Meditations on 1 Peter part 2

Each year, part of my vacation is devoted to spiritual renewal. This year I read 1 Peter. I noticed three themes running through the epistle that Peter presents as foundational to our faith: The Cross, The Resurrection, and The Second Coming. My first post was on the sufferings of Christ. This one is on

The Resurrection of Christ

The resurrection and the second coming are linked because the second coming and the glory associated with it are dependent on the resurrection of Christ from the dead.


1:3  Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

begotten again unto a lively hope by the resurrection - the resurrection is the power behind our salvation, here called begotten again. Christ’s death is effectual only because he rose from the dead. Death is the great enemy we face, the ultimate foe. We have focused almost exclusively on sin. but sin is not the end:

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

No, sin leads to something worse. Death. Salvation is life. Death passed upon all men. Jesus died and rose again. He defeated death. We now have a lively hope.

Now, I know that lively hope is really “living hope.” But I like the idea of a lively hope. Lively is defined as “full of life and energy; active and outgoing.” Is that not a great description of our hope? It is full of life and energy and it activates us! And the synonyms for lively: energetic, active, animated, dynamic, full of life, vivacious, enthusiastic, vibrant, buoyant, exuberant, effervescent, cheerful. Truly our hope is a lively hope!

So, what exactly is our hope? Life. Resurrection from the dead and eternal life. Death was at work in us. We are threatened with death all around, at every turn. But Jesus rose from the dead and promises us the same life. This hope enlivens us, energizes us. It does not matter what happens to me, I will rise from the dead and live forever! Life. Life. Life. All through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead!


1:20  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
21  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

v 20 Christ was foreordained, that is, before creation it was the Father’s plan to send His Son. This is a great mystery.
He was manifest in these last times for you – He came for us, to restore us to God. O what love!

v 21 that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory - The resurrection of Christ is the greatest demonstration of God’s power in the history of the world. This is the central proclamation of the gospel. Through Christ we believe in God because God raised him from the dead. This man was killed. He died and was buried. But God raised him up from the dead. Death had reigned over mankind since Adam and Eve, but by raising His Christ from the dead, God defeated death. By believing in Jesus, that he is the Christ, the Son of God who was raised from the dead, we believe in God.

And gave him glory – crucified, raised, exalted. Jesus is both Lord and Christ.

that your faith and hope might be in God – This is not philosophy, or moral renovation, or good works, or even my faith. No, my faith is in God, who by His great power raised Christ from the dead. My hope is in God, who by raising Christ from the dead has promised me eternal life. Praise the Lord!


3:18  For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit – He was made alive by the Spirit. I confess, this and the next couple of verses are difficult. Paul has something similar to this in 1 Corinthians 15:45, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.


3:21  The like figure whereunto [even] baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
22  Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

He says baptism now saves us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is power in baptism, grace received in baptism, however you choose to explain it, but not of itself. Honestly, it’s not even faith that gives baptism effectiveness. It is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. At the very least, baptism is identifying with Christ, a declaration that we believe in Jesus. But there is no power, no grace if Jesus has not been raised from the dead. Once again, as important as faith and baptism are, they do nothing if Jesus was not raised. It’s not me, it’s Jesus. BUT, by believing in Jesus and being baptized in his name I do receive grace from God because Jesus has been raised from the dead. Hallelujah!

by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

This sounds like Peter’s preaching in Acts, “Jesus was crucified, but God raised him from the dead; he ascended to heaven and has been exalted at the right hand of God.” Amen! I confess, this is exciting: Jesus is alive! Jesus is Lord! And as we shall see, Jesus is coming again!