December 20

1 Peter 1-5 (biblegateway.com)

Hope in the Midst of Trials

Having received instruction from Paul’s pastoral writings, we now turn to Peter’s encouragement to believers scattered under pressure. His letter equips suffering Christians to stand firm, live holy lives, and fix their hope fully on Christ’s return.

1 Peter 1–5 offers comfort, exhortation, and assurance to believers facing rejection, persecution, and cultural hostility. Peter reminds them that suffering does not weaken faith; it refines it, reveals it, and anchors it more deeply in Christ.

1 Peter 1 — Hope in Suffering, the New Birth, and the Call to Holy Living

Peter writes to believers scattered throughout the regions of Asia Minor (v. 1). They are “elect exiles,” chosen by God in Christ, consistent with God’s call to faith, yet living as strangers in a hostile world. Their identity is rooted not in location or circumstance but in the work of the Triune God. They are chosen by the Father, sanctified by the Spirit, and sprinkled by the blood of Jesus Christ (v. 2). Peter greets them with grace and peace, gifts they will need in the trials they face.

Peter begins with praise: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 3). This blessing flows from God’s mercy, not human worth. Through Christ’s resurrection, believers are given a living hope. Their hope is not vague optimism but a confident expectation anchored in the risen Christ. They have an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven by God Himself (v. 4). This inheritance cannot be lost, destroyed, or diminished in itself. Believers are guarded by God’s power through faith as they continue to trust Him until salvation is fully revealed at Christ's return (v. 5).

Peter acknowledges the reality of suffering. Trials grieve believers, yet they do not destroy them. These difficulties are necessary because they refine faith like fire purifies gold (v. 6–7). Gold perishes, but faith that endures testing brings praise, glory, and honor when Christ appears. Suffering does not contradict God’s promises; it prepares believers to see the worth of Christ more clearly. Though His readers have not seen Christ physically, they love Him, trust Him, and rejoice with a joy that is inexpressible (v. 8). Their faith leads to the salvation of their souls (v. 9). Salvation is both present and future, experienced now and completed at Christ's return.

Peter explains that this salvation was foretold by the prophets, who spoke of Christ’s sufferings and subsequent glory (v. 10–11). They longed to understand the fullness of what God revealed through them, yet their ministry served future generations. Even angels marvel at the work God is accomplishing in the gospel (v. 12). The salvation believers now enjoy is the fulfillment of God’s long-planned purpose in Christ.

Because of this living hope, believers must prepare their minds for action (v. 13). They are to live with sober-minded focus, setting their hope fully on the grace that will be revealed when Christ returns. Hope shapes behavior. Peter calls them to holiness, not as an option but as a command rooted in God’s own character: “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (v. 14–16). Holiness is not separation for its own sake; it is conformity to the God who redeemed them.

Believers must conduct their lives with reverence, knowing they were ransomed from futile ways inherited from their ancestors (v. 17–18). Their salvation was not purchased with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, the sinless Lamb (v. 19). Christ was foreknown before the foundation of the world and revealed in these last times for their sake (v. 20). Through Him they believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so their faith and hope rest in God alone (v. 21). Redemption is not abstract. It calls believers to live differently because of the cost paid for their souls.

Peter then emphasizes love within the church. Because believers have been purified through obedience to the truth, they must love one another earnestly from a pure heart (v. 22). This love is not superficial or conditional. It flows from the new birth. They have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and abiding Word of God (v. 23). Human life fades like grass, but God’s Word remains forever (v. 24–25). The gospel is unchanging, and those who receive it are given a life that reflects its permanence.

1 Peter 1 teaches that Christian identity begins with God’s choice, rests on Christ’s resurrection, and is sustained by the Spirit’s power. Believers endure trials not as victims but as people being refined for glory. Salvation is secure in Christ, hope is alive, and holiness is the necessary response to God’s redeeming work. The church stands as a people ransomed by Christ, called to love deeply, live differently, and fix their hope on the grace that will be revealed when Jesus Christ returns.

1 Peter 2 — A Chosen People, Spiritual Growth, and Godly Conduct in a Hostile World

Peter continues unfolding what it means to live as God’s people in a world where believers are misunderstood and marginalized. Since they have been born again through the living Word, Peter exhorts them to put away attitudes that fracture Christian fellowship: malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander (v. 1). These sins choke spiritual growth and contradict the new identity believers have received. Instead, they are to long for the pure spiritual milk of the Word so they may grow into maturity (v. 2). Growth in the Christian life is not automatic. It requires continual nourishment from God’s truth. Those who have tasted the Lord’s goodness will desire more of Him (v. 3).

