1 Peter 1:3-9 English Standard Version
Born Again to a Living Hope
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. 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.
Living by faith is a daily occurrence for us and such a part of our personal experience with Christ that we might forget just how precious our faith is in this relationship. While reading these passages we might fixate on issues that are important to us as individuals for various reasons. Some need hope and grasp hope as an inner strength that we might not feel we possess. Others latch onto inheritance as a thing to be achieved, worked for, and a motivational tool. Others need to feel the words “being guarded” because they feel they are under attack. We might even warm up to the phrase “kept in heaven” because it indicates it cannot be taken from you.
Faith however is how we obtain the outcome that is promised. How precious is that?