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The Book of 1st Peter
Lesson 3
1 Peter 1:10-25

Believers, Protected by the Power of God

THE PROPHETS

HIS EXHORTATIONS

J. Deering, AncientPath.net

FIRST PETER CHAPTER 1

BEING HAPPY IN A WORLD THAT IS WRETCHED.

1:1-25 - BELIEVERS, PROTECTED BY THE POWER OF GOD

1:1-2 Salutation

1:3-9 A Living Hope and a Sure Salvation

We started off this section with a complete list of the Prophets of the Bible. They are printed so that you can keep them as a separate list.

1:10-12 introduces us to the role of the prophets leading up to John the Baptist who is not normally thought of as an Old Testament Prophet however, it will be about 30 years into his life as the cousin of Jesus before Jesus enters into His own public ministry. John the Baptist’s ministry was mostly about repentance of the Jewish people of his time. John the Baptist would have his life taken from him before Jesus gets to the Cross - and His death and resurrection providing the right to salvation by belief and Faith.

Anticipation of the Prophets and the Angels will be seen and then we’ll move to the larger study of God’s Exhortations to His people to be Holy - for He is Holy!

Anticipated by The Prophets and The Gospel
Past, Present and Future

1:10-12 - Salvation is the Theme of the Past.

And as they were looking toward it – It was anticipated by the Prophets & The Gospel

The Visualized Text

10 As to this salvation,

the prophets

who prophesied of the grace

that would come to you

made careful searches and inquiries,

11 seeking to know

what person or

[what] time the Spirit of Christ

within them

was indicating as He

predicted the sufferings of Christ and

the glories to follow (Lit. after these).

12 It was revealed to them

that they were not serving

themselves, but

you, in these things

which now have been announced to you

through those

who preached the gospel

to you

by the Holy Spirit

sent from heaven

—things into which angels long to look.

1:10 - This Salvation is yours &

It was Known in the past

10 As to this salvation,

the prophets

who prophesied of the grace

that would come to you

made careful searches and inquiries,

Peter tells us that “As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries.” He’s saying that each of these men and women of God took their knowledge search very seriously and devoted much of their lives into the study and revealing of things the Holy spirit sent to them.

1:11 - They were seeking as to know when

11 seeking to know

what person or

[what] time the Spirit of Christ

within them

was indicating as He

predicted the sufferings of Christ and

the glories to follow (Lit. after these).

He then tells us that they were “Seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.” First off, we don’t want to miss the fact that the Spirit of Christ was in these individuals. They had come to learn that there was one to come who would remove Satan’s power and eventually remove him from the universe. This one who was sought after was then titled the Messiah. In that early revelation it was said that the evil

one, the serpent, (the evil one), would eventually be in a battle and have his head “bruised,” and the one whom he would battle with would only have his heel “bruised.” Yes, the Messiah (Christ) would die – but be raised to newness of life again (just a bruise to the heel – a metaphor) but the evil one would receive a much greater final ending. Thus, “the Sufferings of Christ, and the Glories to follow.”

1:12a - Salvation,

It was revealed that it was for you!

12 It was revealed to them

that they were not serving

themselves, but

you, in these things

which now have been announced to you

through those

who preached the gospel

to you

by the Holy Spirit

sent from heaven

Revealed to them – hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus God was revealing His Son as the one to come and present Himself as the “Lamb of God who taketh away the sins.” His sacrifice was known by and through the prophets of God. At first glance it would seem that Peter was specifically talking about Christians being the focus of this revelation, but no. Every human being who has pleased God with their faith – pre-Noah, in the time of Abraham and his family on through the death of Christ and then into the Church age, the Tribulation, the Millennium and on into eternity – had their salvation covered forever by His single act of pleasing His Father and becoming the Messiah, Christ, Savior.

