1 Peter 3:12

1 Peter 3:12 says, For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.  God listens to the prayers of the righteous, those who are followers of Christ.  Until a person accepts Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, the only prayer that God will hear is the prayer of repentance and the acceptance of Jesus Christ as one's personal Savior and Lord.   Verse thirteen adds, And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?   Peter asked a very simple question, but it is one with an everlasting perspective.   There may be those who would harm us if we follow after the good, the things of God, but we have no reason to fear them, no matter what happens in this life.   Verse fourteen continues, But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;  Peter states it very clearly.  We may suffer for righteousness's sake, but if we do we are to rejoice and not be afraid.  Verse fifteen states, But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:  Peter tells us that even in times when we suffer for our righteousness that we are to sanctify God in our heart and be ready to give an answer for our reason for hope with meekness and fear.  I believe this means with a fear of or respect for God and not of those who a persecuting us.  Verse sixteen adds, Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.  Peter tells us that even if people speak evil of us as followers of Christ that they will one day be made ashamed for their false accusations.  As long as we speak the truth of God what we say will always be proven to be true.  Verse seventeen continues, For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.  Peter tells us that if it is the will of God that we suffer for well doing that is better than if we suffer for evil doing.  If we do not compromise our faith in order to avoid some punishment in the world, that is better than suffering the punishment of God because we did compromise our faith.  Verse eighteen says, For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:  Peter points to the example set by Jesus Christ, the just dying for the unjust, as the example for us to follow.   Once more, we are not promised material riches as followers of Christ, but we are told to take up our cross daily, to die to self-will and desire in other words, and to follow Christ.  Verse nineteen adds, By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;  Jesus did not just go to the rich and successful to proclaim His word, but He went to those in prison as well.  We may not be physically imprisoned, but until we accept the gospel of Christ personally, we are imprisoned by sin.  We will never be better than anyone else by our own personal righteousness but are made better by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty continues, Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.  Peter says that God is long-suffering in waiting for people to come to Him and cites Noah as an example.   With all those around Noah, only eight believed him and were saved.  All we can do is share the gospel, then it is up to the individual that we share it with whether they will believe and be saved or not.  Verse twenty-one declares, The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:  I believe that what Peter is telling us is that baptism into the will of God by faith in Jesus Christ saves us, and not the physical act of baptism itself.  It is the resurrection of Jesus Christ that is the way and the only way to salvation.   Verse twenty-two adds, Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.  Jesus Christ is now sitting at the right hand of the heavenly Father, and everything is in His power.  For that reason, as followers of Christ, we have no reason to fear anything that this old world may do to us.   As followers of Christ, the victory is already ours through His power, and nothing will ever be more powerful than He is.

1 Peter 3:1

1 Peter 3:1 says, Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;  Peter tells Christian wives to be subject to their husbands, even those who aren't Christians.  He then says that by doing so, if their husbands aren't Christians they might be won to believing in Christ.  Of course, the main objective is not who is in charge in this world, other than the fact that ultimately both the husband and the wife would be subject to Christ.   Verse two adds, While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.  Peter tells the wives that their chaste conversation coupled I believe with their fear of God would be noted by their husbands and other people.  Our conversation, whether husband, wife, or single should always reflect the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our life if we are a Christian.  Verse three continues, Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;  I believe that Peter was telling us that our focus should not be on our outward appearance.  I don't believe that he was saying that we should never wear things that make us look better to those around us, but that this should not be our emphasis.  Verse four states, But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.  Peter tells us that instead of focusing on the outward appearance that we should focus on our spiritual nature, which is not corruptible.  The things that we do because of our obedience to Christ are pleasing to God and will last forever.  Verse five adds, For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:  Peter cited the example of the holy women of old, those who were set aside from the world by their relationship with God, as being in subjection to their husbands.  Verse six continues, Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.  Peter referred specifically to Sarah and her relationship to Abraham.  Peter said all these women were daughters, or ancestors, of Sarah through faith.  Of course, spiritually they would be sisters of Sarah, since we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.   Verse seven proclaims, Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.  Peter then calls on the husbands to be the spiritual leader of the family, as long as husband and wife are united by a love for and an obedience to Christ.  The husband is to honor his wife, and if he does he will always want what is best for her under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Peter said that the husband and wife were joint heirs of Christ by the grace of God.  Peter also warns husbands and wives that if their relationship to one another is wrong that it will hinder their prayers.  Verse eight adds, Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:  Peter calls on Christians to be united with a mind on the things of God.  If our focus is on our self and our standing in the family or the world, then we need to change our focus to what God wants from us as followers of Christ.  Verse nine continues, Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.  Peter said that we are not to return evil for evil nor railing, or speaking badly about someone or something, for railing.  Our conversation should reflect the glory of God to those around us.   Verse ten says, For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:  Peter says that if we would love life and see good days that we should control our tongue, or what we say, and not speak evil things.  Verse eleven adds, Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.  Peter tells us to turn away from evil and do good, seeking peace in the world through our relationship with Christ.  In the marriage relationship and all relationships, we are to put the will of God first.

