1. Rejoicing in Our Salvation (1 Peter 1:1-12)
by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
http://www.jesuswalk.com/1peter/1_salvation.htm
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Dear Friend,
Here's the first lesson in the series. Here's how I encourage you to study:
- Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate this passage.
- Read the passage for the week slowly and thoughtfully.
- Then read it again, now considering my thoughts.
- Fill in any blanks you find and answer the questions marked Q1, Q2, etc.
These individual questions will also arrive via e-mail during the week to
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signed up for the lessons-only version).
- Post your answer at the appropriate spot on the Joyful Heart Bible Study
Forum. The URL following each question will take you to the right place to
read others' answers and post your own. You can
introduce yourself to other participants online, too.
http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=33&t=145
Each Saturday you'll receive the lesson for the following week. This series
continues for 11 weeks in all, though we'll take a couple of breaks along the
way.
May God richly bless you as you study his Word deeply and meditate on it this
week.
Yours in Christ's service,
Pastor Ralph
P.S. Why don't you invite a friend to sign up for this Bible study right now.
Then you'll have someone with whom you can talk about it. Have your friend sign
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In this series I'll be including various artist renderings of
St. Peter, the author of this epistle. Of course, no one knows what he really
looked like, but I hope you'll enjoy the various artistic interpretations.
St. Peter, from a mosaic icon in naves of the Patriarchal
Basilica of St. Paul: Outside the Wall, The Vatican. |
Text
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia,
Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, [2] who have been chosen according to the
foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for
obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
[3] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great
mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] and into an inheritance that can never perish,
spoil or fade -- kept in heaven for you, [5] who through faith are shielded by
God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in
the last time. [6] In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while
you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. [7] These have come so
that your faith -- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though
refined by fire -- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and
honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. [8] Though you have not seen him, you love
him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled
with an inexpressible and glorious joy, [9] for you are receiving the goal of
your faith, the salvation of your souls.
[10] Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was
to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, [11] trying to
find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was
pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would
follow. [12] It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but
you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have
preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long
to look into these things. (1 Peter 1:1-12)
Exposition
The beginning of 1 Peter is a gourmet table featuring the greatness of Jesus'
salvation. Peter seems to savor every aspect of salvation as he spells it out in
the first 12 verses.
We see....
- A Trinitarian salvation accomplished by the Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit,
- A future salvation that we will experience when Christ returns,
- An inexpressible and glorious joy we can have in salvation, even
though we go through struggles, and
- A promise of salvation into which prophets and angels long to look.
Study the first twelve verses of Peter's letter with me. Taste with me and
see that the Lord is very good!
Salutation (1:1)
"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus,
Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia...." (1:1)
The letter begins with a salutation -- but one that must have thrilled the
recipients. A salutation usually has three parts:
- Identifies the sender -- here, "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ."
- Identifies the recipients
- Offers a blessing or greeting to them -- in this case: "Grace and peace be
yours in abundance."
But what's really intriguing and powerful is how the recipients are described.
Let's see what we can learn from a couple of these descriptive words:
Elect. Our word "elect" is a transliteration of the Greek noun
eklektos, "pertaining to being selected, chosen."[1] Peter is emphasizing
the fact that God chose and selected us. Present-day evangelists call us to
"make a decision" to follow Christ -- and this is important. But sometimes this
clouds for us the realization that the only way we can come to Christ is if he
chooses us, calls us, softens our hearts, brings his Holy Spirit to bear on us
so we are able to repent. (John 15:16; 17:6; Ephesians 1:4; 2:10; 2
Thessalonians 2:13; and 2 Timothy 2:25)
Exiles. "Strangers" (NIV, KJV) or "exiles" (NRSV) is the Greek
adjective parepidēmos, "pertaining to staying for a while in a strange or
foreign place, sojourning, residing temporarily." In the New Testament, it is
used of Christians as a noun, "stranger, sojourner, resident alien" (also 1
Peter 2:11; Hebrews 13:13). Some closely related Greek words are used to
describe "civil servants who distinguish themselves for exemplary conduct while
on international duty"[2] "Scattered" (NIV, KJV) or "the Dispersion" (NRSV;
Greek diaspora) is used figuratively of Christians who live in dispersion
in the world, far from their heavenly home (also at James 1:1)[3].
