Peter writes to believers who are “strangers,” scattered and suffering. He does not begin by explaining their trials. He begins with praise: God “hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” to an inheritance that can never decay. Their faith is being tested like gold in the fire. The prophets longed to understand this salvation, and angels desire to look into it. So, Peter says, be holy, love one another, and remember what it cost to redeem you: not silver and gold, “but with the precious blood of Christ.”
A study in 1 Peter 1 · Arthur Baldwin · StandUp4Jesus.Org · 19 min read
To The Strangers Scattered
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”
1 Peter 1:1-2
Peter writes to believers across five provinces of Asia Minor, modern Turkey. He calls them “strangers” — temporary residents, people who do not really belong where they live. In one sense they were scattered by circumstance. In a deeper sense every Christian is a stranger here, because our citizenship is in heaven.
And they are “elect.” Notice how Peter describes it, with all three Persons of the Godhead at work. They are chosen “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father” — God knew them and planned their salvation. They are set apart “through sanctification of the Spirit.” And the purpose is “obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” Election in Scripture is never an arbitrary decree that some will be saved and others lost regardless of their choice. It is God’s gracious plan to save all who come to Him, and its goal is a people who obey and are cleansed by Christ’s blood.
Begotten Again Unto A Lively Hope
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
1 Peter 1:3-5
Before anything else, Peter praises God. And his praise centres on three gifts.
First, a new birth: God “hath begotten us again.” The man who once swore he did not know Jesus now writes of being born again into God’s family.
Second, “a lively hope” — a living hope — “by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Peter’s hope had died on Friday when Jesus was crucified. It came back to life on Sunday morning at the empty tomb. Because Christ lives, our hope is alive.
Third, “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away.” Earthly inheritances can be spent, stolen, taxed or lost. This one is “reserved in heaven for you,” and it will be revealed “in the last time,” when Christ returns and makes all things new.
“These letters bear the impress of having been written by one in whom the sufferings of Christ and also His consolation had been made to abound; one whose entire being had been transformed by grace, and whose hope of eternal life was sure and steadfast. … In this hope of a sure inheritance in the earth made new, the early Christians rejoiced, even in times of severe trial and affliction.”
Ellen G. White · The Acts of the Apostles, p. 517
And while the inheritance is kept for us, we are kept for it: “kept by the power of God through faith.” The word “kept” is a military term, as if guarded by a garrison. God guards us, and faith is how we stay within His protection.
Tried With Fire
“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”
1 Peter 1:6-9
Joy and sorrow at the same time. “Ye greatly rejoice,” and yet “ye are in heaviness.” Both are real. The sorrow is “for a season” and only “if need be.” The joy is permanent.
Why the trials? Peter uses the picture of a goldsmith. Gold ore is heated until the impurities rise and can be skimmed off, leaving the pure metal. Faith is “much more precious than of gold,” and God refines it the same way. The fire does not destroy genuine faith; it proves and purifies it. And the result will be “found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”
“Whom having not seen, ye love.” Peter had seen Jesus with his own eyes. His readers never had. Yet they loved Him just as truly, and rejoiced “with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” Jesus Himself had said, “blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29).
“Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.”
1 Peter 1:10-12
This salvation is so great that the Old Testament prophets “searched diligently” to understand it. “The Spirit of Christ which was in them” — Christ Himself, by His Spirit — inspired them to foretell “the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” They searched their own prophecies for the “time” of these things, and were told they were writing for a later generation. For us.
And even the angels “desire to look into” it, like someone bending down to peer at something wonderful. Heaven’s unfallen beings are still marvelling at the plan of redemption.
“As he studies and meditates upon the themes into which ‘the angels desire to look’ (1 Peter 1:12), he may have their companionship. He may follow the steps of the heavenly Teacher, and listen to His words as when He taught on mountain and plain and sea.”
Ellen G. White · Education, p. 127
Be Ye Holy
“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:”
1 Peter 1:13-17
“Wherefore.” Because of this great hope, live accordingly. “Gird up the loins of your mind.” In Bible times a man tucked his long robe into his belt before running or working. Get your mind ready for action; don’t let your thoughts trail loose.
“The apostle sought to teach the believers how important it is to keep the mind from wandering to forbidden themes or from spending its energies on trifling subjects. Those who would not fall a prey to Satan’s devices, must guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts.”
Ellen G. White · The Acts of the Apostles, p. 518
“Be ye holy; for I am holy.” Peter quotes Leviticus (11:44; 19:2). The standard has not changed from the Old Testament to the New. God’s people are to reflect His character “in all manner of conversation” — in every part of life. And they are to live “in fear,” reverent awe, because the Father “judgeth according to every man’s work.”
The Precious Blood Of Christ
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”
1 Peter 1:18-21
Why take holiness so seriously? Because of what our redemption cost. “Redeemed” is the language of the slave market: paying a price to set someone free. Silver and gold were the most valuable things people knew. They could not buy our freedom. Only “the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” could.
“Had silver and gold been sufficient to purchase the salvation of men, how easily might it have been accomplished by Him who says, ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine.’ Haggai 2:8. But only by the precious blood of the Son of God could the transgressor be redeemed. The plan of salvation was laid in sacrifice.”
Ellen G. White · The Acts of the Apostles, p. 519
And the Lamb “was foreordained before the foundation of the world.” The cross was not Plan B. God’s plan to save us through His Son was in place before He created the first human being.
“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”
1 Peter 1:22-25
Obeying the truth purifies the soul, and the fruit is love: “unfeigned love of the brethren,” genuine, without pretence. “Love one another with a pure heart fervently” — the word means stretched out, straining, with all your strength.
And the new birth comes “by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” Peter quotes Isaiah 40:6-8. Human life and human glory are like wild grass and its flowers, green in the morning and withered by evening. God’s word lasts forever.
“When truth becomes an abiding principle in the life, the soul is ‘born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.’ This new birth is the result of receiving Christ as the Word of God.”
Ellen G. White · The Acts of the Apostles, p. 520
So Peter’s opening chapter gives suffering believers everything they need to endure: a living hope, an inheritance kept for them, a faith being refined into gold, a holy calling, a redemption bought with priceless blood, and a word that will never fade. The next chapter will tell them who they are.
