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1 Peter 1:20 – Determined Ahead of Time

Posted on October 25, 2016 by Will

He indeed was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in these last times because of you

Truth to Learn

Before the creation of the heavens and the earth, God determined that Christ would die for your sins and mine.

Behind the Words

The Greek word translated “foreknown” is proegnosmenou, which is a compound of pro, meaning “before” and a form of ginoskō, meaning “to know.” This word means “to know beforehand” or “to determine beforehand.”

The expression “before the foundation of the world” comes from the Greek, pro katabolēs kosmou. The word pro, as we just learned means “before,” katabolēs literally means “to throw down” which refers to “laying a foundation,” and kosmou is our familiar friend “cosmos” or “world system. “

Meaning Explained

It’s interesting to look at all three verses in the Bible that contain the expression pro katabolēs kosmou.

Father, I will that they also, whom you have given me, be with me where I am; … for you loved me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24)

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Ephesians 1:4)

who in fact was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in these last times because of you (1 Peter 1:20)

These verses tell us three things that happened at what is referred to as “the council of God,” which occurred before time began: 1) the three persons of the Godhead had love for one another, 2) we were chosen for salvation and given by the Father to the Son, and 3) the sacrificial death of the Lamb of God (Jesus, the Son) was determined (ordained). God didn’t just create things and then “let it happen.” He has a plan for the ages and everything is being worked out exactly as He planned.

The last part of today’s verse tells us that, although the prophets didn’t understand the messages they were delivering because it was not yet revealed, the reality and significance of the death of Jesus Christ has been made known in these last days (the time in God’s plan in which you and I are living.)

Application

God has revealed the plan of salvation to us today in a way and to a degree never before experienced by mankind. How can we ignore that which He has put so much effort into revealing to us. There are more copies of the Holy Scriptures available in more languages and more translations than at any other time since the creation of the world! There is more preaching, there are more radio messages, and there are more television broadcasts about the Bible than ever before!

And yet, 2 Timothy 4:3 says:

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires …

What are you doing with God’s Word today?

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Peter 1:21 – Eternal Hope

Posted on October 25, 2016 by Will

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.

Truth to Learn

It is through Christ that we believe unto salvation, and our hope for eternity rests with God and God alone.

Behind the Words

The Greek word translated “through” is dia which can refer to motion “through” something or it can refer to instrumentality. In this case it is the latter.

The word “believe” is from the Greek pisteuō, which means “to have faith in” or “to believe in.”

“Raised” is translated from egeirō, which means “to rouse from sleep.” It also implies the idea of rising up from the posture of sleep. Hence, it is also used of raising someone from death.

The word translated “glory” is doxa. The root of this word is the word dokeō, which means “to think or suppose.” Hence, the word doxa principally refers to thought or opinion, especially favorable opinion. By extension it also means praise, honor, or splendor.

Meaning Explained

This verse must be connected with the previous verse to make complete sense. Together these two verses read:

He indeed was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in these last times because of youwho through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Now we can clearly see that the “who” that begins the current verse refers to “you” which ended the last verse. In other words, those of us to whom Christ was manifest (made known) in these last days are saved through believing in Him. Throughout time, faith has been the key to being declared righteous by God. In Noah’s case it was belief that God was going to bring a flood. In Abraham’s case it was believing God’s promise that his descendents would be as innumerable as the stars in the sky. In the case of the Old Testament Jews, it was the belief that the Messiah was coming. In our case it is the belief that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that his sacrificial death on the cross paid the ransom for our sins.

It is through Christ that we believe in God because Jesus Christ in his incarnation showed God the Father to us. And, it is God the father who raised Christ from the dead to prove Christ’s deity. Also, it is God the Father who placed Christ at his own right hand and returned to Him the glory He had in eternity past. Therefore, it is through Christ, and in God the Father, that our saving faith and hope for eternity rests.

Peter makes it very clear in this verse that our hope for eternity is in God. This is clearly contrary to the belief of some that our hope for eternity is in the good works that we perform while we are here in this life.

Application

If you believe that it is your actions or good deeds that ensure your place in heaven, then Peter says you are wrong. He declares to us here that our faith is in Him (through Christ) and that our hope is in Him as well. Our hope is in God the Father, not in our own deeds. Think about that!

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Peter 1:19 – The Price of Peace

Posted on October 21, 2016 by Will

but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Truth to Learn

The price of our salvation is exceedingly great!

