Reflections on 1 Peter Chapter One
The Apostle Simon Peter wrote this book to encourage believers to persevere through tribulation and suffering, without losing hope or becoming bitter. Within this posting we will examine chapter one.
1Peter 1:1,2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
During this time of persecution against the church of Christ, many Jewish believers fled Judea, and were dispersed throughout the Roman Empire. Peter addresses them as the elect of God, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Sanctification of the Spirit for obedience, is a reference to the purifying power of God’s Spirit to set the believers apart from the sinful world. In order to be sanctified, it requires obedience to God’s Word, and this is only possible through surrendering one’s will to God. Sanctification does not come through faith alone, but requires denying ourselves daily of sin, and taking up our cross and following Christ. The sprinkling of blood is a reference to being marked by God, through his indwelling spirit.
1Peter 1:3-12 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. 10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.
These verses are in reference to our heavenly inheritance, which comes through salvation from our Lord Jesus Christ. In verse 6, Peter tells us to greatly rejoice in our salvation, even though we may be grieved by various trials. He refers to these trials as testing the genuineness of our faith. In the same way that gold is purified in the fire, so our faith is also refined in the fiery trials of this life. The goal of these trials is that our lives may bring praise, honor, and glory to our Lord when he returns. In this life, we all experience suffering in various forms. Sickness, death, unemployment, persecution etc. are examples of trials that may bring about bitterness or backslidings in our lives. We all have the choice to become hard or bitter, or to allow these trials to build character, as well as strengthen our faith. I am well acquainted with suffering, I have experienced the deaths of both of my parents, my brother (my only sibling), my nephew, as well as my wife of fourteen years. I was bitter with God for a period of time, and I had to learn to forgive him. When I forgave God, he granted me visions of the afterlife, as well as explained things to me that brought me great comfort. The Lord has also blessed me with a wonderful new wife that is my perfect match. I have made the choice to reach out to others who are suffering the loss of loved ones, and use my pain to help others get through this dark time. When you help others get through life’s hard times, the Lord will strengthen, as well as bring healing to you.
Verses 10-12 state that the prophets who foretold of this great salvation, have searched carefully into how and when this would take place, and even the angels desire to look into it. There are many messianic prophecies within the Old Testament concerning God’s anointed one who would redeem mankind from the evil one. One of my favorite messianic passages is Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, Unto us a son is given, And the government will be upon His shoulder, And his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. This powerful passage clearly identifies the Messiah as the Mighty God, as well as, the Everlasting Father! The suffering servant as depicted in Isaiah 53, is God Almighty. The mystery of salvation is that God himself would leave his throne in glory and become a man, and humble himself even unto the death upon the cross, to redeem a fallen mankind. Both the old, as well as the new testaments are clear that there is only one God, who is both spirit, as well as omni-present. Since God is not bound to locality, he could exist as the eternal Father in the heavens, and at the same time walk the earth in human form.
Verses 13-21 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Verses 14-16, teach us that as obedient children we are no longer to conform ourselves to the former lusts as we did in ignorance, But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all of your conduct; Because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” Most churches today, teach a distorted form of grace message that gives people a license to sin. This doctrine of demons is producing a great apostasy within the modern church. Church leaders are not teaching their flocks to repent of their sins and to become truly born again, as well as there is no emphasis put on sanctification. Many churches teach that we are all ragamuffins, and that our lifestyle is no different than that of the world, and the only difference is that we are forgiven. God’s Word is clear that without holiness, no man shall see the Father, and any tree that does not produce good fruit, will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 2 Peter 2:19-22 is in reference to teachers who promise liberty to people, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. Peter states that those who have escaped the pollutions of the world to again be entangled in them and overcome, to them their latter end is worse than their beginning, and it would have been better if they had never known the way of righteousness. These false teachers, as well as those who heed to their doctrine, are compared to a dog who returns to his own vomit, or to a sow wallowing in the mire (filth). The same is true today of the many grace for everything teachers, that are helping to shut people out of the kingdom of God.
2 Peter 2:18-22 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”
Verse 17 states that if you call upon the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear. Many churches teach that our salvation is not dependent upon good works, but God’s Word is clear that faith without works is dead (James 2:14-20). At the great white throne judgment, each man will be judged, according to his works, this includes both sinners, as well as saints. Also, the letters addressed to the seven churches in the book of Revelation state, that the Lord both knows their works, as well as judges each one by his works.
Verses 22-25 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24 because All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, 25 But the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.
Verse 22 states, Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart. Our souls are purified, by obeying the truth through God’s Spirit. Christ said that if you love me you will keep my commandments, and his greatest commandment is that we love the Lord our God, with all our heart, mind, body, and soul, as well as love our neighbor as our self. God’s Word states that the law and the prophets are fulfilled, when we have this kind of unconditional love. The hardest thing for most people is to love their enemies, but with God’s indwelling spirit, this is possible. Society tells us to love those who love you, and to hate those who hate you, but God’s Word teaches us to love everyone, as well as to bless those who curse you. As Christians, we are not to render insult for insult, or reviling for reviling, but we are to pursue peace with all men. By displaying the love and peace of Christ, we will hopefully lead people to Christ.
