1 PETER

 

1 PETER 1 OPENS WITH…LIVING LIKE YOU ARE BORN AGAIN

 

WHO WAS PETER?

 

Peter was originally known as Simon or Simeon, told to us in Mark 1:16; John 1:40,41.

 

Peter was the son of Jonas (Matthew. 16:17) who was also known as John (John 1:42), and a member of a family of fishermen who lived in Bethsaida and later in Capernaum.

 

Andrew, Peter’s brother, brought him to Christ (John 1:40–42).

 

Peter was married, and his wife apparently accompanied him in his ministry (Mark 1:29–31; 1 Corinthians. 9:5).

 

Peter was called to follow Christ in His early ministry (Mark 1:16,17).

 

Peter was later appointed to apostleship (Matthew 10:2; Mark 3:14–16).

 

Christ renamed him Peter, or Cephas, both words meaning “stone” or “rock” (John 1:42).

 

The Lord clearly singled out Peter for special lessons throughout the gospels (Matthew. 10; 16:13–21; 17:1–9; 24:1–7; 26:31–33; John 6:6; 21:3–7,15–17).

 

Peter was the spokesman for the 12, articulating their thoughts and questions as well as his own. His triumphs and weaknesses are chronicled in the gospels and Acts 1–12.

 

After the resurrection and ascension, Peter initiated the plan for choosing a replacement for Judas (Acts 1:15).

 

After the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1–4), Peter was empowered to become the leading gospel preacher from the Day of Pentecost on (Acts 2:12).

 

Peter also performed notable miracles in the early days of the church (Acts 3–9), and opened the door of the gospel to the Samaritans (Acts 8) and to the Gentiles (Acts 10).

 

According to tradition, Peter had to watch as his wife was crucified, but encouraged her with the words, “Remember the Lord.” When it came time for him to be crucified, he reportedly pled that he was not worthy to be crucified like his Lord, but rather should be crucified upside down (ca. A.D. 67–68), which tradition says he was.

 

Because of his unique prominence, there was NO shortage in the early church of documents FALSELY claiming to be written by Peter.

 

That the Apostle Peter is the author of 1 Peter, however, is certain. The material in this letter bears definite resemblance to his messages in the book of Acts. The letter teaches, for example, that Christ is the Stone rejected by the builder (2:7,8; Acts 4:10,11), and that Christ is no respecter of persons (1:17; Acts 10:34).

 

Peter teaches his readers to “gird yourself with humility” (5:5), an echo of the Lord’s girding Himself with a towel and washing the disciples’ feet (John 13:3–5).

 

There are other statements in the letter similar to Christ’s sayings (4:14; 5:7,8). Moreover, the author claims to have been a witness of the sufferings of Christ (5:1; 3:18; 4:1).

 

In addition to these internal evidences, it is noteworthy that the early Christians universally recognized this letter as the work of Peter.

 

The only significant doubt to be raised about Peter’s authorship arises from the rather classical style of Greek employed in the letter. Some have argued that Peter, being an “unlearned” fisherman (Acts 4:13), could not have written in sophisticated Greek, especially in light of the less classical style of Greek employed in the writing of 2 Peter.

 

However, this argument is not without a good answer.

 

In the first place, that Peter was “unlearned” does not mean that he was illiterate, but only that he was without FORMAL, RABBINICAL training in the Scriptures.

 

Moreover, though Aramaic may have been Peter’s primary language, Greek would have been a widely spoken second language.

 

It is also apparent that at least some of the authors of the NT, though not highly educated, could read the Greek of the OT Septuagint (see James’ use of the LXX in Acts 15:14–18).

 

Beyond these evidences of Peter’s ability in Greek, Peter also explained (5:12) that he wrote this letter “by Silvanus,” also known as Silas. Silvanus was likely the messenger designated to take this letter to its intended readers. But more is implied by this statement in that Peter is acknowledging that Silvanus served as his secretary, or “amanuensis”.

 

AND WE KNOW…Dictation was common in the ancient Roman world (cf. Paul and Tertius; Rom. 16:22), and secretaries often could aid with syntax and grammar. So, Peter, under the superintendence of the Spirit of God, dictated the letter to Silvanus, while Silvanus, who also was a prophet (Acts 15:32), may have aided in some of the composition of the more classical Greek.

