1 Peter Chapter 1 Study (Part Two - vv. 12-25)...

1 PETER CHAPTER 1 STUDY (PART TWO – vv. 12-25)

12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to [e]us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

Living Before God Our Father

13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your [f]stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with [g]corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was [h]manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

The Enduring Word

22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth [i]through the Spirit in [j]sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of [k]corruptible seed but [l]incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides [m]forever, 24 because

“All flesh is as grass, And all [n]the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, 25 But the [o]word of the Lord endures forever.”

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

Notes 1 Peter 1 Study – (vv. 12-25)

1:12: Even the angels desire to deepen their vision both uncreated glory and of what God has in store for all of creation – (see, also 1 Corinthians 2:8) … The angels beheld and worshipped Christ in His divine nature; what is new and amazing to them is His Human Nature …

1 Corinthians 2:8: which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

1:13: The Israelites ate the original Passover with loins girded, that is, with their long outer garments tucked into their belts to free their legs for movement … Similarly, Christians are to live always in the spirit of Passover, prepared for the journey of obedience and virtue …

1:16: (See, also Matthew 5:48 … The cleanliness code – (Leviticus Chapters 11-15) instructed Israel how to prepare for worship – (Leviticus Chapters 1-10) …

Matthew 5:48: Therefore, you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Holiness belongs to God, and we, who cannot attain holiness on our own but receive it from Him, are called to live a holy life before Him …

Indeed, Christians are called to holiness in every area of their lives … In the Lord’s Prayer we say, “Hallowed be Your Name …” it is not that we want God’s name to be made holy by our prayers, but that His name may be made holy in us …

1:17: Why should we pray IN FEAR??? Because the FATHER we serve will judge us according to each one’s work … While being certain of God’s mercy, we conduct ourselves with care …

1:18-19: Our salvation has been purchased by the infinitely precious blood of Christ – (v. 19) … We are not our own and are not to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the price paid for our redemption – (see also, 1Corinthians 6:19-20) …

1 Corinthians 6:19-20: Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body [a]and in your spirit, which are God’s.

1:23: (see, also John 1:12-13) … The Lord’s suffering and death is incorruptible and abides forever, and is the foundation of our baptism through which we are born again – (see, also John 3:1-6; and Romans 6:3-5) …

John 1:12-13: But as many as received Him, to them He gave the [a]right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 3:1-6: The New Birth

3 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born [a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Romans 6:3-5: 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

1:24-25: (This passage from Isaiah 40:6-8 sets in sharp contrast the difference between human and divine seed) …

Isaiah 40:6-8: 6 The voice said, “Cry out!” And [a]he said, “What shall I cry?”

“All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”

Our present human condition will have an end, of course, as witnessed by the ever-presence of corruption, and will meet that end in death … But in the glorified, Incarnate Son, THE WORD OF THE LORD – (v. 25), we gain incorrupt and immoral humanity, both in body and in soul …