July 29, 2022
What's More Precious Than Gold, Tested by Fire, Imperishable, Undefiled, and Unfading?
1 Peter 1
Carrie Beckner
Central Truth
Hope of eternal salvation through the blood of Jesus is unbreakable! No matter what you do or anyone else does to you, the inheritance of a believer cannot be taken away.
Key Verse | 1 Peter 1: 8-9
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1
Greeting
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Born Again to a Living Hope
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time 1 1:11 Or what time or circumstances the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
Called to Be Holy
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, 2 1:13 Greek girding up the loins of your mind and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for
“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
25
but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
Listen to the Podcast
Listen NowDive Deeper | 1 Peter 1
Welcome to Peter's first book of the Bible! Peter, an apostle of Christ, wrote a letter to some very special folks: exiles (1 Peter 1:1). Even if you haven't been thrown out of your homeland because you are a Christian, you've probably been made fun of for not participating in an activity, been left out or uninvited, or been brought into a debate concerning a foundational pillar of the faith. This letter was written to Christian exiles of the first century, but it is just as applicable for a believer to read now in the 21st century.
First Peter 1 can be viewed in two parts: the first is encouragement about what these exiled believers hope in (1 Peter 1:2-12), and the second half is a reminder about how these Christ followers should be living (1 Peter 1:13-25).
In part one, we're called "born again to a living hope." This is where that "new life" comes from that I mentioned in my bio. It's because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead! (1 Peter 1:3) I don't know about you, but when I read this chapter, it pumps me up! I'm on fire remembering that the genuineness of my faith is tested by the fire of my life's trials, and my eternal salvation is imperishable and kept in heaven for me because of God's great mercy (1 Peter 1:3-6).
In part two, we're reminded how to live out this new life in Christ, especially in the face of persecution. As obedient children, we are called to be holy, just as God is holy in mind and conduct (1 Peter 1:14-16).
As a believer, I rejoice in response to the encouragement in Peter's reminders of the pure joy we find in our faith, knowing it produces an outcome of salvation that cannot be removed (1 Peter 1:8-9). If you have not found that joy yet, it's still available to you as well! Check out Romans 10:9-10 and speak with your heart and your mouth, that though you have not seen Him, you can love Him and believe in Him through faith.
Discussion Questions
1. Do you know anyone who's been kicked out of their home, workplace, or a gathering because of their faith? Explain. What did that teach you?
2. What would you put into a letter to encourage modern-day exiles in their walk with Christ? Write that letter, a quick note, or a prayer for a believer who's being persecuted for their faith.
3. In what ways are you being persecuted or left out because of your faith in Christ as your Lord? Read both letters, Peter's and yours, to yourself.
4. If you are not yet a believer being persecuted for your faith, will you stop and pray now that if God is real and Jesus is available to you, He will reveal Himself to you? Then I challenge you to reach out to other Christians and ask them any burning questions you need answered in order to take that leap of faith for yourself today so that you, too, can live a new life of inexpressible joy!