PEOPLE OF HOPE

1.  Sure Salvation (1 Peter 1:1-12)  

2. Holy Calling (1 Peter 1:13-21) 

3. Incorruptible Seed (1 Peter 1:22—2:3) 

Central Truth: Faith in Christ and His Word gives us hope to persevere. 

Focus: Discuss and depend on the eternal hope Christ offers. 

Evangelism Emphasis: Christ offers the hope of salvation to all people. 

Text: “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” (1 Peter 1:13). 

INTRODUCTION 

The apostle Peter was one of the most vibrant and energetic people in the life of our Lord. The first part of his life—from his birth to the time he met Jesus—we know little about. We do know he was married and his mother-in-law was still living (Mark 1:30). He was a Galilean fisherman who lived in Capernaum and had a brother named Andrew (v. 16). 

 The second part of his life is given in some detail for us. This is his life following his conversion until the Day of Pentecost. The records are clear in the Gospels and in Acts. 

The third period is from the Day of Pentecost to the Jerusalem Council. This is found in Acts 1—15 and Galatians 2. It covered a time frame from about AD 33 to 49. 

From the Jerusalem Council to his death, the records are meager. We have only his two epistles and brief references in the remainder of the New Testament: 1 Corinthians 9:5 and John 21:18-19. 

Peter’s first letter is addressed to a mixture of Jewish and Gentile Christians in five areas of Asia Minor. It was probably written from Rome in the early to middle part of the decade of the 60s. It is clear that these Christians were beginning to be persecuted for their faith. In light of this, the apostle Peter wrote “a powerful appeal to courage, purity, and faithfulness to Christ amid the sufferings which they are experiencing” (D. Edmond Hiebert, An Introduction to the Non-Pauline Epistles). 

1.   SURE SALVATION 

A.  Chosen and Hope-Filled (1 Peter 1:1-4) 

 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 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. 3 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, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. 

Peter introduces himself simply as “an apostle of Jesus Christ.” He writes this letter to congregations settled in five areas of Asia Minor. “Strangers” (v. 1) is better rendered “exiles.” Peter could have been writing to the Jews who were scattered around the Mediterranean world. He also could have been writing Gentile Christians whose new citizenship was in heaven. “Scattered” here does not refer to those who were fleeing; rather, it indicates the churches covered a wide range of territory. The order of the areas mentioned corresponds to the natural movement a person would take in delivering the letter to each area so it could be read. 

Verse 2 is one of the most powerful verses in Holy Scripture. It stresses the majesty and sovereignty of God and His power to save. The people addressed in these Asian provinces are described as the “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.” The word foreknowledge is the Greek prognosis. It was a medical term (as it is today), and Peter used it in his Pentecost sermon in Acts 2:23 to describe the death of Jesus. 

Peter spoke of God’s accomplishing election through sanctification. This corresponds to the statement of Paul in Romans 6:22, “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” This sanctification is wholly the work of the Spirit of God. This is not legalism nor self-righteousness. This is the liberty God’s children have in the Spirit of God. 

Thus, election is made secure in our hearts because of our love of His Word and His commandments. Our entire life shifts to obedience to His will. We no longer seek excuses for disobedience, but we seek to love Him more. 

In verse 3 of the text, Peter praises God for what He accomplished in Jesus. The focus of praise in the death and resurrection of Jesus is God the Father, who showed Himself to be righteous, loving, holy, and abundantly merciful. He births new life and hope in us through the resurrection of Jesus. As believers, we are born again to a “lively hope.” Salvation means we have a purpose for living. 

This lively hope that is ours through the Resurrection is “incorruptible” (v. 4). This is the same word used in 1 Corinthians 15:52 to speak of the resurrection body. It is a pure, “undefiled” hope. In other words, this hope is untouched by the power of sin and death. It shines pure and bright, leading us to our inheritance in heaven. This inheritance is “reserved” for us, “beyond the reach of earthly accidents” (Interpreter’s Bible). 

• Why do we need “multiplied grace and peace” (see v. 2) and “abundant mercy” (v. 3)? 

A.  Shielded and Purified (1 Peter 1:5-9) 

 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 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: 8 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: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Just as God has given us a lively hope through the Resurrection, He has also promised to keep us by His power. The word kept is a present participle that connotes the ongoing “keeping” quality of God. The word was used in the sense of a protective garrison watching over the city gates from the inside. Thus, faith keeps us in the power of God until the return of Jesus Christ. 

Because we were saved at the moment we put our faith in Christ, and because we are being saved daily through the indwelling Holy Spirit, we know we will be saved after we leave this life. Heaven will be our eternal home. 

In verse 6, the “if need be” should be remembered. Not all Christians at all times undergo major stresses on their faith. However, when onslaughts come your way, be mindful of God’s promises. In the midst of temptations, your faith can grow. The “trial of your faith” (v. 7) refers to the genuineness of your faith, which is more valuable than gold. Nothing earthly compares with the value of saving faith in Christ. 

Our faith should elicit praise to God. This praise is the adoration of a coming monarch—the appearing of Jesus Christ in whom we have “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (v. 8). While Peter was able to see Jesus in His earthly ministry, we are part of that multitude of faith who have not yet seen Him but nevertheless believe. Faith in Jesus leads us to a point in divine-human history: the day of ultimate salvation (v. 9). 

