1st Peter 1.....ready for heaven
We can divide the chapter into “bite size” portions which enables us to understand the many aspects of God’s salvation of which we are the recipients.
Verses 1-2 The process of salvation
Verses 3-4 The prospect of salvation
Verses 5-9 The preservation of salvation
Verses 10-12 The prophecy of salvation
Verses 13-17 The practice of salvation
Verses 18-25 The plan of salvation
When we speak of salvation (mentioned three times in the chapter) we mean not only the initial experience of conversion but the whole from beginning to end which will lead us to glory. Some have defined it as “salvation from the penalty of sin in the past, from the power of sin in the present, and from the presence of sin in the future”. It is necessary to understand the terms of scripture. The chapter is “book ended” by the new birth (v3 and v23) and sets the pattern of the epistle of spiritual growth from infancy to maturity.
Verses 1-2 the process of salvation Peter is writing to the dispersed strangers who were displaced from their homes because of Roman occupation (John 7 v35 with Acts 2 v9), or by Christian persecution by unbelieving Jews (Acts 8 v1-3). The places where they now dwelt answers to modern day Turkey, and this was the very area which Paul had evangelised. Peter reminds them of their conversion and outlines succinctly the process involved; the election of God the Father, then the sanctification(setting apart) of the Spirit, then the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. The only part we played was in “obedience”. This is a Divine work involving Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and this is always the order. This by apostolic revelation and communication in agreement with all the apostles.
The first stage is Divine election, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.” Election is based on the Omniscience of God the Father, and this corresponds to the teaching of Paul in Romans 8 v29. There can be no suggestion based on scripture that He chose some for eternal damnation (reprobation as they call it), He did not, for by Divine oath He said through Ezekiel in chapter33 v11 “As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from His way and live”; and “He is not willing that any should perish”(2nd Peter 3 v9) and He is “God our Saviour who will have all men to be saved...” (1st Timothy 2 vv3-4). How if He designed the end of the wicked could any of these be true? Only by the mercy of God are any of us saved and in election He secured His people when otherwise there would be none. This is not for debate, it is for our homage and worship.
The second stage is Pre-conversion sanctification “In sanctification of the Spirit”, that is the work of the Spirit preparatory to conversion. That it is prior to conversion is evident because it is Divine activity “unto obedience”. A similar thing is said in 2nd Thessalonians 2 v13 “...God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth”. This is the washing of regeneration spoken of in Titus 3 v5 “by which God saved us”. Jesus taught in John chapter three that no one shall enter the kingdom apart from the cleansing of water and the indwelling of the Spirit.
The third stage is the Sprinkling of the blood of Jesus, the shedding of blood was for God, the sprinkling of blood is for us. This is the individual application of the blood, which takes place immediately on obedience. Later he evaluates this when he describes the preciousness of the blood so applied and the resultant status that is given to us. All the worth and value of the blood is applied to us.
This is the unalterable process of salvation. This opens the door to multiplied grace and peace, an unlimited supply of Divine provision from above.
Verses 3-4 The prospect of salvation “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively (living) hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead....”. The hope is not seen as a possibility but a certainty, and “begotten again” suggests new life that can only grow and develop. Praise be to the God of overflowing mercy who has infused us with His life at great cost to Himself. The blessing, however goes beyond this life, it is “to a living hope”.....and here is the living hope....”to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you”. Inheritance is a big part of the vocabulary of the old testament, occurring over 200 times. The principle is that God always rewards faithfulness and they lived in the expectation of an inheritance, mainly of what was known as “the promised land” although some saw beyond even that. The hope of the Christian is far greater than the glorious land, and is outside of this world altogether: it is an inheritance “incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading”. Nothing in this world could ever be described so, because in this world “the flower fades”, the “garments are moth-eaten” and the silver and gold are “corruptible”. The inheritance of the Christian is “incorruptible”(that is does not possess the elements of decay internally); it is “undefiled”(that is it is resistant to any form of defilement externally); it “fadeth not away”(that is it does not lose it’s sparkle, it’s vitality, it’s beauty, aesthetically). Also it is “reserved in heaven for you”, that is there is a place of unparalleled bliss with your name on it! The Lord has personally set aside for each one of us a life that people here can only dream about, He said “I go to prepare a place for you”! Sonship and inheritance always go together and Peter uses this here in the context of being “begotten again”. Inheritance is the natural progression of being sons. Paul does the same in Ephesians 1 vv3-14.
