TomNicholas.org

recent posts

about

I’m Tom Nicholas — a pastor, teacher, and community builder living in Billings, Montana. My life and ministry flow from one heartbeat: to see the Church alive — Spirit-filled, rooted in Scripture, and moving with Jesus into the world. I serve as a pastor, chaplain, and mentor, helping people grow in faith, leadership, and everyday discipleship. Whether around a campfire, in a coffee shop, or through digital spaces, I believe the gospel belongs where life happens — in the field, among the people, and around the table. Through The Church Alive, I write about biblical leadership, spiritual formation, and building vibrant, missional communities that reflect the love and courage of Christ.

The Living Hope

In my worship this morning I finished reading 2/3 Johns and 1 Peter 1. And as I finished reading 1 Peter 1 I realized that I wasn’t really awake, yet, and I had no comprehension whatsoever of what I was reading!

So, I got up from my comfy rocker and went and made a warm cup of green tea and came back to sit and sip and pray to our amazing Father and to our blessed Holy Spirit. This time, with my mind a bit more engaged and ready to hear the Holy Spirit’s still, small, I sank back in to 1 Peter chapter 1 (skipping the intro and getting right to his message.)

My first thought was this: “Paul, due to his rich education, is very complicated and technical but extremely logical. Peter, on the other hand, it feels, brother, like you are trying to mimic Paul, but don’t have the education to keep up and your sentences are nearly impossible to graph-out!” But, then my second thought was, “Oh man, that’s me thinking instead of the Holy Spirit!! Ok, Holy Ghost, light me up! What is your message to me through your humble and sincere servant, Peter?” This morning I want to share with you some thoughts I am sure come from the Blessed Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 1:3-5 says this: 3 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, 4 to an inheritance [b]incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (NKJV)

God, the covenant father of Jesus (God is not a biological father of Jesus. Jesus has existed right alongside of the the Father for all of eternity. There is not a time in eternity past where pre-incarnate Jesus has not existed. So, God is not the biological father of Jesus,) has begotten us…

I am reminded of John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave his monogeneis,” his unique, one of kind progeny, His only begotten…

When we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, not only are we saved, but we are born-again, we become begotten of the Father! Jesus was also begotten of the Father. He is ‘Mono’ begotten, or uniquely begotten. We are ‘Neo’ begotten, or newly begotten, or born-again. When we come to believe in Jesus, we receive a new birth with a new family! God is our new Father and Jesus is our new Brother. And, the inheritance Jesus receives we also share in. We also receive an inheritance, as part of the born-again family of God! We are co-inheritors with Jesus because of Jesus!

Just as the grave could not hold Christ, so the grave cannot hold the born-again believer!

Living hope…Living describes the sort of hope we have. It is a hope that is alive, and takes on a life of its own and that gives life to the believer, it impels us, compels us, moves us. It isn’t like hoping for an ice cream. It is a hope that is alive and powerful…it is more than hope it tells or testifies to a future reality and we can live today with the certainty of that future reality because of the resurrection of Jesus.

We believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and because of His resurrection we have certainty in the current reality that we are born-again of God and receive eternal life and will one day receive a full inheritance of the Kingdom of God alongside our spiritual brother, Jesus.

To wrap it up, The Message re-writes 1 Peter 1:13-16 with this appeal to us:

13-16 So roll up your sleeves, get your head in the game, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”

Amen.

Posted in

Leave a comment