1Peter chapter 1

 

Memory verse: 1Peter 1:16

 

Some believe 1Peter was written specifically toward Jewish believers. The word strangers in verse 1 means pilgrims or foreigners. It could mean Jews living throughout the Gentile world as possibly mentioned in James 1:1, or it could mean Christians whose final home is not in this world (John 15:19, John 17:14-16, Philippians 3:20-21, Hebrews 11:8-16). Peter was an apostle to the Jews (Galatians 2:7-8). It believed Peter wrote this letter from Babylon, where there was still a large population of Jews living from the captivity over 600 years earlier. 2 main topics of this epistle are holiness and suffering.

 

Day 1 – an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven

Verses 1-5

The cities mentioned here were in what we now call eastern Europe. This espistle may have been written to Jewish people, but they had become Christians. We are chosen by God according to the plan He made from the beginning of the world (Romans 16:25-26, Ephesians 1:4-5, Revelation 13:8). God did not pre-plan which individuals would we saved. He planned for there to be a church in general. If we are to be part of the plan, we must be filled with the Holy Ghost (John 3:5, Acts 2:38-39, Romans 8:9-11). It is the Spirit that sets us apart from sin unto God. It is our obedience to the gospel in water baptism by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ that applies the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ to us (Acts 22:16, Acts 10:43-48, 1Peter 3:30-21). The people Peter was writing to had done these things and were therefore born again. This is how we obtain hope of eternal life by the resurrection of Jesus. As the children of God, we are entitled to a share in the family inheritance (Acts 20:32, Romans 8:17, Galatians 3:29, Ephesians 1:14 & 18, Colossians 3:24, Titus 3:7, Hebrews 1:14, Hebrew 6:17, Hebrews 9:15, James 2:5, 1Peter 3:7). We can believe that God has the power to guard our souls from being invaded and taken over by the enemy until it is time for our salvation to be completed. There are 3 main phases to salvation (2Corinthians 1:10). God saves us from our past sins. He saves us from the eternal judgment we had coming, although we may have to deal with some consequences in this life (Galatians 6:7-9). God forgave David of his sin, and released him from the death penalty he was facing. However, there were still consequences he would have to face for the rest of his life (2Samuel 12). God also keeps us in salvation through His grace and the empowering of the Holy Ghost to do His will. Those that continue to walk according to God’s word, will, and ways will be ultimately saved when the Lord brings us to our eternal home.

 

Day 2 – the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls

Verses 6-9

The salvation of God gives us great joy, although we may have short times in which we have sadness because there is a need to go through various trials and tests. Our faith is more valuable than gold. Just as ore is dug from the earth in a raw form, and must pass through the fire to remove the impurities, our faith must be tested to be perfected (Job 23:10, Daniel 3, Zechariah 13:9, 1Corinthians 3:13, Revelation 3:18). When we have passed the test, our faith will be found worthy of praise, honor, and glory when the Lord comes. Faith is only faith when we cannot cannot see what we are believing in (John 20:24-29, Romans 8:24, 2Corinthians 4:18, Hebrews 11:1 & 7 & 27). We cannot see the Lord with our eyes, but we can with our faith. There are no adequate words to describe the glorious joy faith in God brings. When our journey of faith is ended, and we go to see Him in whom we have believed without seeing, our salvation will be complete.