Verse 5-9 The preservation of salvation “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time”. Note the link with verse 4, “reserved in heaven for you” then in verse5 “kept by the power of God”. The two words are the same, and portray a Divine military guard....our inheritance is secure, we are secure and that from here to eternity. Who can overcome the power of God who keeps me? We are ready to be revealed, the day of manifestation is certain, we are on the cusp of eternal glory.
This should have an effect on us now; “wherein ye greatly rejoice”, he expands this in verse 8 “...rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory”. Joy that knows no equal on earth, joy that is independent of circumstances, joy that lays hold on the realities of eternity, and bears the rigours of time. This joy Jesus spoke of as “My joy” in John 15 v11, this joy within as He faced the cross in a few hours. To enable us to live for God in the midst of trials we need faith, note the repetition in the verses....v 5 “through faith”, v 7 “the trial of your faith”, v 9 “..receiving the end of your faith”. God’s people will be asked to go through what he calls “manifold temptations”...trials of many kinds. Note the little phrase “if need be”, God alone decides when we need to be tested and to what extent. The “heaviness” of the trial need not rob us of the joy of salvation, there is a purpose in the trial, and one of the benefits is that it will enhance our inheritance in the end...”...the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perishes...”. All testing, all suffering that produces the desired character will be rewarded. One of the ways in which God preserves our faith, and increases it, is by putting it to the test. Sometimes the testing can be severe “...though it be tried by fire”. Metals are tested by fire in the natural world, believers are tested by fire in the spiritual. The purpose is benign “..might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ”. The trial of faith is valuable to the believer; it is worth more than gold for it produces eternal character beyond the value of gold which is considered to be the most precious commodity on earth.
He closes the section with “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls”. It is possible to live in the enjoyment of our inheritance now; we can bring the glorious future to bear on the present. This is salvation of the soul in the ultimate sense of the word.
Verses 10-12 The prophecy of salvation “Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently who prophesied of the grace that should come to you”. This is no new message, it has it’s roots in the scriptures of old, and it is so important to understand this. There is no contradiction between the old and new testaments. Indeed the way of salvation was first proclaimed in Genesis 3 v15 and all the way through the same. This is confirmed by Paul in Romans 1 vv1-2 “...the gospel of God which He had promised by His prophets in the holy scriptures.”; again in Romans 3 v21 “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed being witnessed by the law and the prophets”. Again in Romans 16 vv25-26 Paul makes it clear the gospel was witnessed by the prophetic scriptures. They enquired and searched diligently concerning things that would come to pass in times beyond their lives. They searched diligently as we should today into things beyond our time. “Searched diligently” is explored and they wanted to know the detail and the manner of time when it would come. As they searched, the Spirit of Christ within them prophesied of the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow, which is now the very essence of the gospel. If you like this is now Peter’s gospel, just as Paul had his gospel, and they both agree. Peter had never been able to accept the sufferings of Christ (refer Matthew 16 v22; Mark 8 v32; Mark 9 vv31-32 etc.), he looked for the glory but not the suffering. Peter now made this his own message “the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow”, and his teaching that all believers must follow the same pathway, exactly as predicted by the old prophets. The prophets foretold, under Divine inspiration, a time of unparalleled blessing for the world; and that day has come in which the Holy Spirit now presides over the preaching of the glad tidings, something which has drawn the rapt attention of the angels of heaven. What the old prophets foretold, as inspired by the Spirit of God, is now being preached universally by apostles and prophets enabled and gifted by the same Spirit, and is the focus of the rapt attention of the angels of heaven. Prophets and apostles and evangelists and angels all unite under the presidency of the Spirit of God to proclaim the glorious message!!
Verses 13-17 The practice of salvation All this brings practical responsibility upon us. In these verses he alludes to the departure from Egypt in the “girding of the loins” and the giving of the law at Sinai in “Be ye holy for I am holy”. The girding of the loins refers to the mode of dress which was long and flowing, and would hamper any forward action. They girded the loins by folding up the garments to the waist to facilitate ease of movement. This they did when taking a journey or engaging in work, or going into battle. The idea was to allow freedom of movement without hindrance. Exodus 12 v11.. the nation was instructed “And thus shall ye eat it (the Passover) with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand and ye shall eat it in haste, it is the Lord’s Passover”. This picture is repeated in Ephesians 6 v14 as part of the armoury of the Christian in battle mode “ ...having your loins girt about with truth”. This means to be keenly alert as to the dangers, and act in full possession of your faculties. For Peter this meant sobriety in our lives now and hope in our hearts for the future.
