From 1 Peter 1-5
In light of their new birth, continuing salvation and future hope. Peter instructs his audience to conduct themselves in holy fear because God’s judgment is impartial and because He has ransomed them from their former sinful lifestyles by the precious blood of Christ.
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
Peter writes to persecuted Christians who live among a hostile society. He calls them the ‘elect exiles of the dispersion’ (1 Pet 1.1). They don’t belong in this world. Despite all this he has cheery things to say.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Pet 1.3-5)
‘Born again’. Peter opens with blessing and praise to the Father of the Lord Jesus. The Father has caused all believers to be born again through Christ’s resurrection. Just as Christ was raised from the death, so were all those who believe.
‘Inheritance’. Believers have been born again into a living hope of a future inheritance.
They hope for a future kingdom kept unblemished in heaven.
To this end believers are guarded by God’s power through faith. They are called to persevere until these things are revealed.
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Pet 1.6-9)
‘Trials’. Peter refers to the hostility, persecution and suffering they face living in this world. Despite this they have reason to rejoice. The future hope they have. But first their faith must be tested.
Genuine and enduring faith is more precious than gold.
‘Jesus Christ’. His audience has heard and believed the gospel. They have not seen Jesus. Yet they love him and know a deep joy in knowing him. Their faith has an intended goal. The salvation of their inner selves. Their souls.
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. (1 Pet 1.10-12)
‘Inquiring what person or time’. The salvation they are experiencing was predicted long ago by the prophets. They foretold it would come about through the promised messiah and that he would suffer, die and rise again (Isa 52.13-53.12; Lk 24.26; Acts 3.18).
The grace Peter refers to is the person and work of Christ.
These things were written down in scripture and now being used to show that Jesus is the promised Christ (e.g. Acts 2.23, 30-31; 13.23; 17.2-3).
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,
18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Pet 1.13-19)
‘Therefore’, ‘Holy’, ‘Conduct’. In light of their new birth, salvation and future hope. Peter instructs his audience to keep focusing on the grace that will be brought to them. The revelation of Jesus’ second coming. He instructs them to turn away from their former sinful lives and to be holy in all their conduct because God is holy.
‘Judges impartially’, ‘Conduct’. Peter gives two further reasons why they should be holy. First the warning.
He warns them that although God is their father, he has to be impartial in his judgment.
This means he will judge his children and unbelievers on the same basis. If they continued in sin he would have to punish them according to their deeds, despite their relationship. Peter is not denying God forgives those who repent, rather he warns them against continued and unchecked sin.
Secondly, he reminds them of Christ’s sacrifice. Using slave market imagery, he says they have been ransomed from their former sinful ways inherited from their family generations. Now they are part of God’s new family. The price for their ransom was Jesus’ own precious blood. The amazing price God paid should now inspire them to live for him.
Words for Believers
Our passage today calls us to live in certain ways with the future in mind.
- We must live in light of God’s impartial judgment.
- We must live in the hope of the joy of final salvation.
Both these ought to shape our conduct. Every thing we do should be in light of what pleases God, our future judgment and salvation. Paul also calls his audience to seek to please God (2 Cor 5.9-10). Peter is no different. A desire to please God is the noblest motivation in life and constitutes a proper response to Christ death for us.
Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2016. All Rights Reserved.
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