Then there is “these things…announced to you.” As you have wandered through the gospels and the New Testament epistles, take a moment now and think about all the wonderful revelations concerning God’s Grace for believers that pastors and teachers have “preached to you.” And here Paul wants you to know that The Holy Spirit of God was the motivator and teacher of all the great things revealed to you through them. His final thought at the end of this sentence – that the Holy Spirit of God was SENT to them by God the Father for your benefit!

1:12b - Provoked by the inquiry of the angels

—things into which angels long to look

The Angels – A complete creation story preceding ours. The Angels had their time to be tested, perhaps similar to ours. The major difference between their testing and ours is that their testing plan had no salvation for those who were infected with evil. If one of them lost his holiness at the behest of the evil one, there was no way back to holiness. Their position as the holy servants of Almighty God was such that failure was unforgiveable.

Here we are told that the plan and program for the testing of human beings, fallen in sin – who, if they passed the test [Faith, Belief] became the very children of God’s family… were the items of deep curiosity by the angels of God. An angel might say, “Those men, they can be forgiven and made holy, and become The Father God’s children – that’s amazing!!”

1:13-3:12 – Earnest Exhortations

Peter’s vivid language reminds us of various groups he has in mind when he adopts the phrases that he does.

1:13-2:10 - Grace Means Sobriety

First, for this section [1:13-2:10], we need to find the proper definition for the Aramaic word ”nepho,” here translated as “sober.” The translators all agree that this may be an unknown word and not found in other writings. So, its definition has to come from the context surrounding it. That context is all about acting in a holy manner as a human being. Definitions for the word then can be expressed as:

Sober, calm, collected in spirit, temperate, dispassionate, circumspect, discrete, to watch, and figuratively to abstain from wine.

1:13-25 – Called to be Holy - In Holiness

1:13-16 - Be Holy in All Your Conduct, For He Is Holy

The Visualized Text

13 Therefore,

prepare your minds

for action (Lit. gird the loins of your minds),

keep sober (Lit. be sober) in spirit,

fix your hope completely on the grace

to be brought to you

at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

14 As obedient children (Lit. Children of obedience),

do not be conformed to the former lusts

which were yours in your ignorance,

15 but like (Lit. according to) the Holy One who called you,

be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;

16 because it is written,

“You shall be holy, for I am holy” [Leviticus 11:44, 45; 19:2].

FIRST, A REVIEW

Here are three verses from Chapter 1 that will help us to place ourselves here in the last third of 1 Peter Chapter 1.

1. 1:7

so that the proof of your faith,

being more precious than gold

which is perishable (Lit. perishes),

even though tested by fire,

may be found to result in

praise and glory and honor

at the revelation of Jesus Christ

Peter is again stressing that everything in your life can be seen as a test – a test of the genuineness of your faith.

2. 1:8

and though

you have not seen Him,

you love Him, and though

you do not see Him now, but believe in Him,

you greatly rejoice

with joy

inexpressible and

full of glory (Lit. glorified),

Because Peter had seen Him, walked with Him, prayed with Him, had his feet washed by Him, denied Him… he knows what he is asking of those he is writing to.

And 3. 1:12

It was revealed to them

that they were not serving

themselves, but

you, in these things

which now have been announced to you

through those

who preached the gospel to

you

by the Holy Spirit

sent from heaven

An encouraging thought – the prophets were well aware of Genesis Chapter 3 and the promise of a Messiah [in Hebrew], Christ [in the Greek], and that His coming was in the future and it was for all mankind, not just the direct family line of Abraham.

(EXHORTATIONS go from here to Chapter 3:12)

1:13-16 - [You,] Be Holy in All Your Conduct, For He Is Holy

1:13 Therefore,

[you] prepare your minds

for action (Lit. gird the loins of your minds),

[you] keep sober (Lit. be sober) in spirit,

[you] fix your hope completely on the grace

to be brought to you

at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

It is a great promised feature of faith, set your hope on His grace and it will be brought to you as He is continually revealed to you.

