First Peter 1:1

First Peter 1:1-2 is the introduction to this epistle. Peter introduces himself with just one short phrase and then he identifies the ones to whom he was writing. By the Holy Spirit the Bible says in First Peter 1:1, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.” Peter was an apostle of Jesus Christ. That is all that the Holy Spirit gave to Peter to write about himself. That certainly was enough of an introduction. Peter was sent by Jesus. Peter’s authority came from Jesus. Peter’s message would be about Jesus primarily.

When Peter identified the people to whom he was writing, notice carefully the first two words that are used: “strangers scattered.” It is not good to be either one of these things in this world. It is not good to be a stranger. When you are a stranger, it means that you do not know as many people in the community. You have fewer contacts and communication than you really need. You do not know people, and they do not know you. That is not good. You are more vulnerable in that situation.

These people to whom Peter was writing were “strangers” in the countries where they lived, and they were “scattered.” The sense of this word is that they had been scattered by an outside force: as in persecution. It would be better to be together in one’s own country. This kind of scattering only takes place when someone has been persecuted and pushed out of their own land. Of course, there is a very definite symbolism to being “strangers” and “scattered.” Believers are strangers in this world, because we do not have the philosophy or outlook on life that the unbelievers have, and we are in the minority. We are outcasts from them. They scatter us at their will. “They that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

First Peter 1:2 gives a great contrast between the human condition of these people and their spiritual condition. It is important for believers of every generation to remember this. It says, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you and peace be multiplied.” One of the things that is really interesting about this verse is that in the Greek language the first word of verse two is actually found in verse one and the order of the words is as follows: “to the elect strangers scattered.” Perhaps the Holy Spirit wants to remind us that we are the elect of God before reminding us that we are strangers and scattered upon this earth. We are “elect strangers.” We are the chosen of God in spite of being strangers and scattered.

Of course, this word order means that the phrase, “according to the foreknowledge of God” refers to all of the words “elect strangers scattered.” Not only did God know beforehand who would be chosen, He also knew beforehand everything that would happen to each of the chosen. God knew we would be strangers. God knew that we would be scattered. That is comforting for us. Because He knew, that means that it is all a part of His plan for us. The terrible things that have happened have a reason. We may not know that reason now, but God knows because He has always known. That is the first message of these two verses. God knows. God has a plan. Everything will work out eventually because of this.

The Bible tells us about the foreknowledge of the Father in verse 2, and it also tells us about the sanctification of the Spirit. This means that the Spirit set us apart when we believed on Jesus. The Spirit made each one of us a holy child of God. To be sanctified means to be made holy. Perhaps the Holy Spirit reminds us of this great truth at this point at the beginning of the book of First Peter because this book is written to Christians who are suffering persecution. When you suffer a lot of persecution, distress, trial, tribulation and suffering, one of the possibilities is that you will begin to think that somehow it is all your fault. Maybe all of this is happening because God is punishing you: that is what you will be tempted to think, and then guess what will happen to your faith. Your faith will be severely harmed. In order to live by faith, you must believe that God is blessing you and guiding you because you are a part of His great plan. We were already told that we are part of His plan because we are “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.” We also do not need to worry that somehow we are being punished for our sins by all of these bad things that are happening to us. That is impossible because we have been made holy by the Holy Spirit Himself. Something that is holy cannot be punished for sin.

In the midst of being “strangers scattered,” we are reminded of what the Father has done for us, and what the Spirit has done for us, and we are also going to be reminded of what Christ has done for us. When verse two mentions Christ, it says, “unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” The little word “unto” in this verse expresses result. The great result of God knowing all about us from eternity past is that He sent Jesus to be our redeemer. God saw our sin, He saw our failures, and He saw our lost condition. But God did not despise us for it. Instead He sent Jesus.

