1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ… I. THE SPIRIT OF DEVOTIONAL THANKFULNESS. "Blessed be the God and Father of Jesus Christ." A living Christian cannot receive Divine mercies like a dumb animal, but rejoices in the sunshine of thanksgiving. 1. It should be the ruling principle of our lives. How much happiness is lost by forgetting the privileges we enjoy! Thankfulness in our lives would enable us to appreciate what we already possess. 2. It should be the keynote of our prayers. It is discouraging to bestow favour on a hard and unthankful recipient. 3. It should permeate all our religion. There is something in praise that softens the heart and ennobles the mind. II. THE GRAND REASON WHICH DEMANDS THIS SPIRIT. It is the regeneration which is in Christ Jesus. This regeneration is represented as introducing us to three grand privileges, which may well excite our praise. 1. A prospect of eternal life — "To a lively hope." 2. A prospect of unchanging possession — "To an inheritance incorruptible," etc. 3. A possession of perfect protection — "Who are guarded" by the power of God. 4. A prospect of perfect victory — "Unto salvation." (J. J. S. Bird, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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, |
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