I've Been Thinking About This…

Some introductory notes to the letter:

1. This is known as one of the ‘general epistles’ – written to the church in general, rather than to a person (Timothy, Titus) or a city (Corinth, Philippi).
2. Peter is one of the ‘big three’ in the inner circle (Peter, James & John), and was the first to step up to lead after Christ’s death. His letters would have been considered very authoritative/important. No other disciple is quoted more often in the Gospels. He was both rebuked and praised more than any other disciple. He was impetuous and bold.
3. He speaks of the Christians in this letter as ‘pilgrims’ or ‘sojourners’, suggesting that they have a different home (Heaven) and are travelling toward it through a foreign land controlled by someone who doesn’t think as they do (Satan).
4. (v 2) Obedience – note that we see this word 3 times in this chapter – in vv 2, 14 & 22. Christians are ‘elect’ (pre-chosen – v 1) and ‘sanctified’ (made holy – v 2) for the express purpose of being obedient to Jesus Christ.
5. (v 2) Sprinkling of the blood of Jesus – Guzik notes that there are 3 times in the OT when blood was sprinkled: (1) at the establishment of the covenant on Mt Sinai (Ex 24:5-8), (2) at ordination (Ex 29:21) and (3) at the purification ceremony for a leper (Lev 14:6-7). Christ’s blood has bound us to Him, ordained us and cleansed us.
6. (v 3) A living hope – Christians are born again to a hope that never ends, thanks to Jesus being raised from the dead.
7. (v 4) inheritance – our inheritance is guaranteed safe; kept imperishable for us in Heaven.
8. (v 5) guarded – we are being guarded by God’s power – Heaven awaits!
9. (v 6-7) trials – we rejoice in what awaits, although we may well have trials initially. Those trials are to test the genuineness of our faith – (do we fall away? Then that faith wasn’t real). This testing will show it to us.
• NOTE – Part of the value of gold lies in its permanence – it doesn’t rust and is difficult to dissolve. Peter here calls gold ‘perishable’ when compared to our faith.
10. (v 10) The OT prophets knew OF the Messiah, but didn’t know who or when, although they searched diligently.
11. (v 11) The angels – who watch us (1 Cor 4:9) – wanted to know too! It must have been hidden from them as well (Mk 13:32, Eph 3:10-11).
• NOTE: At this point, Peter switches over to speak about how we should live:
12. (v 13) Action – prepare your minds for it! God’s plan is one of action, not passivity.
13. (v 13) Sober – get focused; get serious.
14. (v 13) Hope on the Grace – Grace is on its way when Christ reveals it to us.
15. (v 14) obedient – oh dear – here it is again. It only works when we are obedient. He’ll do the planning, we do the follow-through.
16. (v 14) passions – don’t stop half-way over the fence; don’t hang on to your old ways.
17. (v 15-16) holy – we are set apart by God as holy. We need to keep ourselves that way. (Lev 11:44, 19:2)
18. (v 17) fear – Peter isn’t suggesting we should have a cowardly, craven cringing fear, but an attitude of awe at God’s power revealed.
19. (v 18-19) ransomed – awe about being ransomed. The closer we come to Jesus, the more we can see how little we deserve His ransom.
20. (v 18-19) gold is perishable; His blood is not.
21. (v 21) Put your FAITH and HOPE in God
22. (v 22) obedience – purifies your so your love can be sincere and earnest.
23. (v 23) the Word – God’s Word caused for you to be born again, this time an immortal.
24. (v 24-25) the Word will abide forever.

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