Peter shifts to the imagery of a building, showing that believers are living stones being built into a spiritual house (v. 5). Christ is the cornerstone, chosen and precious, the foundation upon which everything rests (v. 4, 6). Those who come to Him are joined together into a temple where God dwells by His Spirit. In this new house, believers serve as a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Their lives become worship, not limited to ceremonies, but expressed in obedience, love, and witness.

Yet not all respond to Christ this way. Some reject the cornerstone, stumbling over Him because they refuse to believe (v. 7–8). Their unbelief fulfills Scripture, demonstrating that stumbling is not incidental; it is the result of rejecting God’s appointed Savior. The contrast highlights the privilege of believers. Though despised by the world, they are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession” (v. 9). Their identity is defined by God’s calling, not public opinion. They exist to proclaim His excellencies, because He has brought them out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once they were not a people, but now they belong to God; once they had not received mercy, but now mercy shapes their existence (v. 10).

This identity leads to transformed behavior. As sojourners and exiles, believers must abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul (v. 11). Their conduct among unbelievers must be honorable, so that even those who slander Christianity will, upon seeing good works, give glory to God (v. 12). The Christian life is evangelistic. A holy people reveal God’s character through everyday obedience.

Peter applies this principle to civic life. Believers must submit to human authorities, whether emperor or governor, because such submission reflects God’s order (v. 13–14). Their obedience silences accusations that Christians are lawless. They live in freedom, not as a pretext for evil, but as servants of God (v. 16). Peter summarizes this civic ethic in four commands: honor everyone, love the brotherhood, fear God, and honor the emperor (v. 17). Reverence for God governs all earthly relationships.

Peter then addresses servants, many of whom suffered unjust treatment. They are called to endure sorrows while being mindful of God (v. 18–19). He does not justify injustice but teaches that patient endurance reflects Christ’s own suffering. Christ’s example is central. He committed no sin, spoke no deceit, did not retaliate when reviled, and entrusted Himself to God who judges justly (v. 21–23). Believers follow Him not by escaping suffering but by responding to it in righteousness.

Christ’s suffering was not merely exemplary; it was redemptive. He bore our sins in His body on the tree so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness (v. 24). His wounds healed our deepest spiritual need. Once wandering like sheep, believers have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of their souls (v. 25). Christian endurance is grounded not in human strength but in the care and authority of Christ.

1 Peter 2 teaches that Christian identity precedes Christian obedience. Believers are God’s chosen people, built on Christ and called to display His character in a watching world. Their good works are not a means of earning salvation but a testimony to the God who saved them. Submission, holiness, and patient endurance reveal the transforming power of grace. Christians live as citizens of another kingdom, yet their presence in this world points others to the Shepherd who alone can bring them from darkness into light.

1 Peter 3 — Godly Conduct in Marriage, Suffering for Righteousness, and the Power of Christ’s Triumph

Peter continues explaining how believers live out their identity in a world resistant to God’s truth. He begins with marriage, applying the principle of honorable conduct to the home. Wives are to be subject to their husbands, not as an admission of inferiority, but as an expression of order and trust in God’s design (v. 1). Their conduct, marked by purity and respect, can influence unbelieving husbands without a word, demonstrating that the most compelling witness is often a transformed life (v. 1–2).

Peter cautions wives not to make external adornment the basis of beauty. True beauty is internal, the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which God values (v. 3–4). He points to holy women of old, who hoped in God and expressed godliness through respectful conduct. Sarah serves as an example, not because she was flawless, but because her attitude reflected trust in God’s authority (v. 5–6).

Peter then addresses husbands. They must live with their wives in an understanding way, showing honor to them as fellow heirs of the grace of life (v. 7). A husband’s authority is never license for harshness or neglect. His prayers are hindered if he fails to treat his wife with dignity. Marriage becomes a testimony when both spouses submit to God and serve one another with humility and love.

From the household, Peter moves to the wider Christian community. Believers are called to unity, sympathy, brotherly love, tender hearts, and humble minds (v. 8). They must not repay evil for evil or insult for insult, but bless, for God calls them to inherit a blessing (v. 9). Peter quotes Psalm 34 to show that those who love life and desire good days must guard their speech, turn from evil, do good, and pursue peace (v. 10–11). God sees the righteous and hears their prayers, but His face is against evildoers (v. 12).