By God’s Appointment 

First, He brought me here; it is by His will I am in this [difficult] place: in that fact I will rest. Next, He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace to behave as His child. Then, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow. Last, in His good time He can bring me out again—how and when He knows. Let me say I am here (1) by God’s appointment, (2) in His keeping, (3) under His training, (4) for His time.—Andrew Murray 

C.  Saved by Grace (1 Peter 1:10-12) 

 10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11 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. 12 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. 

The Old Testament prophets searched diligently to understand salvation in Christ. To them, however, the prophecies concerning Christ were a mystery. The prophets knew they would not see Christ in their generation, but they still had faith in Him. For us today—with the complete canon of Scripture, the many fulfilled Old Testament prophecies, and the discoveries of archaeology at our disposal—believing in Jesus Christ should not be difficult. 

When Peter spoke of the glory that followed Jesus’ suffering (v. 11), he greatly encouraged the believers to whom he wrote. Although they were suffering persecution and trials, they could be assured that glory and blessing would follow. 

In verse 12, Peter again says the Old Testament prophets did not minister to their own generations about Christ. The things they saw and recorded were for our benefit. The truths which have been handed down to us through the preaching of the apostles are the revelations of the Gospel. Peter relates effective preaching with the Holy Spirit. This was his own experience, as seen in Acts 2 and 3. 

Peter said even the angels seek to look into the mysteries of the Gospel. While the angels cannot experience redemption, they marvel at the power of God to redeem sinful people and look in wonder at this mighty salvation. 

• How do both the prophets and the apostles minister to believers today? 

2.  HOLY CALLING 

A.   Obedient Children (1 Peter 1:13-14) 

 13 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; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. 

As God’s children, our whole manner of life is to be holy, even as God is holy. We are to “gird up,” “be sober,” and “hope to the end.” To “gird up the loins of your mind” is a metaphor referring to the long, loose robes worn by Easterners, which were drawn up and belted at the waist when they wanted to work or walk energetically. To “gird up the loins” is to be committed totally to accomplishing something. 

 Soberness is the opposite of infatuation with the momentary attractions of the world; it is a steady state of mind allowing responsible decision-making. The grace about which we are to be so mindful and on which we are to affix our hope is the same as that mentioned earlier in verses 2 and 10, which is brought to us now in the Word of God and by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This grace, which we constantly receive, points us to the glory and the inheritance at the “revelation [return] of Jesus Christ” (v. 13). 

As God’s children, we are to obey His saving will as projected in the Gospel (v. 14). In our former life, this was not so; for our ignorance engendered lusts totally opposite to the Christian life. 

Flip the Switch 

 Surrender and obedience are the wall switches of faith. If we want to be able to see the next step where this path of [God] is taking us, we can’t just be nudging and poking around and sort of looking into the idea of going along with Him on this. We can’t be open to it only on those every-so-often Sunday mornings when the preaching is particularly good. Nobody who expects to see inside a dark room just sits there and tries not to touch the light switch, or to move it as little as they can. No, we throw it. We flip it. We’re in. We’re on. Let’s do this. Obedience. Surrender.—Joey Lankford, Fulfilled 

B.  Holy Walk (1 Peter 1:15-17) 

 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17 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. 

The phrase “in all manner of conversation” (v. 15) is much broader than the spoken word; it means “in all kinds of life situations.” An Old Testament statement is cited here to strengthen Peter’s injunction (see Lev. 11:44), and it is a constraining one: “Be ye holy.” 

Richard Lenski notes: “What God asked of Israel when He made that people His own He now asks and must ask of us whom He has called by Jesus Christ. . . . Only the pure in heart shall see God, and without holiness it is impossible to see Him. Christ died, not to save us in our sins, but from our sins” (Commentary on the New Testament). 

God, who is holy, has called us to be holy. This holiness is to affect every area of our conduct. Holiness is not an aspect of life that we can take on or off. Through the indwelling of Christ, holiness becomes our renewed nature. Thus, every area of life is ultimately directed by His holiness. 

In verse 17, the fear of God is related to our calling on the Father. Coming to God in prayer is a privilege graciously afforded us by God himself—never to be taken for granted—and a holy fear is required of us as obedient children, lest at any time we lift up to the Holy One hands that are not holy (see 1 Tim. 2:8). God the Father graciously extends an invitation to intimacy, but He also relates to us with a holy impartiality, showing favoritism to no one. 

• What does it mean to say God is holy? 
• How is it possible for us to be holy? 

C.  Precious Blood (1 Peter 1:18-21) 

 18 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; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 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. 

We walk carefully not only because God will sit in judgment of our conduct, but because our salvation has been procured at such precious price (1 Cor. 6:20). To be redeemed is “to be bought back” from bondage by payment of a ransom sufficient to effect the release. Christ Jesus “gave himself a ransom for all” (1 Tim. 2:6). Even the costliest earthly metals are perishable because they have value only for time, but Jesus’ blood, shed in substitutionary sacrifice, is eternally effective. 

