1 Peter 1

CHAPTER 1

 

A Living Hope (1:1-12)

1 Peter wrote this letter to God’s elect—that is, to Christians—living in several provinces ofthe ROMAN EMPIRE, located in what is now modern Turkey. Because ofpersecu-tion by the Romans,¹ these Christians had been scattered from their original homes, and had fled to these provinces. Probably they included both Jewish and Gentile believers.

Peter calls himself an APOSTLE. He had been the chief of Jesus’ original twelve disciples. Except for Judas, all of these disciples became known as apostles after Jesus’ death.

2 Peter addresses his readers as those who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God—that is, believers in Christ. All Christians have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God from before the creation of the world (see Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:4-5 and comments). We have been chosen for obedience to Jesus Christ. That is, God has chosen us to be conformed to the likeness of his Son (Romans 8:29), and to be holy and blameless in his sight (Ephe-sians 1:4). To be holy is to obey God; holiness and obedience always go together (see verse 22).

We have been chosen through the sanctifying work of the (Holy) Spirit. God chooses us; His HOLY SPIRIT sanctifies us—that is, makes us holy. Only through the help of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us can we become holy in God’s sight.

To become holy, we first must be cleansed of our sins. And we are cleansed through Jesus’ sacrifice—that is, through His death, through the sprinkling of his blood (see Hebrews 9:13-14). The old covenant that God made with the ancient Jews was confirmed by the sprinkling of blood (Exodus 24:8). In the same way, the new covenant mediated by Jesus Christ was confirmed by the sprinkling of blood, Christ’s blood (Mark 14:24; Hebrews 9:18-22). Through the sprinkling of [Christ’s] blood we are cleansed from our sins, and receive forgiveness not only for past sins but also for new sins committed day by day. The blood of Jesus … purifies us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

Therefore, in this verse, we can see the saving work ofour triune God: God chooses us, Jesus Christ redeems us with His blood, and the Holy Spirit makes us holy.

Here Peter prays for these scattered Christians: GRACE and PEACE be yours in abunda6nce (see Romans 1:7; Ephesians 1:2 and comments). First grace; then peace. Through grace we have peace with God, with each other, and with ourselves.

3-4 In these verses, Peter describes the believer’s SALVATION from beginning to end. Our salvation begins in the great mercy of God. His mercy is so great that He saved even such undeserving sinners as us (Romans 5:8). In His great mercy God also gave us a new birth and a living hope (see John 3:3,5; Romans 8:24; Titus 3:7).

We receive this living hope through the RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ from the dead. Peter himself had seen Jesus die. His own hope had been destroyed. But then he saw Jesus risen from the dead! Peter’s hope was restored to life through the resurrection of Jesus.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, all Christians will also rise from the dead. They will gain victory over death, and they will receive an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—namely, eternal life (verse 4). This inheritance is kept for us in heaven. God gives good gifts to all men, but He gives an inheritance only to His children (Romans 8:16-17; Galatians 4:4-7).

5 From the first day we believe to the day when we receive our full salvation in heaven, we are shielded by God’s power (see 1 Corinthians 1:8; Philippians 1:6 and comments). But to receive salvation, we must also do our part: namely, we must believe. Without FAITH we receive no salvation, no inheritance.

Our salvation will be revealed in the last time—that is, when Christ comes again. At that time He will gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens (Mark 13:27). Our salvation begins on earth now (2 Corinthians 6:2); but only in heaven will it be completed.

6-7 God allows all kinds of trials to come upon us in order to test and strengthen our faith. Just as gold is refined by fire, so our faith is “refined” or purified by trials. By means of trials, God can tell whether our faith is genuine or not. Because of our hope of eternal life, we are able to rejoice in these brief trials. These trials are not for our harm but for our good (see Matthew 5:11-12; Romans 5:34; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 4:12-14 and comments). If, after we have been tested, our faith has proved to be genuine, we will receive praise, glory and honor. We will receive this praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed—that is, when He comes again.

If our faith fails under testing, then everything we do is in vain. Satan especially attacks our faith. Jesus said to Peter: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail” (Luke 22:31-32). If our faith remains firm, we will remain firm.

8-9 Those to whom this letter was sent had never seen Jesus with their eyes. Nevertheless, they had fully believed in Him and placed their confidence in Him, and loved Him (John 20:29). They had also experienced joyful fellowship with Him through the Holy Spirit. True faith always gives rise to love and joy in this way. And each day they were coming nearer to the goal of their faith: namely, the salvation of their souls, or eternal life (verse 9).

10-11 The Old Testament PROPHETS had prophesied that grace—that is, salvation through Christ—would come to all who believe in Him, both Jew and Gentile (see Mark 13:10; Romans 9:25-26; 15:12 and comments). The Spirit of Christ (verse 11)—that is, the Holy Spirit—spoke through these Old Testament prophets (see 2 Peter 1:20-21). The Holy Spirit pointed out through the prophets that Jesus would first have to suffer and then He would be glorified (Isaiah 53:3-7,10-12; Luke 24:25-27,45-47).

12 The things that the Old Testament prophets spoke about Christ were not spoken for their benefit but for our benefit. They longed to find out more about Christ, but they all died before Christ came. The grace and the blessing they pointed to are for us who believe in Christ. The Spirit of Christ who inspired the Old Testament prophets is the same Holy Spirit who inspired Christ’s twelve disciples (John 20:22), after which they became apostles—meaning “inspired or impelled ones.” He is the same Spirit who came upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). That is why Paul says that the church is built on the foundation of the prophets and apostles (Ephesians 2:2022). Through that same Holy Spirit the church has been built. And now through the power of that same Holy Spirit, the GOSPEL of Christ has been preached to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

So wonderful is the Gospel of Christ, and so amazing has been the work of the Holy Spirit, that even ANGELS long to look into these things.