Peter is warning us not to get too settled here. We are first citizens of the
Kingdom of God, not of the corrupt world system. This reminds me of an old
Gospel song: "This world is not my home, I'm just a-passing through...." We are
to be engaged in this world -- Jesus certainly was -- but we must remember that
our allegiance is elsewhere. We're resident aliens for now.
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"Pontus,
Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia" refer to various regions in Asia Minor,
modern-day Turkey, perhaps the north two-thirds are referred to. This is an area
that Paul had evangelized in several of his missionary journeys.
Trinitarian Salvation (1:2)
Peter's salutation continues:
"... Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the
Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus
Christ and sprinkling by his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance." (1:2)
Nowhere does the New Testament use the word "Trinity," but the concept of the
triune God is certainly present. In fact, I don't think you can really
understand the New Testament without some concept of the three-fold nature of
God. Other verses that clearly assume the Trinity include Matthew 28:19 and 2
Corinthians 2:13. For a fuller study, see my article
"Four Reasons Why I Believe in the Trinity"
(www.joyfulheart.com/scholar/trinity.htm).
I don't want to debate the Trinity here, however. Let's examine this passage
by looking at a few of the words used here.
"Foreknowledge" (NIV, KJV) or "destined" (NRSV) is the Greek
noun prognōsis, "foreknowledge, predetermination"[4] This Greek word is
transliterated in English. In some places it refers to a forecast of the
probable course of a disease. We already discussed the word "chosen" or "elect"
above. Put together (as the NIV does), the phrase "chosen according to the
foreknowledge of God" is pregnant with possibilities and fuels an endless debate
about the nature of predestination. I've concluded that we humans don't know
enough to really understand predestination, much less to argue about it with any
real meaning. For me it's enough to affirm that God does the choosing -- that's
his part -- and I must do the responding -- that's my part. And ultimately my
salvation is all because of his grace, no credit to me (Ephesians 2:8-10).
"Sanctifying" is the Greek noun hadiasmos, "personal dedication
to the interests of the deity, holiness, consecration, sanctification." The
lexicographer says, "The use in a moral sense for a process or, more often, its
result (the state of being made holy) is peculiar to (the New Testament)"[5].
We'll talk more about holiness and sanctification in later lessons, since
holiness is one of the major themes of 1 Peter.
Notice that the Father's and the Spirit's ministries have a two-fold purpose:
- Obedience. Our destiny is to obey Jesus, pure and simple.
- Sprinkling by his blood, that is, forgiveness and cleansing.
"Obedience" is the Greek noun, hupakoē, "a state of being in
compliance, obedience (one listens and follows instructions)" [6]. Listening and
following instructions is our purpose and destiny in Jesus Christ. Sadly, many
people sign on to Christianity to get forgiveness, but not for obedience. They
come only as a package. One who says that he believes in Jesus, but refuses to
listen and follow him, is kidding himself. He thinks he has acquired fire
insurance, but he doesn't have true faith. As Jesus -- and his brother, the
disciple James -- tell us, "By their fruits you shall know them" (Matthew 7:20)
and "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead" (James 2:17).
"Sprinkling by his blood" refers to Jewish temple worship that
involved animal sacrifice and sprinkling the blood upon people or objects that
were to be set apart for the service of God. This concept appears in the
Pentateuch especially, dozens of times (such as Exodus 24:8, 29:20-21; Leviticus
1:11; 4:6 etc.) and in the Book of Hebrews (9:13, 19, 21; 10:22; 11:28; 12:24).
In the Old Testament, the priest imparted holiness. In the New Testament, Jesus
acts as our High Priest, who, by his own sacrifice and blood, atones for our sin
and offers pardon and forgiveness for our sins.
