Posts: 1 Peter

1 Peter

Peter began 1 Peter by reminding his audience (Jewish Christians in what we call Turkey today) that they were sojourners, temporary residents, “just passing through,” that God was not simply reacting to the messiness that is people, but that He had a plan. They had all been redeemed (had their respective debts to justice paid in full). The indwelling Spirit they had all received had re-purified them and had dedicated them to godly purposes. They had all adopted a lifestyle of responding to that display of graciousness, and in that they found peace.

God “according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 1:3) Mercy is one step beyond compassion to include a unquenchable desire to fix the problem. A major application of that mercy shown to the faithful is the indwelling Spirit who is in the process of repairing their self-inflicted damage so that they have a promised hope that is made realistic by the resurrection.

“…to an inheritance imperishable and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you…” (1 Peter 1:4) The present heaven is neither imperishable nor undefiled because Satan and his minions formerly had free access to it, until they were driven out and exiled briefly to earth (Revelation 12:7 – 12) Jesus repaired the damage. (Hebrews 9:11 – 15) But, that imperishable and undefiled inheritance was prepared long ago for the faithful and will be revealed in the last day. (Revelation 21:1)

The faithful “are being kept in the power of God through faith into a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:5) God has promised the faithful that will not face temptations too great (1 Corinthians 10:13). Many similar promises describe a variety of tools available to the faithful for this purpose. The faithful are not struggling to reach the end, but rather walk confidently, trusting that God always keeps His word. Fortunately, access to that power is not through superior performance, but trust.

The brokenness of this world has a positive outcome. (1 Peter 1:6 – 9) The faithful can rejoice despite the very real and normal grief experienced in this life. Outsiders have no realistic method for overcoming; the faithful recognize that the fires of life serve to refine them, not destroy them. Further, when outsiders marvel at the survival skills of the faithful, the faithful are presented with the opportunity to relay the source of that ability.

“Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you. (1 Peter 1:10 – 12) The Old Testament prophets knew that they were relaying important information about the Messiah, but the whole story was not available to them. Not even the angels knew how God would fix the messes people have made of themselves. The faithful have had made available to them the integrated and consistent character of God (grace) through the indwelling Spirit.

To be holy is to have the nature of God. The Law, Jesus, and the New Testament all repeat this same simplistic instruction, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16) Peter reminds his readers that bad choices are the result of ignorance; good behavior is the result of taking on the nature of God. It’s not the behavior that is the focus, but the mind.

“If you call on the Father who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your sojourn in fear…” (1 Peter 1:17 – 21) The context extends to 2:12 where the object of that fear is revealed. The faithful have no fear for themselves, but for the outsiders. All have been redeemed (had their debts to justice paid), but behavior still matters, not because of justice but because the outsiders will not listen to those who claim to have power from God, yet fail to exercise it.

“You were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:18 – 19) A major motivation for seeking and trusting God is the character of Jesus who paid the debts to justice for all people. The faithful do not seek God to obtain redemption, but as a natural response to having been redeemed while still living aimlessly.

“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.” (1 Peter 1:22) Faith is not summed up in one’s relationship with God. A natural and essential extension of that faith is a fervent selflessness toward fellow believers.

“…having been born again, not of perishable seed but imperishable, through the word of God which lives and abides.” The “word” (logos in Greek) is not the printed Bible, although the Bible is composed of messages from God. The “word” is the concepts about the nature and character of God. These concepts are what revive our spirits, figuratively raise them from a “dead” and aimless life.

“As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby up to salvation, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” (1 Peter 2:2 – 3) Spiritual growth is essential to faith. If we are not growing, we are dead. That growth is a natural result of understanding the nature and character of God, described here as graciousness. Grace is the composite of the integrated, consistent, and positive character traits of God.

“You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5) When Peter wrote this, the Temple in Jerusalem with its priesthood and sacrifices were on-going, although they ended permanently less than 20 years later. The faithful have taken over those functions. Individually and collectively, the faithful are the Temple where people meet God. The faithful are those who bring the message. And they offer up their lives to bring others in.

