“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4).

Praise be to God our Father for His abundant mercy to us in that He has granted us a living hope! This “living hope” was made certain by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (cf. Acts 2:22-32). Jesus is the reason why our hope is “living” and not dead. We serve a risen Savior who is presently reigning over all things as He is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

This living hope is accessed by means of our being born again. Jesus taught that we must be born again of water and the Spirit (John 3:3-5) to enter the kingdom of God. We were born again through the word of God (1 Peter 1:23; John 8:32) which the Holy Spirit revealed through the apostles and prophets (Eph. 3:1-5) and receiving that word through faith we were baptized into Christ (through water) for the remission of our sins (Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:20-21).

Our brother Peter then speaks of those who have been born again to a living hope obtaining an inheritance (received by those born into the family of God). Please notice that the apostle describes our inheritance as being imperishable, undefiled, will not fade away, and reserved in heaven - for you!

The original recipients of Peter’s letter needed to hear this encouraging and reassuring message because of the fiery trial that they were experiencing. And the people of God today need to hear (loud and clear) this same great divine message as we are grieved and distressed by various trials. We need to hold fast to our living hope! We need to praise God for His great mercy! And we need to ever press towards that eternal inheritance that awaits us in heaven!