 

First Peter was most likely written just before or shortly after July, A.D. 64 when the city of Rome burned, thus a writing date of ca. A.D. 64–65.

 

 

HERE IS WHAT WAS GOING ON AT THE TIME OF 1 PETER.

 

When the city of Rome burned, the Romans believed that their emperor, Nero, had set the city on fire, probably because of his incredible lust to build. In order to build more, he had to destroy what already existed.

 

The Romans were totally devastated. Their culture, in a sense, went down with the city. All the religious elements of their life were destroyed—their great temples, shrines, and even their household idols were burned up.

 

This had great religious implications because it made them believe that their deities had been unable to deal with this conflagration and were also victims of it.

 

The people were homeless and hopeless. Many had been killed. Their bitter resentment was severe, so Nero realized that he had to redirect the hostility.

 

The emperor’s chosen scapegoat was the CHRISTIANS, who were already HATED because they were associated with Jews, and because they were seen as being hostile to the Roman culture.

 

Nero spread the word quickly that the Christians had set the fires. As a result, a vicious persecution against Christians began, and soon spread throughout the Roman Empire, touching places North of the Taurus mountains, like Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (1:1), and impacting the Christians, whom Peter calls “pilgrims.”

 

These “pilgrims,” who were probably Gentiles, for the most part (1:14,18; 2:9,10; 4:3), possibly led to Christ by Paul and his associates, and established on Paul’s teachings.

 

But they needed spiritual strengthening because of their sufferings. Thus the Apostle Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote this epistle to strengthen them.

 

Peter wrote that he was in “Babylon” when he penned the letter (5:13). Three locations have been suggested for this “Babylon.”

FIRST, a Roman outpost in northern Egypt was named Babylon; but that place was too obscure, and there are no reasons to think that Peter was ever there.

 

SECOND, ancient Bab-ylon in Mesopotamia is a possibility; but it would be quite unlikely that Peter, Mark, and Silvanus were all at this rather small, distant place at the same time.

 

THIRD, “Babylon” is an alias for Rome; perhaps even a code word for Rome. In times of persecution, writers exercised unusual care NOT to endanger Christians by identifying them.

 

Peter, according to some traditions, followed James and Paul and died as a martyr BY Rome about two years after he wrote this letter, thus he had written this epistle near the end of his life, probably while staying in the imperial city. He did not want the letter to be found and the church to be persecuted, so he may have hidden its location under the code word, “Babylon,” which aptly fit because of the city’s idolatry (Rev. 17,18).

 

 

Since the believers addressed were suffering escalating persecution (1:6; 2:12,19–21; 3:9,13–18; 4:1,12–16,19), the purpose of this letter was to teach them how to live victoriously in the midst of that hostility:

 

1) without losing hope.

2) without becoming bitter.

3) while trusting in their Lord.

4) while looking for His second coming.

 

Peter wished to impress on his readers that by living an obedient, victorious life under duress, a Christian can actually evangelize his hostile world (Peter 1:14; 2:1,12,15; 3:1–6,13–17; 4:2; 5:8,9).

 

Believers WERE AND ARE constantly exposed to a world system energized by Satan and his demons. Their effort is to discredit the church and to destroy its credulity and integrity. One way these spirits work is by finding Christians whose lives are NOT consistent with the Word of God, and then parading them before the unbelievers to show what a SHAM the church is.

 

Christians, however, must STAND against the enemy and silence the critics by the power of holy lives.

 

In this epistle, Peter is rather effusive in reciting TWO categories of truth.

 

The FIRST category is positive and includes a long list of blessings bestowed on Christians. As he speaks about the identity of Christians and what it means to know Christ, Peter mentions one privilege and blessing after another. Interwoven into this list of privileges is the catalog of suffering. Christians, though most greatly privileged, should also know that the world will treat them unjustly. Their citizenship is in heaven and they are strangers in a hostile, Satan-energized world. Thus the Christian life can be summed up as a call to victory and glory through the path of suffering.