Israelites “stumble, being disobedient to the word to which they were appointed.” (1 Peter 2:8) After 1500 years of waiting for the Messiah, why did the vast majority of Israelites fail to understand that Jesus was the one? Israel was appointed by God to introduce the concepts of redemption and faith, yet most became obsessed with the illustrations embodied in their traditions, overlooking what they meant. They were disobedient to the “word,” the concepts concerning the nature and character of God. Sadly, many modern church-goers do the same.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9) In ancient Israel, a royal priesthood was an oxymoron. Kings came from the tribe of Judah; priests came from Levi. The church, the faithful, are both, reigning with the King and connecting people with God. The faithful are not the ostracized few, hanging on to the end, but are exceedingly powerful as those who illuminate the path for others.

“For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.” (1 Peter 2:15) Foolish people deceive themselves with self-serving excuses to rationalize evil. Logic will no longer bring them back to reality. God’s last appeal to break through their calloused consciences is through observing the behaviors produced by the godly characters of faithful people. Lives in confusion can still recognize lives of graciousness, peace, and love.

“Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” (1 Peter 3:15) Every faithful person must be aware of the logic for the existence of God, the proof for the resurrection of Jesus, the evidence for the accuracy of the Scriptures, and the flawless success rate for the promises contained in them. Opinions do not convince. Responsible people make decisions based on facts. In opposition to empty and arrogant rhetoric, remember that making a poor case may result in a lost soul.

“As each has received a gift, serving it into each other, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:10) God has promised gifts to the faithful, although not the flashy but empty claims of charlatans. Rather, all the faithful serve and build up one another in ways that amaze even the one serving. Certainly, everyone can learn a skill and use it (which is a good thing). Peter’s reminder is to serve in ways that are beyond normal human ability using skills deposited by the indwelling Spirit.

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you.” (1 Peter 4:12) The early Christians had lives full of injustice and deprivation. The “health and wealth” doctrine promoted by many churches is a fraud. Not only will the faithful experience the negative effects of various natural and governmental disasters, they will likely be persecuted because the downtrodden find nice people easy to blame for their troubles. However, the faithful have peace and understanding, so survive.

1 Peter 1:3, “Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Mercy, a compelling desire to fix what ails someone else, has been best displayed in the gift of the indwelling Spirit who is deposited in all the faithful, whose primary task is character development. In this promised reconstruction, the faithful have a realistic and confident expectation of success, physically evidenced by the resurrection of Jesus.

1 Peter 1:4, “…to an inheritance imperishable and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.” Eternal life implies an imperishable inheritance, but the “undefiled” part is thought-provoking. Satan and his angels had access to the present heaven until the war described in Revelation 12. Jesus cleansed heaven after that (Hebrews 9:23), but it had been defiled. So, a new heaven and new earth, undefiled, have been waiting to be revealed in the last day (Revelation 21:1). The faithful inherit a new kingdom, not a reconditioned one.

1 Peter 1:5, “…who [the faithful] are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” The Spirit is the facet of the one true God through which the work gets done. This Spirit is given to each faithful person who has lived since Acts 2 and has been tasked with transforming each faithful person into the character of Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18), including repairing the conscience of each (Hebrews 9:14). On the last day, all the faithful, alive or deceased, will experience the final rescue.

1 Peter 1:6, “In this [salvation] you greatly rejoice, though for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials…” Being kept by the power of God, being destined for an imperishable inheritance, and having a confident expectation of success because of the resurrection of Jesus, the faithful live their time on earth rejoicing, despite the difficulties that life on earth may present.

1 Peter 1:8 “…Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, you love. Though now you do not see, yet believing you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” The Jewish Christians of central Turkey had not seen Jesus. Yet, because of the evidence of His life and resurrection, they trusted God that He had come to earth. This trust resulted in a life of joy plus transformation into the character of Jesus.

1 Peter 1:10 – 12, “Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of God who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them was revealed that, not to themselves, but to you they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven – things into which angels long to look.”

