ETB 1 Peter 1:3-12

Session #1 - p.10 - Our Inheritance

If we are honest, many of us struggle to keep hope alive. We hope of a better or more fulfilling job. We hope that a family member struggling with addiction will find help. We hope to have the finances to make ends meet. Even those who walk with Christ sometimes find it a challenge to keep hope alive. [ETB:PSG Win’25]

Ask: What are some of the biggest detractors to hope in your life? What might cause you to “lose hope”? p.10

After studying this week’s passage, I have seen a pattern in my life that Peter confronts with his letter. I lose hope when I place it in something of this world. As a christian, this is an inappropriate response to the pressures from this world. Peter will show us today there is something and someone else to hope in that will never let us down.

Understand the Context

While Rome was instigating abuse of believers, Peter’s readers in Asia Minor (areas like Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia) were suffering and experiencing persecution for their faith at the local level. The text does not indicate how the gospel made its way to this region. In Acts, Paul sought to evangelize this territory, but he consistently was turned back by the Holy Spirit (Acts 16:6-10). [LifeWay Adults (2025). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide, Winter 2024-’25]

We do know that there were Jews from the region present at the time of Pentecost after Christ’s crucifixion for they commented about the disciples speaking in their native tongue proclaiming “the mighty works of God.” It may have been some of these that took the good news of the Gospel back with them to these areas.

While we do not know how these believers in Asia Minor came to accept Christ, we do see the results of their decision. They were being discriminated against and mistreated. [These persecutions are the same in other regions with known believers.] Eventually, local attacks were formalized and gained the approval of the Empire at large. Writing from Rome, Peter urged them to avoid faltering in their faith. [ETB:ALG Win’25]

After opening the letter with a standard greeting - who is writing and to whom - the apostle gives a blessing to any reader that invokes all three persons of the Godhead. He then proceeds to encourage those addressed in the tribulations about which he has heard.

Explore the Text

1 Peter 1:3–5 ESV

3 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, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

If you have studied Scripture for any length of time and done word studies, you realize that there are some Greek words that cannot accurately be translated with a single English word. That is why we have different translations even though the writers are using the same source text. Word for word translations like the ESV and CSB try to use this one-to-one ratio but sometimes it does not work as well. “Blessed” in English translations is sometimes closer to the word “happy” like in the Beatitudes, but that does not fit in today’s text.

Opening Up 1 Peter A Song of Praise: Our God (v. 3)

You have probably been to a funeral where somebody gave a ‘eulogy’. That word comes from the Greek one employed by Peter here: eulogetos. It literally means ‘to speak well of’. And, of course, that is what people generally do at funerals. The well-known proverb tells us not to speak ill of the dead; instead, we are supposed to speak well of them. Here, Peter wants God to be spoken well of—by us. It is an invitation to join Peter as he marvels at what God has done for us.

How would you finish this sentence ““Because of God’s great mercy. . . .” ?

Verse 3-5 are all one sentence in the Greek according to my software tools. That lets me know that all of these things listed in the verse are what “He caused us” to experience. First, we are born again (justification) to be able to have an eternal inheritance. Then we are “guarded” or kept secure through faith in Christ for a future salvation (glorification) at the end of time.

The first thing that Peter mentions about God’s great mercy is that He caused us to be born again.

Peter is unique among New Testament authors in using this Greek word (anagennēsas) to describe the regeneration of those who come to faith in Christ. This new birth is something that only God initiates and executes. In the same way that one cannot take credit for being physically born, no believer can take any credit for being born again in Jesus Christ. As Paul stated, it is not a result of works, but a gift of God’s grace (Eph. 2:8-9). [ETB:ALG Win’25]

What kind of hope are we spiritually born into? What is the adjective Peter uses?

The Moody Bible Commentary B. The Living Hope (1:3b)

This hope is living because it is based on a resurrected Savior.

What does that tell us about the hope that those outside of Christ have?

