.

2. The Core of Living Hope The Resurrection of Jesus: The core of our living hope is the resurrection of Jesus. Because Jesus conquered death, we have the assurance of eternal life. 1 Corinthians 15:17 says, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” The resurrection validates our Hope and secures our future.

From Parade magazine comes the story of self-made millionaire Eugene Land, who greatly changed the lives of a sixth-grade class in East Harlem. Mr. Lang had been asked to speak to a class of 59 sixth-graders. What could he say to inspire these students, most of whom would drop out of school? He wondered how he could get these predominantly black and Puerto Rican children even to look at him. Scrapping his notes, he decided to speak to them from his heart. "Stay in school," he admonished, "and I'll help pay the college tuition for every one of you." At that moment the lives of these students changed. For the first time they had hope. Said one student, "I had something to look forward to, something waiting for me. It was a golden feeling."

“If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

2. The Characteristics of Living Hope

1. The first Characteristic of Living Hope is that It’s Alive: The Hope we have in Christ is alive and active because it is grounded in His eternal life. Living means that it grows and gains strength the more.

It’s Hope that is Alive because Christ is alive. Romans 6:10: “When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God.” Hebrews 6:19 calls this hope “a strong and trustworthy anchor for the soul, firm and secure, sure and steadfast.”

2. The second Characteristic of Living Hope is that It’s Eternal: Unlike worldly Hope, which can fade or disappoint, our living hope is not tied to temporary circumstances. It is eternal and rooted in the promise of an inheritance that can never die, decay, or disappear. 1 Peter 1:4: “To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” It is not dependent on outward circumstances; it is dynamic and vital. Hope looks forward in eager anticipation to what God will do. When you know within your “knowa” that God will keep His promises, you can have Hope.

3. The third Characteristic of Living Hope is that It’s Sustaining: Peter wrote this letter to Christians facing persecution and suffering. The living hope of Christ gave them strength to endure because they knew their suffering was temporary, but their Hope was eternal. Romans 5:3-5 reminds us that “hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”

In the novel, Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., an important book comes to light. It is titles "What Can a Thoughtful Man Hope for Mankind on Earth, Given the Experience of the Past Million Years?" The chief character is anxious to read it. But when he does, he finds that it doesn't take long. The whole book consists of one word: "Nothing."

3. The Climax of Living Hope

1. The Climax of Living Hope Leads to Worship: Peter begins with Praise: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” “Blessed” is translated as “to bless or worthy of praise.” When we recognize the depth of God’s mercy and the power of the resurrection, our hearts overflow with worship. You ought to have a private worship time and a public worship time.

Private: You only come here one time a week …

Public: There is something that happens in here that you can’t get beyond these walls. Go old school with me for a moment; when all God’s children get together, what a time, what a time.

2. The Climax of Living Hope Leads to Transformed Lives: Living Hope inspires us to live differently. It gives us joy in trials, strength in hardship, and purpose in our daily walk. This Living hope is not found in worldly success or circumstances but in Christ alone. Peter says God “has given us a new birth.” Through faith in Christ, we experience a “new birth.” This spiritual rebirth transforms us into children of God and gives us a fresh start, filled with purpose and promise.

The adventure of new life in Christ begins when the comfortable patterns of the old life are left behind.

Because we are “born again” we don’t go to the same places, we don’t do the same things, we don’t speak the same way, we don’t look like where we came from. We have been transformed.

2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

God grooms and grows us. He chastises and comforts. He sympathizes and saves. He strengthens and sustains. He guards and guides. He heals and helps. He cleanses and conserves. He forgives and fortifies. He delivers and defends.

When we place our Hope in Christ, we experience a deep sense of joy and peace that transcends our circumstances. Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You Because he trusts in You.”

Today, you may not have feelings of Hope, but I want to remind you that you have HOPE. God has not abandoned us. Hope can be hard to find when you lock it out of your mind. But HOPE has a way of unlocking itself.

Build your Hope on things eternal.

My Hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame but holy lean on Jesus’ name. When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; in every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil, His oath, his covenant, his blood supports me in the ‘whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He is all my Hope and stay; when He shall come with trumpet sound, oh may I be found in Him, dressed in his righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne. On Christ, the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for the living Hope we have through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Help us to live as people of Hope, sharing Your mercy and love with the world. Strengthen us in our trials and fill our hearts with joy as we look to the eternal inheritance You have prepared for us. Help us to trust in Your promises and overflow with Hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. May our lives reflect Your light and bring Hope to those around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.