First Peter was written by Peter to Christians, God’s elect,
God’s chosen. These Christians were
being persecuted for their faith. His letter was meant to encourage them. He reminded them that Jesus suffered and died
for each of them; for each of us. Along
with his encouragement, he also reminded them of how Christ wants His chosen
people to live and conduct themselves in this unholy world. We are to be Holy, as Christ is Holy. This we cannot do in and of ourselves. Christ saves us from sin. When we believe the truth of the Gospel in
our hearts we experience a spiritual rebirth.
Physical birth into the world is our first birth. Spiritual birth is our second birth. Now we are born again into the family of
God. When we are born again, the Holy
Spirit enters into our physical spirit.
He is the one who now sanctifies us by planting His seeds of spiritual
fruit into us and empowers us to grow in our holiness. God wants us to be more loving, peaceful, joyful,
kind, good, gentle, patient, faithful, and to demonstrate self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). We are sprinkled by Christ’s blood and
sanctified by His Spirit.
Our earthly lives are temporary, like a blade of grass. When Christ’s Holy Spirit lives in our
spirit, our new spirit will live eternally (John 3:16). Verse 23 says, “you have been born again, not
of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word
of God”.
In summary, the following are key words which I saw in 1 Peter
chapter 1:
Salvation-
Believing and receiving Christ into our hearts saving us from sin and giving us
the promise that our born again spirits would live in eternity with Christ.
Savior- God’s
Son, the promised Sacrificial Lamb, the Messiah, the Way to the Father.
Suffering- The
temporary pain and trials which we face here on our earthly journey. Christ suffered. We will have pain and trials too. In times of trial we cry out for answers
bringing us into a deeper spiritual walk, greater faith, and increased
spiritual understanding. We prioritize
our lives and realize what is important and what is trivia.
Sanctification-
Our spirits being made Holy by the Spirit of a Holy God.
Spoken of by the
Prophets- The Prophets in the Old Testament pointed us to Christ even
though God’s plan wasn’t fully revealed to them at the time.
Strangers on earth-
We are in the world but not of the world.
Our minds, hearts, and spirits are changed when our spirit is born
again.
Sincere Love- God
is Love. When we receive Christ into our
hearts, love enters our hearts. We begin
to love others the way God loves us.
God’s commandment to love Him and to love one another becomes part of
our character. We demonstrate Agape love
as it overflows from God, through us, to others.
Seeds in us- The
seeds of the Spirit within a born again believer are imperishable: forever and
eternal. Prior to the new birth, the
things of this world were temporary and perishable.
Stands forever- God’s
Love and His Word endure forever.
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