Be Holy (1:13-25)

13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action. In view of the glorious salvation that God has arranged for us (verses 39), we must respond. We must do our part. God has given us grace; therefore, we must prepare [our] minds to serve and obey Him. We must be made new in the attitude of [our] minds (Ephesians 4:23); that is, we must “put on” a new mind (see Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:2224 and comments). Together with that, we must be prepared … for action.² Any man prepared for action must be in complete control of himself; every part of him must be ready to act. Thus he must be self-controlled. Self-control is one the gifts of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:23). Paul in his letters has admonished us many times to be self-controlled (1 Corinthians 9:25; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 2:2,5-6).

Christians must set their hope fully on the grace to be given [them] when Jesus Christ is revealed. This grace has already been brought to us through Jesus Christ when He first came to earth (see Titus 2:11). Furthermore, that grace is now available to us daily through Christ’s Holy Spirit dwelling within us. And finally, when Jesus Christ is revealed at His second coming, we shall receive the full measure of His grace for all eternity. Therefore, let us set our hope fully on this grace.

14 God has given us a great blessing: He has made us His children. But along with this blessing, He has also given us a great responsibility: We must obey Him. Just as a child desires to please his human father, so must we try to please our heavenly Father by being obedient. Therefore, we must no longer conform to the evil desires we had before we became Christians (see Romans 12:2; Ephesians 2:1-3; 4:17-18; Titus 3:3 and comments).

15 Having turned from our old sinful desires, let us be holy. To be holy, two things are necessary: first, we must put offunholi-ness; second, we must put on holiness (see Ephesians 4:22-24; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; Titus 2:11-12 and comments).

16 Be holy, because I am holy. Peter quotes here from Leviticus 11:45; 19:2. We must imitate our heavenly Father (Ephe-sians 5:1). Jesus said: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). We have been called to be God’s children (Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 1:5). Therefore, we must lead lives worthy of that calling (Ephesians 4:1).

Our supreme goal is to be like our Lord Jesus (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18). Our standard is God Himself. All Christian moral teaching in the Bible is based on the character and qualities of God.

17 God is a loving Father. But we must remember that God is also a judge, who judges each man’s work impartially (see Romans 14:12; 1 Corinthians 5:10; Ephe-sians 6:8 and comments). Therefore, let us live our lives in reverent fear (see Matthew 10:28; Acts 10:34-35).

Peter says that we must live our lives here as strangers. Our true home is in heaven. On earth, we are only strangers (John 15:18-19). Therefore, let us not be proud; let us not put our confidence in earthly things. The earth will pass away (1 John 2:17). Rather, let us fear God and obey Him alone.

18-19 We were once prisoners of Satan in this world. But now Christ has redeemed us; that is, He has paid a price to win our freedom from Satan (Mark 10:45). The price He paid was much more valuable than silver or gold; the price was His own precious blood—His life! Christ gave up His own life as a sacrifice for our sins. He was alamb without defect or blemish (Leviticus 22:19-21). John the Baptist called Him the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Jesus Himself was without blemish or defect—that is, He was without sin (Hebrews 4:15; 7:26). Only a sinless person can make ATONEMENT for the sins of others. If Christ had had sins of His own, His death would have atoned only for His own sins, not for the sins of others.

20 Christ was with God before the creation of the world (John 1:1-2). At that time, God made a plan for our salvation (Ephesians 1:4). Now that plan—salvation through Christ—has been revealed in these last times. “These last times” are the period between Christ’s first coming and His second coming (see Hebrews 1:2).

21 God has redeemed us from the punishment of sin by the sacrifice of His Son Jesus; He has raised Jesus from the dead and glorified Him in heaven. Because of this amazing work of God, we can fully place our faith and hope in Him. We have been set free from bondage to sin by Jesus’ death. And because of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, we too will be glorified and receive eternal life with Him in heaven (Romans 6:5,8; 8:23-24).

22-23 Christians are purified by obeying the truth—that is, by obeying Christ’s word (see John 15:3; 17:17). If we do not obey His word, it will not purify us. To obey Christ’s word means to love our brother (John 13:34). We must love our brother with a sincere love … deeply, from the heart. We must love our brother without selfishness. This is how Christ loved us; and so this is how we must love our brother. We believers are all children of our heavenly Father. If we love our natural brothers and sisters, how much more should we love our spiritual brothers and sisters!

Not only have we been purified; we have also been born again. We have been spiritually born again, not by perishable seed (human seed) but by spiritual seed—that is, by the living and enduring word of God (see Luke 8:11; John 3:3; 1 John 3:9).

Here we see that two things are necessary to be a Christian. First, we must be purified (verse 22); that is, our sins must be washed away and forgiven. Our baptism in water signifies that this has taken place. Second, we must be born again (verse 23); that is, we must receive the Holy Spirit, from whom we obtain new spiritual life. Jesus said: “… no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5). In the same way, in his sermon on the day of Pentecost Peter spoke of these same two things—forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. He said: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

24-25 Peter quotes here from Isaiah 40:6-8. …the word of the Lord stands forever (verse 25). Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Mark 13:31). Men are like grass, but Christ’s word (God’s word) is living and enduring (verse 23). This is the word Peter has preached. This is the word that is written fully in our Bible. If anyone is seeking forgiveness, new life, and fellowship with God—that is, if anyone is seeking salvation—the way to find these things is written clearly in God’s word, the Bible.

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