A. We are often short-sighted and distracted from faith’s prize by faith’s daily trials. Knowing this, Christians must be diligent to remember that the prize will be well-worth any price.
B. As we commence our study of the text of our series, we are immediately directed in 1Peter 1:1-12 to the fact that the ultimate outcome of faith is the salvation of the soul.
II. OUR INDESTRUCTIBLE INHERITANCE FROM GOD
A. Peter began his letter with a greeting that assures his readers of the intimate work of the Holy Trinity in the lives of Christians (1Pet. 1:1-2).
1. In the previous lesson, we noted that Peter was the author of this letter and that Christians scattered in Asia Minor were the original recipients of this letter.
2. Now let us notice what Peter says about how each member of the Trinity is intimately connected and involved with Christians.
a. Christians are chosen by the foreknowledge of God the Father.
i. The issue of God’s foreknowledge and predestination has been a source of confusion and controversy for many years. Let us take the Bible’s explanation of this matter and leave the confusion to men.
ii. The simplest way to comprehend the topic of predestination is to understand Romans 8:29-30: “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”
iii. In other words, God decided before it happened that He would save (call, justify, glorify) all persons who would conform to the image of His Son, i.e., Christians. This is nothing more than a different way to describe the gospel of Christ, the plan of salvation, or the scheme of redemption.
iv. When the Scriptures say that God chose people or had foreknowledge of them, it does not imply that His choice prevents individuals from affecting their own salvation. In fact, the behavior of an individual has a direct impact upon his or her salvation (2Pet. 1:10-11). It is our choice to become Christians.
v. The confusion regarding God’s choice and predestination of persons results from the false Calvinistic doctrine of unconditional election. This doctrine is disproven even within the single verse of 1Peter 1:2, as we will see.
b. Christians are also chosen by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.
i. The work of the Holy Spirit is to teach, bring remembrance of Christ’s words, testify about Jesus, convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment, guide in truth, disclose what is to come, glorify Christ, and disclose the things of Christ (John 14:26; 15:26-27; 16:8-15).
ii. Initially, the Spirit did these things through the Word of God with the assistance of miraculous spiritual gifts. Now the miraculous spiritual gifts have ceased (1Cor. 13:8-12), but the Spirit’s work continues through the Word of God alone (1Thess. 2:13; Jas. 1:21; 1Pet. 1:22-25).
iii. The result of the Spirit’s work is that Christians are sanctified, which means that they are set apart and made holy.
iv. Note: This is another issue that has been confused by Calvinism and the false doctrine of irresistible grace, which teaches that the Holy Spirit operates directly on a person and causes him or her to seek God. The Scriptures do not teach this.
c. Christians must obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood.
i. Christ is the source of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him (Heb. 5:9). This is a condition (not a result) of salvation.
ii. Notice that obedience implies that a choice is made to submit to the will of another. It must be man’s choice to obey or else it cannot be true obedience. God does not force anyone to obey by His predetermination.
iii. “The sprinkling of His blood” refers to sanctifying and cleansing power of Christ’s blood shed on the cross (Heb. 9:13-14).
3. To all those who have been thus affected by the Trinity, Peter gave his greeting of grace and peace.
B. Peter continued his assurances with a guarantee of an invaluable future reward (1Pet. 1:3-5).
1. First, there is praise for God the Father for bringing about this great reward.
a. God has caused Christians to be born again to a living hope. We will look more closely at the new birth in Lesson 3.
b. God accomplished the new birth through the resurrection of Christ (Eph. 1:18-21).
2. Then, there is a description of this reward or inheritance.
a. The invaluable nature of this reward is emphasized (“imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you”).
b. In light of what he was about to say regarding persecution, Peter emphasized divine protection and the future revelation of salvation.
c. The bottom line here is that a Christian’s reward cannot be destroyed and it cannot be stolen (Matt. 6:19-21). There is nothing like it on earth.
III. DISTRESSED FOR A LITTLE WHILE, SAVED IN THE END
A. Christians rejoice over the future reward of faith although they may suffer in the present (1Pet. 1:6-7).
1. This is the first mention of the major theme of this letter, which is faith enduring through suffering that results in salvation.
2. Notice that a Christian rejoices in trials not because he is enjoys suffering but because he sees beyond the present distress to the future result.
a. The present testing by fire proves a Christian’s faith, which is “more precious than gold.”
b. When a Christian endures, he rejoices because he knows his success will “result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” See also James 1:2-4.
B. Consider the emphasis upon Christians’ relationship to the unseen Jesus Christ and the resultant future salvation (1Pet. 1:8-9).
1. Christians love Christ, believe in Christ, and rejoice in Christ even though they have not seen and cannot see Him in this present world. This “conviction of things not seen” is the fundamental definition of faith (Heb. 11:1).
2. The result of this love, belief, and joy about unseen things (faith) is the salvation of Christians’ souls. Compare this to Hebrews 11:6 – “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
IV. LIVING IN A PRIVILEGED TIME
A. The salvation promised to Christians was previously unknown by the prophets and angels (1Pet. 1:10-12).
1. The men of old who had the Spirit of Christ prophesied of Christ in pieces and shadows, but the full revelation of Christ (who He would be, when He would come) was hidden from them, even though they carefully sought to know.
2. It was revealed to those prophets that they served us who have now received the preaching of the gospel by the Holy Spirit. Their prophecies allowed us to recognize Christ when He came.
3. This mystery of the gospel was so great that not even angels knew its revelation.
B. This means that we live in a privileged time even though we may suffer for our faith in Christ.
1. Lest any Christian yearn for the “good old days” of miracles and revelation, let us be reminded that we live in an era in which we are privileged to know the full revelation of the gospel of Christ. Not even the prophets or angels were allowed to know what we now take for granted.
2. Likewise, lest any Christian lament over living in a time of trials and distress, let us all count the blessings that come by knowing the complete Word of God. It is a good time to be alive on the earth!
V. CONCLUSION
A. The message contained in these initial verses of 1Peter serves as motivation for the instructions contained in the remainder of the book. It is the salvation at the end of life that must drive us forward in faith through every challenge that we face.
B. In our next lesson, we will consider 1Peter 1:13-25 – “Redemption.”