 

So, the basic question that Peter answers in this epistle is:

 

How are Christians to deal with animosity? The answer features practical truths and focuses on Jesus Christ as the model of one who maintained a triumphant attitude in the midst of hostility.

 

First Peter also answers other important practical questions about Christian living such as:

 

1. Do Christians need a priesthood to intercede with God for them (2:5–9)?

 

2. What should be the Christian’s attitude to secular government and civil disobedience (2:13–17)?

 

3. What should a Christian employee’s attitude be toward a hostile employer (2:18)?

 

4. How should a Christian lady conduct herself (3:3,4)?

 

5. How can a believing wife win her unsaved husband to Christ (3:1,2)?

 

 

Verse 1 tells us The writer and the intended readers of this letter.

 

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,”

 

 

Peter…

 

He was not merely an apostle, but there is a sense in which he was the leader of the apostolic group. Peter was an important and an influential man in the early church. This letter would have been received with a sense of importance.

 

 

Peter's name is mentioned in the gospels more than anyone else's except the name of Jesus. No one speaks as often as Peter, and Jesus speaks more to Peter than to any other individual.

 

- Jesus rebuked Peter more than any other disciple.

- Peter was the only disciple who dared to rebuke Jesus.

- Peter confessed Jesus more boldly and accurately than any other disciple.

- Peter denied Jesus more forcefully and publicly than any other disciple.

- Jesus praised Peter more than any other disciple.

- Peter alone among the disciples was addressed by Jesus as Satan.

 

Since Peter is so prominent in the gospel records, it is worthwhile to remind ourselves of some of the important mentions of Peter in the four gospels.

 

MARK 1:35-39, When Jesus woke up early in the morning, to pray before the sun came up, Simon Peter led the other disciples on a hunt to find Jesus to tell Him what He should do.

 

LUKE 5:1-11, He (PETER) put his nets out at the direction of Jesus to bring in a massive catch of fish.

 

 

MATTHEW 10:1-42, He (PETER) went on a unique outreach trip with the other disciples.

 

 

MATTHEW 14:24-33, He (PETER) stepped out of the boat during a raging storm and walked on the water with Jesus.

 

 

JOHN 6:68-69, He (PETER) was the one who said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also, we have come to believe and to know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

 

 

MATTHEW 17:1-9, He (PETER) saw Jesus transfigured in glory, together with Moses and Elijah.

 

 

MATTHEW 18:21-35, He (PETER) was the one who asked Jesus how many times should we forgive a brother that sins against us, quoting the high number of "seven times".

 

 

MATTHEW 19:27-30, He (PETER) was the one who asked Jesus, after the encounter with the rich young ruler, what the disciples would receive for giving everything up to follow Jesus.

 

JOHN 13:6-10, He (PETER) was the one who insisted that Jesus would not wash his feet; then commanded Jesus to wash his whole body!

 

 

MATTHEW 26:30-35, He (PETER) heard Jesus predict that he would deny Him three times.

JOHN 18:1-11, He (PETER) was the one who cut off the right ear of Malchus, the servant of the high priest, when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus.

 

 

MATTHEW 26:69-75, He (PETER) denied Jesus three times, cursing and swearing that he did not even know "the Man," refusing to even name the name of Jesus.

 

 

JOHN 20:1-10, He (PETER) was the one who ran with John the disciple to the tomb on the morning of the resurrection, after hearing the report of the women that the body of Jesus was not in its tomb.

 

 

LUKE 24:34, He (PETER) was the one who received a personal visit from the resurrected Jesus on the day of the resurrection.

 

 

JOHN 21, He (PETER) received a public restoration of Jesus in front of the other disciples, after the resurrection of Jesus.

 

 

GRUDEM reminds us, “Significantly, Peter introduced himself as an apostle. "The supreme importance of the apostles is suggested by the fact that the phrase of Jesus Christ is attached to no other New Testament office: we do not read of teachers of Jesus Christ or prophets of Jesus Christ or evangelists of Jesus Christ, only of apostles of Jesus Christ."