 The “vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers” (1 Peter 1:18) may have referred to Jewish legalists and their message of bondage. However, it is more likely that since Peter was addressing Christians who, for the most part, had come out of paganism, he had in mind the whole range of pagan experience. These considerations were “vain” in that they were unfruitful presently and led, ultimately, to nothingness. 

From eternity, God ordained that His Son, having been incarnated, would suffer vicariously for the sins of the human race, be resurrected from the dead, ascend to the Father to intercede, and return to claim His own in the world. Jesus’ execution was the historical outworking of an event decreed before the foundation of the world. 

• Why can you put “your faith and hope . . . in God” (v. 21)? 

3.  INCORRUPTIBLE SEED 

A.  Sincere Love (1 Peter 1:22-25) 

 22 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: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  

Having the same heavenly Father makes believers brothers and sisters in the faith. Our spiritual condition is made strong by acceptance of the truth in faith and submission to it in life. Peter had in mind here one feature of obedience that is especially required: “unfeigned love” (v. 22). Unfeigned means “not wearing a mask,” such as ancient actors wore on the stage to represent fictitious characters. Instead, Christians must “love one another deeply, from the heart” (v. 22 NIV). 

In verse 23, Peter emphasized the divine seed and the sowing by which that new birth had been effected. Corruptible is the same word used in verse 18, the point being that the Word of God—the written and spoken message of the resurrection of Jesus Christ—generated through the Holy Spirit a new birth unto life everlasting. The exalted nature of the new life implanted in believers is borne out by the fact that the Word of God “liveth and abideth for ever.” Jesus affirmed, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matt. 24:35). 

In 1 Peter 1:24, “all flesh” refers to all people in their natural state as born to earthly parents. All that of which humanity may be proud—the “glory” of existence, beauty, strength, wealth, honor, art, learning achievement—is but the bloom of the grass, and no more. But God’s Word—the agency of the begetting Spirit—endures forever. 

The Complete Garment 

It is possible to have compassion without love, and it is possible to have kindness without love; but it is impossible for one who has put on love to be unkind and without compassion, for love itself is not just an accessory garment. Love is the complete garment that has all the others built into it, so that love is a total way of life.—Ray Anderson 

B.  Growing Faith (1 Peter 2:1-3) 

 1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 

The “wherefore” of verse 1 indicates this is a conclusion based on truths given earlier. The earlier facts are fivefold: (1) the resurrection of Jesus; (2) our hope of His glorious return; (3) the call to be holy even as He is holy; (4) the love of the body of Christ; and (5) the authority of His Word. 

On the basis of these things, Peter calls us to “lay aside” several things. The tense suggests “putting aside” these things once and for all with a decisive action, which is sanctification. This is holiness brought into real life. 

The first vice listed in 1 Peter 2:1 is malice. This is a “special kind of moral inferiority, a deficiency” (Bauer Lexicon). It is “ill will”—seeking to bring harm to a neighbor. When professing Christians seek to harm one another, the light of God is not in them. 

 Guile comes from the Greek word dolos, which means “deceit, cunning, treachery.” The Interpreter’s Bible speaks of guile as the person who seeks to take advantage of another unfairly. This would cover an area of Christian life from slander to economic opportunity. 

 Envy is the state by which we seek no longer to please God but to please people. We thus look at how others are doing and compare ourselves to them. If we come up lacking (in our minds), we envy them for their approval by others. If we come up ahead of them (in our minds), we feel superior to them and put ourselves above them. There is a close relationship between hypocrisy and envy. Both are based on falseness. Both are destructive because they fail to take seriously the worth of the other person and the worth of oneself as seen by God. The key for successful living is to look at one another through the Spirit of Jesus. 



The last item mentioned is evil speaking (slander). How can Christians slander one another? One way is to see a person doing something we think is wrong and then tell others about it. Another way is to talk about a believer’s past failures. 

We should not think Peter is speaking to new converts in these verses. What he is calling for by the metaphor of “newborn babes” is an attitude of reception and nurture. It is God’s Word that nourishes us as babes. We are dependent on the Word for life. The Word is trustworthy and never fails. 

• Compare the message of 1 Peter 2:3 with Psalm 34:8. 

OUR HOPE OF GLORY 

The scattered Christians to whom Peter wrote had never personally seen the Lord; yet, they had steadfast faith in Him. To have this faith in One whom they had never seen brought to them a joy beyond description. If those who had seen Jesus were blessed by having seen Him, then those who believed without having seen Him were doubly blessed. This is an assurance to all of us who have lived in subsequent generations. “Christ in [us]” is our “hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). 

Daily Devotions  

M.  Enemies’ Hopes Defeated (Esther 9:1-5) 

T.  Vain Hope; Delivering Hope (Psalm 33:16-19) 

W.  Hope in the Lord (Jeremiah 17:7-8, 13-17) 

T.  Hope in the Resurrection (Acts 26:1-8) 

F.  Hope During a Storm (Acts 27:20-25) 

S.  Anchoring Hope (Hebrews 6:9-20) 

*Adopted from the Evangelical Sunday School Lesson Commentary 2020-2021.