1 Peter 1:3-9 NLT: A Message of Hope and Inheritance
A Living Hope
In 1 Peter 1:3-9, the apostle Peter writes a powerful message of hope and inheritance to believers who are facing persecution and hardship. This passage is a reminder that our hope is not in this world, but in the eternal life that God has given us through Jesus Christ.
All Praise to God
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ." (1 Peter 1:3, NLT)
Peter begins by giving praise to God, acknowledging that He is the source of all blessings. As believers, we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ, which includes forgiveness, redemption, and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
A Living Hope
"For you are a people who belong to God, and you have been born anew into a living hope, a hope that is living and enduring through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." (1 Peter 1:3, NLT, paraphrased)
Our hope is not based on our circumstances, but on the living Christ, who was resurrected from the dead. This hope is not just a feeling or an emotion, but a confident expectation of eternal life.
An Inheritance that Never Fades
"You have an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you." (1 Peter 1:4, NLT)
As believers, we have an inheritance that is waiting for us in heaven. This inheritance is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, unlike the things of this world that are perishable and fleeting.
Protected by God's Power
"through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:5, NLT)
Not only do we have an inheritance waiting for us, but we are also protected by God's power until the day of salvation. This power is our shield against the attacks of the enemy and the trials of this life.
Inexpressible Joy
"In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay." (1 Peter 1:3-4, NLT, paraphrased)
As we meditate on these truths, we can experience inexpressible joy, even in the midst of trials and hardships. Our hope is not based on our circumstances, but on the eternal life that God has given us through Jesus Christ.
A Call to Persevere
"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:8-9, NLT)
As we face trials and hardships, we are called to persevere, knowing that our salvation is near. We can rejoice in the midst of suffering, knowing that our hope is in the eternal life that God has given us through Jesus Christ.
