Salvation and working out: Chap. (1:1-2:3)
1. The source and guarantee of our Salvation: (1:1-5)
Peter gives a clear involvement of Trinity in the life of every believer. A Believer is chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and the sprinkling of His blood (1:2)
Peter uses the word “strangers” to describe the recipients of his letter. Peter probably means to use this word to identify their permanent residence as Heavenly rather than earthly. The same Greek word translated “pilgrims” is used in (Heb.11:13) “they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” Peter clearly establishes Heaven as the end result of our salvation experience in Jesus Christ. “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1:5). It’s a very secure feeling to be “kept by the power of God.
Again Peter expresses a thankfulness to God for the living hope that we now have as a result of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Because of his resurrection, we can look forward to our own resurrection. (1:4) clearly describes the conditions of that resurrection as being in heaven where we will be “incorruptible and undefiled” with assurance guarantees “who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1:5). So our salvation is secure in Jesus Christ.
- There is joy in our Salvation: (1:6-7)
Peter says our Salvation is secure because we are shielded by God’s power. But that is for a little time, because sufferings are going to take over us. Christians would become the target of persecution. This was due to the fact that they refused to worship the emperor as a god and thus were viewed as atheists and traitors, they refused to worship at pagan temples, they exposed and rejected the immorality of pagan culture.
Peter suggests that we be serious in our trials because trials produce grief or pain. The word grief is used to describe our Lord in Gethsemane (Matt.26:37), and the sorrow of saints at the death of loved ones (1 Thes.4:13). To deny that our trials are painful is to make them even worse. Christians must accept the fact that there are difficult experiences in life and not put on a brave front just to appear “more spiritual.”
Trials are controlled by God. They do not last forever, they are “for a season.” When God permits His children to go through the furnace, He keeps His eye on the clock and His hand on the thermostat. If we rebel, He may have to reset the clock, but if we submit, He will not permit us to suffer one minute longer. The important thing is that we learn the lesson He wants to teach us and that we bring glory to Him alone.
Peter illustrated this truth by referring to the goldsmith. No goldsmith would deliberately waste the precious ore. He would put it into the smelting furnace long enough to remove the cheap impurities; then he would pour it out and make from it a beautiful article of value. It has been said that the Eastern goldsmith kept the metal in the furnace until he could see His face reflected in it. So our Lord keeps us in the furnace of suffering until we reflect the glory and beauty of Jesus Christ.