"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, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that does not fade away, reserved in Heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." 1Peter 1:3-5
It felt strange to me to be in church today on Easter Sunday and to hear two sermons and one special music song about the cross. While the cross is critical to God's plan of redemption, the cross was three days and three nights before and today the focus is the empty tomb.
The cross is about what Jesus did. The empty tomb is about the future. The cross is old news. The resurrection speaks of something alive and new and forward looking. The text calls it a living hope. There can be no resurrection without the cross. The hope is about what is next.
Jesus rose from the dead after three days and three nights. He will never go back on the cross ever again. We seem intent to keep Christ on the cross instead of declaring Him to be alive and active today. This is more catholic than Christian.
We are kept by God's power for a salvation yet to be attained according to verse 5. It is reserved in Heaven for us who are saved now.
"receiving the end of your faith-the salvation of your souls." 1Peter 1:9
There is more to come in Christ!
Peter and the apostles were witnesses of the resurrection, not of the crucifixion. They were the ones who saw Jesus and fellowshipped with him after he rose from the dead.
One more thought. It is because Jesus rose that the Holy Spirit has been poured out to this day. This is why it is called a living hope. Not a crucified hope.
I wonder if it is people who do not have a current and fresh experience with Christ by the Holy Spirit who focus more on the cross than the empty tomb and the upper room.
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