Peter, an apostle (a special messenger) of Jesus Christ, [writing] to the elect exiles of the dispersion scattered (sowed) abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia 2 Who were chosen and foreknown by God the Father and consecrated (sanctified, made holy) by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and to be sprinkled with [His] blood: May grace (spiritual blessing) and peace be given you in increasing abundance [that spiritual peace to be realized in and through Christ, freedom from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts]. (AMPC)
I am going to do a simple Bible Study in the book of First Peter to help all of us to grow in the knowledge of the word. I hope this is of value to you and you are willing to share.
In verse 1 the author of the letter is clearly identified as the Apostle Peter who was part of the inner circle of Christ's disciples. There was the 70, then the 12, then the inner circle with James and John. He had private time with Christ and we all know the times, Peter would be a spiritual giant, then other times a coward yet at all times he loved Christ.
He is writing to the believers who were living in pagan towns as exiles, tying the language many Jews would recognize as the Diaspora in their own history. Why exiles, because our home is not this earthly kingdom controlled by the principalities and powers of this present darkness. We are members of the Kingdom of Heaven and are traveling here toward our homeland.
He writes to the chosen believers who are living in a world where Yeshua is rejected. Thus they will not fit in with the world, and its thinking. Many get confused about the term chosen meaning they are selected, meaning others are not. Nothing could be farther than the truth, the Gospel is preached to all, but not everyone chooses to follow Christ.
Then throwing more into the mix, Peter says to we are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God. Some have taken this to mean that some are "predestined" to follow Christ and others are not. Please don't let that get into your thinking. The phrase simply means God before the foundation of the world provided the plan for man to return to the place they would fall from and become His sons and daughters. Nothing catches God off guard, He already had a plan in place.
Peter says we are set apart for obedience by the Spirit, meaning we are set apart, sanctified by the sealing of the Holy Spirit as our earnest or downpayment for all the promises of God. Christ's Blood is the means of this purification and not our works or our own efforts. We like to think we play a part in being Chrisitan. We try to work outside to the inside, whereas Christ wants to work from the inside to the outside.
To these people living in this foreign land, Peter wants grace and peace multiplied to these believers in their present circumstances. This means in spite of where we live, and what is going on around us, we all need peace and grace expanding in our lives.
In this day of disease, fear, and other problems be comforted that this world is not the home of the believer. God has a plan for all our lives and will bring us through this current storm and prepare us for His soon return. Let me be clear JESUS IS COMING SOON, it is time to wake up and look up so that we are looking for Him.
Grace and peace be multiplied in your life see you as we walk through 1 Peter.
