We recently began a study of the book of First Peter. Peter wrote this letter to encourage the churches in Asia Minor in light of the persecution they were enduring. They were suffering, but Peter encourages them with the promises of salvation and eternal life.

We don’t face the same kind of trials as Peter’s original readers faced, but we all face various kinds of trials and temptations. And in times like that, we need to keep in mind what Peter wrote in this letter.

Peter begins his letter with some profound ideas about the sovereignty of God in salvation. Believers are God’s chosen people, even if this world rejects and persecutes them.

Vss. 1-2 show that believers are elect by God the Father, sanctified by the HSp, and purified by the blood of Christ. In vss. 3-5, he describes the blessings of being born again.

.3a  When Peter ascribes blessing to God, he’s saying that God is worthy of praise. Peter’s focus here is that God is worthy to be praised because of the greatness of our salvation. That’s what we need to keep in mind when we are suffering adversity. Because of God’s mercy, we have a living hope, a permanent inheritance, and a salvation that cannot be lost. When we understand such things, we should be joyful even in the midst of suffering. For Christians, even if their physical conditions are very bad, their spiritual conditions are very good. And for that they should praise the Lord.

Notice several things about the blessings of being born again.