Association with the Lord brings demands of obedience and conformity to His character who has saved us and planned for our glory. “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance, but as He which has called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation: because it is written “Be ye holy for I am holy”. In verse 2 we were chosen and preserved “unto obedience”, now as part of God’s family obedience is to be a hallmark of our lives. They were redeemed out of a land under the judgment of God and they were separated from it’s life to learn the ways of God. This involved the giving of the law, the Divine standard of holiness and they were called, as we are, to live changed lives. Next he pictures the wilderness journey with the words “And if ye call on the Father(better “if ye call Him Father”), who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear”. The overriding attitude in our pilgrim walk must be reverence and respect to the God who leads us. We will never be judged for our sins, but we will be judged for our lives.
Verses 18-25 The plan of salvation Surely one of the great portions of holy scripture. In the scope of these verses we have some of the basic truths of Christian doctrine. We have REDEMPTION in verses 18-20; we have SANCTIFICATION in verses 21-22; and we have REGENERATION in verses 23-25. In strengthening his brethren as per Luke 22 v32 and feeding the lambs and the sheep as per John 21 vv15-17, (as our Lord commissioned him to do), Peter reminds them of the foundation truths in a very graphic and lovely manner. What a plan of salvation where our past present and future has been secured!
Verses 18-20 Redemption. This is a vast subject that deserves more space than we can give here, but a brief resume will help.
Secular usage is the trade of pawn shops in restoring goods sold for debt, bought back at a greater price. Originally used for the ransom of a prisoner of war, or of a slave from his bondage or to free someone under sentence of death. Old testament use was threefold a) buying back people or property sold for debt (Leviticus 25 v25 v48); b) rescuing a person out of poverty (Ruth 2 v20 and 4 vv1-12); c) releasing firstborn from lifelong dedication (Numbers 18 vv14-16). In the broader sense it described the release of Israel from the bondage of Egypt (Exodus 6 v6).
There are four words used for redemption each with a different shade of meaning: agorazo which means simply to buy; exagorazo which is to buy back or retrieve; lutroo a ransom to secure deliverance or release; peripoieomai to buy up for oneself, the thought is of ownership. There are a number of variations of these and the context decides the emphasis. Thus inherent in the word are the ideas of purchase, of ransom, of release, of ownership. What is emphasised here is the ransom price and the ransom purpose. The ransom price is enormous, placed against the most valuable commodities on earth...silver and gold. Compared to the blood of Christ which is “precious”, silver and gold are simply “corruptible”. What all men value above everything else, what they give their entire lives for, the measure by which they determine status, are of no value at all for “no man can redeem his brother nor give to God a ransom for him”. The value of the blood of Christ is beyond any human computation, it is of unfathomable, limitless value, and that is what it took to save us. “Ye are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without spot and without blemish”. Only one man without sin inwardly and outwardly, only one in all the universe, He died, shed His blood to redeem us. To redeem us from what? We have seen the price, now the purpose....”...from your vain conversation received by tradition of your fathers”. Redeemed, bought, bought back, bought out of, released from....an empty wasted life handed down by human tradition. Yes he means empty Judaism, which, garnished with the rules and traditions of men, was worthless in the sight of God and could produce nothing for God. Other references detailing a whole range of evils from which we have been delivered are found in Romans 3 v24; 1st Corinthians 6 v20; Galatians 1 v4, 3 v13, 4 v5; Colossians 1 v13; Titus 2 v14; Hebrews 9 v15 and others. This plan of Divine beneficence was designed outside of time in the unknown annals of eternity “..before the foundation of the world...”. There are many glimpses of things outside of time and beyond this world in scripture, such as Genesis 1 v1; Proverbs 8 vv22-31; John 1 vv1-3; John 17 v24; Ephesians 1 v4, and many others of things decided “from the foundation of the earth”, that is they were planned before. This is an eternal plan, with nothing of this world of time and sense about it, it was conceived and designed and effected in the mind of God alone and revealed to the present age known as the “last times”. There is nothing of man or this world about it and nothing man can do to alter it. Christ was foreordained in eternity and manifested to us in this the greatest and most privileged age of time.
