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1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers and pilgrims1 scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, to obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you.
1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy has given us new birth into a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1:4 To an inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved for you in heaven,
1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a time, if necessary, you may have to suffer griefs through many trials,
1:7 So that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tried with fire, might result in praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
1:8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; though you do not see him now, but believe in him, you rejoice with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory,
1:9 Receiving the end of your faith - the salvation of your souls.2
1:10 Concerning this salvation the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, have inquired and searched diligently,
1:11 Searching to whom, or in what time the Spirit of Christ who was working in them indicated, when He testified beforehand of the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
1:12 It was revealed to them, that it was not to themselves, but to us they made known the things that are now reported to you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven; things that the angels desire to look into.
1:13 Therefore be resolute of mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;3
1:14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts of the time of your ignorance;
1:15 But as he who has called you is holy, so you be holy in all manner of conduct;4 [So you must be holy, perfect, pure, and righteous. You must perfect holiness.]
1:16 Because it is written, "Be holy; for I am holy."
1:17 And if you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in reverent fear;
1:18 Since as you know, you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your vain conduct received by tradition from your forefathers,
1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
1:20 Who was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.
1:21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope might be in God.
1:22 Since you have purified your souls by obeying the truth through the Spirit to unfeigned love5 of the brothers, see that you love one another fervently with a pure heart;
1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible, by the word of God that lives and lasts forever.6
1:24 "For all flesh is like grass, and all the glory of man like the flower of the field. The grass withers, and the flower fades away,
1:25 But the word of the Lord endures forever." And this is the word [the word in your heart] by which the gospel is preached to you._________________________________________
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1 strangers and pilgrims. For a true seeker of God, seeking with his whole heart and soul, is a stranger to the earth. He has removed himself from being absorbed in the world's customs, traditions, pastimes, friendships, pleasures, and religions — while journeying in faith to his new home, as the highest priority in his life, the Kingdom of Heaven. As did Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and many other giants of the faith; they all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them by faith at a long way off, and were convinced of them, and embraced them, confessing that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
2 Peter shows that salvation is not believing or faith, rather salvation is the end of faith's obedient journey: Who are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a time, if necessary, you may have to suffer griefs through many trials, so that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tried with fire, might result in praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him; though you do not see him now, but believe in him, you rejoice with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith - the salvation of your souls. 1 Pet 1:5-9.
Believing is not salvation, as Paul seven times emphasizes:
- now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed, Rom 13:11,
- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, Phil 2:12,
- But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. 1 Thes 5:8, and
- For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Cor 1:18. While in the inward cross of self-denial, you will see the sin slowly disappear from your life until you are free of sin.- godly sorrow produces repentance that leads to salvation, 2 Cor 7:10.
- do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, by whom you are sealed to the day of redemption [future happening]. Eph 4:30.
(Paul is speaking to believers in the church who have not yet been redeemed.)- For we are the sweet aroma of Christ unto God, to those who are being saved. 2 Cor 2:15
- we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold firm the beginning of our confidence to the end. Heb 3:14
- we desire that every one of you show the same diligence in realizing the full assurance of hope to the end.
So that you are not slothful, but followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Heb 6:11-123 Therefore be resolute of mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Hope to the end. The end of what? The end of your journey to salvation; the union; the day of the Lord; the entry into the Kingdom of Heaven. Hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought (mark! grace that is still to come, future tense) to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Here is Peter telling them the Revelation of Jesus Christ was coming to them 2000 years ago. For the appearance of Jesus Christ is within a man: He will appear the second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Heb 9:28. And John says: When he appears, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. Everyone with this hope purifies himself, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:2-3. And we desire that everyone of you do show the same diligence in realizing the full assurance of hope to the end, Heb 6:11. There are six statements of Jesus, which testify to to the second appearance of Jesus Christ being a personal experience, click to see.
4 As he who has called you is holy, so you be holy in all manner of conduct. What kind of holiness is required? As Jesus was holy, you are required to be holy. So we are to be holy like Jesus was holy; we are to be righteous, like Jesus was righteous, and we are to be perfect, like the Father is perfect. Peter reminds the believers that they have given up their former lusts. But those who call themselves Christians of the deficit sects, are still following their lusts: lusts of the flesh (exotic foods, drink, sex, drugs) and lusts of the eye (cars, clothes, home furnishings). Lust is covetousness, which is to want something, from people or things themselves. Rather, we are supposed to forsake our lusts, putting them behind us, and be holy in all manner of conduct. This is the order to those who aspire to salvation: Be holy as Jesus was holy, however this is something that no matter how hard you try, you can't do it until the Lord purifies your heart and soul, by you going to him - waiting, listening, hearing, and obeying - repetitively, until the end, when he brings your salvation.
5 Pure heart and purified soul. How? Your souls are purified by obeying the truth, to love ..through the spirit. 1 Pet 1:22. Your heart is purified by faith. Acts 15:9.
How? You must go to him. You must wait on him - listen silently, with the humility of a sinner in need of his changing power - grace.
Seek, listen, obey..seek, listen, obey.....seek, listen, obey. You must endure to the end, when Christ brings salvation.
You must abide in him. Now little children abide in him, that when he appears you may have confidence in him. 1 John 2:286 the word of God that lives and lasts forever. The Bible does not live, nor does the Bible last forever. The Bible is not the word of God. The Bible is not alive. The Bible is the letter. The letter kills, the spirit gives life, 2 Cor 3:6. If the letter kills, it is dead; so the letter is dead. But the word of God, who is the Spirit of Jesus, lives and lasts forever.
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