“Una esperanza viva Bendito el Dios y Padre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, que según su grande misericordia nos hizo renacer para una esperanza viva, por la resurrección de Jesucristo de los muertos. 1 PEDRO 1.3 Según 1 Pedro 1.3–4, cada cristiano nace de nuevo para una esperanza viva, es decir, una esperanza que es perpetuamente viva, una esperanza que no puede morir. Pedro parece estar haciendo un contraste con la mera esperanza humana, que es siempre una esperanza muerta. Las esperanzas y sueños humanos inevitablemente se desvanecen y decepcionan en última instancia. Es por esto que Pablo dijo a los corintios: «Si en esta vida solamente esperamos en Cristo, somos los más dignos de conmiseración de todos los hombres» (1 Corintios 15.19). Esta esperanza viva en Cristo no puede morir. Dios garantiza que finalmente llegará a una completa y total realización, plena y gloriosa. Esta esperanza la «tenemos como segura y firme ancla del alma» (Hebreos 6.19). Además, se nos garantiza «una herencia incorruptible, incontaminada e inmarcesible, reservada en los cielos» (1 Pedro 1.4). A diferencia de cualquier cosa en esta vida, que puede ser dañado, decaer, envejecer, oxidarse, corroerse, ser robado o perder su valor, nuestra herencia celestial es reservada para nosotros incorruptible, incontaminada e inmarcesible. Nuestra herencia completa un día será la culminación de nuestra esperanza viva. Ella está «reservada en los cielos». ¿Se da cuenta de que ya hemos recibido parte de esa herencia? De acuerdo con Efesios 1.13–14, cuando una persona cree, el Espíritu Santo habita en el corazón de esa persona. Él es el depósito de garantía de nuestra salvación eterna. Él es un anticipo de la herencia del cristiano. Él es la garantía de que Dios terminará la obra que Él ha comenzado. ¿Cómo cambia su perspectiva tener esta esperanza viva de una herencia incorruptible?”
John F. MacArthur, Jr. is a fifth-generation preacher who serves as a pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California. He is also a prolific author, conference speaker, and is president of The Master's College and Seminary. MacArthur received a B.A. from Los Angeles Pacific College, his M.Div. from Talbot Theological Seminary, Litt.D. at Grace Graduate School, and D.D. from Talbot Theological Seminary. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, he regularly teaches Expository Preaching at the seminary and frequently speaks in chapel.
MacArthur's pulpit ministry has been extended around the globe through his media ministry, Grace to You, and its satellite offices in Australia, Canada, Europe, India, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Africa. In addition to producing daily radio programs for nearly 2,000 English and Spanish radio outlets worldwide, Grace to You distributes books, software, audiotapes, and CDs by John MacArthur. In thirty-six years of ministry, Grace to You has distributed more than thirteen million CDs and audiotapes.
John Fullerton MacArthur, Jr. is a United States evangelical writer and minister, noted for his radio program entitled Grace to You. MacArthur is a fifth-generation pastor, a popular author and conference speaker and has served as the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California since 1969, and as the President of The Master's College (and the related The Master's Seminary) in Santa Clarita, California.
Theologically, MacArthur is a conservative far-right Baptist, a strong proponent of expository preaching, a dispensationalist and a self-described Calvinist. He has been acknowledged by Christianity Today as one of the most influential preachers of his time, and is a frequent guest on Larry King Live as representative of an evangelical Christian perspective.
MacArthur has authored or edited more than 150 books, most notably the MacArthur Study Bible, which has sold more than 1 million copies and received a Gold Medallion Book Award. Other best-selling books include his MacArthur New Testament Commentary Series (more than 1 million copies), Twelve Ordinary Men, (more than 500,000 copies), and the children's book A Faith to Grow On, which garnered an ECPA Christian Book Award.