1 Peter 1:20, “He [Jesus] was pre-planned, before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for you.” People have caused much havoc on this planet. God’s interventions in earthly things were not reactions but the result of plans determined before creation. God is not playing catch-up; God has not had to scramble to remain relevant. Rather, He understood that we would crash the system repeatedly. Coming to earth to pay off everyone’s debt to justice was ready to go before He said, “Let there be light.”

1 Peter 1:22, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.” The world operates on self-deception and self-promotion. The faithful operate on selflessness and reality. Purity, doing the right thing, is much easier when one is freed from excuses, unrealistic expectations, and self-importance.

1 Peter 1:23, “…having been born again, not of perishable seed but imperishable, through the Word of God which lives and abides.” The Word, the philosophy and logic of God, have been the foundation of satisfying life across all cultures and several millennia. For those living in the past 1950 years, written expression of the Word is available as the Bible. Directed to ordinary people in creative literary form, this collection of history, poetry, illustrations, and advice from God has endured unaltered, ready to transform willing hearts into God’s family.

1 Peter 2:2 – 3, “As newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby, up to salvation, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” Grace is the collection of godly character traits with special emphasis on the way those traits are integrated and consistent. Recognizing that the Creator must, logically, be gracious is the launchpad to inclusion in God’s eternal family based on mutual trust and selfless concern. Contemplating the logic and philosophy of God through the Bible promotes growth of one’s spirit.

1 Peter 2:4 – 5, “Coming to Him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” All the faithful are described as a holy priesthood in a spiritual house offering sacrifices. The following paragraphs describe these sacrifices as general Christian activities such as being honorable, glorifying God, and obeying civil laws. In these, we celebrate forgiveness, which is Biblical sacrifice.

1 Peter 2:7 – 8, “…to you who believe, precious, but to those who disbelieve, ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,’ and ‘A stone of stumbling and rock of offense.’ They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.” The Jewish leadership was appointed to guide Israel to the promised Messiah. Obviously, they rejected Jesus who became the point from which all things are to be measured. They were offended by His common origins, simple message, and, mostly, because He did not follow them.

1 Peter 2:9 – 10, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” Peter was writing to Jewish Christians in central Turkey. As the diaspora, they were not within the nation of Israel, not a people. But they had been repaired (received mercy) through the work of the indwelling Spirit and reclaimed.

1 Peter 2:12, “…having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of inspection.” In every age, a favorite political tactic is to malign one’s opponents. Peter’ admonition was to continue in honorable conduct that when the facts were finally exposed, God would be given the credit for the behavior of His people because that manner of life was so remarkable so as to invite the conclusion that only God could have caused it.

1 Peter 2:13, “Submit yourselves to every human institution for the Lord’s sake…” The same idea is repeated in Romans 13:1 – 7 and Titus 3:1. Christians through the ages have wrestled with that concept. Many have concluded that there is a line in the governmental sand that, once crossed, justifies disobedience. Rather than either declaring possession of all wisdom, or being paralyzed with doubts, the faithful should make the best decision they can at their current state of spiritual maturity, apologizing to God in advance for not seeing a better answer.

1 Peter 2:17, “Honor all. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.” Honor does not mean to obey the whims of another, but rather to listen carefully, consider their ideas objectively, be respectful, then make your own decision based on what is best for the brotherhood. The faithful all have liberty, which means that they are responsible for their own choices.

1 Peter 2:21, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow His steps.” Jesus displayed some impressive powers in His lifetime, of course for healing, but also including controlling storms and demons, even over death. At any point in the injustices that came together to result in His execution, He endured patiently, although He could have escaped miraculously. The faithful are called to patiently endure this broken world on that scale so that others may be rescued.

1 Peter 3:15, “Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” Every faithful person should be prepared to offer evidence for their choice to follow Jesus. Unlike all other religions which are based on preferences and best guesses, Christianity is founded on physical evidence. But that defense should be offered gently and kindly due to the overriding fear for the destination of those on the outside.

