Answer: In His great mercy, God has given us new birth
into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from
the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or
fade, (verses 3 and 4).
MORE INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
"God
has given us new birth...":
John 1:10-13: "He [Jesus] was in
the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did
not recognize Him. He came to that which was His Own, but His
Own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, to
those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become
children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of
human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."
John 3:1-7: "Now there was a man of
the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling
council. He came to Jesus at night and said, 'Rabbi, we
know you are a teacher Who has come from God. For no one could
perform the miraculous signs You are doing if God were not with
him.' In reply Jesus declared, 'I tell you the
Truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born
again.' 'How can a man be born when he is
old?' Nicodemus asked. 'Surely he cannot enter a second
time into his mother's womb to be born!' Jesus
answered, 'I tell you the Truth, no one can enter the kingdom
of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives
birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You
should not be surprised at my saying, "you must be born
again."'"
1 Peter 1:23: "For you have been
born again, not of perishable seed, but if imperishable, through
the living and enduring Word of God."
"into a living hope...":
Romans 5:1-5: "Therefore, since we
have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have gained access by faith
into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope
of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our
sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
perseverance, character; and character, hope. 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."
Romans 8:22-25: "We know that the
whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth
right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves,
who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait
eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our
bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen
is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if
we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it
patiently."
Ephesians 4:4-6: "There is one body
and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you
were called--One Lord, one faith, one baptism; One God and
Father of all, Who is over all and through all and in
all."
1 Thessalonians 5:8: "But since we
belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and
love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a
helmet."
1 Timothy 4:9-10: "This is a
trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we
labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, Who
is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who
believe."
Titus 1:1-2: "Paul, a servant of
God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and
the knowledge of the Truth that leads to godliness--a faith
and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, Who
does not lie, promised before the beginning of
time..."
Titus 2:11-14: "For the grace of
God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches
us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and
to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present
age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious
appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who gave
Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for
Himself a people that are His very Own, eager to do what is
good."
Titus 3:3-7: "At one time we too
were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of
passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated
and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God
our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things
we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the
washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, Whom He poured
out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that,
having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having
the hope of eternal life."
Hebrews 3:6: "But Christ is
faithful as a son over God's house. And we are His house, if we
hold on to our courage and the hope of which we
boast."
Hebrews 6:17-19a: "Because God
wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to
the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath.
God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is
impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the
hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this
hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."
Hebrews 10:23: "Let us hold
unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He Who promised is
faithful."
Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is being
sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not
see."
1 Peter 1:13, 21: "Therefore,
prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope
fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is
revealed...Through Him you believe in God, Who raised Him from
the dead and glorified Him, and so your faith and hope are in
God."
1 Peter 3:15: "But in your hearts
set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to
everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you
have."
"through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
dead...":
1 Corinthians 15:12-22: "But if it
is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some
of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If
there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been
raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is
useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then
found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about
God that He raised Christ from the dead. But He did not raise Him
if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not
raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And 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. But Christ has indeed been
raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen
asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection
of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die,
so in Christ all will be made alive."
1 Peter 3:21: "and this water
[eight people in the ark were saved through water] symbolizes
baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from
the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves
you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ..."
"and
into an inheritance...":
Acts 20:32: "Now I commit you to
God and to the Word of His grace, which can build you up and give
you an inheritance among all those who are
sanctified."
Romans 8:12-17: "Therefore,
brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful
nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to
the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to
death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who
are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not
receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you
received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, 'Abba,
Father.' The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit
that we are God's children. 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."
Colossians 1:9-14: "For this
reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped
praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of
His Will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And
we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord
and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work,
growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power
according to His glorious might so that you may have great
endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father,
Who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in
the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from the dominion
of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in
Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
Colossians 3:23-24: "Whatever you
do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not
for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from
the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are
serving."
Hebrews 9:15: "For this reason
Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called
may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that He has
died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the
first covenant."
"that can never perish, spoil or
fade...":
Ephesians 1:13-14: "And you also
were included in Christ when you heard the Word of Truth, the
Gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him
with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, Who is a deposit
guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are
God's possession--to the praise of His glory."
1 Peter 5:4: [Paul is speaking to the
elders of the church at Ephesus] "And when the Chief Shepherd
appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade
away."