Peter prepares his readers for hostility. Doing good does not guarantee approval from the world, yet those who suffer for righteousness are blessed (v. 13–14). They must not fear intimidation but honor Christ as Lord in their hearts. When questioned about their hope, they must give an answer with gentleness and respect, maintaining a clear conscience (v. 15–16). Christian defense is not aggressive argumentation but reasoned, humble testimony. Suffering for doing good is better than suffering for doing evil because it aligns believers with Christ’s path (v. 17).

Peter anchors this call to suffer well in the work of Christ. Jesus suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring sinners to God (v. 18). His suffering was not defeat but triumph. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit. Peter references Christ’s proclamation to spirits in prison, a difficult passage that points to Christ’s victory over the forces of evil (v. 19–20). Just as God delivered Noah through water, so baptism symbolizes the believer’s salvation, not by removing physical dirt but as an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Christ (v. 21). Baptism does not save by ceremony but points to the reality of salvation accomplished by Christ.

Christ has now ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subjected to Him (v. 22). His exaltation assures believers that suffering is not the end. The One they follow has conquered every opposing power, and those who belong to Him share in His victory.

1 Peter 3 teaches that the gospel transforms relationships and responses to suffering. Marriage becomes a picture of grace when wives trust God and husbands honor their wives. The church embodies Christ’s character through humble speech, blessing instead of retaliation, and hope that withstands hostility. Suffering is not a sign of God’s absence but an opportunity to display allegiance to Christ. Believers endure because Christ suffered for them, saved them, and now reigns over all powers. The path of faith may lead through hardship, but it ends in glory with the One who has already secured the victory.

1 Peter 4 — Living for God’s Will, Serving One Another, and Rejoicing in Suffering

Peter continues preparing believers to live faithfully in a culture that opposes their faith. He begins by calling Christians to arm themselves with the mindset of Christ, who suffered in the flesh (v. 1). This does not mean seeking suffering, but adopting Christ’s attitude, which prioritizes obedience to God over personal comfort. Whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, in the sense that suffering for righteousness marks a decisive break with sin’s rule, meaning that when believers are willing to endure hardship for righteousness, they reveal that sin no longer rules them (v. 1–2). Their lives now follow the will of God rather than the sinful desires that once defined them.

Peter reminds his readers that they have spent enough time living like unbelievers, indulging in passions, drunkenness, immorality, and idolatry (v. 3). Their refusal to return to that lifestyle confuses unbelievers, who malign them for no longer joining in their sinful practices (v. 4). Yet such hostility will not have the final word. God will judge all people. Those who malign Christians will give an account, and the gospel has been preached so that even those who die in the flesh may live in the spirit according to God (v. 5–6). The future judgment and the promise of eternal life shape how believers live in the present.

Peter declares that “the end of all things is at hand” (v. 7). This is not a prediction of an exact moment, but a call to live with urgency. Because Christ’s return is certain, believers must be clear-minded and self-controlled so they can pray effectively. Above all, they must continue in fervent love, because love covers a multitude of sins (v. 8). Love does not ignore sin but refuses to let offense fracture fellowship. Hospitality without grumbling is another expression of this love (v. 9). The Christian life is relational and outward-facing.

Every believer has received a gift, and each is responsible to use it to serve others as a steward of God’s grace (v. 10). Whether speaking or serving, believers must do so in reliance on God’s strength so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ (v. 11). Ministry is not a display of personal ability, but an act of worship that points others to the One who supplies the power. The goal of every gift is God’s glory.

Peter returns to the reality of suffering. Believers must not be surprised by fiery trials as if something strange were happening (v. 12). Suffering is not an anomaly but part of the Christian calling in a fallen world. Those who share in Christ’s sufferings can rejoice, knowing that they will also share in His glory when He is revealed (v. 13). Suffering becomes a mark of blessing when it is experienced for the name of Christ (v. 14). The Spirit of glory rests on those who endure insult for righteousness.

Peter clarifies that suffering for Christ is honorable, but suffering for sin is not (v. 15). Believers must examine their conduct to ensure their hardship arises not from wrongdoing but from faithfulness. If anyone suffers as a Christian, he should not be ashamed but glorify God in that name (v. 16). Judgment begins with the household of God, meaning God purifies His people through trials (v. 17). If the righteous are saved with difficulty, the fate of the ungodly and sinner will be far worse. These realities strengthen believers' resolve, reminding them that present trials test and refine genuine faith.