Verses 21-22 Sanctification The slaying of the Paschal lamb was associated with the feast of unleavened bread and they were never separated. In new testament language redemption must be followed by sanctification and separation from the old life is implicit in our conversion (the subject of verse 21). The feast lasted for seven days and this symbolises a permanent change. Peter emphasises this now as a natural progression “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”. The word “purify” means to wash to make clean. Our unregenerate hearts were anything but clean and association with God assumes perfect cleansing. Again this biblical word has a wide ranging meaning and for the sake of space we can say that there are five main aspects of sanctification: There is preparatory sanctification, which as we have already seen is prior to conversion; there is positional sanctification which happens at the point of conversion; there is sanctification by proxy, that is by association; there is progressive sanctification, which requires cooperation from us now; there is perfect sanctification which is future and only God will make good to us. These are big subjects in themselves and require in-depth study. What Peter is saying here is that you were made clean at your conversion, now live it out and one way is to clear your souls of all pride and prejudice and shew genuine love to your brethren. This is part of a sanctified life. “Unfeigned” love is genuine love not forced or fake love but sincere love; and “fervent love” is love that is literally “boiling over”, not lukewarm or distant. Thus the mind and the emotions must be engaged in our unmixed love for this is the object of our sanctification. If we are not there already, then we have to strive toward it.
Verses 23-25 Regeneration How is it possible to live the Christian life? To live up to the wonders of God’s salvation? To live clean lives when our hearts are naturally saturated with evil and selfishness? For Peter and the apostles it is straightforward “Being born again....” you have a new life, a new power within, a new dynamic principle controlling you, it is the new birth, you have been regenerated in Christ, you are born anew, you are born from above. You now have a new nature within, an incorruptible seed of Divine life that will grow and mature and blossom into flower and fruit for God. This Divine seed planted by the word of God will go on renewing you and that forever! This implanted seed will never cease to blossom within you. While all on this earth will fade and perish, you will go on forever. Peter now raises the preaching of the gospel to a level rarely understood “..this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you”. The incorruptible word of the living God able to change destinies, able to change lives. The same word that saved us, also sanctifies us and the remaining chapters will explore the details.
We can divide the chapter into “bite size” portions which enables us to understand the many aspects of God’s salvation of which we are the recipients.
Verses 1-2 The process of salvation
Verses 3-4 The prospect of salvation
Verses 5-9 The preservation of salvation
Verses 10-12 The prophecy of salvation
Verses 13-17 The practice of salvation
Verses 18-25 The plan of salvation
When we speak of salvation (mentioned three times in the chapter) we mean not only the initial experience of conversion but the whole from beginning to end which will lead us to glory. Some have defined it as “salvation from the penalty of sin in the past, from the power of sin in the present, and from the presence of sin in the future”. It is necessary to understand the terms of scripture. The chapter is “book ended” by the new birth (v3 and v23) and sets the pattern of the epistle of spiritual growth from infancy to maturity.
Verses 1-2 the process of salvation Peter is writing to the dispersed strangers who were displaced from their homes because of Roman occupation (John 7 v35 with Acts 2 v9), or by Christian persecution by unbelieving Jews (Acts 8 v1-3). The places where they now dwelt answers to modern day Turkey, and this was the very area which Paul had evangelised. Peter reminds them of their conversion and outlines succinctly the process involved; the election of God the Father, then the sanctification(setting apart) of the Spirit, then the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. The only part we played was in “obedience”. This is a Divine work involving Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and this is always the order. This by apostolic revelation and communication in agreement with all the apostles.
The first stage is Divine election, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.” Election is based on the Omniscience of God the Father, and this corresponds to the teaching of Paul in Romans 8 v29. There can be no suggestion based on scripture that He chose some for eternal damnation (reprobation as they call it), He did not, for by Divine oath He said through Ezekiel in chapter33 v11 “As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from His way and live”; and “He is not willing that any should perish”(2nd Peter 3 v9) and He is “God our Saviour who will have all men to be saved...” (1st Timothy 2 vv3-4). How if He designed the end of the wicked could any of these be true? Only by the mercy of God are any of us saved and in election He secured His people when otherwise there would be none. This is not for debate, it is for our homage and worship.
