1 Peter 1:3-5

Praise God!

The word "blessed," which is used in 1 Peter 1:3, is not the word translated blessed in the beatitudes, which describes an inner happiness of the spiritual man. Instead, Thayer tells us it means "praised." It comes from the same Greek word from which the word eulogy comes (see also Romans 1:25; Romans 9:5; 2 Corinthians 1:3 and Ephesians 1:3).

God is to particularly be praised because of his great mercy which is displayed in Christians being allowed to be born again (John 3:1-8; Romans 6:1-11; James 1:18). That birth is into a life with a hope that lives with real promise. Those in the church were without hope before they were born into Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:12-13). The word "again" is reminiscent of the apostles' lost hope on the night of Christ's crucifixion (Luke 24:21). The Christians' hope is alive because Christ is alive from the grave and God can make them alive from the grave (1 Corinthians 15:16-20; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).

Peter also describes the Christians' living hope as an inheritance, which is appropriate since verse 3 had talked of them being born like children into a family (1 Peter 1:4; Acts 20:32; Romans 8:13-17). Earthly inheritances are temporary and perishable (Matthew 6:19-20). The Christian's inheritance is permanent, lasting. It is also undefiled, in the sense that no sin or impurity will be allowed in heaven (Revelation 21:27). Woods says the words "that does not fade away" come from the Greek word "amarantos." "The amaranth was a fabled flower whose bloom was perpetual, and whose loveliness never failed." The Christians' inheritance, then, will not run out, nor will its beauty be lost with the passage of time. The word "reserved" comes from a Greek word which indicates a military guard is keeping watch over the inheritance which is in heaven. Christians do not possess eternal life while on earth except in God's promise. It is kept for those who faithfully pursue God's will (1 John 2:25; Mark 10:28-30; Titus 1:2).

Just as a Christian's inheritance is guarded, so is the Christian guarded by God (1 Peter 1:5; Romans 8:28; 1 Peter 4:7). God guards the Christian through his faith. It is essential to realize, as Peter did, that one's faith can fail. So, each should do all within his power to avoid such failing (Luke 22:31-32; 1 Timothy 1:19-20; Hebrews 3:12). He should desire to keep that faith constant until the last time, or day of judgment, when his final, complete, salvation will be revealed.