1 Peter 1

 

God has reserved an incredible inheritance in heaven for us

He selected us

He Fathered us by His mercy

He keeps us by His power

 

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the foreigners scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Selected/elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, to obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you, and peace, be multiplied.  3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy has Fathered us again unto a living hope by 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 unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

 

  • We are ‘kept by the power of God!’
  • It is blasphemy to think we can do something that cancels the great and mighty work of Christ on the cross.
  • It is Satan’s strategy to distract our minds, to cause us to focus on ourselves rather than the Lord.

 

6 In which you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if necessary, you are in heaviness through various trials: 7 That the proving of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tried with fire, might be found to praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you do not see him, yet believing, you exult with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of souls.

 

  • Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life: in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

 

10 Of which salvation the prophets have searched out and investigated diligently, who prophesied about the grace that would come to you: 11 They wondered what the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory to follow it. They wondered when and to whom all this would happen. 12 To whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to us they ministered the things which are now reported to you by those that have preached the gospel to you with the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

 

  • Angels are intensely interested in the salvation of man.
  • All things in heaven and earth have been brought back to God by the blood of Jesus, including angels.
  • Colossians 1:20 having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they are things in earth, or things in heaven.

 

He brings grace to us when He is revealed soon

He is holy

 

13 So prepare your minds for action, be sober, and completely confident in the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he who has called you is holy, so you be holy in all manner of life; 16 Because it is written, Be holy; for I am holy.

 

  • 2Thessalonians 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on those that do not know God, and that did not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he comes to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all those that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.  11 Therefore we always pray for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power

 

He is impartial

 

17 And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to every man’s work, pass the time of your stay here in fear/reverence/awe of God: 18 For you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver and gold, from your empty way of life received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

 

  • “The treasure is so costly and precious that the mind and heart of man cannot contain it; so precious that a little drop of this innocent blood would have been sufficient for the sin of the whole world…” Martin Luther, 1 Peter

 

He raised Jesus from the dead and gave Him glory

His word gives us life and endures forever

 

20 Who truly was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was shown in these last times for you, 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. 22 Having purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unpretended love for the brothers, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides/remains forever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away: 25 But the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word that by the gospel is preached to you.

 

  • We aren’t interpreters of the Word of God. God has spoken plainly.
  • Until we know the word of God we are not on the same page with God.
  • God always knows how to say what He means. We just need to listen to it all.
  • Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, unless they agree?
  • John 16:13 …when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth: for he will not speak of himself; but whatever he hears, that he will speak: and he will show you things to come.

 

                                               1 Peter 2

 

1 Therefore laying aside all malice, all guile, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word so that you may grow by it.

 

  • ‘Growing to maturity without shedding sinful patterns is not Biblical.’ (Bruce Bumgardner)
  • The breasts that yield milk that the babes of Christ suck are the teachers and preachers in the Christian Church.
  • “The milk will be corrupt if we do not preach Christ in His purity…rich, sweet grace by which you receive no harm…preach gently to the young and weak, let them be carefully led, and grow fat in the knowledge of Christ…The hardened class who live in their own holiness, build on their own works, and do not feel their sin and misery, do not taste…” (Martin Luther, 1 Peter)
  • Malice is the desire or intent to inflict harm on others for whatever reason.
  • Guile is deceitful treachery with the intent of misleading others to their harm.
  • Hypocrisy is any false face put on any person or incident.
  • Envy is a wish or desire to be or possess something that belongs to someone else.
  • Evil speaking is anything that has its source in evil rather than in God’s truth.

 

Christ is the precious living stone

 

3 If you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disapproved by men but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.  6 Therefore it is also contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him will not be confounded.

 

  • Revelation 4:3 And he that sat (on the throne) was to look upon like a jasper and a sardius stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like an emerald.

 

7 To you therefore who believe he is precious: but to those that are disobedient, the stone that the builders disapproved, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to those who stumble at the word, being disobedient: unto which they were appointed.

