I Peter 1

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

This book starts with Peter establishing who he is. He is an Apostle of Jesus Christ, he has authority in Christ. He goes straight into salvation by grace, with the sprinkling of blood and the resurrection of Jesus.

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not 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.

These two verses reinforce verses 2&3. Verse 4 talks about our inheritance in heaven. We become part of a family upon salvation. What we inherit is incorruptible, undefiled, and never fades away. Verse 5 states that our salvation is by faith.

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

This section discusses the rejoicing that should be in the life of a believer, because of our salvation in Christ. Peter goes onto acknowledge the great amounts of temptation that a believer will face. Verse 7 says that the trial of our faith is more precious than gold, in the eyes of God. Through these trials we as believers are purified like gold in the fire. These trials force us to draw near to God and depend on him. They also develop holiness in us. Verses 8&9 elaborate this point. Though we have not seen Jesus, we put our faith in him. Knowing that he can see us through our trials, and that he gives us salvation.

10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

This section gets into the old testament origins of Jesus Christ. Salvation through Christ was not a new idea in the Jewish faith. The Christ or Messiah, was the the one who would come and take away the sins of the world. Many people think that Christ was Jesus last name, this is not the case, it is a title given to him. The prophets of old were searching and waiting for his coming. They were ministered to by the holy spirit (verse 11) which now dwells in every believer. These prophets knew that his suffering and death would lead to the whole world having the chance to go to heaven (glory). Verse 12 says that: what was revealed to the prophets is now being reported to you by them that preach the gospel, by the same holy spirit.

13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto 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 which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

This section is a call to sanctification or holiness. This is the manner of life God expects us to live. God expects us to be sober and gird up our mind. Gird up your mind means, to be aware of sin and not to fall into traps set by the devil. God wants us to be obedient, and not following after our former lusts. Verses 15&16 call us to be holy as Christ is holy.

17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest 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.

Here we get into God the father and the old testament. It starts out by saying that the father is not a respecter of persons. He does not care who you are, he judges all men according to their works. There are 2 judgements, one for the lost and one for the saved. The judgement for the lost will be the lake of fire. The judgement for the saved will be rewards in heaven. Verse 18 goes into the Old Testament tradition of being worthy of heaven, do to wealth and prestige. This was completely wrong and caused many Jews to look down on Jesus. Verse 19 establishes salvation through Christ's shed blood. He calls him the lamb without spot, which is the correct Old Testament way to purify sin. Verse 20 says that God planned salvation this way before the earth was formed. Verse 21 establishes that salvation is by faith in Christ.

22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye 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 liveth and abideth for ever.

24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Verse 22 says that: just by believing you have purified your soul. This flies in the face of works salvation. No good works can purify someone's soul and make them worthy of heaven. It then instructs believers to love with a pure heart. Verses 23 describes the second birth once we believe. We are born again with the incorruptible seed of Christ, which lives in us forever. The body we live in from our first birth, will eventually wither and die, along with all of our accomplishments. The Lord, his grace, and his word endures forever. This is the word that the gospel is preached unto you.