1 Peter 1:2

This verse mentions all three members of the Trinity. The Trinity means that there is one God who is three persons. The three are God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit. We cannot understand the Trinity. However, it is very important to know that Christians *worship one God, not three different Gods.

• God the Father chooses people. God knows more than the facts about each man or woman. He knows about each of us in a personal way. God is a loving Father in heaven. God chose his people before he created the world (Ephesians 1:4).

• God the Holy Spirit works in these people. He makes them holy, so that they obey Jesus. To be ‘holy’ means to belong to God and to be like him.

• God the Son (Jesus) died on the cross, so that he could forgive all *sins.

‘By Jesus’ blood’ refers to Jesus’ death on the cross. In the *Old Testament, the priest splashed blood on people when they promised to obey God. The blood came from a special animal that the priest *sacrificed (Exodus 24:3-8). Jesus died as a *sacrifice to make each person clean from *sin. People *sin when they do things against God or other people. When a person becomes a Christian, God forgives all his or her past *sins. But Christians do not always obey God. They need to ask God to forgive them every day.

*Grace is the help and protection that God gives to his people. *Grace is a gift from God. We do not deserve it and cannot earn it. God gives *grace because he is generous. The *grace of God comes through Jesus.

‘Peace’. In the *Hebrew language this word is ‘shalom’. It is a traditional *blessing in the *Old Testament (Numbers 6:24-26), and among *Jewish people today. Peace is not just the opposite of war or noise. It is to have God’s gift of a quiet heart. This involves every part of our life and relationships. No one can have true peace without *grace.

Christians have already received *grace and peace. But Peter prays that they may know God’s *grace and peace more and more.

We have a certain and lively *hope

v3 *Praise the God and Father of our *Lord Jesus Christ! Because God has great *mercy, he has given us new life. Now we have a sure *hope that lives because he raised Jesus from death. v4 As a result we shall receive an *inheritance which nothing can destroy. It will not spoil, or lose its beauty. God keeps it safe in heaven for you. v5 God’s power always protects us because we trust him. We shall receive our complete *salvation at the end of time when Jesus returns. v6 You are full of joy about this. But for a time you are suffering various kinds of difficulties and troubles. v7 God allows these difficulties to come to prove that your *faith in him is genuine. *Faith in God is far more valuable than even gold. You can destroy gold. You test gold by fire to make it pure. Your genuine *faith will bring *praise and *glory and honour to Jesus when he comes again. v8 You have not seen Jesus, but you love him. You cannot see him now, but you believe in him. You are full of great joy. No words can say how happy you are. It is joy full of *glory. v9 The purpose of your *faith in Jesus is to receive *salvation.