A Living Hope
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
— 1 Peter 1:3
Peter is writing to Christians who are being hurt for their faith. He doesn't start with a complaint. He starts with praise. Why? Because God gave them something they did not earn — that is what 'mercy' means. He gave them a 'new birth': a second life, a new name, a new start. And He gave them a hope that is alive. Not wishful thinking. A hope built on one fact: Jesus walked out of His grave.