1 Peter - Chapter 1
THE WRITER:
Peter, the apostle of the Lord, Jesus Christ, with the help of Silas (Silvanus) as noted in 5:12.
THE PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED THE LETTER:
In verse one Peter mentions the five areas to whom he is addressing his letter. Most of these areas were located in the nation now known as Turkey. Normally the letter would be hand delivered by messenger and would be read aloud in all the churches addressed.
Do we recall the names of the couple who we have met before in scripture who lived in Pontus?
WHY DID HE WRITE THE LETTER:
Peter is giving encouragement to Christians who are suffering for Christ. He seeks to remind them that they will not suffer forever and that their real home is not here but awaits them in heaven. As he reminds them of the blessings of faith, he also wants to make sure that having received salvation, they now live as lights for Christ in a dark and sinful world.
1-2:
Peter announces who he is and to whom his letter is addressed. He reminds the Christians that they are strangers in this world, pilgrims or sojourners, who have a true home above (Phil 3:20).
He quickly jumps into the serious meat of the letter in verse 2 by reminding them they are the elect, chosen by the Father, sanctified by the Spirit and the obedience of the Son through His blood shed for them.
3:
Peter praises God and reminds the believers of the great mercy they have found as they have been begotten (born again) into not just hope but into a LIVELY hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let’s recall the words of Jesus to Nicodemus in John 3. To have lively hope is to trust in the promises of the Lord with the evidence already given as He raised Christ and will keep his promise to believers of eternal life.
4:
The promise of God is more than just words. It is an inheritance just as the promised land was an inheritance toward the chosen people. This inheritance includes eternal life given at the moment of conversion (John 5:24) and a new & glorified body when Jesus returns (1 Cor 15:25) and rewards in the next life (Matt 5:12) (Rev 22:12). We are not given the details of these rewards to come but we believe they are real because God always keeps His promises.
This inheritance is not like anything in this world. Peter describes it in three ways:
It will never wear out or get old. Nothing can destroy it.
It will not spoil or go bad. Sin cannot affect it.
It will not lose its beauty. It is not corruptible like gold.
5:
As believers trust in God, His power brings them strength. Their faith in the promise will bring all things revealed to them in the last time. All who believe must remain steadfast as we await His coming. We cannot be slack in our hope nor can we display lack of patience for we all know the promise is true and will be filled in the Lord’s time, not ours.
6:
Christians rejoice in the promise but still live in this dark world where temptations abound and are many. Suffering may occur, but if and when it does, it will not be forever. Our eyes must be always looking forward to that great day when all tears are wiped away.
7:
Christians will always have troubles. Our faith will always be tried. Our faith is much more valuable than gold and we should remain faithful so that our faith will be considered as praise, honor & glory when the Lord returns. We are NOT promised paradise on earth. That promise awaits us in the life eternal.
8:
Those to whom Peter is writing have not seen Jesus. Having not seen, they believe (just as we do). This belief is manifested in them (and us) as they trust and obey Him. This life of trust and obedience brings joy in their spirits as the Holy Spirit indwells them until mortal death or rapture.
9:
We understand salvation in three ways:
In the past, when we became Christians.
In the present, when we learn to trust God each day and receive His help in our daily walk.
In the future, when His promises become reality in the next life.
10 – 12:
Prophets of old brought the message of the Savior to come. Isaiah 53 is an example of prophecy and His suffering. Because these prophets were all proved true, we should take heart and be strong as suffering may occur now in our lives, as surely we know that glory follows suffering by the evidence of scripture.
Even angels desire to know more about this mystery of faith and salvation.
13:
Peter wants to be sure that Christians understand that simply knowing the facts of salvation in their minds is not enough. What people believe will affect how they live. How they live their lives must reflect properly on the grace given and the promise to come. Gird up the loins of the mind means go to work and be prepared for diligent labor in the life they lead.
14 – 16:
Children often look to their parents as to how they behave. Believers are now children of God, who is holy. Being holy means to be set apart from the sin and evil of this world. It also means to belong ONLY to God. This is the command of God, that we should live holy. Even in the OT law, God reminds all who are His of this command five times in Leviticus. (11:44 & 11:45 & 19:2 & 20:7 & 20:26)
17:
God’s judgment of our lives is based upon how we live for Him. Peter reminds that Christians must respect (fear) God and obey Him. As strangers here, we will one day be at home with Him there.
18 – 19:
Peter compares the redemption of all Christians to those things those of this world hold dear, silver & gold, and teaches that our redemption is not of corruptible things such as those precious metals but rather springs from the precious blood of Christ who was perfect and without blemish or spot.
Jesus took the place of the actual spotless animal lamb which had been the sacrifice under the law, and His sacrifice was sufficient for all sin for all time.
20:
God made the choice at the foundation of the world of Jesus Christ to be our redeemer but He was withheld until these last times. We live in the last times which will end with His return.
21:
Our sure hope is found in Christ and the evidence was the life, sacrifice, death, and resurrection of our Lord. Let’s be sure to recall that no man comes to the Father except by the Son. There exists no other path to life eternal.
22:
Every day Christians must obey the truth of the Gospel. The evidence of this obedience is our love of the brethren whom we must love with a pure heart fervently.
23 – 25:
Flesh of this world will pass away, like grass, but His Word will endure forever. These last two verses come from Isaiah 40:6-8. We must understand that it is the spirit that lives forever through our faith in the Gospel preached to us in which we abide.