 

HIEBERT reminds us, “Peter did nothing to explain or justify his apostleship, and did not add a phrase like "by the will of God" as Paul did on some occasions (1 Corinthians 1:1, 2 Corinthians 1:1, Galatians 1:1, Ephesians 1:1, and so on). "Unlike Paul, Peter's apostolic status was never questioned. This brief phrase indicates Peter's authority."

 

 

To the pilgrims…

 

The idea behind the word pilgrims is of someone who lives as a temporary resident in a foreign land. Pilgrims are sojourners and travelers, and pilgrims live in constant awareness of their true home.

 

 

BARCLAY defines pilgrims for us, “The early Christian writing The Epistle to Diognetus gives the idea of what pilgrims are. "They inhabit the lands of their birth, but as temporary residents of it; they take their share of all responsibilities as citizens, and endure all disabilities as aliens. Every foreign land is their native land, and every native land a foreign land … they pass their days upon earth, but their citizenship is in heaven."

 

 

To the pilgrims of the Dispersion…

 

Peter is clearly writing to Gentiles (see 1 Peter 1:18, 2:10, and 4:3). Yet he calls them pilgrims of the Dispersion, a name that HAD IN THE PAST, ALWAYS was applied to the Jews. He calls them this because he sees the Christians of his day as being "sprinkled" throughout the world as the Jewish people were in the Dispersion after the fall of Judah and Jerusalem when it was conquered by the Babylonians.

 

 

Pontus , Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia…

 

These specific areas were places Christianity had extended to in the first several decades after the beginning of the church. It was probably the route that the original courier of Peter's letter would follow in distributing the letter. This was not written to any one congregation, but intentionally written to ALL Christians.

 

 

Verse 2 tells us Peter's DESCRIPTION of his readers and all Christians.

 

“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.”

 

 

ELECT according to the foreknowledge…

 

Peter first describes his intended readers as elect. This means simply that they are chosen, chosen by God in a particular and unique sense.

 

 

HIEBERT adds, "The opening characterization of the readers as elect was meant to strengthen and encourage them in their affliction. The doctrine of election is a 'family truth' intended to foster the welfare of believers."

 

 

According to the foreknowledge of God…

 

This describes the NATURE of their election. God's choosing is NOT random or uninformed, but according to His foreknowledge, which is an aspect of His omniscience. This foreknowledge includes prior knowledge of our response to the gospel, but is NOT solely dependent on it.

 

 

Though God's election is according to … foreknowledge, there is more to His foreknowledge than His prior knowledge of my response to Jesus. Election is NOT election at all if it is ONLY a cause-and-effect arrangement between my choosing and God's.

 

In sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience…

 

An essential result of election is sanctification and obedience. While some would like to think that election has only to do with going to heaven or hell, Peter reminds us that it touches earth also. A claim to be elect is doubtful if there is NO evidence of sanctification and obedience.

 

And sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ…

 

However, since all the elect FALL SHORT of perfect sanctification and obedience, there is cleansing from sin provided for them through the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.

 

 

DID YOU KNOW…

 

There were THREE circumstances in the Old Testament where blood was sprinkled on people.

 

1. At the establishment of Sinai or Old Covenant (Exodus 24:5-8).

2. At the ordination of Aaron and his sons (Exodus 29:21).

3. At the purification ceremony for a cleansed leper (Leviticus 14:6-7).

 

The sprinkling of the blood of Jesus on us accomplishes the SAME things.

 

HOW?

 

FIRST, a covenant is formed.

 

SECOND, then we are ordained as priests to Him.

 

THIRD, we are cleansed from our corruption and sin.

 

Each one of these things is ours through the work of Jesus on the cross.

 

God the Father … the Spirit … Jesus Christ…

 

Peter's effortless way of combining the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in our salvation displays the New Testament approach to the Trinity. It is not detailed as a specific doctrine, but woven into the fabric of the New Testament.

 

 

Jesus has a Father, but not in the sense of being higher than He who gave Him existence. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit have existed TOGETHER throughout eternity, and each is equally God. Father and Son are terms used to describe the relationship between these first two members of the Trinity.

