His Abundant Mercy
Text: 1 Peter 1:3-4—“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, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled,
and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you” (v3-4).
Proposition: God through the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, provided abundant mercy for
us.
Introduction
A lady had her photo taken back when we chose the better ones from the proofs.
Looking at the proofs, she said to the photographer: “Sir, you didn’t do me justice.” He
replied, “Madam, you don’t need justice, you need mercy.” In relation to our eternal
redemption no truer statement was ever made. Some say, “Well, just give me justice;
what I’ve got coming to me. That is my right.” God says, “You don’t need justice, what
you’ve got coming to you; you need all the mercy you can get.” This is what Peter is
talking about—“God’s abundant mercy.”
God’s mercy has been defined as “an attribute of God, an infinite and
inexhaustible energy within the Divine nature, which disposes God to be actively
compassionate” (A. W. Tozer, cited in Fleagle, First Peter, Strategic Imperatives for
Suffering Saints, 19). When Moses was at the burning bush (Exodus 3-4), the Lord said
to him, “I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying because
of their bondage; I am concerned about their suffering. Thus, I have come down to
rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them into a good land (the
Promised Land) . . .” (Exodus 3:7-8). What we have is the Lord’s actual involvement in
their deliverance and restoration. Peter is telling us that is exactly what Jesus did when
he came to this earth. He got actively involved in rescuing and restoring us to Divine
favor through his death on the cross, his burial, and his resurrection. That is what he is
perfecting now through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in and through us.
Peter discusses the result of God’s abundant mercy in three aspects: (1) The new
birth; (2) The living (lively) hope; and (3) The eternal inheritance (of all who believe in
Christ and accept Him as Savior and Lord). Note: The Result of God’s Abundant Mercy:
1. The new birth (“begotten again”). An act of God’s great mercy (eleos).
The first result and benefit of His mercy is the “new birth” (v3; John 3:1-3). Jesus
made a statement about the necessity of the new birth (John 3:3); then, He gave three
illustrations in regard to explaining it: (1) Like being born physically. Talking about
the spiritual birth, not the physical one; but like you’ve been born physically into this
world, you must be born spiritually into the next world. Nicodemus didn’t
understand. (2) Like the blowing of the wind. Jesus illustrated the new birth
(spiritual birth by the wild). “It blows where it wills, from you know not where, and
goes to where you know not” (John 3:8). The Holy Spirit comes, touches your
soul/spirit, leaves something of Himself there, and goes on about his work; but
something has happened in your life. The spiritual birth. (3) Like Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness (John 3:14; Num 21:6-9). Jesus explained: “Just so, must
the Son of Man be lifted up (on the cross). That whosoever believes on him should
not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him, should not perish, but have everlasting
life” (John 3:14-16).
Thus, the result of God’s Abundant Mercy, is to provide a way for persons to get it:
“Jesus put it, “Verily . . . I say unto you, that except a man be born again, he shall not
see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3). We are begotten again when the very life of
God, through the Holy Spirit, in regard to what Jesus did at the cross, is planted
within our souls.
2. The living hope. (“Begotten again to a lively hop”).
Literally: “Born again to live (lively-living hope) by means of Jesus Christ’s
resurrection from the dead” (ek nekron). It is a life of hope, living by means of Jesus
Christ’s resurrection. “Us”—refers to all of “us” who accept the Lord Jesus Christ as
our Savior and Lord and are born again. The cross of Christ and the resurrection of
Christ—are the very heart of the Gospel. He is the “resurrection and the life” (John
11:25).
(3) The eternal inheritance (v4). (“To an inheritance incorruptible . . . .”).
Our inheritance in Christ is the heavenly kingdom in all its glory. Jesus explaining
this to the disciples (John 14:1-6), in response to Peter’s Question: “Where you going
Lord” (John 13:36). Jesus explained: “In my Father’s house (universes of
dimension) there are many “abiding places” (Mansions), like this abiding place here.
I’m going to one of those many abiding places to provide an abiding place for you
there” (John 14:1-3).
This inheritance is ours now, but it is to be revealed to us, given to us at his Second
Coming. Paul spoke of it as a “crown laid up for me . . . which the Lord will give me
at that day . . . and unto all them also that love h is appearing” (2 Tim. 4:7-8). Paul
also said that this is beyond our comprehension: “. . . Eye hath not seen, nor ear
heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared
for them that love him” (1 Cor. 2:9).
Peter said four things about it: (1) It is incorruptible—(aphtharton)—won’t rust,
moth can’t eat it, and thieves can’t steal it (Matt. 6:19); (2) It is undefiled
(amianton)—without stain, or the defilement of sin or evil. About this, Jesus said,
talking about heaven: “And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defiles,
neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie; but they which are written in
the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Rev. 21:27); (3) It fades not away (amaranton)—meaning
imperishable, never withering, or disappointing; doesn’t become old and worn—and
(4) It is reserved in heaven for you—safeguarded and protected “for you.” (Source:
Lenski, Greek Commentary on the New Testament, S.v).
Conclusion
Peters says that “You are kept by the power of God through faith” for it—and that
it is “kept by the power of God” reserved there in heaven for you. The Lord will reveal it
and give it to you at his Second Coming—the total package of everlasting life. Don’t
miss it. Trust Christ now and become a “born again” believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Notes of James Brandon, January 23, 2011, A. M.)