3. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4. and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-- kept in heaven for you, 5. who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (NIV) 

We have a wonderful God. Centering our attention on the problems of this life, on other people, of what we can do and what we can’t we do will bring us down. Peter's principle is to be filled with the wonder of God, by recognizing His work for our salvation, how He carried out His plan by the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ. Then think of the wonder of the benefits we have received.

Part of Peter’s greeting addressed his readers with both Greek and Hebrew salutations. The Greek word is “charis” or grace. The word Shalom is Hebrew word for peace.  Grace is getting what we do not deserve. Peace is obtaining God's gift and having things right with our creator.

Mercy is demonstrated by not getting punished, but instead being given the gift of hope because Jesus not only died on the cross, He got up again. Peter was doing more than that. It wasn't only that Jesus arose and the good guys win, but that they receive an inheritance. How was it described ? Peter told them what it wasn't. It wasn't going to decay and pass away. All around them the Christians lost homes, money and property. They were living in a very changing world, but that's not going to be the way it is with God. His inheritance will never perish.

Also your inheritance will never be impure. So much of what we get has something wrong with it. It breaks, doesn't work, and is quickly gone. It is obsolete. The inheritance God has for you will never fade away. In fact, it is reserved in heaven for you, protected by the power of God through faith ready to be revealed when Jesus Christ comes again.

The inheritance of the New Testament Christian was infinitely more than Mid-eastern real estate.  It was full and final deliverance from the curse of sin and all its debilitating effect. It was the state of perfect holiness which follows the final removal of sin and Satan.  It was the perfect inheritance beyond the reach of change and decay. It was not only kept in heaven but for faithful believers who were living out their lives here on earth, shielded by God's power.

God had not nor has not left the church without protection amid the hostile world. He continuously guards His own. We can be absolutely confident that God will see us through until the day we receive our inheritance. It is through faith that we are kept.  When Jesus returns the church will experience the great deliverance.

The greatest part of the inheritance is God Himself - not the golden harps, not the sea of glass mingled with light, not rest from pain and immunity from sorrow, but far greater than all these is God himself and these other things will be added as well.  Which would you rather have you Father or the things that your Father gives you?

How do you know you are saved? Do you have to just hope that someday you've done more good than bad? Do you have any confidence that that might be? Suppose we don't make it?

Peter reminded them - all believers were being kept by the power of God. They were being guarded and shielded. They were constantly being guarded by God assured that they would safely arrive in heaven. They were not kept by their strength but by His faithfulness and He will do that until Jesus returns. These same truths apply to us today.

One of the ways to inspire us is to personalize the pronouns to recognize the great work of God. Try reading it with your name in it.

“To Dale, stranger in the world. You have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God for obedience to Jesus.  In His great mercy, God has given to Dale Cope new birth and an inheritance than can never perish kept in heaven for me. Through faith I am shielded by God's power until Jesus comes.”

That’s good news!

Prayer:  ….and so I pray.  Thank you, Jesus.