Our Salvation is Doubly Secure

First Peter 1:3–5 tells us that our salvation is doubly secure. In our previous study (1 Peter 1:1–2), we learned that our salvation is the work of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Father loved us in eternity, chose us, and predestinated us unto the glory of our full salvation, the Son accomplished by his death and resurrection the salvation promised to us, and the Holy Spirit applies this salvation to every elect in time, beginning with the work of regenerating the dead sinner. The proof of our salvation is our immediate, exact, and joyful obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. God gives us abounding grace to live an obedient life.

Let us, then, consider seven points from this passage.

I. The Source of Our Salvation

Peter begins, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!” (v. 1). The source of all spiritual blessings is the blessed God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who became incarnate to reveal the Father. Paul uses the same language in the beginning of his epistle to the Ephesians: “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” (Eph. 1:3).

Jesus cried out from the cross, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” The answer of the Father, according to my understanding, is this: “To save all who are chosen in you.” God the Father is the source of all blessings that flow to us through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Jesus Christ, who lived a perfect life, who died for our sins, who was raised for our justification, and who is reigning with all authority as Lord of all, is both Savior and Judge. He sees everything. He knows every sin we have committed and did not repent of. Before Jesus, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that he alone is Lord, on the last day.

Jesus has made us rich in blessings. Paul writes, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). From an eternal perspective, no matter what our state here is, we are rich, for we possess God.

All these blessings come to us from God the Father. So Peter begins by thanking God our heavenly Father and especially the God and Father of the God/man, Jesus.

II. The Basis of Our Salvation

Then Peter says, “In his great mercy he has given us new birth” (v. 3). The basis of our salvation is not our own merit; it is God’s rich mercy shown to us. God the Father loves his elect sinners in grace in his Son from eternity. Paul also speaks of this, “[God the Father] has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time” (2 Tim. 1:9). That is why we are not anxious about anything. Unlike the love of humans, God loved us, God loves us, and God will love us.

God himself showed us great mercy. Paul also writes, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ” (Eph. 2:4–5). Grace and mercy rules out all human merit. We who were God’s enemies have been shown great mercy. Paul says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). He also says, “But where sin increased, grace increased all the more” (Rom. 5:20). In ourselves, we merited eternal death and hell. But God in his rich mercy have given us eternal life.

III. Regeneration

Peter says God “has given us new birth” (v. 3). God the Father regenerated us by the Holy Spirit. He gives the life of God to elect sinners through the miracle of regeneration in which God alone is active and the sinner is passive. It is like the miracle of raising Lazarus from the tomb. In fact, it is a greater miracle. Paul says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Cor. 5:17). He also writes, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). This describes regeneration. The deaf hear, the dead live, and the blind see. We are given new minds, new wills, and new affections. Now we love God with all our mind, soul, heart, and strength. Additionally, we love God’s people and hate sin.

Without this miracle of regeneration, this receiving of a new heart, no one can repent and believe in Jesus to be saved. Without regeneration, no one will obey God. Regeneration is a decisive, definitive, monergistic, miraculous act of God. Without divine regeneration, sinners remain without hope and without God, under God’s great wrath. Regeneration leads to conversion, justification, and adoption as children of God. And as a result of regeneration, we are heirs of God and entitled to receive an inheritance.

IV. Regenerated unto a “Living Hope”

Peter says God has given us new birth “into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (v. 3). Hope speaks about our future. True believers have a glorious future that lies beyond death. To the disciples, including Peter, hope died when Jesus died. But when Jesus rose from the dead, hope for all his people rose with him.

The believer’s hope is as sure as Christ’s resurrection. Our hope is anchored in the past because Jesus rose in the past. Our hope is anchored in the present because Jesus now lives. Our hope is anchored in the future because Christ is coming again. And our hope should increase as we grow into spiritual adulthood.