Behind the Words

The word translated “precious” is the Greek word timiō, meaning “costly,” “honored,” or “of great value.”

“Without blemish” is translated from amōmos, a compound word made up of the privative a, meaning “not” or “without” and mōmos, meaning “a spot” or “a blemish.”

Meaning Explained

Remember the previous verse, ‘…you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, like silver or gold …” As much as we might like to think of these as having lasting value, as I said several days ago, these will pass away, they will wear out, they will disappear because they are corruptible things. We were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ. To a Christian there can be nothing more valuable and precious than the blood of Christ. It is with this blood that complete and sufficient payment was made for all our sins. Hallelujah!

The reason that this blood was sufficient is because He perfectly fulfilled the requirement of the law that the paschal lamb was to be without blemish and without spot. He was (and is) sinless and perfect. His was the only sacrifice that could satisfy God’s righteous judgment, and it was applied to your sins and mine!

When Moses was about to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt, God told him to instruct the Israelites about the Passover. On the tenth day of the month, they were to select a year-old lamb that was without defect. The word translated “without defect” is the Hebrew word tamiym, which means “completely whole, not lacking anything, completely righteous, pure, or perfect.” They were to watch this lamb for four days, and on the fourteenth day of the month, they were to sacrifice the lamb and sprinkle its blood on the sides and top of the doorway leading into their homes. The presence of this blood would indicate to the death angel to “pass over” the house and not kill the firstborn within that house.

Years later, after the children of Israel had built a temple in the Promised Land; they observed this “Passover” celebration every year. On the tenth day of the first month, a Passover lamb was selected and was lead through the sheep gate on its way to the temple. When it entered the temple, the people waved palm branches in all four directions and sang “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” and then laid the palm branches before the lamb. The lamb was kept under close observation for four days to determine its purity. Then, on the 14^th of Nisan, the lamb was declared to be pure. It was to be placed on the altar from the third hour until the ninth hour when the high priest would kill it and declare, “It is finished.”

These Passover observations were a picture of the sacrifice that Jesus Christ was to make to pay the penalty for our sins.

Application

Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled the Law and met all the requirements for the Passover Lamb. The Son of God was sacrificed for your sins and mine. Do you realize how valuable that makes your salvation?

How are you showing your appreciation to God for this priceless gift?

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Peter 1:18 – Incorruptible Ransom

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Will

knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,

Truth to Learn

The price of our salvation was of great worth and is eternal.

Behind the Words

The word translated “redeemed” is a form of lutroō. This word means “to pay a ransom for another’s freedom.” It carries the idea of a person being held without the ability to escape and released only when a sufficient ransom price was paid.

“Aimless” is translated from mataios, meaning “to no purpose” or “fruitless.” It is a picture of someone wandering through this life without any purpose or destination in mind.

The phrase “received by tradition from your fathers” is translated from the Greek word patroparadotos. This is made up of pater, meaning “father” and a form of paradidōmi, meaning “to deliver.” It refers to something handed down by tradition from father to son. It is used here in reference to our aimless manner of living.

Meaning Explained

Before coming to faith in Christ, we were captured and in bondage to sin. The only payment that could set us free was life itself. But God, in His infinite mercy, offered the life of His only begotten Son in exchange for our life, as the acceptable ransom payment to set us free.

Peter here reminds us that the price of our salvation, the ransom for deliverance from the punishment of sin, has already been paid. But it was not paid with those things which we consider valuable like gold and silver. In fact, as we saw in verse seven, Peter refers to gold and silver as perishable things because they have no lasting value. But the blood of the sinless Lamb of God has eternal value.

He also tells us here that the life we were living before salvation, living under the bondage of sin, was characterized by wandering without purpose. But now that the ransom has been paid and applied to our account, we can choose to live for God (even though we don’t always do it). We now have a purpose in life!

Peter is telling us that we should do good works, works with lasting value, because we were redeemed with something of lasting value. He goes on further to say that the manner of life we had before we were saved was vain, that is, worthless or empty. We were delivered from a worthless life by something very precious, therefore we should be holy and make our new life worth something by putting works of value into the remainder of our life.

Application

Before salvation we were not free to live as we choose. We were slaves to sin and had no choice but to live for self. Now that we have been ransomed with the blood of Christ, we can choose to live for self or to live for God.

Who do you choose to live for?

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Peter 1:17 – Impartial Judgment

Posted on October 19, 2016 by Will

And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay here on earth;

Truth to Learn

The way we live reflects how we really feel about God.

