Word of Encouragement (9/9/2021)

We are reflecting on Peter’s prayer in 1 Pet. 1:3-5: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” Yesterday, we reflected on the living hope, to which we are born again. It is called a living hope because it is grounded in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is not overcome by sin and death.

But this living hope carries us beyond salvation from sin. Peter goes on to say that God gave us a new birth unto an inheritance (v. 4). You may not think much of the whole idea of inheritance. We have heard of some stories of how some parents ended up destroying their children’s lives by leaving too much inheritance or a war broke out among family members concerning the division of the inheritance. Many think that it’s better to give our children a good education and professional skills to make a living for themselves than to leave a big inheritance, which can be squandered away quickly. But in the ancient near eastern societies and for most of human history, people did not live in a “land of opportunity,” in which people could radically change their economic status by sheer ingenuity and hard work. The institution of inheritance played a huge role in one’s economic condition.

But a crucial part of the biblical idea of inheritance is the idea of sonship: the inheritance is passed down from the father to the son(s). The children may only care about what and how much they get as their inheritance. But for the parents, the driving force behind it is their relationship with the children and their love for them as their children. It is in this context we must understand and appreciate the idea of inheritance. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who saved us through His Son, has made us His sons—indeed, co-heirs with Christ to share in His inheritance.

But what kind of inheritance is this inheritance in Christ? It is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading (v. 4). Do you see how Peter employs negative terms to describe our inheritance in Christ? It is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. With these negative terms, Peter accentuates wonderfully the contrast between our new inheritance in Christ and the worldly inheritance of the old covenant. Thus he shows the superiority of our inheritance. For the worldly inheritance is perishable, defiled and fading: moth and rust destroy it and thieves break in and steal it (Matt. 6:19). This was the case with the inheritance of Israel in the promised land under the old covenant. But our inheritance in Christ is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading: moth and rust cannot destroy it and thieves cannot break in and steal it. How is that possible? Because our inheritance is a heavenly inheritance, reserved for us “in heaven” (v. 4). Our inheritance in heaven is imperishable and unfading because heaven is a realm of eternity—nothing perishable or fading belongs there. Our inheritance is undefiled because heaven is a holy realm—nothing defiled can belong there. How glorious is our inheritance! How secure! Can we not rejoice on account of this inheritance?

Oh, to think that such a glorious inheritance is reserved for us in heaven! It is not based on our merit or goodness. Is it possible for us to ever obtain such a thing? Who are we that we should gain the eternal, heavenly inheritance? Inheritance is not something we obtain or earn; it is something freely given by the father to the son. How much more is the case of our heavenly inheritance in Christ Jesus! Won’t you bless God today for this glorious inheritance that is yours in Christ Jesus?

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