1 Peter 1

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.

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.