Without the historic resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is no regeneration and we have no living hope, but only a dying hope. If Christ did not rise from the dead, we are still in our sins and so without hope. Paul states, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men” (1 Cor. 15:17–19). And if that is the way it is, Paul says later, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” (1 Cor. 15:32).

But the historical reality and apostolic eyewitness reports testify to the fact of Christ’s resurrection (1 Cor. 15:3–8). So Peter was rejoicing in his regeneration and salvation that was based on the reality of Christ’s resurrection. The risen Jesus had appeared to him personally several times. Thus, anyone who rejects the resurrection of Jesus is a hopeless and miserable person. Christ’s resurrection spells hope of eternal salvation for all the elect. Jesus himself said, “Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19). He is coming again to glorify us (see Phil. 3:20–21).

V. Our Inheritance

Peter says that we are regenerated based on Christ’s resurrection unto a living hope to receive an inheritance as God’s children, “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you” (v. 4). The content of our living hope is an inheritance. Paul also speaks about this, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Rom. 8:17). Here we read that our inheritance is glory. In Mark 10:17 we read that our inheritance is eternal life. And in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Paul says that the kingdom of God, the rule of God, is our inheritance.

To be more specific, though, we can say that God himself is our inheritance. In Genesis 15, God appeared to Abraham: “After this the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward’” (Gen. 15:1). God is our inheritance. This is why Jesus said often that we need not to be anxious. When we are anxious, we are not trusting in God who has become our inheritance, now and for eternity.

The psalmist declares, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps. 73:25–26). Is this true of you? I hope we all will make our calling and election sure. I pray that we all will love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We all have to exit this world, and no one can come with us.

The psalmist also says, “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Ps. 16:11). What is waiting for us? Eternal pleasures. This is what unbelievers are losing. Hopeless, miserable wretches—they are cursed people. They are those of whom Paul said, “If anyone does not love the Lord—be cursed [anathema]” (1 Cor. 16:22).

But now we must ask: Who is God’s inheritance? The answer is that God’s inheritance is his covenant people: “For the LORD’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted inheritance” (Deut. 32:9). Paul writes, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints” (Eph. 1:18). We are God’s inheritance. Elsewhere we read, “‘They will be mine,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘in the day when I make up my treasured possession’” (Mal. 3:17). We are God’s jewels, his treasure (Heb., segullah).

Not only will we inherit God but we will also inherit a new heaven and a new earth. John writes, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God’” (Rev. 21:1–3). This is the great fulfillment of the covenant promise, “I am your God, and you are my people.”

Our inheritance is a gift from God; it is not wages for work we have done for God. It is based alone on God’s rich mercy. And this inheritance, Peter says, is indestructible (aphtharton). No moth or rust or thief can destroy or confiscate it. No state can tax it away from us. Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:19–21). This is why the Hebrews writer tells us to fix our eyes, not on money or gold, but on Jesus (Heb. 12:2).

Not only is our inheritance indestructible, but it is also morally pure, not polluted by sin (amianton). Jesus Christ himself is described as pure. The Hebrews writer says, “Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens” (Heb. 7:26). Therefore, there is no sin associated with it.

Peter uses another adjective, unfading (amaranton), meaning, unlike a flower, our inheritance will not fade away. It is not ephemeral but remains eternally bright and fresh. (PGM) It will never get old. There shall be no sin or death in God’s new heaven and new earth where God’s glorified saints will live in eternal joy.

Notice the alliteration Peter uses in the Greek to describe our inheritance: it is aphtharton, amianton, amaranton (incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading).

Our inheritance is being kept in the heavenlies for us. God is keeping it for his covenant holy people who are suffering here on earth. Our names are written on the gift package of this inheritance. Paul writes, “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints—the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven” (Col. 1:3-5a). He also writes, “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8).

Our inheritance is secure. It is guarded and protected by the omnipotence of God himself. That is what we read in verse 4: “kept in the heavenlies for you.” In the Greek, it is a perfect passive participle of têreô (“to keep”). Our inheritance has been kept for us for a long time.