Behind the Words

“Without partiality” comes from aprosōpolēptos, which is a compound of three words meaning “not,” “appearance,” and “accept”. Hence, this word means that He does not take a person’s appearance into account, and it has come to mean “impartially.”

The word translated “judges” is from the Greek word krinō, which means “to distinguish or decide based on the facts.”

“Conduct” is translated from the verb form of the word anastrophē, meaning “our manner of living.” It is expressed here in the imperative mood indicating a call to action.

Meaning Explained

Today’s verse seems to talk about a works based salvation since it says that God judges according to every man’s work. Taken in isolation from the numerous Biblical verses that talk about salvation being of grace by faith alone, some people have even said that this verse proves that our salvation is based on works. But what does the verse really say?

God judges us based on what we do, not to earn righteousness (salvation), but as a result of the righteousness (salvation) that has already been given to us. Our righteousness is imputed (given) to us when we believe (see Romans 4:22-24).

Now, regarding the works of the unsaved, the description of the Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation 20:11-15 makes it very clear that the unsaved will be judged according to their works and then will all be condemned to the lake of fire.

But Christians will not appear before the White Throne Judgment. Instead, we will appear before the Bema Seat Judgment, about which the Apostle Paul said:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

This judgment seat of Christ is the bematos, or Bema Seat of Christ. In the first century, the Bema seat was the platform upon which the judge of athletic games sat. It was at this seat that the winners were each given a wreath “crown” as a reward for their victory. Our Bema seat judgment is for believers (winners) only and occurs after the rapture when we have already become like Christ, hence we are blameless. This is where we will receive rewards for the work we have done for Him. And in 1 Corinthians 3:8-15 we learn that our works will be judged as having been done either for the glory of God or for ourselves. Therefore, Peter admonishes us in today’s verse to pass the time of our wandering here on this earth in fear. Not fear of losing our salvation, but fear that we won’t do everything we can to show God how grateful we are.

Application

I have often wondered how a person who is saved by God’s grace can then live the remainder of his or her life focusing on self. When we realize the value of God’s sacrifice to pay the price of our sins, we begin to understand how precious salvation really is. Now, what are we doing to show how much we appreciate His sacrifice? Christ died for us; therefore, we should live for Him!

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Peter 1:16 – Total Submission

Posted on October 18, 2016 by Will

for it is written, "Be holy, because I am holy."

Truth to Learn

God wants us to be completely set-apart to Him.

Behind the Words

“For” is from the Greek word dioti, which is made up of dia, meaning “through” or “for” and hoti, meaning “that.” So literally it means “for that reason.”

The word translated “written” is a form of graphō, which means “to engrave” or “to write.” The word is used here in the perfect tense indicating past completed action with an ongoing effect where the emphasis is on the effect. That is, it was written and therefore is now written down for all to see.

Meaning Explained

In the previous two verses we were admonished to not be conformed to our former lusts which we followed in our ignorance, but instead to be holy (set-apart and pure) in our behavior because it is the Holy One who called us. Now, in order to explain why we need to be set-apart, Peter quotes from the Old Testament, where God said:

For I am the LORD your God: ye shall consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am holy (Leviticus 11:44)

The word translated “consecrate” is the verb form of the same word that is translated “holy” in this Old Testament passage. As we mentioned in the previous verse, one of the key elements of sanctification, or holiness, is the notion of being “set-apart.” A sanctified vessel is one that is set-apart for service in worshipping God. To sanctify oneself, therefore, also carries with it the notion of setting oneself apart. But how do we do that?

In Romans 12:1,2 the Apostle Paul put it this way:

Therefore, brothers, I call on you through the compassions of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove what is the good and pleasing and perfect will of God.

According to this passage, the way we are to become a holy, living sacrifice is to present our bodies to God. Our body becomes a sacrifice because we give up control over the use of it and commit to letting God choose how we use it. Then, Paul says we are to set ourselves apart from the world system. In other words, instead of allowing ourselves to be controlled by the world system; instead of learning to think and act like we are constantly being pressured to think and act, we need to allow our minds to be renewed by God. And the only way that can happen is by reading and studying the Bible.

Let me repeat that: the only way we can renew our mind and become set-apart to God is by reading and studying the Bible.

Application

On a scale of one to ten, where one is not at all set-apart and ten is completely devoted and committed to God, where are you right now? (Hint: God wants you to be a ten. Anything less means you have more submitting to do.)