 

 

Grace to you and peace be multiplied…

 

Peter brings a greeting that had become common among the Christians, combining elements from Greek culture (Grace) and Jewish culture (peace).

 

NOW PETER TELLS US WHAT IT MEANS TO BE SAVED AND TO LIVE SAVED.

 

 

Verses 3-5 tells us Thanks to the Father for His work of salvation.

 

“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, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

 

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…

 

When Peter considered the salvation of God, all he could do is praise Him. This is especially because the motive for God's work is found in Him, not in us (according to His abundant mercy).

 

 

SPURGEON says it well, “All His goodness to us begins with mercy. No other attribute could have helped us had mercy refused. As we are by nature, justice condemns us, holiness frowns upon us, power crushes us, truth confirms the threatening of the law, and wrath fulfills it. It is from the mercy of our God that all our hopes begin."

 

 

Has begotten us again…

 

The wording of begotten us again is different from born again (John 3:3), but the meaning is the same. Peter's idea is that when a person is saved, they are made a new creation (as in 2 Corinthians 5:17).

 

 

To a living hope…

 

We are born again to a living hope, because we have eternal life in a Savior who has conquered death Himself. The hope lives because it is set on an inheritance incorruptible, which can never fade away because it is reserved in heaven. This is a significant contrast to any inheritance on this earth.

 

 

SPURGEON adds, "It is also called a 'living hope,' because it is imperishable. Other hopes fade like withering flowers. The hopes of the rich, the boasts of the proud, all these will die out as a candle when it flickers in the socket. The hope of the greatest monarch has been crushed before our eyes; he set up the standard of victory too soon, and has seen it trailed in the mire. There is no unwaning hope beneath the changeful moon: the only imperishable hope is that which climbs above the stars, and fixes itself upon the throne of God and the person of Jesus Christ."

 

Incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away…

 

Peter does NOT really describe our inheritance. All he can tell us is what it is NOT. What our inheritance actually is is something too great for him to describe. Yet we can know that our inheritance can NOT perish, it can NOT spoil, and it can NOT fade away.

 

 

Our inheritance is like the inheritance of Aaron (Numbers 18:20) and the inheritance of the David (Psalm 16:5-6), which is the gift of God Himself. Since God GIVES Himself to us now, our inheritance begins here and now.

 

We can NOT experience this inheritance unless we ARE born again. It would be like rewarding a blind man by showing him the most beautiful sunset or taking him to an art museum. Unregenerate man does NOT have the capacity to ENJOY this inheritance.

 

 

In speaking with those who do NOT know Jesus, we should NOT just tell them of the agonies of hell they will experience, but also of the glories of heaven they will miss.

 

 

Who are kept by the power of God through faith…

 

The promise of our inheritance is certain, because we are kept by the power of God, ensuring that we will endure through faith until the coming of Jesus.

 

 

We ARE kept by the power of God, but it is THROUGH faith, meaning our faith. The person who is kept is a person abiding in a continuing relationship of faith with God. We could say that faith activates the preserving power of God in the life of the Christian.

 

 

MEYER says it well, "To have been told, as in the preceding verse, that our inheritance was reserved in heaven could have yielded us little comfort, unless that assurance had been followed and capped by this, that the heirs also are being kept for its full enjoyment."

 

 

Verses 6-9 tells us The PURPOSE OF TRIALS for those who are saved.

 

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 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, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith; the salvation of your souls.”

 

 

In this you greatly rejoice…

 

We especially rejoice in God's keeping power when we are grieved by various trials, knowing that He will keep us as our faith is tested by fire.

 

 

If need be, you have been grieved…

 

Sometimes Christians imagine that trials and temptations are our present lot, and there is nothing we can do about them; yet, the true strong Christian will NEVER be grieved in a trial. They think that a Christian should be like Superman, and though bullets may be shot at Superman, they will all bounce off of his chest. Yet Peter here tells us that there is a "need be" not only for the various trials, but more especially that there is a "need be" for being grieved itself. God HAS a purpose not only for the trial, but for the heavy grief we feel in the trial.

 

 

Faith … tested by fire…

 

Our faith is NOT tested because God does NOT know how much or what kind of faith we have. It is tested because we often are ignorant of how much or what kind of faith we have. God's purpose in testing is to display the ENDURING quality of our faith.

