1 Peter 1:3-5

II. THE GREAT SALVATION 1 Peter 1:3-12

1. Thanksgiving For it 1:3-5

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Expanded Translation

Let blessings and praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, influenced by His great mercy and compassion, begat us a second time unto a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from among the dead.

Blessed be

The word is eulogetos, from the same root as our words eulogize, eulogy, etc. It signifies: blessed, praised, worthy of praise or blessing.

the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

Jehovah is not only Christ's father, but His God, ... I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and my God and your God (John 20:17). As our Lord hung on the cross He prayed, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34). But on the same cross his cry later was, My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me (Matthew 27:46). The Scripture plainly teaches that Christ is one with GodJohn 1:1; John 10:30; John 14:7-11; 1 John 5:20, etc. This thought must be harmonized with that which is here stated by Peter.

who according to his great mercy

On according to, see 1 Peter 1:1. Our Father, dominated and influenced by this trait of mercy, provided for our redemption. It was not just mercy, but great mercy. (Polusabundant, plenteous, much; hence: great, strong, intense, large.)

The word his is emphatic in the original: we were saved because of God's mercy, not because of our goodness. Compare Ephesians 2:8-9. The prophet said, It is of Jehovah's loving kindness that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not (Lamentations 3:22).

What is mercy? The word eleos has special and immediate regard to the misery which is the consequence of our sins. God wants to assuage and entirely remove this misery and suffering. Though punishment and eternal suffering is due us, He withholds our just desserts because He possesses this characteristic.

begat us again

One word in the original, anagennao: ana, again, and gennao, to beget, generate. We were begotten the first time by our physical or human fathers (for so is gennao used in Matthew 1:2; Matthew 1:16, etc.). We were begotten the second time by our Spiritual Father. God is responsible for our very existence as spiritual creatures. When there is a new begetting, there is new life. This, above all, seems to be Peter's point of emphasisGod is to be praised for your new life! See further comments, 1 Peter 1:23.

unto a living hope

The Christian's hope is not cold, dead, and lifeless. It has vital power within itself and exerts the same upon the soulit is active, powerful, vibrant! Compare Romans 8:24-25. The hope of eternal life in a true Christian is a hope that keeps him alive, quickens him, supports him, and conducts him to heaven. Hope invigorates and spirits up the soul to action, to patience, to fortitude, and perseverance to the end.Matthew Henry.

by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

Here is the basis or foundation of our hope of salvation. It was actually necessary before our sins could be forgiven (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 1 Corinthians 15:16-17). Also, His Resurrection gives us assurance that we shall be raised. (1 Corinthians 15:12-22, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.) Christ kept His word relative to His own resurrection; He will keep it concerning ours in the last day!

1 Peter 1:4 unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.

Expanded Translation

unto an inheritance given to us by our Father, never perishing or decaying, unstained and unsoiled (that is, pure), never losing its original luster or beauty, guarded and kept in watchful custody for you.

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unto an inheritance

The word kleronomia signifies an inheritance or patrimony, an estate inherited from one's father. Our heavenly Father has surely prepared for us an inheritance greater than all this world's wealth! We are citizens of that country (Philip. 1 Peter 3:20), and He has promised us a mansion there (John 14:2).

incorruptible

Aphthartos refers to that which is uncorrupted, not liable to corruption or decay imperishable. See 1 Peter 1:23, 1 Peter 3:4, 1 Corinthians 9:25. Here on earth, everything has within it the seeds of decay. Roofing materials, even pots and pans, are guaranteed for life. Be not deceived, they, too, shall some day rot! Even our physical bodies are such, ... for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return (Genesis 3:19). The things which are seen, Paul stated, are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (See 2 Corinthians 4:16-18). This is why the Lord exhorted us as He did in Matthew 6:19-21, and why the Apostle exhorted the Corinthians as he did in 1 Corinthians 15:50-58.

Furthermore, on earth we will soon part with our mansions, however beautiful (or ugly) they might be. No so with our heavenly home!

undefiled

Amiantos is composed of the alpha privitive plus miano, a verb meaning to dye with another color, stain. Our eternal abode will not be defiled or soiled; it will be free from that by which the nature of a thing is deformed and debased, or its force and vigor impairedThayer. Thus a good synonym would be pure.

Again we find a contrast to earthly possessions and inheritances. Our future estate will not provide for temptations to the flesh, hatred, sensualities or crimeall of which so frequently accompany the acquisition of earthly estates. There will be no cigarette smoke to inhale, no alcohol breath to breathe, no filthy language or lying to hear, no indecency or immodestyall will be perfectly pure and unsullied there! See also Revelation 21:27.

and that fadeth not away

The term fadeth away (compare amarntinos, its close relative), refers to that which not only lasts on and on for an indefinite period of time, but never loses its original beauty, lustre, and brightness. In sharp contrast to those mundane things with which we are familiar, the golden streets of heaven shall never tarnish. As Trench says of our heavenly inheritance, Not merely decay and corruption cannot touch it; but it shall wear its freshness, brightness and beauty forever.

reserved in heaven for you

The word reserved, tereo, indicates to keep, guard, preserve, to keep in watchful custody, to reserve with a happy issue. There will be no tickets sold to heaven at the gate. All mansions there will be reserved (John 14:1-3). It is a prepared place for those who have prepared on earth to go there! See Titus 1:2, Matthew 25:34, 2 Timothy 4:8.

1 Peter 1:5 who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Expanded Translation

who by the power and might of God are being guarded through (or by means of) faith (or trust) unto a salvation prepared and ready for uncovering in the last time.

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power

Dunamis, whence our words dynamo, dynamite, etc.

are guarded

Phroureo was commonly used of those who were guarding or watching with a military guard. (See 2 Corinthians 11:32, compare Acts 9:24.) Here used, as in Philippians 4:7, to keep in a state of settlement or security. God's protective power is mightier and more to be trusted than any military force man might assemble! (Psalms 20:7).

through faith

Here is our part. God has never promised to preserve the faithless and disobedient. So in John 10:27-29, those sheep who heard the voice of Christ and followed Him were the recipients of God's protecting and shielding hand.

ready to be revealed in the last time

The phrase to be revealed represents one wordapokalupto. It is composed of apofrom, of, away from, plus kalupto, to cover, hide, conceal. Here in the passive, it means literally to be uncovered, unveiled, or revealed.

The last time will be when our present Christian dispensation is over, i.e., when Christ returns to earth.