to an inheritance which is incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
Truth to Learn
Our inheritance, as born again children of God, is guaranteed for us, and it will never be taken away from us.
Behind the Words
The word translated “inheritance” is klēronomia, which is made up of klēros, referring to “a lot” or “a share” and a form of nemō, meaning “to hold” or “to have in one’s power.” It is a reference to being in possession of a share of someone’s estate (in this case, God’s estate).
“Incorruptible” is from the Greek word aphthartos, which is a compound word of the privative a, meaning “not” and a form of phtheirō, meaning “to corrupt” or “to destroy” or “to cause to waste away.” Hence, aphthartos refers to “something that does not waste away and cannot be destroyed.”
The word translated “undefiled” is amiantos, made up of the privative a, meaning “not” or “without” and a form of miainō, which means “to stain, to pollute, or to defile.” Hence, amiantos refers to “that which is pure, clean, and unpolluted.”
The expression “that does not fade away” is translated from amarantos, which is made up of the privative a, meaning “not” and a form of marainō, meaning “to extinguish, to go out, to dry up, or to fade away.” Hence it refers to “something that is perpetual and does not diminish at all with time.”
Tēreō is the Greek word translated “reserved.” It is the word used of a guard keeping a prisoner in jail or of someone who keeps the commandments of the Law. So we could translate it as “keep.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense indicating past completed action with an ongoing effect, where the emphasis is on the effect. Thus, we use the word “reserved” indicating the current, ongoing effect of being kept securely.
Meaning Explained
According to Ephesians 1:5 our predestination results in our adoption by Jesus Christ himself:
having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
And, in Ephesians 1:11 Paul says that we’ve received an inheritance from that predestination:
In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
Now Peter says that the inheritance which results from our being born again cannot be destroyed, is unpolluted, and does not diminish with time. Like Paul told us in Ephesians 1:14:
who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
We have the Holy Spirit as the guarantee of our inheritance, so Peter now tells us that the inheritance that we already have rights to cannot fade away or diminish. It is being securely guarded and cannot be taken away. If that’s not a description of eternal security, then I don’t know what is.
Application
Here in the first 4 verses of 1 Peter we are instructed that not only were we chosen by God to obtain this salvation, but that it is irrevocable and will never disappear (in other words, we can never lose our salvation!)
No wonder Peter is so full of praise to God. We should be as well!
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved