"...to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you"
1 Peter 1:4
Peter here (v. 4) reminds his readers that in the New Covenant, God's rewards are less material, physical, and earthly. There is less emphasis on present material prosperity as a reward, for God has 'chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith' (Jas 2:5, a statement which does not and could not appear in the OT). The enjoyment of physical health is also less prominent, for 'though our outer nature is wasting away our inner nature is being renewed every day' (2 Cor. 4:16). There is less emphasis too on freedom from persecution, for 'if you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you' (1 Pet. 4:14). Having many children is not regarded in the New Testament as a necessary sign of God's favour, for both marriage and celibacy are his gifts (1 Cor. 7:7).
Christians should not be dismayed at this relative lack of present material rewards, however, for faith recognizes the New Covenant reward as something far greater: a present sufficiency for material needs (Phil. 4:19), a present spiritual fellowship with Christ (1 Pet. 1:8), and a future inheritance both material and eternal, which is 'imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you' (1 Pet. 1:4).
Just as God in the Old Covenant encouraged his people to look forward to the future Messiah with faith, so he now encourages us, for whom the Messiah's coming is a fact of history, to look forward to our full heavenly inheritance. Here is great comfort for every New Covenant believer. 'So we do not lose heart … For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, because we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal' (2 Cor. 4:16–18).
Grudem, W. A. (1988). 1 Peter: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 17, pp. 64–65). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
1 Peter 1:4
Peter here (v. 4) reminds his readers that in the New Covenant, God's rewards are less material, physical, and earthly. There is less emphasis on present material prosperity as a reward, for God has 'chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith' (Jas 2:5, a statement which does not and could not appear in the OT). The enjoyment of physical health is also less prominent, for 'though our outer nature is wasting away our inner nature is being renewed every day' (2 Cor. 4:16). There is less emphasis too on freedom from persecution, for 'if you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you' (1 Pet. 4:14). Having many children is not regarded in the New Testament as a necessary sign of God's favour, for both marriage and celibacy are his gifts (1 Cor. 7:7).
Christians should not be dismayed at this relative lack of present material rewards, however, for faith recognizes the New Covenant reward as something far greater: a present sufficiency for material needs (Phil. 4:19), a present spiritual fellowship with Christ (1 Pet. 1:8), and a future inheritance both material and eternal, which is 'imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you' (1 Pet. 1:4).
Just as God in the Old Covenant encouraged his people to look forward to the future Messiah with faith, so he now encourages us, for whom the Messiah's coming is a fact of history, to look forward to our full heavenly inheritance. Here is great comfort for every New Covenant believer. 'So we do not lose heart … For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, because we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal' (2 Cor. 4:16–18).
Grudem, W. A. (1988). 1 Peter: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 17, pp. 64–65). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
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