Use the box below to take your own notes on the functions of each member of
the trinity to bring about salvation:
|
Person |
Function |
Describe this function in your own words |
|
Father |
Choosing and destining |
|
|
Holy Spirit |
Sanctifying |
|
|
Son |
Sprinkling |
|
Now try to answer the second question:
|
Q2. (1:2) Why do forgiveness (sprinkling) and obedience come together as a
package? Why is it deceptive to think you can have one without the other? Extra
credit: If true faith requires obedience, how can we say that we are saved by
grace rather than works? (Ephesians 2:8-10)
http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=33&t=147
|
Cause for Rejoicing (1:3-5)
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his
great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can
never perish, spoil or fade -- kept in heaven for you, who through faith are
shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to
be revealed in the last time." (1:3-5)
In verses 3-5, Peter enumerates a number of things which should give us joy
as Christians. Notice that as Peter lists them, they run together -- they can't
be analyzed in complete isolation from each other. I'll identify each with a
word, but you fill in why this should give you joy. (You don't need to submit
these answers to the Forum. They're for your use only.)
|
Source of Joy |
Why this brings us joy |
|
Great mercy |
|
|
New birth |
|
|
Living hope |
|
|
Resurrection from the dead |
|
|
Imperishable inheritance |
|
|
Protection by God's power |
|
|
Salvation revealed when Christ returns |
|
Great mercy is a theme all of us can identify with. Someone once said,
"Grace is getting what we don't deserve. Mercy is not getting what we do
deserve." When I think of how much we fall short -- even the best of Christians
-- I realize how much mercy God has towards us. We have impure thoughts and
motives -- God shows mercy. We say and do unkind things -- God shows mercy. We
sometimes commit terrible sins -- God shows mercy. He withholds the righteous
judgment that we deserve. That, my friends, is
great mercy.
The new birth is a theme in 1 Peter. It occurs here, in 1:23, and in
2:2. The Greek verb used in 1:3 and 1:23 is anagennaō, "beget again,
cause to be born again, figuratively of the spiritual rebirth of Christians."[7]
When used of a female parent it would be translated "bear again." When used of a
male, it means, "begotten again." Notice that 1:23 associates this begetting
with "seed" (spora).
A living hope reminds us that we have an expectation for the future,
based not on the great deeds of a fallen martyr, but in a living and risen
Savior.[8]
Resurrection from the dead is not just an historical event, but an
astounding, paradigm-shattering miracle that both (1) identifies Jesus as Victor
over death, whose words can be believed and relied upon, and (2) inspires in us
a hope for life beyond mortal life. We look forward to our resurrection, too.
An imperishable inheritance is in sharp contrast with "things." As a
teenager I remember visiting the Cliff House in San Francisco, a museum of the
era before the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906. All the glitter looked
dusty and tarnished. The clothing was faded and moth-eaten. The brass was dull
with tinges of green. Our possessions here on earth are like that. They look new
and bright in the store, but after a few years they are a bit worn, the kind of
things you might find at a thrift store. Even precious metals, land, and
investments can drop precipitously in value. It may seem secure, but it is not
-- not really. The only secure investment is the one Christ has made on our
behalf in heaven -- "an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade."
Shielded through Faith (1:5)
Not only our heavenly investment is secure, so are we.
"... Who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming
of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." (1:5)
There's controversy in some circles about the security of the believer. I
don't want to get into the controversy, except to have you consider the teaching
of this tiny verse.
God does the shielding of the believer. The word "shielded" (NIV), "kept"
(KJV), or "protected" (NRSV) is the Greek verb phroureō, a military term:
"to maintain a watch, guard, here 'to provide security, guard, protect,
keep.'"[9] This guarding will continue until Christ returns -- and personally
consummates our salvation (Hebrews 9:28; Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 15:54). On
this, see also John 10:27-29; John 17:11-12; Romans 8:31; 14:4; 2 Timothy 1:12;
4:18; Hebrews 7:25; and Jude 24.
But the phrase "through faith" indicates that our faith has a part in
activating this protection and salvation. Certainly God's strong guard around us
is not dependent upon our sometimes weak and vacillating faith, but our faith
still has a role. Jesus told his disciples that even if they had faith the size
of a mustard seed, it could move mountains (Matthew 17:20). Perhaps you
underestimate the power of your faith! On this, see also Matthew 20:13; Luke
8:13-15; 22:32; John 8:30-32; Galatians 6:9; Colossians 1:23; Hebrews 3:6, 14;
4:14; 1 Peter 1:9; 1 John 5:4; and Revelation 2:10.
I am aware that some doctrinal systems can't hold these truths simultaneously
of God's part and our part in salvation -- they must accentuate the one and
downgrade the other -- but the scripture doesn't seem to see them as mutually
exclusive.