So:

1 - [You] prepare your minds for action,

You, gird the loins of your mind. The picture is of the male warrior who builds up his legs (no jeeps, trucks or tanks) for warfare. Now, exercise your mind and be prepared. Prepared for what, you may ask. Prepared by exercising you HOPE. Don’t let today’s or tomorrow’s problems destroy your Hope! As you travel along, use your testing and problems to increase your Hope – The Hope of His Grace in your life – He WILL use all things in your life for His glory. That should increase your Hope, knowing that YOU will be there with HIM in the end.

2 - [You] keep sober in spirit

When under the pressures of life – focus upon keeping your “spirit” calm, collected in spirit, temperate, dispassionate, circumspect, discrete, and watching. Don’t let the inner you become lazy or fearful.

3 - [You] fix your hope completely on the grace given to you

that is brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

When that serious moment comes… don’t fall down in shame, stand tall and remember what Jesus suffered for you, and what the gifts are that He has given, and promised, to and for you.

1:14-16 - As Obedient Children – [You] Be Holy

1:14 [(You) be as an obedient child]

As obedient children (Lit. Children of obedience),

do not be conformed to the former lusts

which were yours in your ignorance,

As obedient children – not as children, but children of obedience. The “you” is the object of the preposition – “of”… Obedience. That is the group you should belong to. A Child of Obedience. I know from personal experience of raising two children that it was amazingly wonderful when either of them acted in an obedient way during a bad situation. Now think about our almighty God, who thinks of us as His children, how amazingly wonderful it is to Him when we act as His Obedient Children. Don’t let the past and the world hold you captive to sin and its lusts. Don’t be conformed! Belong to the Obedient group!

The verse goes on to place the qualities of that group as NOT CONFORMED to former lusts – back when you were ignorant. But that’s what Christ has done for you – removed you from the ignorant group – ignorant of being the possessor of God’s Grace and a life as a child of God, living forever in His presence. Be the Obedient child.

1:15 [You] Be like the Holy One

15 but like (Lit. according to) the Holy One who called you,

be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;

It is a very big request for those of us who are just human, “be like the Holy One!” And then… But, and that’s one of the best used words in the Bible, but, we are asked to be holy… Not like… but “according to” the Holy One who called you. Some will attempt to succeed and will kind of succeed. Some will attempt to succeed, and fail for some time, and some will attempt to succeed, and it may take a lifetime to succeed. Imagine you are one of the Holy Angels who stand in the very presence of God and shout “Holy, Holy, Holy!” Standing there God can see everything about you – everything. Now do what you can do to live that way. And remember, the “But,” the requirement is that you continually attempt to be AS holy AS the Holy One who called you.

1:16 Because

because it is written,

“You shall be holy, for I am holy” [Leviticus 11:44, 45; 19:2].

In the background is the fact that In-Christ, a member of the New Covenant… you are considered holy by God the Father – Peter is now saying, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God, “Now, You, be Holy!”

Leviticus Chapter 11 was all about the food laws of the Covenant the Israelites agreed to with God. Peter now uses the “Holy” aspect of covenantal requirements (the New Covenant of Grace) that now tells us that we have been categorized as believers as “Holy.” Then as “Holy” we, each and every one of us who believe, should act that way – Holy. It’s not about food, drink, clothing, etc., it is all about God’s Grace – Act according to His Grace as the definition of Holy. When faced with the sin of other… be graceful. When faced with your own personal sin – remember God’s grace and be “Holy.” And always remember to be compassionate as you are under God’s Grace.

Believers are Called to Be Holy In Fear:

1:17-21 - Believers, Be Subject To Every Human Institution

- As Sojourners – Pass time in goodly fear

The Visualized Text

17 If you address as Father

the One who impartially judges

according to each one’s work,

conduct yourselves in reverent fear

during the time of your stay on earth;

18 knowing that you were not redeemed

with perishable things like silver or gold

from your futile way of life

inherited from your forefathers,

19 but with precious blood,

as of a lamb unblemished and spotless,

the blood of Christ.