VI. There Is Double Security

Your inheritance, a free gift from God, is kept in the safety deposit in heaven and is guarded by the omnipotence of God. But the same omnipotence guards each recipient, each covenant child, on earth every moment, “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” (v. 5).

Not only is our inheritance kept for us, but we also are kept for it by God’s power. Thus, the inheritance is guarded, and each heir (inheritor) is guarded every moment. That is what the Greek text tells us. So there is double security. Each heir will receive his inheritance; we have a divine guarantee. We need it when we die and we need it when we live. Therefore, we believe in the eternal security of every born-again saint who loves God with an undying love.

We are kept by God’s power and our inheritance is also kept by God’s power. That is why our hope is a living hope. Paul writes that he is “confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6). Jesus himself said, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:28–29). The inheritance is secure, and the inheritors are secure.

Jesus also said, “This is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:39–40).
Paul says, “Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:39). He also says, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely¹ to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (2 Tim. 4:18).

VII. Our Living Hope Is for Our Salvation

We are born of God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain the living hope, which is our inheritance. What is our inheritance? It is our final, full salvation; it is our glorification: “until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time” (v. 5). Our inheritance, our final salvation, is kept by God, and we also are kept by God’s power as well as by our faith in Jesus Christ.

This saving faith we exercise is a gift of God. Paul says, “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him” (Phil. 1:29). He is speaking of two gifts: the gift of being able to believe in Jesus Christ and the gift of being able to suffer for Jesus Christ. Christians are not exempt from suffering.

The faith by which we believe is a gift from God. In Acts 16 we read, “One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message” to repent and believe (Acts 16:4). We cannot repent and believe savingly unless the Lord opens our hearts through regeneration.

Without faith in Jesus Christ, no one can be saved. Faith is committing our whole life to Christ now and forever. He is the Savior. Our faith is not meritorious in itself, but it is trusting in Christ’s merit. Our salvation is based on grace from beginning to end. But without this faith of entrusting ourselves to Christ, no one will be saved. A person can come to church but without this faith, his foot shall slip in due time, and he will walk out on Jesus to live in sin and be cursed.

Through faith in Jesus, we will receive our full salvation, which already exists in heaven in Jesus. We will receive it when Jesus Christ comes again in great glory and power. Salvation has three tenses: we are saved (Titus 3:5); we are being saved (1 Cor. 1:18); and we shall be saved (Rom. 13:11; 2 Tim. 4:18). And the goal of our salvation is to declare God’s glory. Peter writes, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Pet. 2:9).

When Christ comes again, we shall be glorified. Paul says, “Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Phil. 3:20–21).

When he comes again, we will receive the third installment of our salvation—the glorification of our bodies. Paul says we will be changed “in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory’” (1 Cor. 15:52–54). Paul also says, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words” (1 Thess. 4:16–18). The word of the gospel encourages and comforts us.

Jesus is coming soon to meet his bride, his segullah, his inheritance. We shall meet our bridegroom face to face. So John says, “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready” (Rev. 19:7). Elsewhere he writes, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).

We shall see our inheritance. This is our living hope. Paul declares, “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Rom. 5:5). The Holy Spirit guarantees that we will meet our inheritance in our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.

In the meantime, what should we do? We should enjoy our double security. God triune is keeping our inheritance for us, and the same God is keeping us, his covenant people, for our inheritance of eternal salvation. Jesus said, “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day” (John 6:39). Jude says, “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy” (Jude 24). The psalmist says, “The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (Ps. 121:7–8). And in Zechariah 2:5 we read, “‘I myself will be a wall of fire around [the city of God],’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will be its glory within.’” Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst.” God is with us to protect us, keep us, bless us, comfort us, heal us, and save us. May we, therefore, rejoice greatly in this double security of ourselves and our inheritance, with full assurance that our God is watching over both.

¹The verb is “will save me” in the Greek.