A Living Hope


1 Peter 1:3-5.


Corinth was a city characterized by sexual immorality and other forms 
of ungodliness. The believers there had once been like their fellow 
citizens--filled with greed, envy, wickedness, deceit, and malice. 
But now  they were new creations, indwelt by the Holy Spirit and 
adopted into God's  family. The "Corinthian lifestyle" no longer 
matched who they had become in Christ.

Paul reminded the believers of that city not to be influenced by 
their culture or old patterns of thinking. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). 
The apostle was not warning them that they might miss out on the 
kingdom. Instead, he was  encouraging them to abandon old ways, and 
bring their behavior in line with who  they really were--children of God.

We, too, should know that salvation is permanent, and faith ought to 
have a positive effect on our conduct. Furthermore, understanding the 
basis for our salvation--namely, the finished work of Jesus Christ on 
the cross--will banish fear, and fill us with hope.

We could never earn our way into God's family, nor could we pay our 
own sin-debt. But our Savior willingly paid the penalty on our 
behalf, satisfying divine justice and the Law's demands.
(Romans 3:25-26). To show that the sacrifice was accepted, God raised 
Jesus to life, and brought Him to heaven,  where He reigns at the 
Father's right hand. (Mark 16:19).

What God has accomplished--pardoning our sins, giving us a new 
nature, and adopting us into His family--no one can undo. That gives 
us a living hope to sustain and uplift us all our days.