"Crucifixion of St. Peter" c 1601, by Caravaggio.
This is the fourth post in my series on the Book of 1st Peter. The resources used in this series are sermons from Jamie Rasmussen (Senior Pastor @ Scottsdale Bible Church), Dr. Wayne Grudem's The First Epistle of Peter: An Introduction and Commentary
When Peter was penning this letter, little did he know that a short time later, as tradition has it, he would be himself crucified upside down.
No doubt the words he wrote, inspired by the Holy Spirit, were also a comfort to his soul as he met this most violent death.
As I mentioned, in my first post in this series, Peter was writing to encourage persecuted Christians in what is now Northern Turkey. They were being feed to lions, burned on poles at night to serve as lamps, and all matter of atrocities.
Let's now turn our attention to this first section, as Peter points their thoughts, first towards their future heavenly reward, giving them hope.
Notes from Dr. Wayne Grudem's The First Epistle of Peter: An Introduction and Commentary
(vs 3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! - Peter is encouraging his readers to praise God (blessed) with this Old Testament greeting. But here he adds "Father" to the greeting, which wasn't used in those times, seemingly to bring attention to the relationship of the Father and Son.
According to his great mercy... absolutely no merit on our part, simply his mercy.
he has caused us to be born again... the first reason Peter states to praise (blessed be) God is for our new birth. Being born again. Regenerated. When you think about this, isn't this an incredible blessing?
to a living hope...hope is what keep us going forward. Hope is what keeps a prisoner, or a sojourner going. Hope for better things to come. Here we also have a living hope. It is alive. It also has the ability to mature as it ages. Here the hope is in confident expectation of the life to come. Notice that this hope isn't for the persecutions to end, although they probably had hope for that as well. If people were being persecuted and put to death, I wonder if this living hope isn't something to do with the fact that they may kill the body but not the spirit. A living hope...your body dies, but your spirit continues living.
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,...herein lies the passport for our hope. The promises of Christ, evidenced by his resurrection that we will also have resurrected bodies, renewed spirits and have also been raised in Christ.
(vs 4) to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,...and here lies the object of our hope. This inheritance is our place in heaven with God as our Father and Jesus Christ as our Elder Brother to spend eternity with no pain and no tears. Complete perfect joy and love. Imperishable (it won't decay or wear out). Undefiled ( not polluted by sin and in complete approval of God). Unfading (it won't lose its luster or grow dim. Perfect beauty and glory forever). Sounds real good to me!
kept in heaven for you...indicates a completed past activity (by God) with results that are still continuing in the present. God has stored up this inheritance for believers and it continues to be there for them "still reserved" until they get there. Are not these four words most marvelous! My inheritance is kept by God, awaiting my presence. God, in eternity past, chose me (election), saved me (regeneration) and at my physical death has an incredible inheritance waiting for me in heaven as his child. God is my Father and he has prepared for me an inheritance that he is keeping for me. Wow!
(vs 5) who by God's power are being guarded...Dr. Grudem states that this guarding is preserving us from escaping out of the kingdom (eternal security) as well as protecting us from external attacks. The Greek word for guarded here means: "kept safe, carefully watched".
through faith...it is God's power, but Peter stresses that it does not work apart from personal faith. Faith is the key ingredient.
for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time...here Peter is talking about the final fulfillment of our salvation which will be revealed when Christ returns the second time with our resurrection bodies.
The whole of the Hebrew Canon pointed towards Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Here, on the other side of the cross, Peter wants us to understand that now our hope is in Christ's return and the eternally secure inheritance for those who truly believe.
This great hope, the New Covenant, through Jesus Christ, is precious hope indeed.