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Peter 1:15 – Shedding Grave Clothes

Posted on October 17, 2016 by Will

but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your conduct,

Truth to Learn

We are commanded to become set-apart from sin and the world system.

Behind the Words

The word “holy” is translated from hagios. The root of this word refers to that which is pure and without blemish. This word also carries the notion of being set-apart. God is set-apart in that He is without sin, and He is the creator while all others are created beings. People and things which are set-apart for God’s use or in worshipping Him are also considered holy.

“Conduct” is translated from anastrophē, which literally means “to turn up” or “to turn again.” By implication, however, it means “to move around.” It’s a reference to the way we behave as we move back and forth through this life on earth.

Meaning Explained

In the last verse Peter told us to be obedient children of our Heavenly Father and not to be conformed to our former manner of life which we lived in ignorance. Now that we are no longer ignorant of spiritual things, along with a change of heart we need to have a change of life. When I was a very new Christian, my pastor said to me that I needed to shed the grave clothes of my old way of life. I didn’t have a clue what he was talking about, so he explained it.

When Jesus raised up Lazarus from the dead, he was bound with grave clothes, and as Lazarus came out of the tomb, Jesus commanded that he be unbound and set free (see John 11:43,44). In the same way we, as we are born again spiritually, come forth wearing the same habits and lifestyles that we had before we were saved. And just like Lazarus, we are bound by them and cannot know the fullness of the freedom that is ours until we rid ourselves of our past behavior.

God realizes that as we take off one type of covering we need to put on another. When commanding us to change something about our lives, He frequently tells us to stop doing something. And, if you look carefully, you will find that either specifically, or contextually, we will also be given a command of what we are to do instead.

In today’s verse, we are told what to do instead of being conformed to our former lusts; we are to be holy in our behavior. So what does it mean to be holy? We just learned that it means to be pure and set-apart from our former way of life. But we can’t do these things ourselves while we still have our sin nature controlling us. But as we let our powerful, Holy God control us, He is able to produce purity and moral blamelessness in us, and legally we are already set-apart.

It takes a lot of effort on our part (effort to submit and commit), but as we do so, He performs in us what He desires. As the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 2:13:

For it is God who is at work in you both to determine and to work for His good pleasure.

Application

Instead of patterning our lives after our former lustful ways, obeying our own desires, we need to become progressively more like God, separated from the world and its sinfulness. Take your eyes off yourself and others and focus them exclusively on God.

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Peter 1:14 – Obedient Non-conformists

Posted on October 14, 2016 by Will

as obedient children, not conforming to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;

Truth to Learn

Leave your past in the past and humbly follow God’s leading.

Behind the Words

The word translated “obedient” is the Greek word hupakoē, which is made up of hupo (or hypo), meaning “under” and a form of akouo, meaning “to hear.” Hence, it literally means “to hear under,” that is “to listen to the instruction of someone over you, like a parent or a teacher.” But it means more than just passive listening, it implies obedience to what was taught to you.

“Conforming” is translated from suschēmatidzō, a compound word made up of sun, meaning “together with” and schemētidzō, meaning “to make a pattern.” Hence, this word refers to “someone making something to match with a pattern.” It is expressed here in the middle voice, indicating the action is being done by the subject (yourselves), to the subject.

The word translated “lusts” is epithumia, which is made up of epi, meaning “upon” or “over” and a form of thumos, meaning “a strong emotion or desire.” Hence, this word refers to an overly strong desire or emotion.

Meaning Explained

Peter is continuing the thought from the previous verse about being prepared for action and focusing on the reward that is to come. Now he is saying be attentive and submissive, and don’t pattern your life around the former lusts that used to entrap you. First off, he says we need to be obedient. Regarding obedience, the Apostle John said:

And by this we know that we have known Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, I have known Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His Word, truly in this one the love of God is perfected. By this we know that we are in Him. (1 John 2:3-6)

Then, Peter tells us not to conform to our former lusts. Here’s another caution the Apostle Paul gave about conforming:

And do not be conformed to this world [system], but be transformed by the renewing of your mind … (Romans 12:2)

About these lusts, the Apostle James said:

But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. (James 1:14, 15)

So you see, Peter is telling us that we are in the midst of spiritual warfare, and we need to follow the commands given by our Father. And, our actions need to demonstrate that we have changed since we got saved and that we truly are children of God. Peter will finish the rest of this thought in the next verse.

Application

Are you daily preparing yourself for spiritual warfare? Are you in the midst of the battle? Or have you settled back into satisfying your own desires instead of submitting to God?