 

Day 3 – gird up the loins of your mind

Verses 10-14

The prophets in the Old Testament spoke of what was coming in the New Testament. They spoke of the coming Messiah. He was to be:

     the seed of woman, born of a virgin (Gen 3:15, Is 7:14, Mt 1:18-25)

     of the tribe of Judah (Gen 49:10, Lk 3:33)

     born in Bethlehem (Mic 5:2, Mt 2:1-6, Lk 2:4-7)

     born at a specific time (Dan 9:24-27, Lk 2:1-5)

     preceded by a prophet (Is 40:3-4, Mal 3:1, Mt 3:3, Lk 7:24-27)

     a minister in Galilee (Is 9:1-2, Mt 4:12-16)

     rejected (Is 53:1-4, Lk 23:18-21, Jn 1:11)

     hailed as king as He entered Jerusalem on a young donkey (Zech 9:9, Mt 21:1-9, Mk 11:14)

     betrayed by a friend who ate at His table (Ps 41:9, Jn 13:18)

     sold for 30 pieces of silver which would be thrown down in the house of the Lord and used to  

          buy a potter’s field (Zech 11:13, Mt 27:3-7)

     forsaken by His disciples (Zech 13:7, Mt 26:31)

     silent before His accusers (Is 53:7, Mt 27:12-14)

     bruised by Satan (Gen 3:15, Jn 13:27)

     whipped and spit on (Is 50:6, Is 53:5, Mt 27:26 & 30)

     pierced in His hands and feet (Ps 22:16, Zech 12:9-10, Lk 24:39-40, Jn 19:33-35, Jn 20:25-

          27)

     mocked (Ps 22:7-8, Mt 27:43)

     taken from prison and judgment (Is 53:8, Jn 18:28)

     numbered with transgressors (Is 53:12, Mk 15:27-28)

     intercessor for sinners (Is 53:12, Lk 23:34)

     stripped and have lots cast for His clothes (Ps 22:18, Mt 27:35)

     forsaken and cry “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me” (Ps 22:1, Mt 27:46),

     given vinegar to drink (Ps 69:21, Mt 27:34)

     a sacrificial lamb (Is 53:7, Jn 1:29, 1Pet 1:19)

     cut off but not for Himself (Dan 9:26, Jn 11:49-52)

     placed in the grave of a rich man (Is 53:9, Mt 27:57-60)

     risen from the dead before his body corrupted (Ps 16:10, Mt 12:39-40, Mt 27:63-64, Mt 28:1-

          7, Acts 2:24-31)

     ascended into heaven (Ps 68:18, Acts 1:9, Eph 4:8-10).

The prophets spoke of God bringing the Gentiles unto Himself (Psalm 18:49 with Romans 15:9, Isaiah 11:10 with Romans 15:12, Isaiah 42:1 & 6, Isaiah 49:6 & 22, Isaiah 60:3-5, Isaiah 62:2, Isaiah 66:19, Jeremiah 16:19, Amos 9:11-12 with Acts 15:14-18, Malachi 1:11).  This was even shown through the promise God made to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3, Galatians 3:8 & 14). We seek to understand the prophecies in the Bible regarding the future of the church and the end of the world, but are only seeing small pieces (Matthew24:3, Mark 13:32, Acts 1:7, 1Corinthians 13:12, 1John 3:2). It was the same for the prophets of old. Although they spoke what God showed them about the future, they did not fully understand all the implications and timing. They did seek to understand like Daniel did (Daniel 2:17-19, Daniel 7:16 & 19, Daniel 8:13-16, Daniel 9:21-23, Daniel 10:1-14). They knew the time for the fulfillment was not then, but they sought to know when. Even the angels desire to look into these things. Since we are now privileged to be involved in the fulfillment of these great things, we have a responsibility. We must gird up the loins of our mind. In the days of the Bible they did not wear the same type of clothing we do today, although the principles of modesty and gender distinction were applicable. They wore robes. When men would run, work, or fight in battle, they would gather the loose material around their legs and tuck it under their belts. This was called girding the loins. We are running in race (1Corinthians 9:24, Hebrews 1:12). We are doing the work of God (1Corinthians 15:58, Ephesians 4:12, Hebrews 13:21). We are in battle (1Corinthians 9:26, 1Timothy 6:12). We must control our thoughts (2Corinthians 10:3-5). Our thoughts dictate our words and actions. When we control our thoughts by the word and Spirit of God, we deny our old lifestyle and obey God. It is noteworthy that 1Peter 1:11 says it was the Spirit of Christ in the prophets. This shows that the Father, the Holy Ghost, and the Spirit of Christ are one and the same (Ephesians 4:4). When Jesus told the apostles not to worry about what they were going to say when testifying before the authorities because they would be given the words, it was the Spirit of the Father (Matthew 10:20), Jesus Himself (Luke 21:15), and the Holy Ghost (Mark 13:11). There were not 3 voices coming out of their mouths simultaneously. There are sometimes misstatements made in an effort to distinguish how the Holy Ghost was manifested to men in the Old Testament from how it happens in the New Testament. There are 2 main differences. The main one is access. In the New Testament all have access (Acts 2:17 & 39, Ephesians 2:11-18). It took the early church some time to realize this (Acts 1:6, Acts 10-11, Acts 15). They were still thinking that like the old covenant this was strictly for Jews, even though there was room even in the law of Moses for Gentiles to a degree. Jesus came to open it to all men (Luke 4:25-27, John 10:16). He commissioned the apostles to the whole world (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:47). Apparently they thought He meant to only Jews throughout the world. The other difference is speaking with tongues. It was the same Holy Ghost in the Old Testament, and He was not just on them, but in them:

