Abounding in Hope through the Power of God's Holy Spirit
"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." -I Peter 1:3 [KJV] The resurrection of Jesus Christ was God's grand attestation to the truth of His divine mission and Sonship, for by it He was "declared to be the Son of God with power." It therefore set a divine stamp upon His sacrifice, blood-shedding, and death, shewed God's acceptance of His offering, and that sin was thus for ever put away. Now, just think what would have been the dreadful consequences if Christ had not been raised from the dead, or if we had no infallible proofs (Acts 1:3) of His resurrection. There would have been, there could have been no forgiveness of sin (I Corinthians 15:17); and therefore, when the conscience became awakened to a sense of guilt and condemnation, there could have been nothing before it but black and gloomy...