The second stage is Pre-conversion sanctification “In sanctification of the Spirit”, that is the work of the Spirit preparatory to conversion. That it is prior to conversion is evident because it is Divine activity “unto obedience”. A similar thing is said in 2nd Thessalonians 2 v13 “...God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth”. This is the washing of regeneration spoken of in Titus 3 v5 “by which God saved us”. Jesus taught in John chapter three that no one shall enter the kingdom apart from the cleansing of water and the indwelling of the Spirit.
The third stage is the Sprinkling of the blood of Jesus, the shedding of blood was for God, the sprinkling of blood is for us. This is the individual application of the blood, which takes place immediately on obedience. Later he evaluates this when he describes the preciousness of the blood so applied and the resultant status that is given to us. All the worth and value of the blood is applied to us.
This is the unalterable process of salvation. This opens the door to multiplied grace and peace, an unlimited supply of Divine provision from above.
Verses 3-4 The prospect of salvation “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively (living) hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead....”. The hope is not seen as a possibility but a certainty, and “begotten again” suggests new life that can only grow and develop. Praise be to the God of overflowing mercy who has infused us with His life at great cost to Himself. The blessing, however goes beyond this life, it is “to a living hope”.....and here is the living hope....”to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you”. Inheritance is a big part of the vocabulary of the old testament, occurring over 200 times. The principle is that God always rewards faithfulness and they lived in the expectation of an inheritance, mainly of what was known as “the promised land” although some saw beyond even that. The hope of the Christian is far greater than the glorious land, and is outside of this world altogether: it is an inheritance “incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading”. Nothing in this world could ever be described so, because in this world “the flower fades”, the “garments are moth-eaten” and the silver and gold are “corruptible”. The inheritance of the Christian is “incorruptible”(that is does not possess the elements of decay internally); it is “undefiled”(that is it is resistant to any form of defilement externally); it “fadeth not away”(that is it does not lose it’s sparkle, it’s vitality, it’s beauty, aesthetically). Also it is “reserved in heaven for you”, that is there is a place of unparalleled bliss with your name on it! The Lord has personally set aside for each one of us a life that people here can only dream about, He said “I go to prepare a place for you”! Sonship and inheritance always go together and Peter uses this here in the context of being “begotten again”. Inheritance is the natural progression of being sons. Paul does the same in Ephesians 1 vv3-14.
Verse 5-9 The preservation of salvation “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time”. Note the link with verse 4, “reserved in heaven for you” then in verse5 “kept by the power of God”. The two words are the same, and portray a Divine military guard....our inheritance is secure, we are secure and that from here to eternity. Who can overcome the power of God who keeps me? We are ready to be revealed, the day of manifestation is certain, we are on the cusp of eternal glory.
This should have an effect on us now; “wherein ye greatly rejoice”, he expands this in verse 8 “...rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory”. Joy that knows no equal on earth, joy that is independent of circumstances, joy that lays hold on the realities of eternity, and bears the rigours of time. This joy Jesus spoke of as “My joy” in John 15 v11, this joy within as He faced the cross in a few hours. To enable us to live for God in the midst of trials we need faith, note the repetition in the verses....v 5 “through faith”, v 7 “the trial of your faith”, v 9 “..receiving the end of your faith”. God’s people will be asked to go through what he calls “manifold temptations”...trials of many kinds. Note the little phrase “if need be”, God alone decides when we need to be tested and to what extent. The “heaviness” of the trial need not rob us of the joy of salvation, there is a purpose in the trial, and one of the benefits is that it will enhance our inheritance in the end...”...the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perishes...”. All testing, all suffering that produces the desired character will be rewarded. One of the ways in which God preserves our faith, and increases it, is by putting it to the test. Sometimes the testing can be severe “...though it be tried by fire”. Metals are tested by fire in the natural world, believers are tested by fire in the spiritual. The purpose is benign “..might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ”. The trial of faith is valuable to the believer; it is worth more than gold for it produces eternal character beyond the value of gold which is considered to be the most precious commodity on earth.
He closes the section with “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls”. It is possible to live in the enjoyment of our inheritance now; we can bring the glorious future to bear on the present. This is salvation of the soul in the ultimate sense of the word.