Tenses of Salvation (1:5)
"... Who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming
of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." (1:5)
It may be confusing to talk about salvation in the future. We normally think
about it in the past, when we have been rescued from our sins by God. Actually
our salvation can be looked at in several tenses:
Past -- both Jesus' death on the cross for our sins, but also how he
rescued us from our old way of life at our spiritual birth, spiritual awakening,
or whatever you want to call it. In our church we sometimes sing Geoff Bullock's
song, "I Will Never Be":
"I will never be the same again.
I can never return, I’ve closed the door.
I will walk the path, I’ll run the race,
And I will never be the same again."[10]
No way do we want to go back to the life we had before.
Present -- a present activity of God on our behalf to help us in our
present circumstances and rescue us from problems and persistent sins. Paul
expressed it this way: "Continue to work out your salvation with fear and
trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his
good purpose" (Philippians 2:12-13).
Future -- when we receive all the benefits of our salvation. There
will be a time when Christ returns that we will be completely rescued from our
worldly existence and be fully immersed in his presence. In Revelation it is
expressed,
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain,
for the old order of things has passed away" (Revelation 21:4)
This is the final salvation that Isaiah foresaw when he wrote:
"The ransomed of the Lord will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away" (Isaiah 51:11)
Rejoicing in Spite of Suffering (1:6-7)
Verse 6 contains two seemingly contradictory concepts -- rejoicing and
suffering grief:
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may
have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that
your faith -- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined
by fire -- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor
when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1:6-7)
We rejoice in God's blessings, but at the same time we "suffer grief in all
kinds of trials." The joy of our life in Christ is tempered by "grief" (NIV) or
"heaviness" (KJV) by the various troubles of this life -- both the normal
problems of life that all people face, as well as the persecutions we may face
as Christians. The Greek verb is lupeō, which in the passive voice means
"be sad, be distressed, grieve."[11] It refers to the emotion of grief, not to
the suffering that produces grief.[12]
"Trials" (NIV, NRSV) or "temptations" (KJV) is the Greek noun peirasmos,
and can refer to either (1) a test or trial, or (2) a temptation or enticement
to sin.[13] Here it is probably used in the general sense of test or trial. Of
course, God doesn't tempt us with evil (James 1:12-14). But he does allow
circumstances that stretch our faith and force us to grow.
If we had our choice, we'd be on cruise control. But there's no growth in
cruise control. Our faith grows when we encounter circumstances that push us out
of our comfort zone and force us to rely on God. As we are pushed up against
Jesus, he makes an "impression" on us, and his image in us is reinforced (Romans
8:29). These trials or tests of our faith are God's way of forming Christ in us.
Without them we would remain spiritual babies; with them we grow into the full
stature of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). So we can endure these trials and the griefs
they bring, because we look beyond them in hope to God's purpose for us.
Peter compares this spiritual growth to the smelting process by which metals
are purified. In ancient days, silver or gold ore was melted in a crucible. The
weight of gold and silver atoms causes them to settle to the bottom, while other
molten elements (the dross) separate from the heavy metal and rise to the
surface where they are skimmed off. This heating and skimming process is
repeated many times until the gold or silver is pure. Only then is it be allowed
to cool fully and is then formed into ingots or jewelry of great value.
Unrefined ore has value only in its potential; but refined precious metals are
ready to use.
"These [trials] have come so that your faith -- of greater worth
than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire -- may be proved
genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is
revealed" (1:7).
Ultimately, not even gold will endure (2 Peter 3:12) -- only genuine, tested,
purified faith. The Greek word used here is dokimazō, "to make a
critical examination of something to determine genuineness, put to the test,
examine."[14] And that tested and approved faith will bring great glory and
honor to Jesus when he returns.
Unspeakable Joy Inspired by Faith (1:8-9)
Peter the Fisherman and the believers he preached to had found a joy beyond
themselves, a joy that they experienced even when everything wasn't going well,
even when persecution was intense (see Matthew 5:10-12):
"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do
not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and
glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of
your souls" (1:8-9).
Peter is marveling at the joy inspired in the hearts of believers. He had
seen Jesus in the flesh, most of the Christians he encounters at this point in
his life had not -- yet they love him. And they do not see him now -- in the
flesh. But with eyes of faith they -- we -- see him, and we are filled with "joy
unspeakable and full of glory," as the KJV powerfully renders this phrase.