   1. Genesis 41:38 – Joseph (per pharaoh)

   2. Exodus 31:3, Ex 35:31 – Bazaleel

   3. Numbers 27:18 – Joshua

   4. 2Samuel 23:2 – David (in my tongue) 

   5. Nehemiah 9:20 & 30, 1Pet 1:11 – prophets

   6. Isaiah 63:11 – Moses

   7. Ezekiel 2:2, Ezekiel 3:24 – Ezekiel

   8. Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 36:26-27, Ezekiel 37:14 – Israel

   9. Daniel 4:8-9 & 18, Dan 5:11 – Daniel (per Babylon)

   10. Micah 3:8 – Micah

   11. Luke 1:15&17 – John

   12. Luke 1:41 – Elizabeth

   13. Luke 1:67 – Zacharias

   14. Luke 4:1, John 3:34 – Jesus

It was not the New Testament baptism of the Spirit accompanied with speaking in tongues, but it was the same Spirit. 7 of the 9 gifts of the Spirit Paul described in 1Corinthians 12:8-10 were manifested in the Old Testament:

   1. word of wisdom – 2Samuel 20:16-22, 1Kings 3:16-28, Proverbs 1:20, Proverbs 2:6,

       Proverbs 8:1, Proverbs 10:13 & 31, Proverbs 18:4, Proverbs 31:26, Daniel 2:14

      a. spirit of wisdom – Exodus 28:3, Exodus 31:3, Exodus 35:31, Deuteronomy 34:9, Proverbs

         1:23, Isaiah 11:2

   2. word of knowledge – 1Samuel 3:11-14, 1Kings 14:5-6, 2Kings 6:32

      a. writing of all scripture – Deuteronomy 4:5-8, Proverbs 22:20

   3. faith, healing, miracles, prophecy – all over the Old Testament

   4. discerning of spirits – 1Kings 22:19-23, Job 1-2

   5. Moses, Elijah, and Elisha operated in at least 6 (discerning of spirits?)

The only 2 gifts that were not in the Old Testament are tongues, and the interpretation of tongues, although technically they spoke in tongues at the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:6-9). It was just not as a spiritual gift.

