Our new identity comes with special privileges, and Paul says that we need spiritual eyes to see those privileges.
The first privilege is the new hope that comes from God calling us (1:18b).
In the Bible, hope is being so certain of something that you wait eagerly for it to appear. You can’t see it now, but you are confident that you will see it when God determines the time is right. The source of our new hope is God’s act of calling us to himself, and that calling is part of the process that will lead to our being glorified with Jesus. (Rom 8:28-30)
What’s the nature of your hope this morning? Is it wishful thinking, or is it confident expectation? What’s the focus of your hope this morning? Is it your own efforts, or is it the certainty that God will complete what he has begun?
Peter says that we are “born again to a living hope” (1 Pet 1:3). The living hope that comes from God calling us is the first privilege that accompanies our new identity. Do you have eyes to see the new hope that is yours because of what God has done in Christ?
The second privilege is the new glory that comes from God inheriting us (1:18c).
Do you realize that, not only are you God’s possession, you are also God’s inheritance? When we think about an inheritance, we usually think about what we get. That’s all well and good, but it’s not Paul’s idea here. His focus is not on what we get; it’s on what God gets—it’s his inheritance.
You might think, “Well, if God gets us, that’s not a very good deal for him!” But look a little closer. What does it say? Paul calls it “rich glory.” How can that be? How can we be rich glory to God? It’s rich glory because when God fully and finally glorifies us, it demonstrates the riches of the glory of his grace that he lavished on us in Christ (1:8).
Do you understand that you are a glorious trophy of God’s grace? Do you have eyes to see the new glory that shines in you because of what God has done in Christ?
The third privilege is the new power that comes from God working in us (1:19a).
Paul’s point is that the power he’s describing is truly “great power.” It goes along with “living hope” and “rich glory.”
God has demonstrated the greatness of that power through what he has done for Christ. That’s what he’s telling us in verses 20-22. When he raised Christ (1:20a), he demonstrated his power over death. When he enthroned Christ (1:20b-21), he demonstrated his power over enemies and opposition. When he subjected all things to Christ (1:22), he demonstrated his power over all things.
We now have access to the power that raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at God’s right hand—power over death, power over enemies, and power over all things.
Do you understand the power that is available to you? Do you have eyes to see the new power that’s yours because God is at work in you? Will you embrace your new power this morning?
Jesus issues us a new identity that comes with three special privileges: new hope, new glory, and new power.
Our new identity is that we are now God’s special possession. So, here’s the question: Will we continue to live as who we were, or will we begin to live as who we are? Will we live in light of our new identity? Will we take God at his word and embrace who he says we are?
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