20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world,

but has appeared in these last times

(Lit. at the end of the times)

for the sake of you

21 who through Him are believers in God,

who raised Him from the dead and

gave Him glory,

so that your faith and hope are in

God.

These five verses all are under the first phrase…

1:17a - “If you address as Father…”

So, IF He is YOUR FATHER…

Peter now goes on at length about the qualities and character of God the Father and how that should affect your life, especially in relationship to other believers. He is ending Chapter 1 with an important statement that I’ll share with you here so you can understand the end better when we get there.

But the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word which was preached to you.

17b – He, the Father, is an impartial Judge
“…the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;

THEREFORE – CONDUCT YOURSELVES IN FEAR

His holiness is absolute. His righteousness is absolute. His grace is absolute therefore His mercy is absolute.

When I was 10 or 12 my dad made a go-cart for me. It was nothing fancy, just handmade and very fast! I was instructed that I could ride it anywhere on our property – but never on any public road (it was a very large property and had both private and public road access.

I went off on the go-cart down our private street to get to a neighbor’s house – no one home. Off to another, no one home, off to a third, no one home, now being a little far from our home, I chose to drive the go-cart down a public street to get to our private road. There was no traffic. About halfway down to our private road a town police cruiser pulled up behind me and then waved me down. He was an officer that I knew and he knew me. He had me drive the go-cart all the way home with the cruiser right behind me. We pulled into the driveway, and he parked the cruiser right behind the go-cart. He spoke to my mom, and she called my dad. The officer told me to go into the house and I did as requested. My dad came home and talked with the officer. After the officer left my dad took the go-cart into the garage and disassembled it – I never saw it again. He came into the house, found me and said, “I am very disappointed.” And that’s the last I heard about it. It is still a lesson firmly planted in my brain. The command, the fun, deciding wrong, getting caught, the penalty (and I loved that go-cart), the legality, the compassionate grace. Fourteen years later I would become a believer – and this lesson is firmly rooted.

1:18 - Knowing the expense of my redemption

:18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,

People redeemed by Jesus, covered with the blood. Jesus, the ultimate Passover Lamb. [God in human form gave His Life for you]

NOTES on The Blood of Christ – It is described as:

1. Priceless blood v.18
None of earth's valuables are comparable

2. Ethical blood v.18
Redeems from vain and sinful manner of life

:19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

3. Sacred blood v. 19a
It was "the blood of God" (Acts 20:28)

4. Holy blood v. 19b
He was the lamb of God without blemish (2 Corinthians 5:21)

5. Precious blood v.19
Not repugnant -- the supreme sacrifice and proof of His love!

:20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world,

but has appeared in these last times

(Lit. at the end of the times)

6. Fore-known blood v. 20
Calvary was no accident of fate (Acts 2:23)

7. Effectual blood
Toward God: vv. 21-23; toward man: v. 18

God’s plan for the redemption of men and women of faith was put into place before “the foundation of the world.” Regardless of where you stand on how long ago is “before,” God, the Father already had the plan securely in place. A world would be created; a people would be put upon it. Those people would be tested in a number of ways as to belief and faith. A specific family was chosen to prove that humanity was incapable of becoming holy on its own – a savior was needed. From that family, centuries later God would send His only begotten Son, Jesus, to fulfill the Father’s salvation plan for mankind who would be faithful and believing. It cost that Son His life. His resurrection proved justification that salvation was brought through Him, and all true faith and belief would result in salvation, a place in the Family of God, and a life which would be eternal. – All Foreknown!

for the sake of you

21 who through Him are believers in God,

who raised Him from the dead and

[who] gave Him glory,

so that your faith and hope are in God.