 

Much more precious than gold that perishes…

 

If gold is fit to be tested and purified by fire, how much more our faith, which is far more precious than gold? God has a great and important purpose in testing our faith.

 

 

WHY IS OUR FAITH IN JESUS TESTED?

 

1. Faith is tested to show that it is SINCERE faith or TRUE faith.

 

2. Faith is tested to show the STRENGTH of faith.

 

3. Faith is tested to PURIFY it, to burn away the dross from the gold.

 

 

Gold is one of the most durable of all materials. Yet it too will one day perish, but our faith will not.

 

 

Receiving the end of your faith…

 

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

 

The end of your faith is the return of Jesus and the ultimate salvation of your souls. Testing and trials are inevitable as long as we are on this side of the end of your faith. As long as we do not see the God we serve, we must endure through trials, and face them with faith and joy.

 

Whom having not seen you love…

 

Peter knew that though he HAD seen Jesus, both before and after the resurrection, most every Christian in the early church had NOT seen Jesus. Yet they loved Him. Jesus was no less real simply because they had not seen Him.

 

The word translated "joy inexpressible" "occurs ONLY here in the New Testament, and describes a joy so profound as to be beyond the power of words to express.

 

Their joy was no ordinary, earth-born joy."

 

 

Verses 10-12 tells us The PRIOR revelation of the salvation experienced by Christians.

 

“Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 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. 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.”

 

 

Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully…

 

It was important to Peter - and all the New Testament writers - to demonstrate that their teaching was NO novelty, but that it was testified beforehand by the prophets. Understanding this made salvation so much greater in the mind of Peter's afflicted readers.

 

 

Peter did NOT seek to prove the truth of his teaching about salvation by showing its agreements with the prophets; rather, he sought to ENCOURAGE his afflicted readers by demonstrating the importance and comprehensive grandeur of the salvation for which they were being afflicted.

 

 

Prophesied of the grace that would come to you…

 

The prophets of the Old Testament longed to see exactly the grace of the New Covenant to come. Prophesying by the Spirit of Christ, they knew something of His sufferings and glories, but far less than they longed to know.

 

One may only imagine how excited Isaiah would have been to read the Gospel of John. The Old Testament prophets knew so much; yet much was hidden to them, including the character of the Church (Ephesians 3:4-6) and the very essence of life and immortality (2 Timothy 1:10).

 

 

To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering…

 

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

 

The prophets understood that they were ministering to people BEYOND them, as well as to people in their OWN day. These things the prophets predicted were reported as fact by the apostles (the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel).

 

 

Because we know the Who (Jesus) and the when (Jesus' day) of these Old Testament prophecies, they should be of far more interest to us than they were even in the day of the prophets.

 

 

Things which angels desire to look into…

 

The unfolding of God's eternal plan is something that angels desire to look into. Angels observe our conduct (1 Corinthians 4:9), making it necessary that Christians conduct themselves properly (1 Corinthians 11:10).

 

 

Part of God's eternal purpose is to SHOW His wisdom to the angelic beings through His work with the church (Ephesians 3:10-11). God wants the angels to look in on what He does in the church, and the idea is that the angels are bending over with intense interest and desire to learn as well.

 

 

Therefore, they desire to see and learn. This word "Denotes a strong interest or craving. The present tense portrays a present, continued inner yearning to comprehend. The term does NOT imply that the desire can NOT or should not be fulfilled, but it does mark an enduring angelic effort to comprehend more of the mystery of human salvation."

 

 

1 Corinthians 4:9, Ephesians 3:10, and 1 Timothy 3:16 likewise picture the supernatural world eagerly observing God's program of human redemption. The concept seems grounded in Jesus' words in Luke 15:7, 10 where angels are said to rejoice over one repentant sinner."

 

 

Verses 13-17 tells us The CONDUCT of the saved.

 

“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; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." 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;”

 

 

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind…

 

Living the way God wants us to means that we must gird up the loins of our mind. The idea in this phrase is of preparing for action, much like our phrase "rolling up your sleeves." Then, we must also be sober, which means the ability to take a serious look at life.