Peter concludes by urging believers who suffer according to God’s will to entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good (v. 19). Their endurance is not passive resignation but active obedience rooted in confidence that God is just and trustworthy. Suffering becomes an opportunity to display reliance on God’s character and perseverance in righteousness.

1 Peter 4 teaches that Christians must live with purpose, love one another deeply, and use their gifts for God’s glory, especially in the face of hostility. Suffering is not a detour from God’s plan but a means by which believers identify with Christ, demonstrate their allegiance to Him, and reveal the transforming power of the gospel. Those who entrust themselves to their faithful Creator will find strength to endure now and joy when Christ is revealed in glory.

1 Peter 5 — Shepherding God’s Flock, Humility in Leadership, and Standing Firm Against the Enemy

Peter concludes his letter by addressing the leaders and members of the church, calling them to live faithfully until Christ returns. He speaks first to the elders, identifying himself as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and a participant in the glory to be revealed (v. 1). He does not speak from superiority but shared responsibility. Elders are to shepherd the flock of God willingly, not under compulsion or for shameful gain, but with eagerness (v. 2). Leadership in the church is an act of stewardship. The people do not belong to the elders but to God, and those who lead must reflect the character of the Chief Shepherd.

Peter warns against domineering leadership. Elders must not lord their authority over the flock but must be examples in conduct (v. 3). Authority in the church is never coercive. It is persuasive, shaped by humility and godliness. When Christ, the Chief Shepherd, appears, faithful leaders will receive an unfading crown of glory (v. 4). Leadership is difficult and often unseen work, but Christ Himself honors those who serve faithfully.

Peter then addresses the younger believers, commanding them to submit to the elders and calling the entire congregation to clothe themselves with humility toward one another (v. 5). Pride fractures fellowship and blinds believers to God’s work. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, so submission is not weakness. It is alignment with God’s favor. Humility enables believers to cast their anxieties on God, knowing that He cares for them (v. 6–7). Trusting God’s care frees believers from self-reliance and fear.

Peter urges the church to be sober-minded and watchful, because the devil prowls like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour (v. 8). Spiritual warfare is real, and complacency invites destruction. Believers must resist the enemy by standing firm in the faith, knowing that suffering is shared by Christians everywhere (v. 9). The unity of the church’s struggle encourages perseverance. Suffering is not the anomaly of a few but the experience of the whole body of Christ in a fallen world.

Peter assures them that after they have suffered a little while, the God of all grace will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish them (v. 10). The trials they face are temporary, but God’s work in them is eternal. His power ensures that their suffering is not wasted. He will complete what He began as they stand firm in His grace. Peter ends this section by offering glory to God, whose dominion endures forever (v. 11).

Peter closes the letter with final greetings. He mentions Silvanus as a faithful brother who helped deliver the letter (v. 12). He affirms that his purpose in writing is to testify to the true grace of God and exhort believers to stand firm in it. The church in Babylon, a symbolic reference to the world’s opposition to God’s kingdom, sends greetings, as does Mark (v. 13). Peter ends with a call to greet one another with love and peace, emphasizing that the church’s shared hope creates a fellowship marked by affection and unity (v. 14).

1 Peter 5 teaches that the Christian community thrives through humble leadership, mutual submission, and steadfast faith. Elders serve as shepherds under Christ, modeling godliness rather than asserting dominance. All believers are called to humility, vigilance, and trust in God’s care. Suffering is temporary, but God’s restoration is certain. The church stands firm not by escaping hardship, but by relying on the God of all grace who strengthens and sustains His people until the Chief Shepherd returns in glory.

Conclusion

1 Peter 1–5 teaches that Christian hope stands firm even in suffering. Trials do not negate God’s love; they reveal it, purify faith, and point believers to the glory that awaits. The church is called to holiness, humility, submission, and steadfast trust, knowing that Christ suffered first and now reigns in victory.

For believers today, Peter’s message remains vital. Our identity is not rooted in acceptance from the world but in belonging to God. We may face hostility, misunderstanding, or hardship, yet we endure with joy because our hope rests in Christ. The God who called us, redeemed us, and sustains us will one day complete His work. Until then, we stand firm, love deeply, serve faithfully, and look for the appearing of our Shepherd and King.