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Peter 1:13 – Battle Preparations

Posted on October 13, 2016 by Will

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, being sober, and rest your hope completely upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Truth to Learn

Prepare yourself, keep your mind clear, and trust in God.

Behind the Words

The opening phrase of this verse: “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind …” is awkward to today’s reader. In the day that this was written, however, is was common for men and women alike to wear long robes. In order to run, a person had to prepare by reaching down between his or her legs, grasping the hem of the back part of the robe, pulling it up through their legs, and tucking it into the belt or sash. This process was known as “girding up the loins” and became a vernacular expression for getting prepared. Hence, Peter’s expression can be accurately paraphrased as, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action …”

The words “being sober” are translated from the Greek verb nēphō, which literally means “to not be drunk.” It is a specific reference to avoiding intoxication from alcohol, but it is used metaphorically to mean “keep your mind clear.” In some English translations it appears to be a command (be sober), but in the Greek it is expressed as a participle. Hence, a better translation would be, “being sober minded, rest your hope …”

“Rest your hope” is from the word elpidzō, meaning “to hope for something with the full expectation of receiving that which is hoped for.” It is expressed here as a command, so it could be translated as, “place your hope …”

Meaning Explained

Because of the marvelous value of this great salvation that is promised to us, which prophets and angels alike desire to look into, we need to treat it in a manner worthy of the great prize that it is. Peter tells us to be prepared for action. Just because it is a great prize given us by the great King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and He has promised that He will preserve it until that day when he comes back to fulfill the promise, there is no reason to take it for granted. Neither should we simply view it as a free pass into heaven. In fact, because of this great gift that has been given to us and because we are now His, we will see hostile action. Christ himself told us:

I have spoken these things to you so that you might have peace in Me. In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

So Peter warns us to get ready, prepare our minds for action, stay sober minded and vigilant, don’t get distracted by all the flashing lights and enticements of this world. Above all, focus all our hope (that is, confirmed expectation) on the end of the battle, when Christ will complete His work in us.

Application

Hang in there, especially when the going gets tough. God promised us that He will never leave us nor forsake us! Keep in mind what Paul told Timothy:

For this cause I also suffer these things; but I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him until that day. (2 Timothy 1:12)

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Peter 1:12 – Heavenly Observation

Posted on October 12, 2016 by Will

It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in 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 long to look into.

Truth to Learn

Angels are watching us to learn about salvation.

Behind the Words

The words “they were … serving” are translated from the Greek verb diakoneō, which means “to serve” or “to wait on” just as a waiter does at a restaurant. It is the word from which we get our English word deacon; a position of servanthood within the church. The verb is expressed here in the imperfect tense indicating past, ongoing action.

At the end of this verse, the word “long” is from the Greek verb epithumeō, meaning “extremely strong desire.” It is the word used of the prodigal son’s desire to satisfy his hunger with the husks in Luke 15:16 and of the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes in 1 John 2:16.

The word translated “to look” is the Greek verb parakuptō, meaning “to bend down” or “to stoop down” or “to peer into.” The implication here, as with the prophets, is that the angels are intently looking into these things. James uses this same word in James 1:25, “but whoever looks intently into the perfect law of liberty …” and it also is used of Peter himself in Luke 24:12 when he had arrived at the empty tomb and stooped down looking in to see the grave clothes.

Meaning Explained

The purpose of Peter’s message in these verses is to impress upon those to whom he was writing in the 1^st century (and to us who read these words today) not only the value of the message contained in the scriptures, but also our very privileged position in being able to understand what was written in a way that saints of old were not permitted. The prophets of the Old Testament searched with effort for the true meaning of the message, which was inspired by the Holy Spirit, in order to understand the things of the Messiah and this salvation that we have. Now Peter tells us that the angelic beings have an intense desire to know more about these things as well.

An angel cannot experience salvation as we can. Each angelic being is a separate creation and is responsible to God for his own actions. It is because of the procreation of mankind from a single created being that Christ was able to atone for the sins of Adam’s entire race. Since angels can’t experience salvation themselves, they have to understand it by studying those of us who are experiencing it.

So, the next time you feel like someone is watching you (other than the omnipresent God we serve) it may well be that it is an angel, trying to better understand more about the salvation so freely offered to us, even though we don’t deserve it.

Application

Let’s give praise to God for our salvation, and let’s be a witness of His grace to those around us who we can see, as well as to those who we can’t see. Be a witness to an angel today!

In God's service, for His glory,