Born Again to a Living Hope (Friday)

1 Peter 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who 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

In His famous nighttime conversation with Nicodemus in John 3, Jesus told the seeking Pharisee that to be part of God’s Kingdom, a person must be born again. This would not be a physical rebirth, but a complete renewal through the Spirit. At the time, Nicodemus was confused by this, asking, "How can a man be born when he is old?" (John 3:4). However, what was once a mystery in the darkness of night became radiant with clarity in the light of Christ’s empty tomb.

The apostle Peter picks up this very theme in his letter, showing how the mystery Jesus spoke of is now a present reality for every believer in Christ. What Nicodemus once struggled to grasp, Peter now proclaims with certainty: through Christ’s resurrection, we are truly born again into a new and living hope. Let’s look at the statements of 1 Peter 1:3 in reverse:

• “Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” – Every spiritual gift, blessing, and privilege is ours solely because Christ rose from the dead. His life is our life. His victory is our victory. His resurrection is the open doorway through which all the riches of new life flow–today and forever!
• “A living hope” – Because Jesus lives forever, so does our hope! Charles Spurgeon writes, "Without Christ there is no hope. But a man in Christ has a hope that is alive, not dead; strong, not weak; eternal, not fading." Unlike the fading hopes of the world, the hope of the believer is living, active, and growing because it is rooted in the eternal life of Christ. It does not diminish over time but strengthens as we walk with Him.
• “Born again” – The new birth is not a gradual process of self-improvement but a radical transformation. Our old self dies, and we are made completely new in Christ.
• “He has caused us” – Salvation is entirely God’s work. We do not cause ourselves to be born again, just as a newborn does not bring about their own birth. We are utterly dependent on the Lord to cause our salvation!
• “According to his great mercy” – Our new life in Christ is not earned by us. It is only because of God’s mercy. He does not save us because of our goodness, but because of His compassion and love.
• “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!” – All of this leads us to praise.  The more we grasp God’s mercy and the hope He has given us, the more we should bless His name.

R.C. Sproul writes, "Hope is called the anchor of the soul because it gives stability to the Christian life. But hope is not simply a wish—it latches on to the certainty of God’s promises." Peter makes clear in today’s verse that our new life in Christ and the hope found in Him is secured for us through the work of the Triune God. The Father has caused us to be born again, the Risen Son opens the doorway of resurrection life, and the power of the Holy Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, brings us into the same victory.

How does knowing your hope is "living" change how you respond to uncertainty in life?

What difference does it make in your daily walk that your salvation is completely God’s work?


Father, thank You for the living hope You have given through the resurrection of Jesus. I praise You that my salvation is entirely Your work, given by grace and secured in Christ. Strengthen my faith to trust in Your promises and help me live each day with the joy of being born again into Your Kingdom. May my life be a testimony of Your mercy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.