1 Peter 1

Introduction

In 1 Peter Chapter 1, Peter explains that it was written in the Scripture for them to suffer and even die for being a true believer. During this time, Christians should be the most faithful by trusting the Lord to see them through.

1 Pet 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

The apostle Peter writes to the strangers or sojourners, the scattered Jewish believers who had fled to other lands because of persecution. What is a Jewish believer? The Jews received the law and the prophets. They were chosen as God's special people of promise. Through them would come the Messiah, the savior Jesus to rule as king forever.

Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Jesus came unto his own, the Jewish people, yet was rejected and crucified on a cross, most of the Jews rejected him, a remnant received him.

John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Those who receive Jesus of the Jew and of the non Jew become children of God and their sins are forgiven. They inherit eternal life and the blessed things of God, forever.

Peter writes this epistle to the Jews who believed in Jesus Christ, their Messiah. Because of envy the unbelieving Jews also the Roman government persecuted them, and they fled to other lands. This letter was written to those in "Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia," All these places are in modern day Turkey. 1Peter was written to all the Christians, not just to one church.

1 Pet 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

Who are the elect? Those who God has chosen into eternal life. Whosoever will receive Jesus, are the elect of God. Did God know who would receive him? Yes, God knows all things, but we do not. He has given man a free will to choose, those who choose Jesus, are the elect of God. We obey Jesus, which means we love one another.

Sanctification means a separation unto God for his service. We live for God through his Son Jesus, we are made pure by the blood of Jesus shed for us. Now we must walk in this world as holy children of God. We keep ourselves from sin by the power of God's Holy Spirit.

The sprinkling of the blood of Jesus has removed our sins. The life we live now is by his grace. There is nothing we can do to earn God's favor, Jesus has already done this for us on the cross. We must obey him by receiving Jesus as our Lord and savior.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

His grace brings to us his eternal Holy Spirit and his peace. His Spirit is with us for eternity. We receive his peace.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

No fear in Jesus. We are his forever.

A Lively Hope

1 Pet 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Pet 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

Yes, a lively hope, a hope of eternal life, Jesus has proven that death cannot keep him. Because he is eternal God and king, we who are received by him are also eternal adopted heirs of God.

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

1 Cor 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1 Cor 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1 Cor 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Pet 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

We are kept by God the same way we were forgiven and made children of God; by faith in Jesus. It is his power saving us through faith. How do we increase our faith? By hearing the word of God.

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

If we know God's word then we know his revealed will for us. He keeps his promises and wants us to obey his commands. His commands are: Have faith in Jesus, Love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. In these commands are all the laws fulfilled. God will keep you safe in his hand until we are eternally with Jesus.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
John 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
John 10:30 I and my Father are one.

Heaven is our future home. Where Jesus is, we will be. This is beautiful, rejoice in your hope \o/.

Gold, tried in the fire

1 Pet 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
1 Pet 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

You know what trials and temptations you are facing as a child of God. For each it is different, yet they are shared in common. We are to keep rejoicing, for he will bring us forth as pure gold as we trust in him.

1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Satan will oppose you, as will the world under his control in which you should have no part. We must crucify the flesh daily with it's lusts. The mind is often given thoughts from the devil, lusts, past happenings, accusations, these are to be cast down under the feet of Jesus. Even our afflictions are to be given to his healing care, we are not to hold onto them and claim them as our own.

1 Pet 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

We have not seen the Lord Jesus Christ, but we know he is our eternal Lord and savior and he loves us as we love him. Through faith we believe, knowing that our faith is counted for righteousness. We rejoice in all things for he will never leave us.

Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

1 Pet 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Salvation, I think of as a lost ship at sea with its cargo. A salvaging is to send a diver to rescue the valuables that were thought to have perished. They are risen up from the dark domain to the light. It is this that Jesus has done for us. He has come down from heaven and brought our souls out of satan's dark domain to the light of God's grace and forgiveness. (Phil 2:5-8) He has left our sins and shame behind. Through faith our sins are left behind and the treasure of our soul's are brought to the throne of God to and for his glory.

Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

The Angels Marvel

1 Pet 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

The prophet David

Psa 8:3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
Psa 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Psa 8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Psa 8:6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

The prophet Isaiah, speaking of Jesus

Isa 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

Isa 61:1 The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

1 Pet 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

David prophecies of Jesus on the cross:

Psa 22:17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
Psa 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
Psa 22:19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.

The prophet Isaiah:

Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

1 Pet 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

These prophetic words were given to them by God's Holy Spirit, not for them alone, but for us to know when the fulfillment came in Jesus, that God keeps his word and has provided a savior.

Now the gospel is preached by the Holy Ghost as a reality, these things having taken place as God predicted.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Jesus has come to be the final sacrifice for our sins, he has risen, in him is everlasting life. The angels look at this and marvel.

Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Eph 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Jesus was never an angel as some say. Jesus as Spirit from God took on the nature of a seed of Abraham, fulfilling prophecy. (Gen 3:15)

Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Jesus has forgiven our sins and we are reconciled, restored back to God. The rebelling angels do not receive reconciliation, they are cast into the pit with satan, the high fallen angel. Do not follow an angel into the pit where the fire never stops. Instead, receive salvation from your sins by Jesus who God has sent to redeem you. Oh the blood of Jesus, oh the blood of Jesus, that washed me white as snow. Thank you Jesus!

Be Ye Holy

1 Pet 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

The Roman soldier when needing to run would gather up and tie his skirt so that it would not slow him down. Paul uses this picture in reference to our minds. We need to gather up anything that hinders our way in the Lord. Be sober, let nothing cloud our minds, watch, be calm and collected. Too many are in a dreamlike state of mind.Think on good things, honorable, holy, pure things. Be watchful as to what we choose to see. The battle is in your mind.

Eccl 5:7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

Stay in God's word and hold onto your hope unto the end, when Jesus comes for you.

1 Pet 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

As a child of God we obey our Father, not becoming indulgent in things that do not please him. We are to leave the ways of our former walk in the flesh and in the world. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind in studying God's word and obeying His Spirit.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We have access to God's transforming power as we pray and are together agreeing in one spirit. We give up all that is not of God, being covered with the blood of the Lamb. We are new creations in Christ Jesus.

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Cor 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

1 Pet 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1 Pet 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

God is high and lifted up, he is all good and pure, all wise and knowing, in all places; all things exist from his word. He is separate from the evil of the world. We are to be separated, holy and set aside unto our Lord. Our words shall be words of love, building up others in the things of God. Our life should be a testimony of God's grace. All we do is by his grace in our lives. We love and obey our Father, He receives all of the glory.

By the Blood of Jesus

1 Pet 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

Everyone hears that God is love, to the point that no one fears him. In fact, many accuse him when things go wrong in life. For these people I say, fear God, humble yourself before him seek him through Jesus, with a whole heart. Why should I humble myself before a God who is only love, you may ask? Because God is also righteous, no sin may enter his presence. If you go your own way you will be judged according to your works. No man can enter heaven apart from the forgiveness in Jesus his son. Fear of God

Luke 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

There is a place called hell, a real place made for satan and his fallen angels. This place will hold many who have entered eternity with their sins unforgiven. There is no reason to go there. Come to Jesus, God has provided a sacrifice for your sins and forgiveness.

1 Pet 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1 Pet 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

All the silver and gold on earth will not buy you favor with God, your sins remain. All the good deeds you do, will not earn your forgiveness. There is one way, a great price was paid, the most valuable of God's possession's was given for you. He gave his only son from heaven who came as a human to shed his blood as the price to buy you back from satan and to forgive your sins. He came to save a people unto himself as eternal companions in the love of God. His blood was shed for you and me. He was the perfect and final lamb of God, the Passover lamb slain to save his people. We are to live for him in holiness.

1 Pet 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1 Pet 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Jesus was chosen to redeem his people from the foundation of the earth. He gave his life in obedience to God's plan. It is by him that we believe and come to God.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Through Jesus we know and are known of God our Father. We do not earn salvation by our good living. First we are saved by faith, and then we do the good works that he has for us to do.

Thank you Father for providing the free gift of Jesus to bring us to you, without sin or shame. Your gift to us is your Son. Through him we overcome the evil in this world and are brought into your eternal presence, sealed with the Holy Spirit.

Incorruptible

1 Pet 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

Notice the steps leading to a more perfect love:

1. purified your souls, how?
2. in obeying the truth through the Spirit of Jesus, which results in;
3. not a false sentimental love, but a real love for your brothers and sisters in Christ.
4. love one another with a pure heart, no hidden agenda, fervently (earnestly and intensely.

I have seen this love so holy when two sisters in Christ met again after many months of separation. There were tears of Joy and much hugging and sharing, especially of their love for Jesus. This love made them very close. Forgiveness came and past hurts were healed. We need one another, and in Jesus we are very close. All powers of the enemy must submit to the word of truth and to the spirit of truth, as we abide in love

Rom 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

1 Pet 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

All this truth and love comes from the Father of truth and love, because he has given his Son and his Holy Spirit to those who are received of him. We are bornagain of the spirit of God, not of corruptible seed that will perish, but of incorruptible, by the seed of God's Holy word, which is living and abides forever. These three are forever, God's word, his love and his bornagain children.

1 Pet 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
1 Pet 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Beautifully said. I remember making pictures with my camera of the wildflowers in the grass. The delicate pinks and blues, so wonderfully made, but here today and gone tomorrow. The photograph preserved the memory for many years, but they too will perish. Departed loved ones will remain in our minds memory, but in time the mind forgets and the body withers and is gone. But that which is in Christ Jesus endures forever. The word endures forever and so do those who are made new by the power of God through his living word. Love God, love one another and live a holy life. This do in preperation of our new eternal life with King Jesus.

Gary

1 Peter Chapters

1 Peter 1
1 Peter 2
1 Peter 3
1 Peter 4
1 Peter 5
Eaglewings Bible Commentaries
Eaglewings Testimonies and Inspiriation
Eaglewings Topical Bible Studies