THE SENDER AND RECIPIENTS OF THE LETTER AND THEIR STATUS (1 PETER 1:1). ‘Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.' The letter is addressed by ‘the Apostle' Peter to district churches in Asia Minor (moder... [ Continue Reading ]
‘(Elect) according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.' And who are the ‘elect'? Here they are clearly defined, and it will be noted that it is in terms of the acti... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has begotten us again to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that does not fade not away, reserved in heaven for you,' We shou... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GREAT PRIVILEGE AND BLESSING THAT IS THEIRS AS GOD'S ELECT WHICH EVEN ANGELS DESIRE TO LOOK INTO (1 PETER 1:3). The result of God's foreknowing of us, and of the sanctifying work of the Spirit is now made clear as Peter expands on the activity of God. He is emphasising that God Himself works on... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Who by the power of God are being guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.' And all these things are guaranteed to us because we are ‘being continually closely guarded' (a direct military term) by the power of God, (compare John 10:27), Who has our salvation alw... [ Continue Reading ]
‘In which you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been put to grief in manifold trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS WORK WILL GO ON AMIDST OUR PRESENT TRIALS AND WE MUST THEREFORE KEEP OUR EYES ON HIM (1 PETER 1:6). But while salvation may in the end be guaranteed for all who are truly His, there is no promise that the way ahead will be easy for the chosen. Many of us will discover at some stage that in this... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Whom not having seen you love; on whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.' The one thing above all that will sustain us is our love for Christ. Not some soft, sen... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Concerning which salvation the prophets searched intently and enquired diligently, who prophesied of the grace that (should come) to you.' This salvation which is on offer is not something newfangled. It is the salvation of which the Old Testament prophets spoke in the past, and which they had put... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS SALVATION IS WHAT THE PROPHETS SAW BEFORE ITS TIME AS THEY PREPARED THE WAY FOR HIS COMING (1 PETER 1:10). Peter now stresses that what the prophets saw ahead in previous centuries was pointing to what we are experiencing. The ‘church age', in which believing Gentiles are incorporated into Chri... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Searching what time or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point to, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of (or ‘unto') Christ, and the glories that should follow them. To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but to you, did they minister these things,... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For which reason, girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope perfectly on the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.' Because of what he has said they are to ‘gird up the loins of their mind.' The flowing robes that men wore hindered strenuous activ... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR GREAT PRIVILEGE AND BLESSING THEY SHOULD SET THEMSELVES TO LIVE ACCORDINGLY (1 PETER 1:13). In the light of the wonder of the message that has come to them, and of the sanctifying work of the Spirit, His people are to tighten up the discipline of their minds and wills, fixing... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Because it is written, “You shall be holy; for I am holy”.' And this requirement is confirmed by the Scriptures. The citation is from Leviticus 11:44 (compare Exodus 22:31; Leviticus 19:2; Leviticus 20:26), and is significantly connected there with the need for ‘cleanness' and separation from all... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And if you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man's work, pass the time of your sojourning in great and reverent awe,' The stress in the verse is on ‘Father'. We might paraphrase, ‘And if it is AS FATHER that you call on Him.' That is the glorious truth.... [ Continue Reading ]
RECOGNISING WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR THEM THEY SHOULD LIVE THEIR LIVES WITH GREATEST CARE (1 PETER 1:17). The emphasis on obedience continues, and now it is linked with God's remedy through the blood of Jesus Christ. Recognising that the Father on Whom they call is also their judge, Who judges without... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, even the blood of Christ,' And especially should we be filled with awe as we recognise the cost of what... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of times for your sake, who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.' And this act of redemption was not some last minut... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently, having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and abides.' The result of our entering... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING BEGOTTEN AGAIN OF THE LIVING AND ETERNAL WORD OF GOD HAS PURIFIED THEIR SOULS IN OBEDIENCE TO THE TRUTH, AND THIS MUST WORK ITSELF OUT IN LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER (1 PETER 1:22). He now outlines what should be their resultant behaviour. In all the Apostolic letters the expounding of divine truth... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And this is the word of good tidings which was preached to you.' And this ‘word (rema) of the Lord' is the very word of good tidings that had been preached to his readers and had brought their response. By this incorruptible seed they have been begotten again to incorruptible life. They are no lon... [ Continue Reading ]