Let's Study 1 Peter Together
Sometimes you get out of the habit of reading the Bible, and then when you decide to start making it a part of your daily schedule, it’s like climbing a mountain to decide where to begin. So I’d like to make a suggestion. If you’re looking for a rich, practical book of the Bible to read and study, I think 1 Peter hits the mark. I’ve always thought that. Let me give an overview to get you going. It’s written by Peter to the Jewish Christians who were dispersed by the persecution that erupted in the early church. Remember that in the early church in Jerusalem the Christians continued daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Acts 2:46-47) It wasn’t long, and being a Christian was a reason to be killed, so the Christians had to run away.
So Peter is writing a letter to these scattered Jewish Christians. (Remember, he was the apostle to the Jews, according to Gal. 2:7-8.)
How should these scattered Jewish Christians live? Peter was keenly aware that they had suffered greatly, and 1 Peter talks a lot about suffering (some form of the word is used 15 times in this book). But overall, Peter’s purpose was to encourage them in godly, humble, submissive, righteous living with a willingness to suffer for the sake of Christ and have a good godly testimony in the midst of an ungodly world. It applied to them where they were, and it sure applies to us living in the last days when Christian thinking is at odds with the ungodly world view evolving around us.
Chapter 1 is an overview of time—past, present and future—from a godly perspective. It starts out talking about your future. That’s a great place to start to set an eternal perspective. Whatever you’re doing right now, stop and think… you have an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Pet. 1:4-5)
That perspective should help you live in the present, which is challenging with its trials. Currently, God is trying your faith. While all this goes on, you are believing in and trusting Christ and you will continue to do so up until the end. Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (1 Pet. 1:9)
In the past, the prophets who wrote the Scriptures that you are hanging onto, wondered what they were writing about. All they knew from God was that they weren’t writing about the time they were living in. They were writing about Gospel things we now know fully.
In your past, you lived an ungodly life according to your lusts. But now you are striving to live a holy life. It’s because of Christ’s past that you can live the way you should. He redeemed you with his precious blood. Then he rose again, setting your hope.
You were born again of incorruptible seed by the word of God that lives and abides forever. (Remember, Jesus was the word of God, according to John 1:1, 14.) Everything else is going to fade away, but the word of the Lord lives forever. That word is Jesus and the gospel.
There you have the overview of the book of 1 Peter and the first chapter. Now start reading it. For the next few days, we will look at aspects in 1 Peter 1, and then move on to chapter 2. Let’s dive in together and see some awesome things.