 

  • Romans 9:22 What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction

 

He has called us into His marvelous light

 

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people; to show forth the praises/virtues of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: 10 who in times past were not a people, but are now the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11 Dearly beloved, I exhort you as foreigners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 having your way of life honest among the Gentiles: that, in which they speak against you as evildoers, having witnessed your good works, glorify God in the day of inspection. 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it is to the king, as supreme; 14 Or to governors, as to those that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For this is the will of God, that with well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17Esteem all. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the perverse. 19For this is worthy of thanks if a man for conscience toward God endures grief, suffering unjustly. 20 For what glory is it, if, when you are struck for your faults, you take it patiently? But if, when you do well, and suffer for it, you take it patiently, this is acceptable/worthy of thanks with God.  21 For unto this you were called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps:  22 Who did not sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, did not revile in return; when he suffered, he uttered no threats; but committed himself to him that judges rightly:

 

The Shepherd and Bishop of our souls bore our sins in His own body

 

24 Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were as sheep going astray; but have now been returned (passive voice means He does it for us) to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

 

  • Christ’s death on the cross made a clean sweep of all the sin of history—stunning and majestic.
  • Imagine the horror of knowing every sin throughout history.
  • See the glory of His love to do this for us.
  • “He bore our sins in His body…which means He did not suffer for Himself but for the entire human race, by which He atoned for the horrible fall of Adam and restored again what Satan had destroyed. Whoever does not acknowledge such fathomless love, nor is thankful to Him will not escape the wrath and punishment of Him who judges righteously.” Martin Luther
  • Hebrews 9:22-28 … without shedding of blood is no remission. 23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then he must often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world he has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.  27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him he will appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

 

                                              1 Peter 3

 

God highly values a humble, quiet spirit

 

1 Likewise wives, be submitting yourselves to your own husbands so that if any disobey the word, they may be won without the word by the behavior of their wives; 2 observing your pure and reverent behavior.  3 Of whom let it not be the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and wearing gold, or of putting on clothing; 4 But let it be the hidden person of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is of great price in the sight of God.

 

  • 1Samuel 16:7 for the LORD does not see as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.

 

5 For in this way in former times the holy women who trusted in God adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands: 6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose children you are, as long as you do what is right and fear no terror.

 

  • Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him.

 

God has made us His heirs

 

7 Husbands in the same way, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers not be cut off. 8 Finally, all of you, be of one mind, being sympathetic one to another, love as brothers, kindhearted, and friendly: 9 Not giving back evil for evil, or slander for slander: but on the contrary, blessing; knowing that to this you were called, that you might inherit a blessing. 10 For the one desiring to love life, and see good days, let him hold back his tongue from evil, and his lips speak no guile: 11 Let him turn away from evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and pursue it.

 

The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous

He suffered for our sins to bring us to God

 

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against any doing evil things. 13 And who is he that will harm you if you are imitators of what is good? 14 But if you suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed: and do not be afraid of their terror, nor be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear/reverence/awe of God: 16 having a good conscience; that while they speak against you, as evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good behavior in Christ.  17 For it is better if God wills it that you suffer for doing what is right rather than what is wrong. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit: 19 by which (Spirit) he also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison.

 

Jesus has gone into heaven and is sitting at the right hand of God

His longsuffering waited in the days of Noah

He preached His victory to the jailed fallen angels

 

20 Who were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 22 Who has gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being subjected to him.

 

  • Don’t’ miss what this says: Christ, after He died for our sins, went and proclaimed His victory over evil to the spirits imprisoned (inside the earth), those that had been disobedient to God in Genesis 6, Noah’s day. He preached that they might believe and live (John 10:10, James 1:5).
  • Ephesians 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
  • Revelation 17:14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
  • Romans 14:11 For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will confess to God.

 

                                                 1 Peter 4

 

The Lord is coming soon to judge the living and the dead

 

1 So then, as Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same mind: for he that has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin; 2 so that he no longer lives the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For the time already past of our life is sufficient for us to have done the will of the nations, when we walked in wantonness, lusts, drunkenness’s, parties, carousing, and unlawful idolatries: 4 In this, they think it is strange that you do not run with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 who will give account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead.