 

 

To gird up the loins of your mind is to get rid of loose and sloppy thinking; to bring the rational and reflective powers of your mind under control. It means to control what you think about, what you decide that you will set your mind upon.

 

 

Be sober…

 

"It denotes a condition free from every form of mental and spiritual loss of self-control; it is an attitude of self-discipline that avoids the extremes."

 

 

Rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ…

 

Peter has told us a lot about God's grace.

 

1. He greeted us with grace (1 Peter 1:2).

 

2. He told us of the grace that came to us in Jesus, predicted by the prophets of old (1 Peter 1:10).

 

3. Now he goes further, writing of the grace that is to be brought to you when Jesus comes back.

 

4. The only way we will be able to stand before Jesus on that day is because of the unmerited favor He gives and will give to us.

 

 

Grace is NOT just for the past, when we first gave our lives to Jesus. It is NOT only for the present, where we live each moment standing in His grace (Romans 5:2).

 

It is also for the future, when grace will be brought to us. God has only just begun to show us the riches of His grace.

 

Grace is the unmerited love of God, stooping to save and bless; the source of all those bright and holy gifts which come from his infinite heart.

 

 

As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance…

 

Fulfilling God's call to holiness requires that we, as obedient children, break off with the lifestyle of the world (characterized by lusts and ignorance).

 

 

But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy"…

 

The main idea behind holiness is NOT moral purity but it is the idea of "apartness." The idea is that God is separate, different from His creation, both in His essential nature and in the perfection of His attributes.

 

But instead of building a wall around His apartness, God calls us to come to Him and share His apartness. He says to us, "Be holy, for I am holy."

 

 

When we fail to see God's apartness, we begin to believe that He is just a "super-man."

 

Then we do NOT see that:

 

1. His love is a holy love.

2. His justice is a holy justice.

 

3. And so on with all of His attributes. Holiness is not so much something we possess, as it is something that possesses us.

 

 

And if you call on the Father…

 

If we, as Christians, call on a holy God (presumably for help), we must understand we call on a God who shows no partiality - and will so judge our conduct, making a working, sober, holy walk all the more important.

 

 

Verses 18-21 tells us The MOTIVATION for godly living.

 

“Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 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.”

 

 

Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things…

 

The high call for godly living makes sense in light of the price that was paid FOR our redemption. We were NOT saved by the precious blood of Jesus to then live as if we were garbage.

 

 

From your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers…

 

Peter describes a justification by law way of thinking as aimless conduct. It seems to have an aim - gaining merit before God by works - but it is in fact aimless because it cannot succeed.

 

A lamb without blemish and without spot…

 

Peter here speaks in reference to the completely sinless character of Jesus. If He were not without blemish and without spot, He would NOT have been qualified to be our Redeemer.

 

 

He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world…

 

The work of Jesus was NOT a plan developed late in the course of redemption. It was foreordained BEFORE the foundation of the world, though it was made evident in these last times.

 

 

For you who through Him believe in God…

 

The entire plan of redemption is for those who believe in God, though even their belief is through Him. Those who believe in God are not disappointed, because their faith and hope has been substantiated by Jesus' resurrection from the dead.

 

 

Verses 22-25 tells us The NECESSITY for love among the saved.

 

“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, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 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, but the word of the LORD endures forever." Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.”

 

 

Love one another fervently…

 

Holy living is incomplete if it is NOT accompanied by love. To be a Christian means to have a sincere love of the brethren, BRETHREN MEANING OTHER JESUS LOVING, BELIEVING, AND TRUSTING MEN AND WOMEN, but we are encouraged to exercise that love fervently.

 

 

Love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again…

 

Such love is ONLY possible (and only to be expected) of those who have been born again by the eternal word of God.

 

Again, Peter does NOT use the same wording for BORN AGAIN as is found in John 3; but he DOES use the exact same idea.

 

 

Through the word of God which lives and abides forever…

 

We are born again … through the word of God. But it does NOT only give us new life. It also tells us to love one another. If the word of God is as Isaiah 40:8 says it is - “the word of the Lord which