That’s why when I place my hope in things of this world, it does not work. I am not of this world anymore, so my hope should never be placed in it. God is actively working through His people, and I can rest in His work and will being done, but never in anything “of this world.” I think the reverse is also true and that is why those outside of Christ can never have lasting hope, for that have not been “born again” into that living hope.

The English word “hope” is another one of those translations that loses some of its meaning from the Greek, especially within Scripture.

How would you define “biblical hope” or hope in the Bible?

Biblical hope is confidence in God’s work, even when it cannot be discerned (Heb. 11:1). As such, hope is not a passive wish. It is a living and active reality. [ETB:ALG Win’25]

When I read MacArthur’s commentary, he did not try to define it with just a few words but used the 10 different ways it appears in Scripture. Hope:

The MacArthur Bible Commentary 1. Preserved by the Power of God (1:3–5)

(1) comes from God (

This gives us much more than a “confident optimism” or “assurance in things not seen” to dwell upon and lean on in times of distress. We can also trust that this world is not our last place to live.

The title of the lesson is inheritance.

Have any of you received an inheritance? How long did it last?

In the ancient mind “inheritance” was not a thing or an item but a place. It was always associated with the land. Some of the analysis tools I have also classified this word a “place” instead of a “item.”

Instead of a “what” this is a “where” that we receive upon being “born” into a new family.

How does that definition change your view of this verse?

Romans 8:17 “17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

Maybe it is this place of inheritance that Christ has gone to prepare for us.

John 14:2–3 “2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Opening Up 1 Peter A Song of Heaven: Our Hope (v. 4)

When we think about our inheritance, we often think of it as a vague, ethereal, shadowy existence, but Peter tells us that nothing could be further from the truth. This world will be the one that is foggy and unreal by comparison. In The Last Battle C. S. Lewis has Aslan referring to what we call real life as ‘the shadowlands’—a dream compared with the reality of glory.

Let’s look at how Peter describes this place we have inherited but have not seen yet.

How do you describe something that is indescribable, and you cannot really grasp yourself? Peter attempts to describe our heavenly estate by telling us what it is not.

Imperishable. Oxford defines that as “enduring forever.” Our inheritance will never end, and neither will we. Eternally in the presence of God. Just look around your house for a little while and you will quickly see how “perishable” this place is. We all probably have a list of things that “need fix’n” around the house. Won’t it be great to live in a place prepared by our Savior and never have to fix a single thing in a literal million years? That is something I can look forward to with “confident optimism.”

Undefiled. This is the word used to describe an “acceptable sacrifice” like for the Passover. Unblemished. In a spiritual context it would be untainted by sin. Everything in this world has the stench of sin emanating from it. It is defiled. Everything in the presence of God is “undefiled.” After we get there, He will remake everything in an “undefiled” state so that for the rest of eternity there will never be anything to capable of defiling it. It will all be holy as He is holy. And the angels in Revelation tell us that God is not just holy, but “Holy, Holy, Holy.”

Unfading. Oxford defines this as “not losing brightness, vitality, or strength.” I would define it with “without erosion or decay.” When we get to our eternal inheritance, it will be exactly as it is forever. No new paint needed. No floorboards will start squeaking. No leaks forming in the roof. Perfect, pristine, and permanent - just like our Savior.

Knowing we have such a place waiting for us can help us endure the things happening on this earth while we are here. That’s the next part of Peter’s encouraging letter.

1 Peter 1:6–9 ESV

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

In “what” are we to rejoice? - all the truths in the previous verses. His great mercy, our justification, our inheritance, our protection until we get there. The key however is to be able to rejoice about these things when dealing the “stuff” this world presses upon us.

A little while. This is a contrast compared with our inheritance and salvation. Anything and everything in our lives is “a little while” compared to the time in glory. I’m sure there are things now or in the past that you have just “put up with” because you knew it would not last very long. When we dwell on “how long” things are, we tend to get discouraged because it is always longer than we want. We have a church prayer list of people in various “trials”. At the top of the list are “lingering health issues.” These people have dwelt with health issues for an extended time. I know that there is at least one name that was removed because they know their “issue” will not be resolved on this side of glory. But all of these months and years declining health or chronic illnesses are for a “little while” compared to the millions of eons in the imperishable, undefiled, unfading body to come.