For the sake of you – Isn’t that amazing. If you are a believer today – you are part of the plan of almighty God for YOU to become a believer in Almighty God through the saving work of His Son in His death, resurrection, ascension, to become a brother or sister of His, in heaven, or wherever you are with Him, forever. Therefore: That is your grace, Joy, Faith and Hope.

And finally, the last three verses as we reach a blessed chapter ending…

1:22-23 - Called to be “Holy in Love” as Brethren
Love One Another Earnestly

The Visualized Text

22 Since you have [already]

in obedience to the truth purified your souls

for a sincere (Lit. unhypocritical) love of the brethren,

fervently love one another

from the heart, 23

for you have been born again

not of seed which is perishable

but [of seed which is] imperishable, that is,

through the living and enduring word of God.

A – The Love For Each Other

22 Since you have [already] in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere (Lit. unhypocritical) love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,

What a remarkable sentence. Since – here comes the reason you should all love each other as believers – all races, colors, etc. You have (already) – Act, work, action – is already done by you. “In obedience to the truth,” God the Holy Spirit showed you the Savior and asked you to believe and you chose to be obedient and believe, thus allowing God the Father to place you into the category of being “Purified” as to your soul. It is now your calling to bring about obedience in you and the believers around you to the truth – and thus you are to love the brethren fervently from the heart.

B - 23 for you have been born again

not of seed which is perishable

but [of seed which is] imperishable,

that is,

through the living and enduring word of God.

He, Jesus is the Word of God. (John 1:1) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

1:24-25 - The Word of God Endures Forever

The Visualized Text

24 For,

“All flesh is like grass,

And all its glory like the flower of grass.

The grass withers,

And the flower falls off,

25 But the word of the Lord endures forever.”
[Isaiah 40:6-8 Septuagint]

And this is the word which was preached to you (Lit. preached as good news to you).

We’re fortunate for the little tag at the end - Lit. “preached as good news to you” - for without it we may have come to the conclusion that this “preaching” came only through the Old Testament Prophets because of the included quote - but no, we are so incredibly blessed by the inclusion of the Holy scriptures of the entire New Testament - and that isn’t just the 4 “Gospels (good news)” but all the books of the New Testament - and for us now, First Peter. All of the Old Testament and New Testament books, the Word of God, will absolutely continue as “The Word of God.”

Recently there’s been some noise on the internet concerning books that are included in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox versions of “The Bible.”

The Jewish Canon excluded these books from the Hebrew Bible because they were written after the timeline of prophecy had ended.

The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox includes these books and labels them as “Deuterocanonical” [second canon] books. They were largely written in the intertestamental period (-400 B.C. to the birth of Christ).

The Protestant Bibles reject them as inspired scripture and labels them as Apocrypha (“hidden things”), but some do have valuable historical content.

Today’s internet effort is the sale of newly named collections of “Bible books.” They attempt to tell you that you bible isn’t enough!

Some time ago I read some of these books and came to the “Protestant” view that they were not “The Word of the Lord.” They read like stories from ordinary books. They lack the presence of the Holy Spirit’s guidance upon me as an experienced Bible teacher. They are interesting and, as I mentioned, some have in-depth historical information - but not inspired Scripture. Here’s a little internet research about some of these books.

1 & 2 Maccabees: Detailed historical accounts of the Jewish revolt against Greek oppression and the rededication of the Temple (the origin of Hanukkah).

Tobit & Judith: Historical religious novels emphasizing piety, faithfulness to God, and divine intervention during times of foreign exile.

Wisdom of Solomon & Sirach: Books of poetry and ethics heavily influenced by Jewish wisdom traditions reacting to Greek philosophy.

Baruch: A text written in the name of Jeremiah's scribe, focusing on repentance and prayer during Babylon's occupation.

If you’d like to explore some of these The Bible Project has some interesting videos concerning the Apocryphal documents.

THE BIBLE PROJECT

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Jeremiah 18:15
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2026-09-05