Verses 10-12 The prophecy of salvation “Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently who prophesied of the grace that should come to you”. This is no new message, it has it’s roots in the scriptures of old, and it is so important to understand this. There is no contradiction between the old and new testaments. Indeed the way of salvation was first proclaimed in Genesis 3 v15 and all the way through the same. This is confirmed by Paul in Romans 1 vv1-2 “...the gospel of God which He had promised by His prophets in the holy scriptures.”; again in Romans 3 v21 “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed being witnessed by the law and the prophets”. Again in Romans 16 vv25-26 Paul makes it clear the gospel was witnessed by the prophetic scriptures. They enquired and searched diligently concerning things that would come to pass in times beyond their lives. They searched diligently as we should today into things beyond our time. “Searched diligently” is explored and they wanted to know the detail and the manner of time when it would come. As they searched, the Spirit of Christ within them prophesied of the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow, which is now the very essence of the gospel. If you like this is now Peter’s gospel, just as Paul had his gospel, and they both agree. Peter had never been able to accept the sufferings of Christ (refer Matthew 16 v22; Mark 8 v32; Mark 9 vv31-32 etc.), he looked for the glory but not the suffering. Peter now made this his own message “the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow”, and his teaching that all believers must follow the same pathway, exactly as predicted by the old prophets. The prophets foretold, under Divine inspiration, a time of unparalleled blessing for the world; and that day has come in which the Holy Spirit now presides over the preaching of the glad tidings, something which has drawn the rapt attention of the angels of heaven. What the old prophets foretold, as inspired by the Spirit of God, is now being preached universally by apostles and prophets enabled and gifted by the same Spirit, and is the focus of the rapt attention of the angels of heaven. Prophets and apostles and evangelists and angels all unite under the presidency of the Spirit of God to proclaim the glorious message!!
Verses 13-17 The practice of salvation All this brings practical responsibility upon us. In these verses he alludes to the departure from Egypt in the “girding of the loins” and the giving of the law at Sinai in “Be ye holy for I am holy”. The girding of the loins refers to the mode of dress which was long and flowing, and would hamper any forward action. They girded the loins by folding up the garments to the waist to facilitate ease of movement. This they did when taking a journey or engaging in work, or going into battle. The idea was to allow freedom of movement without hindrance. Exodus 12 v11.. the nation was instructed “And thus shall ye eat it (the Passover) with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand and ye shall eat it in haste, it is the Lord’s Passover”. This picture is repeated in Ephesians 6 v14 as part of the armoury of the Christian in battle mode “ ...having your loins girt about with truth”. This means to be keenly alert as to the dangers, and act in full possession of your faculties. For Peter this meant sobriety in our lives now and hope in our hearts for the future.
Association with the Lord brings demands of obedience and conformity to His character who has saved us and planned for our glory. “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance, but as He which has called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation: because it is written “Be ye holy for I am holy”. In verse 2 we were chosen and preserved “unto obedience”, now as part of God’s family obedience is to be a hallmark of our lives. They were redeemed out of a land under the judgment of God and they were separated from it’s life to learn the ways of God. This involved the giving of the law, the Divine standard of holiness and they were called, as we are, to live changed lives. Next he pictures the wilderness journey with the words “And if ye call on the Father(better “if ye call Him Father”), who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear”. The overriding attitude in our pilgrim walk must be reverence and respect to the God who leads us. We will never be judged for our sins, but we will be judged for our lives.
Verses 18-25 The plan of salvation Surely one of the great portions of holy scripture. In the scope of these verses we have some of the basic truths of Christian doctrine. We have REDEMPTION in verses 18-20; we have SANCTIFICATION in verses 21-22; and we have REGENERATION in verses 23-25. In strengthening his brethren as per Luke 22 v32 and feeding the lambs and the sheep as per John 21 vv15-17, (as our Lord commissioned him to do), Peter reminds them of the foundation truths in a very graphic and lovely manner. What a plan of salvation where our past present and future has been secured!
Verses 18-20 Redemption. This is a vast subject that deserves more space than we can give here, but a brief resume will help.
Secular usage is the trade of pawn shops in restoring goods sold for debt, bought back at a greater price. Originally used for the ransom of a prisoner of war, or of a slave from his bondage or to free someone under sentence of death. Old testament use was threefold a) buying back people or property sold for debt (Leviticus 25 v25 v48); b) rescuing a person out of poverty (Ruth 2 v20 and 4 vv1-12); c) releasing firstborn from lifelong dedication (Numbers 18 vv14-16). In the broader sense it described the release of Israel from the bondage of Egypt (Exodus 6 v6).