Let's examine how this joy is characterized by Peter. "Inexpressible" (NIV),
"unspeakable" (KJV), or "indescribable" (NRSV) is the Greek adjective
aneklalētos, a word which occurs only here in the New Testament, and
"describes a joy so profound as to be beyond the power of words to express."[15]
Peter also refers to this joy as "full of glory" (KJV) or "glorious" (NIV,
NRSV). This Greek word is doxazō, the verbal form of the noun
doxa, used throughout the Bible to describe the weightiness of God, the
bright shining radiance of God's very presence. The joy we Christians have can
reflect that Shekinah glory of God.
Have you ever experienced this kind of amazing joy? This isn't emotionalism
-- something artificially worked up by oneself or by a skillful manipulator of
people -- but an emotion, a joy prompted by a faith-vision of God himself.
Last Sunday, the Spirit was powerfully at work in our church during the
singing. Our worship leader had sought God for what songs to sing, and now the
congregation seemed caught up in worship. The words focused our minds and hearts
on Jesus and what he has done for us. And the Spirit of God began to rise within
us, filling us with faith and a fresh vision of God. I gradually found myself
smiling with joy and lifting my hands in worship.
Not that I had a physical vision of Jesus, but by faith and by the Spirit, my
spirit was connected afresh with power. I experienced that "inexpressible and
glorious joy" on Sunday. Not that I always do. Sometimes my vision of Christ is
pretty mundane. But as I hear the word and sing the truth, my faith responds
with joy. Why? Because, Peter says: "you are receiving the goal of your faith,
the salvation of your souls" (1:9). Part of that salvation and freeing work of
Christ in my soul is to be experienced and enjoyed now, even though it is a
brief glimpse or earnest or taste of what it will be like in heaven (2
Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; Ephesians 1:14).
Q5. (1:8-9) According to 1 Peter 1:8-9, what is the basis of
Christian joy that is "inexpressible and glorious"? How does this joy
interplay with human emotions? Is it essentially emotional? How does it
differ from what is generally regarded as the pursuit of "happiness"? Extra
Credit: How can you tell the genuine article of joy from the counterfeit?
http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=33&t=150
|
The Witness of Prophets and Angels (1:10-12)
Peter underscores the specialness and uniqueness of Christian salvation by
speaking of the curiosity and expectation of both prophets and angels.
"Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace
that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care,
trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ
in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the
glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not
serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been
told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit
sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things." (1:10-12)
Do you take your salvation for granted? You shouldn't. The Old Testament
prophets found themselves speaking about this salvation by the Spirit. The kind
of salvation you and I experience is much more complete, much greater than that
experienced by even the greatest of the Old Testament prophets -- John the
Baptist (Luke 7:28). The prophets tried to search out what this salvation was
all about. How about you? Will you search out its meaning as diligently as the
prophets who foretold it? Our salvation is great! It is glorious! It is even the
subject of angelic speculation! And it is ours, a wonderful gift granted to us
in whom God has sparked faith.
Prayer
Lord, I'm years away from first knowing you. So often I take your salvation
for granted. I've failed to search and probe the depths and wonder of my own
salvation. Forgive me. I pray that I may live my life experiencing the "joy
unspeakable and full of glory" that Peter describes. Let me live out your
salvation for me with genuine, not presumptive, faith. In Jesus' name, I pray.
Amen.
Key Verses
"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see
him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious
joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
(1 Peter 1:8-9)
References
Standard abbreviations can be found on the
references page.
- BDAG 306.
- BDAG 775.
- Diaspora, "the state or condition of being scattered, dispersion"
(BDAG 236).
- BDAG 866-867.
- BDAG 10.
- BDAG 1028.
- BDAG 59.
- Greek zaō, "live."
- BDAG 1066-1067.
- Geoff Bullock, "I Will Never Be," © 1996. Word Music (a division of Word,
Inc.)/ASCAP.
- BDAG 604.
- Grudem, p. 62.
- BDAG 793.
- BDAG 255-256.
- Grudem, 66.
1 Peter: Discipleship
Lessons from the Fisherman
Copyright © 1985-2012, Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor
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Lamb of God