1 Peter 3:20 – 21, “…in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared into which a few, that is, eight, were saved through water: there is also an antitype which now saves us – baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh but the response of a good conscience into God)…” Noah and family were rescued from an evil world, much in the same way the faithful are rescued from their various corrupt societies. One of the ten symbolisms within baptism is that reminder, that this broken world is not longer in control of them.

1 Peter 4:1 – 2, “Since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” Jesus did not give into the ways of the world, and suffered for it. Peter’s reminder is that going along with worldly norms may be easier in the short term, but aiming for the desires of God is far more satisfying.

1 Peter 4:4, “…these [outsiders] think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.” The outside world finds the lifestyle choices of the faithful to be strange, even incomprehensible. In their lack of understanding, they often malign the faithful for being, in their world view, downright weird. As the faithful expose the gospel to those around them, they need to keep in mind that such is the outsider’s perspective and speak in such a way to help the outsider get past that potential barrier.

1 Peter 4:6, “For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead [separated from God], that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” The fact that an outsider has no connection with God should not hinder the faithful from exposing them to the gospel. The objective is to address the character (the spirit) of that person, not the behavior. The outside world will still judge them according to their behavior, but the faithful are focused on that which fixes both their connection with God and their eventual behavior: character transformation.

1 Peter 4:8, “Above all things, have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’” Love, doing what is best for another without regard for the effect on oneself, if a fundamental character trait of the faithful which, along with mutual trust, makes them suitable for the family of God. A character based on love will grow into the character of Jesus. The missteps along the way will not become typical, but only temporary aberrations. Of course, Jesus paid the debt to justice for all sins, but practicing love makes bad behaviors fade away.

1 Peter 4:9, “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.” Hospitality in those days was more along the lines of inviting people to stay a day or two or more, not just for a meal. Helping others get through hard times or just hosting travelling faithful strangers can encroach on personal space, time, and assets. Grumbling is overcome by desiring to fill the needs of others without thinking of oneself, a characteristic of love.

1 Peter 4:10 – 11, “As each one has received a gift, serve one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, do it as the oracles of God. If anyone serves, as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified.” The faithful receive varying gifts through the indwelling Spirit. These were not talents with which they were born or skills they had developed over time. Rather, these are superhuman manifestations of that Spirit so that observers would know immediately that the person did not do it, but God.

1 Peter 4:12, “Do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you.” Peter prepared the Jewish Christians of Turkey for the devastation that would befall them in connection with the Third Jewish Revolt (67 – 70 AD) that ended with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. The faithful needed reassurance in advance that these terrible times did not mean they had chosen the wrong path or that God was losing the battle. Rather, despite the suffering, the Kingdom of God would prevail.

1 Peter 4:13, “Rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” This reminder was directed to Turkish Jewish Christians who soon were to suffer at the hands of Rome. But, it also is a good reminder for the faithful today. Bad times are still bad times, but the faithful get through them because they know the outcome (eternal life) and have the character, developed through the indwelling Spirit, to handle the present. Confident expectation of success produces joy.

1 Peter 4:16, “If anyone suffers as a Christians, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this name.” In the first century, Christians were routinely deprived of property and liberty for no other reason that their views on God. Peter reminded the Turkish Jewish Christians not to be ashamed of being labeled unfairly, but to comment on the character of (glorify) God while acting with a godly nature(in this name).

1 Peter 4:17, “The time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” Peter was preparing the Turkish Jewish Christians for the terrible times on their near horizon. In true selflessness, they were to think about their own confident expectation of overcoming in contrast to the outsiders who had no hope to which to cling. The outsiders’ approaching devastation was motivation to evangelism.

1 Peter 5:10, “The God of all grace, who called you into His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, will repair, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” The faithful are to join the parade of Jesus’ character traits (glory). But the earthly part of that journey will not be comfortable. In fact, it is designed to be uncomfortable, as training usually is. The faithful look forward to their ongoing character transformation through the indwelling Spirit, their new ability to overcome themselves, and their confidence in the future.