 

Day 4 – be ye holy; for I am holy

Verses 15-20

To be holy means to be set apart. Holiness has 2 aspects. First, there is the holiness of God. That is His nature. God does not become holy. He is holy. In His case, it means without flaw or sin. It means God is unique. There is no one like Him (Exodus 9:14, Isaiah 46:5 & 9, Jeremiah 49:19, Jeremiah 50:44). He is special. When He came in the flesh, he was tempted but without sin (2Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:15, 1John 3:5). He can be touched with the feeling of human weakness, but he never gave in to it. Second, there is the holiness of the people of God. People do not have holiness on their own. We were all born with a sinful nature. Adam was made in the image of God with a pure moral nature. He did not even know he was naked. He was the son of God (Luke 3:38, Romans 5:14). After he sinned, that was changed. Seth the son of Adam was made in the image and likeness of Adam (Genesis 5:1-3). Adam passed down the tendency to sin (Romans 5:19). Now no one was living up to the standard of God’s holiness (1Kings 8:46, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Romans 3:23, 1John 1:8-10). The only permanent solution to this problem was for God to come Himself in the flesh, live a sinless life, and die the death that sin caused (Romans 6:23, Romans 5:14, 1Corinthians 15:22). Now through the blood of Jesus we can be cleansed of sin and sanctified, which means to be made holy. His blood gives us atonement for sins (Leviticus 17:11), remission of sins (Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 9:22), justification from sin (Romans 5:9) , redemption from sin (Acts 20:28, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, Hebrews 9:12, Revelation 5:9), propitiation from sin (Romans 3:25), peace with God from sin (Colossians 1:20), a purged conscience from sin (Hebrews 9:14), cleansing from sin (1John 1:7, Revelation 1:5, Revelation 7:14), and overcoming of the accusation of sin (Revelation 12:11). God does not save us in our sins, but from our sins. Sanctification is like salvation in that it happens in 3 stages. There is the initial cleansing from sin that occurs in repentance and water baptism by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin (Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, Acts 10:43-48). This releases us from the hold our past sins held on us, and from the judgment of them. Then there is the process of sanctification which occurs throughout the rest of our life on earth as we grow to become like Him (John 17:17, 1Thessalonians 5:23, 2Thessalonians 2:13, 1Peter 1:2). We will never be perfectly holy like God is in this life, but as long as we are where are supposed to be according to God in the process, we are holy. We must not measure ourselves with where others are in the process and compare ourselves. That is not wise (2Corinthians 10:12). We will either compare ourselves who are as far along and excuse ourselves, or we will compare ourselves with those that are further along and be discouraged. We need to compare ourselves to where we should be individually according to Him who sanctifies us. This process can be compared to women’s hair. The Bible says women ought not to cut their hair (1Corinthians 11:1-16). When a woman gets saved, she may have short hair. If she stops cutting her hair, she is in compliance no matter how long it is at the moment compared to others. It also does not matter how long it grows eventually compared to others. Not all women’s hair grows to the same length. As long as it is uncut, she is doing what God wants. Then there is the final sanctification which will come when we leave this flesh behind forever, and enter into the holiest place of all - heaven - by the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 9:24, Hebrews 10:19). Just as the high priest would take the blood of the sacrifice of atonement into the most holy place of the tabernacle before God, Jesus shed His sinless blood so we can now enter into the eternal presence of God, and not die for our sins. Rather, we can now be free from sin and live forever by His blood (John 6:53-63). This was God’s plan from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8).

 

Day 5 – born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible

Verses 21-25

Jesus Christ not only died for us, He rose from the dead so we too can have hope of eternal life. We cannot cleanse or save ourselves by ourselves, but we can apply the saving work of Christ to ourselves by obeying His gospel (Acts 2:38). When we are filled with the Holy Ghost, we are given the power to fulfill the will of God (Luke 1:35, Acts 1:8, Romans 15:13 & 19). We are given the ability to become part of the family of God (John 1:12). We are born again by the living, incorruptible, eternal word of God. Therefore we love all those who have also been brought into this sanctified family of believers (1John 3-4). The flesh and the ways of man all pass away like grass. All of man’s greatest empires have risen and fallen, but the word of God endures forever. It is absolute. It does not change. It is not subject to the relativity of time, place, or custom of man. Man can try to change his definitions of  right and wrong to accommodate his flesh (John 3:19-21), but God’s definitions will never change.