Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for March 31, 2024

Easter Message

Through the Resurrection

1 Peter 1:3-9

1. Background

• a restored Peter writing to a persecuted, predominantly Gentile audience before the outbreak of Neronian persecution

2. Exclamation: an introductory doxology 3a

3. Disposition: magnifying God’s motivation of mercy 3b

4. Causation: born again to a living hope 3c

5. Instrumentation: resurrection of Jesus Christ 3d

6. Specification: living hope as an inheritance 4a

7. Preservation: of inheritance and inheritors 4b-5

8. Celebration: triumph in the midst of trial 6-9

9. So What?

• Because of the resurrection, live now in anticipation of a perfect and unending future.
• How shall we then live? hope, holiness, fear, love (1:13-25)
• “You can shackle God’s people, but their God wears no fetters.” (P. Ross)
• “Let no one caught in sin remain inside the lie of guilt and shame. We fix our eyes upon the cross and run to Him who showed great love and bled for us. Freely You’ve bled for us. Christ is risen from the dead, trampling over death by death. Come awake, come awake. Come and rise up from the grave…No scheme of hell, no scoffer’s crown, no burden great can hold You down. In strength You reign forever let Your church proclaim…” (“Christ is Risen,” Maher and Fieldes)