Monday, 19 January 2015

Words for the Wise, Prepared for Action, 1 Peter 1

1 Peter 1
English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)



1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Born Again to a Living Hope

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. 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 honour 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.

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and enquired carefully, 11 enquiring 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.

Called to Be Holy

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action,[a] 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. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for

“All flesh is like grass
    and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
    and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord remains for ever.”
And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Dictionary of Bible Themes

7028 church, life of

The church lives its life in union with Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is called to mutual love, holy living, and to worship.

The church lives its life in union with Christ

The church lives in Christ and Christ lives in the church 1Co 1:30 See also Mt 18:20; Jn 15:5; Jn 17:21; 1Co 8:6; Gal 2:20; Col 1:27; Col 2:6; 1Jn 4:13

Believers are united with Christ in baptism Gal 3:27 See also Ac 2:38; Ac 19:5; Ro 6:3-4; Col 2:12

The church lives its life in the power of the Holy Spirit

The church lives in the Spirit, and the Spirit lives in the church Ro 8:9-11 The indwelling Spirit is identified with the presence of Jesus Christ. See also 1Co 3:16; Gal 5:16,25; Eph 2:22; 2Ti 1:14; 1Jn 2:27

The Spirit is given to the church Ac 1:4-5 See also Jn 20:22; Ac 2:4; Ac 15:8; Ro 7:6; Ro 15:16; 1Co 6:11; Gal 3:3; 1Pe 1:1-2

The Spirit seals the church Eph 1:13 See also 2Co 1:22; 2Co 5:5; Eph 4:30

The Spirit guides the church Rev 2:7 See also Ac 8:29; Ac 10:19; Ac 11:12; Ac 13:2; Ac 20:23; Ac 21:4

The Spirit teaches the church 1Co 2:13 See also Jn 16:13; Eph 1:17

The Spirit sanctifies the church Ro 15:16 See also 1Co 6:11; 2Th 2:13; 1Pe 1:2

The Spirit endows the church with gifts 1Co 12:7 See also Ro 12:6-8; 1Co 12:8-11,28; Eph 4:11

The church as a fellowship

As a fellowship of mutual love 1Th 5:11 See also Ro 15:2; 1Co 14:12; Gal 6:10; 1Th 4:18; Heb 10:25

As a fellowship of ordinary people 1Co 1:26-27 See also Lk 6:20; Jas 2:5

The distinctiveness of the church

The church as a chosen people 1Pe 2:9 See also Eph 1:4; Col 3:12

The church as a holy people Heb 12:14 See also Ro 11:16; Ro 15:16; 1Co 1:2; Eph 2:21; Eph 5:3; 1Th 3:13; Heb 2:11; 1Pe 1:15-16; 2Pe 3:11

The church as a people set apart 2Co 7:1 The repeated call to be separate from evil is the practical outworking of the church’s sanctification. See also 1Co 5:9-12; 2Co 6:14-18; Eph 5:7; 2Th 3:14; 2Ti 3:1-5; Tit 3:10-11

The church as a heavenly people Jn 17:14-16 See also Lk 10:20; 1Co 15:48; Gal 4:26; Eph 2:6; Php 3:20; Col 3:1-4; Heb 11:16; Heb 12:22-23

The church and worship

Praise in the life of the church Heb 13:15 See also Ac 2:47; 1Co 14:26; Eph 5:18-20; Php 3:3; Col 3:16

Prayer in the life of the church Corporate prayer in the church: Ac 1:14; Ac 2:42; Ac 4:24-31; Ac 12:5,12; Ac 20:36; Ac 21:5 Prayer for church leaders: Ro 15:30; Eph 6:19-20; Col 4:2-4; 1Th 5:25; 2Th 3:1; Heb 13:18
Eph 6:18 prayer for all Christians; 1Ti 2:1-2 prayer for all, including secular leaders

Baptism in the life of the church

Ac 2:38; 1Co 1:13; Gal 3:26-27; Eph 4:4-5; Col 2:11-12; 1Pe 3:21

The Lord’s Supper in the life of the church 1Co 10:16-17 The breaking of bread was central to the church’s worship and a vital expression of its fellowship. See also Ac 2:42,46; Ac 20:7; 1Co 10:21; 1Co 11:17-34

The suffering of the church

Suffering persecution from a hostile world Jn 16:33 See also Mt 5:10-12; 1Co 4:12; 2Co 4:9; 1Th 3:4; 2Ti 3:12

Sharing in the sufferings of Christ Php 3:10 See also Jn 15:20; Ro 8:17; 2Co 4:10-11; 1Pe 4:13

Suffering as the road to glory Jas 1:12 See also Ro 5:3; Ro 8:18; 2Co 4:17; 2Ti 2:11-12; 1Pe 5:10

1 Peter 1

The Bible Panorama


V 1–2: PILGRIMS Peter, the apostle, writes to the Christian pilgrims who have been dispersed throughout what we know as modern Turkey. He wishes them multiplied grace and peace. Although geographically scattered, their position as the elect is focused in God. The Father’s foreknowledge, the Spirit’s sanctifying, and the shed blood of Jesus Christ are all highlighted in the greeting. Sanctification and obedience are to be priorities for them.

V 3–9: PRECIOUS Starting with God’s mercy and their hope, through the resurrected Christ, Peter reminds them of an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that awaits them in heaven, and of the preciousness of their faith which is being tried through grievous trials. This will lead to great rejoicing and the certainty of their eternal salvation.

V 10–12: PRIVILEGE Prophets, and even angels, would love to know what these Christians now know about the sufferings and glory of Christ, made real to them through His gospel. They are privileged people!

 V 13–16: PRIORITY They are to reject former sins and lusts. They are to be holy because God is holy. Holiness is the hallmark of real conversion, and must be the priority of each Christian.

V 17–21: PRAYER Those who call on the Father in prayer should have a consistent conduct that honours Him. The precious blood of Christ, shed in God’s economy before the world was founded, has redeemed them. Their faith and hope are in God, knowing that the once crucified Christ is risen from the dead.

 V 22: PURITY The Holy Spirit has given them purity through obeying the truth. Their love for one another is to blend purity with fervency.

 V 23–25: PERMANENT Just as God lives forever, so His Word endures forever. They have been born again spiritually through incorruptible and unchangeable seed. Their gospel blessings will also last for ever.


The Bible Panorama. Copyright © 2005 Day One Publications.


Yours by His Grace


Blair Humphreys


Southport, Merseyside

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