There are four words used for redemption each with a different shade of meaning: agorazo which means simply to buy; exagorazo which is to buy back or retrieve; lutroo a ransom to secure deliverance or release; peripoieomai to buy up for oneself, the thought is of ownership. There are a number of variations of these and the context decides the emphasis. Thus inherent in the word are the ideas of purchase, of ransom, of release, of ownership. What is emphasised here is the ransom price and the ransom purpose. The ransom price is enormous, placed against the most valuable commodities on earth...silver and gold. Compared to the blood of Christ which is “precious”, silver and gold are simply “corruptible”. What all men value above everything else, what they give their entire lives for, the measure by which they determine status, are of no value at all for “no man can redeem his brother nor give to God a ransom for him”. The value of the blood of Christ is beyond any human computation, it is of unfathomable, limitless value, and that is what it took to save us. “Ye are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without spot and without blemish”. Only one man without sin inwardly and outwardly, only one in all the universe, He died, shed His blood to redeem us. To redeem us from what? We have seen the price, now the purpose....”...from your vain conversation received by tradition of your fathers”. Redeemed, bought, bought back, bought out of, released from....an empty wasted life handed down by human tradition. Yes he means empty Judaism, which, garnished with the rules and traditions of men, was worthless in the sight of God and could produce nothing for God. Other references detailing a whole range of evils from which we have been delivered are found in Romans 3 v24; 1st Corinthians 6 v20; Galatians 1 v4, 3 v13, 4 v5; Colossians 1 v13; Titus 2 v14; Hebrews 9 v15 and others. This plan of Divine beneficence was designed outside of time in the unknown annals of eternity “..before the foundation of the world...”. There are many glimpses of things outside of time and beyond this world in scripture, such as Genesis 1 v1; Proverbs 8 vv22-31; John 1 vv1-3; John 17 v24; Ephesians 1 v4, and many others of things decided “from the foundation of the earth”, that is they were planned before. This is an eternal plan, with nothing of this world of time and sense about it, it was conceived and designed and effected in the mind of God alone and revealed to the present age known as the “last times”. There is nothing of man or this world about it and nothing man can do to alter it. Christ was foreordained in eternity and manifested to us in this the greatest and most privileged age of time.
Verses 21-22 Sanctification The slaying of the Paschal lamb was associated with the feast of unleavened bread and they were never separated. In new testament language redemption must be followed by sanctification and separation from the old life is implicit in our conversion (the subject of verse 21). The feast lasted for seven days and this symbolises a permanent change. Peter emphasises this now as a natural progression “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”. The word “purify” means to wash to make clean. Our unregenerate hearts were anything but clean and association with God assumes perfect cleansing. Again this biblical word has a wide ranging meaning and for the sake of space we can say that there are five main aspects of sanctification: There is preparatory sanctification, which as we have already seen is prior to conversion; there is positional sanctification which happens at the point of conversion; there is sanctification by proxy, that is by association; there is progressive sanctification, which requires cooperation from us now; there is perfect sanctification which is future and only God will make good to us. These are big subjects in themselves and require in-depth study. What Peter is saying here is that you were made clean at your conversion, now live it out and one way is to clear your souls of all pride and prejudice and shew genuine love to your brethren. This is part of a sanctified life. “Unfeigned” love is genuine love not forced or fake love but sincere love; and “fervent love” is love that is literally “boiling over”, not lukewarm or distant. Thus the mind and the emotions must be engaged in our unmixed love for this is the object of our sanctification. If we are not there already, then we have to strive toward it.
Verses 23-25 Regeneration How is it possible to live the Christian life? To live up to the wonders of God’s salvation? To live clean lives when our hearts are naturally saturated with evil and selfishness? For Peter and the apostles it is straightforward “Being born again....” you have a new life, a new power within, a new dynamic principle controlling you, it is the new birth, you have been regenerated in Christ, you are born anew, you are born from above. You now have a new nature within, an incorruptible seed of Divine life that will grow and mature and blossom into flower and fruit for God. This Divine seed planted by the word of God will go on renewing you and that forever! This implanted seed will never cease to blossom within you. While all on this earth will fade and perish, you will go on forever. Peter now raises the preaching of the gospel to a level rarely understood “..this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you”. The incorruptible word of the living God able to change destinies, able to change lives. The same word that saved us, also sanctifies us and the remaining chapters will explore the details.
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