These trials and those first readers of Peter’s letter were experiencing are a part of God’s sovereign will and “necessary” to “test” or prove our faith. Peter has told us the Person of our hope, the place of our hope, and now a practical purpose for the hope. We endure because we know how it ends. We honor and give Jesus glory by hoping in His provisions while the ones on this earth are dwindling away or are taken from us.

The text does not imply that suffering should be enjoyed or that we should downplay the evil associated with it. Instead, we should not allow suffering to steal our joy. Indeed, suffering validates our faith. We do ourselves and others a disservice if we suggest that Christianity eliminates suffering. Indeed, we may experience more pain for righteousness, but we can rejoice because we become more like Jesus in the process. [ETB:ALG Win’25]

The faith that is “tested” for genuineness is not passive. Peter uses a metaphor of smelting gold to make it purer. Spurgeon takes another step with this “refined material” saying it is not for show but for work or battle.

The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes Spurgeon on 1 Peter

God never gave us faith to play with. Faith is a sword. But it was not made to exhibit upon a parade ground. It was meant to cut and wound and slay. Whoever has it may expect, between here and heaven, to learn what battle means. God has made nothing in vain; he especially makes nothing in the spiritual kingdom in vain. He made faith with the intent that it should be used to the utmost and exercised to the full.

One way we use that sword is to confront those things in our lives that are not of God or worthy of His name. Whether they are from outside or from our own hearts, this test faith continues to be tested and strengthened. The writer of Hebrews talks about the Word of God being a sword also. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to have the faith to use God’s Word to wage war against all ungodliness.

Courson reminded me of how we must learn God’s word and properly use it to be hopeful in the difficult times.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Chapter 1

When they go through hard times or difficult days, people sometimes say, “I don’t see anything good coming out of this trial.” Does the Bible say, “We see all things work together for good to those who love God”? No. It says, “We know all things work together for good” (see

The next part of Peter’s letter reminds his readers that these things about Christ and our internal hope are not new ideas but now are being fulfilled through them.

1 Peter 1:10–12 ESV

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

The Prophets: Peter referred to the Old Testament prophets and how their view of God related to the person of Jesus. While the prophets certainly were speaking about events in their own time, Peter stated that those prophets were also making messianic predictions about Jesus’s suffering and exaltation.

Under God’s inspiration, these messengers knew “what” even if they didn’t know exactly “when” the Messiah would arrive. They sensed that they would not experience the completion of God’s Word in their lifetimes, but they were willing to invest in the work all the same. [ETB:ALG Win’25]

What struck me about this verse is that even though they “knew” that Jesus was not coming in their lifetimes, they still “searched and inquired carefully.” They still wanted to know everything they could about their coming Messiah. Many suffering similar persecutions that Peter’s readers were, but they still “searched and inquired.” Knowing more about Jesus cannot be done through osmosis, we must “search and inquire.” We must be like the Bereans “examining the Scriptures daily.”

Angels long to look: There were lots of different ideas on what that phrase meant. I think the question in the book on page 17 is probably a good way to think about it.

Ask: How is our knowledge of Jesus different from the prophets and angels? Why is that important to us?

The Old Testament prophets look through their words to a future Messiah. We now look past the Cross to understand their words more fully.

Jesus did not come to die for any angel, that is a privilege they will never be able to have. They can only look at us, marvel and declare: “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty.”

Apply the Text

Pray: God to help us to know how to face and overcome suffering Your way. May we dwell on and praise You more for the new life we have received through Christ. Holy Spirit, help us to remember the inheritance You save for us and saved us for when facing trails, knowing that this will strengthen our faith in the difficult times. Lord, thank You for all the teachings of the prophets that point us to Christ and may their word deepen our personal relationship with Him.