Two things about Jesus are mentioned in this verse: the obedience of Jesus, and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus. We are told of the obedience of Jesus not only to remind us of Christ’s character as He obeyed the Father, but also to be an example to us so that we can find strength to obey God even though we are strangers scattered. Jesus obeyed, and the result of that obedience was that His blood was shed. That is a reminder for us of the great price that was paid for our salvation, and it is also a reminder that we will suffer in this world. Those who obey God will suffer. “The servant is not greater than his Lord.” “They that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

After mentioning the blood of Jesus that was shed for us, First Peter 1:2 says, “Grace unto you and peace, be multiplied.” What is it that a believer will need to get through the difficult times that will come his way? Grace and peace is what will be needed: grace and peace multiplied. The implication is that it is not going to be easy: much to the contrary. It is going to be impossible from a human standpoint. Grace is what God does for you that you cannot do for yourself, and God does it freely. You cannot do it for yourself, and you cannot deserve it. The good thing to know is that grace is greater than our sin. Grace is always available because of what Christ did on the cross of Calvary.

We also need “peace” in order to get through the bad things that will come our way because we are followers of Christ. The important thing is that we have peace in our heart. It does not really matter if a storm is raging around us, as long as we have peace in our heart. Jesus is called the Prince of Peace, and He did say to His followers, “My peace I give unto you.”

The Bible says to these believers who are suffering persecution in First Peter 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” In this verse Peter blesses the name of God. At least four things are said here as reasons that we should bless God, and then in the verses that follow many more things are said about what God has done for those who believe. One of the best ways to survive the bad things that are happening to you is to think of the good things that God has done for you. No one can take away the eternal spiritual things that God has done for you. It says in Romans 8:35, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” And then in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The Apostle Peter reminded us of the “abundant mercy” of God. Mercy refers to God not punishing us even though we deserve to be punished. If you are aware of the greatness of your own sins that you have committed in your life, then like Peter, you are aware of the “abundant” mercy that God has shown you through Christ. Some Christians make the mistake of talking too much about their accomplishments or the degrees that they have earned or the books that they have written. If they are true Christians, they should be talking about the abundant mercy that they have received through Christ. They should be much more aware of their own sinfulness.

In First Peter 1:3 Peter wrote that God “has begotten us again.” This is talking about the new birth. When a person is born into the world, he is born a physical being in a physical world. But something is lacking. That person still needs a second birth: a spiritual birth. That person needs to be begotten a second time. You know when your birthday is, but when was your spiritual birthday? Jesus said, “You must be born again.” Not many have been born-again. If you have been begotten again by God, you have been blessed beyond imagination.

Peter also blessed God because of the “lively hope.” This means literally “living hope.” Christians have something to look forward to that will last forever. If you compare eternity to the shortness of life on this earth, there is no comparison. We are talking about the difference between life and death. Every human being on this earth has a death sentence on them. Christians have a victory over that death sentence. Jesus proved that by His own resurrection from the dead.

Notice in this verse that the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is closely associated with the new birth. First Peter 1:3 says that God “hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” If Jesus had not risen from the dead, no one could be saved. Because Jesus was risen from the dead, His believers will follow Him from death unto life. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” First Corinthians 15:17-18 says, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain: ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”

Describing the hope that we have in the future, the Bible says in First Peter 1:4, “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.” We have an inheritance “incorruptible.” Something that is corruptible can be destroyed. Everything in this life can be destroyed. We also have an inheritance that is “undefiled.” It is pure, holy, and clean, and nothing can defile it. One of the things that makes this life less than it could be is the presence of sin all around us. It will not be that way when we obtain the inheritance that Jesus purchased for us. It will be wonderful to be in a place where we will never sin and neither will anyone else. This inheritance “fadeth not away.” In this life the beauty and strength of youth fade as the years go by. There are no exceptions. The grass withers, and so do our bodies. But through Christ we will have an inheritance that fadeth not away. Notice finally that this inheritance is reserved in heaven. That means that everything is already in place for you, waiting for you. It has all been prepared because of Christ and what He has done for you. The only thing left is for you to go there and take possession of what He has reserved for you. You may lose your possessions in this life. You may become as these Christians were: “strangers scattered.” But Jesus has something to replace forever what you might lose now. Jesus said to His disciples, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

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