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, ⁴ to an inheritance ^[a]incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (NKJV)

Study Questions

1: Read the three verses. What is your first impression?

Still a lot of words. Not as many as last time. Others mentioned praising God and worshipping Him.

2: Any questions about what the terms mean to you? 

1. Blessed/Praise – I admitted I had a hard time equating “Blessed be the Lord” with “Praise God” as I was growing up. It makes sense now, but it took a while. The others used the NIV with praise in plain language.
2. Our Lord – Our king, the one who directs us, and our boss were ideas thrown out. I liked the boss part best as it side steps the need to figure it all out yourself.
3. Mercy – Not getting what you deserved. One guy still thought of this a getting what you don’t deserve which is actually grace. Either is a gift from God.
4. Begotten – Born as in god did this for us and we could never have done it ourselves.
5. Living Hope – this term was almost its own definition during discussion as our hope grows when we exercise it. I like the idea that it is constantly keeping up with where we are in our journey. Like I want a blanky, now I want a bed, now I want a room, now I want an apartment, now I want a house, now I want a nice house, now I want a really nice house – only on a spiritual level.
6. Resurrection – Easter and the act of Jesus conquering death. In our discussion, all other application pale in comparison.
7. Inheritance – I tried to have a discussion about this. Its not money. Money is fluid. It has to be the example, the teaching, the tools, we give our kids and others to carry on with after we are gone.
8. Incorruptible – To me a physical term meaning made such nothing can change it.
9. Undefiled – To me a spiritual term meaning clean and holy.
10. Faith – Like Indiana Jones stepping out onto the bridge he could not see, but was sure it was there. We know it, we just can’t see it.
11. Salvation – rhetorical at this point.

 3: What did you find encouraging/Comforting?

For me it was the stuff that we get in these verses: living hope, inheritance, and salvation

 

4: What did you find Assuring/Testifying?

 Hope, inheritance, “reserved”, kept by God:  i.e. all the same things.

5: What is the main theme of these verses?

 Praise – nothing like a theme in the first word.

6: Who is the object of the theme?

 God, Son, (Holy Spirit)

7: Acts 2:36 gives three titles for Christ. Lord, Jesus, Christ: What does each mean to you? Acts 11:17 brings all three together. Lord Jesus Christ: How is that different to you?

 Lord is my leader who I follow. Jesus is the man who lived a perfect life and died on the cross for my sins. Christ is the victor who overcame death and sin. Lord Jesus Christ is the gospel in a three-word title that can be more than enough to share the good news to others.

8:What are the reasons for Praise given?

 New birth, living hope, inheritance, uncorrupted, unpolluted, unwithered, salvation from the penalty of sin (past), the power of sin (present), and the presence of sin (future) ready but revealed upon Christ’s return.

9: What is the result of praise or what is accomplished by Praise?

 Gratitude (thank you), Humility (I am not worthy), Confession (I follow you), and Satisfaction (I am happy to do so).

10: Peter is given us marching orders. How would you share this with others?

Let them see me praise God and tell then why.