1 Peter 1:1–12

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Dean, School of Christian Studies, University of Mobile

ACKNOWLEDGE A SECURE SALVATION
1 Peter 1:1–12

Introduction (1–2)
Simon Peter, or Kephas, is the disciple who appears in the Gospels first as a Galilean fisherman and later leader of the Twelve. An “apostle” is a messenger sent with the full authority of the sender. Perhaps the best modern English equivalent is “proxy.” When an apostle writes in the name of Jesus, it is as if Jesus Himself writes.

The letter was written to believers, strangers in the world because they are citizens of heaven. They were scattered throughout five districts that made up Asia Minor north of the Taurus Mountains. The word is “Diaspora,” the name for the Jews scattered in exile outside Judah. Since this is a letter to Christians, “Diaspora” probably designates the Jewish believers in the districts named. “Elect” refers to something special that had been done to the readers. God picked them to be His own. Every saved person can confess this.

Salvation originated somewhere back in the “foreknowledge” of God. This term may mean simply knowing earlier than the time of speaking, or it may be the same as predestination. Whom God foreknew, the Spirit set about sanctifying, i.e. cutting them out of the herd to be branded as God’s own. The goal of foreknowledge and sanctification is obedience and the application of Christ’s sacrificial death in the believer’s life.

There is a reason grace and peace always stand in this order. Those who are strangers to God’s grace are strangers also to His peace.

Salvation Originated in God (3–5)
The God whom Peter praises is the God whom Jesus called “Father.” Acting in mercy, the Father gives Christians a new birth, a living hope, a heavenly inheritance and salvation itself. In the New Testament, hope is confident expectation for the future. Because the Roman state regularly seized the property of convicted criminals, persecuted Christians had trouble holding earthly inheritances, but their heavenly inheritance was secure. It was incorruptible — “unravagable” by invading armies, undefiled — a technical legal term for having an unflawed title and “fadeth not away” — never wears out. This inheritance is safe because God keeps it — and keeps the heirs for it. By His great power, He will preserve both right up to the final day of salvation, that even now stands ready to be revealed but awaits the right time.

Salvation Tested by Persecution (6–9)
Peter gives his readers some characteristics of trials that come to Christians. They come in all kinds (one’s own are not the only kind), cause pain, last “for a little while” and are “necessary” (the Greek text includes the word deon that means absolute necessity). Why are trials necessary? In the present, trials test the genuineness of faith. In the future, trials will reveal the praiseworthiness of faith, resulting in God’s bestowal of “praise, honor and glory” upon the faithful. This will take place only when Jesus returns. Although believers suffer here, they “are receiving salvation” — their future deliverance is as good as in hand.

Salvation Anticipated by Prophets (10–12)
Although the Spirit led them to write about Christ’s death and exaltation, the Hebrew prophets only dimly understood what they had written. Strong words indicate how earnestly they searched to understand the meaning of their own writings. Full understanding was impossible until the Christ came and was preached by the apostles. This contradicts the principle that every biblical passage must be interpreted in such a way as to make it relevant to the day in which it was written. That principle is valid generally but must not be pressed so as to restrict the Holy Spirit from identifying prophecies in unexpected places.

So great is human salvation that even angels long to investigate it. “Look” means “to bend over” for careful examination (the verb occurs also in Luke 24:12, John 20:5). Scripture never says angels rejoice over the salvation of a lost person. It says there is rejoicing “in their presence” (Luke 15:10), i.e. God turns cartwheels up the streets of gold.