 

  • In Eden, when man fell he gained a prideful nature centered on self. God allows suffering in the lives of those who believe in Him to train them into His ways rather than their own ways, the world’s ways, or evil’s ways. God’s ways are fully satisfying whereas the others are not.
  • Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
  • Psalm 96:13 (rejoice) Before the LORD: for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth: he will judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

 

He has made us stewards of His many- faceted grace

 

6 For to this end the gospel was preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live to God in the spirit. 7 But the end of all things is at hand: you therefore be sober, and watch to prayer.  8 And above all things have fervent love among yourselves: for love will cover the multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without murmuring. 10 As every man has received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

 

  • Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

 

Ruling power and praise belong to Jesus forever

The Spirit of glory and of God rests on us

He is faithful

 

11 If any man speaks, let him speak the words of God; if any man minister’s let him do it by the ability which God gives: that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ, to whom is praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to test you, as though some strange thing happened to you: 13 But rejoice, in that you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings so that when his glory is revealed, you may be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed; for the spirit of glory and of God rests on you: he is blasphemed by them, but by you he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this respect. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God: and if it first begins with us, what will be the end of those that do not obey the good news of God? 18 And if the righteous are saved with difficulty, what will happen to the ungodly and the sinner? 19 Therefore let those that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls in doing right to a faithful Creator.

 

  • No one has been more faithful to us than God.
  • Isaiah 49:7 Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despises, to him whom the nation abhors, to a servant of rulers, Kings will see and arise, princes also will worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he will choose you.
  • Hebrews 13:5 Let your behavior be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you, or forsake you.

 

                                               1 Peter 5

 

The Chief Shepherd will give us an unfailing crown of glory when He appears

 

1 I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow-elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ and a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight, not being forced, but willingly; not for sordid gain, but readily; 3 not lording it over those allotted to your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of glory that does not fade away.

 

  • The Lord will give other crowns also: the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8), the crown of life (James 1:12), the incorruptible crown (1 Corinthians 9:25).
  • Revelation 3:11 I come quickly: hold fast to what you have so that no man takes your crown.

 

He resists the proud; He gives grace to the humble; He exalts, He cares

 

5 You younger men, submit yourselves to the older. Yes, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God so that he may exalt you in due time:  7 casting all your cares on him; for he cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

 

  • Imagine being on safari, wanting desperately to rescue the natives from a raging man-eating lion. You have the most powerful weapon in the world, but you don’t know where to aim it.
  • The devil is our enemy. His aim among God’s children is to keep them out of God’s word so that they will not find out how wonderful God is, how much He loves them, how much power He is waiting to give them.
  • “…the sword of the Spirit is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17).“
  • Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song will I praise him.
  • James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

 

The Lord perfects us; He establishes us, strengthens us, and settles us

Glory and dominion are His forever

 

9 Resist him steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brothers that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who has called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 12 I have written briefly by Silvanus, a faithful brother to you, as I suppose, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand. 13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, salutes you; and so does Marcus my son. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

 

  • Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

 

***************************************

 

SUMMARY: 1 Peter 1-5

 

  • God has reserved an incredible inheritance in heaven for us
  • He selected us
  • He Fathered us by His mercy
  • He keeps us by His power
  • He brings grace to us when He is revealed soon
  • He is holy
  • He is impartial
  • He raised Jesus from the dead and gave Him glory
  • His word gives us life and endures forever
  • Christ is the precious living stone
  • He has called us into His marvelous light
  • The Shepherd and Bishop of our souls bore our sins in His own body
  • God highly values a humble, quiet spirit
  • God has made us His heirs
  • The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous
  • He suffered for our sins to bring us to God
  • Jesus has gone into heaven and is sitting at the right hand of God
  • His longsuffering waited in the days of Noah
  • He preached His victory to the jailed fallen angels
  • The Lord is coming soon to judge the living and the dead
  • He has made us stewards of His many-faceted grace
  • Ruling power and praise belong to Jesus forever
  • The Spirit of glory and of God rests on us
  • He is faithful
  • The Chief Shepherd will give us an unfailing crown of glory when He appears
  • He resists the proud; He gives grace to the humble; He exalts, He cares
  • The Lord perfects us; He establishes us, strengthens us, and settles us
  • Glory and dominion are His forever