1 Peter 2:19

1 Peter 2:19 says, For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.  Peter tells us that it is noteworthy if a person suffers for his or her faith in God.  This doesn't say if we suffer for any reason, but if we suffer because of our faith.  If as Christians we break the law because we don't like it, that doesn't mean that we are being persecuted and should be viewed as thankworthy.  Our actions should always bring glory to God and not to our self.  Verse twenty adds, For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.  Peter tells very plainly that if we are punished for our faults that this does not make our patience in suffering acceptable to God.   Then he tells us that there is a difference in suffering because of our sin and suffering because of our faith.   If we patiently suffer because of our faith in God, then this is noteworthy and acceptable to God.  It is not that we patiently suffer, but the reason that we do so that makes us acceptable to God.  Verse twenty-one continues, For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:   Peter tells us that because Jesus Christ suffered for His faith that we are called to patiently suffer for ours.  Verse twenty-two states, Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:  Peter tells us that there was no sin or guile found in Jesus, but still He patiently endured death on the cross for our sins.  This is what God calls every Christian to do, and that is to be obedient to the heavenly Father no matter the cost in this life.   Verse twenty-three adds, Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:  Peter said that Jesus was reviled and threatened, but that He did not have the same attitude toward those who were doing this to Him.  He still reached out to them in love, and so must we.  Verse twenty-four continues, Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.  Peter here professes the heart of the Gospel, and that is that Jesus suffered and died for our sins.  Jesus' death in total obedience to the heavenly Father defeated sin and its penalty for all who will put their faith in Him.  Verse twenty-five concludes, For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.  I know a lot of people call other people sheep as a form of insult, but Peter tells us that as Christians we are sheep who have gone astray, but that we have been returned to the fold of God by faith in Jesus Christ.  We are called to humbly follow Jesus Christ, no matter what. 

1 Peter 2:11

1 Peter 2:11 says, Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;  Peter's appeal to Christians as pilgrims and strangers was made because that is what they and all Christians are in this world.  This is not our home, so we will always be pilgrims and strangers here.  For that reason, we are to abstain from fleshly lusts, which are of this world but are at war with our soul, or the spiritual part of us.  Verse twelve adds, Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.  The Gentiles that Peter was speaking about would be those who had not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Peter called on the followers of Christ to be living examples of the word of God even when the Gentiles were speaking evil of them, so that God might be glorified.  Peter said they would see our good works made manifest in the day of visitation, or when Christ returns.  The people of the word may always be against Christians, but we are to live our lives guided by God's word and for His glory.  Verse thirteen continues, Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;   Peter tells us that we are to be subject to the law.  We are not told that we can pick and choose which laws to obey.  I believe the only exception to this would be if the law of man defies the law of God.  Verse fourteen states, Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.  Peter said that we are to be subject to the law of the highest ruler here on earth, but also unto those under them.  We are to do this for the glory of God.  So, if there is a law that in no way goes against God's law and we don't like, and we choose to disobey it, does this bring glory to God?  Verse fifteen adds, For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:  Peter tells us that the will of God is for Christians to obey the law, and by so doing that we will put foolish people, those who do not know God, to silence.  Veres sixteen continues, As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.  Peter tells us that even though we are free from the powers of the world in our everlasting salvation that we are not to use this freedom in a malicious way.  If we refuse to obey the law of the world, even though through our salvation in Christ, we may be freed from it, we are still to obey it for the glory of God.  Verse seventeen says, Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.  Peter calls on us to give honor to all men and to fellow Christians.  There are not two sets of rules for how we treat others, but we are to treat the lost and our fellow believers with respect.  Peter also tells us that we are to fear God, which does not mean to live in fear of Him but with an awesome respect for Him, and to honor the king, or earthly rulers.  Verse eighteen adds, Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.  Peter tells us that we are to be subject to those in power over us, not only those that are kind to us but even to those who may not be.  We are to live in a way that always brings glory to God. 

1 Peter 2:1

1 Peter 2:1 says, Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,  Laying these things aside implies a deliberate action.  We are not to engage in malice, guile, hypocrisy, envies, or any evil speaking.   We need to ask if what we say today is spoken with any of these attitudes.  Verse two adds, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:   Once we are born again, we are as spiritual babies, and we need to feed on spiritual milk.  We must learn to rely on the basics of God's word first, and then begin to dig deeper into it.  Verse three continues, If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.  Peter says if we have tasted that God is gracious, and as Christians we must have because His graciousness is what makes salvation possible.  Verse four states, To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,   Peter said Jesus was like a living stone, the foundation of salvation, Who was rejected by men, and especially by those who were God's chosen people.  Verse five adds, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.  Peter, who was called the Rock, tells us that as Christians, we are to be lively stones building up the spiritual house of God.  We are called to be a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through our faith in Jesus Christ.  We cannot just offer God what we want Him to have and think that He has to accept it.  God determines what is an acceptable sacrifice, and not us.  Verse six continues, Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.  The chief corner stone of salvation is. Jesus Christ, and God's scripture has always said this. In Peter's day, this corner stone came, and today we look back on the reality of His coming.  Verse seven says, Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,  Peter said some believed in Jesus Christ as the cornerstone and that He was precious to them.   Others rejected Him, but that did not change the fact that He is the cornerstone of salvation.  All that we build spiritually must be built by faith in the corner stone, Jesus Christ, crucified, resurrected and Lord.  Verse eight adds, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.  Peter continues to point out that to those who are disobedient to God that Jesus Christ is a stumbling block.  Verse nine continues, But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:  What separates Christians from everyone else is not some innate goodness on our part, but our faith in Jesus Christ.  Because of that, we should live in order to show God's marvelous light to a dark world.  Verse ten concludes, Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.  Peter said that before Christ came, not many people who were not Jews obtained salvation, but now all could.  They simply had to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior personally. 

1 Peter 1:13

1 Peter 1:13 says, Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  Peter tells us that we are to gird up our minds, which I believe means that we are to be careful about what thoughts or ideas we allow to enter our minds.  We are to hold fast to the grace of God that brings us salvation.   Verse fourteen adds, As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  Peter calls on us to be obedient children of God and not to be ruled by the former lusts of our disobedience, and when we give in to the lusts of the flesh, we are no longer obedient children of God.  Verse fifteen continues, But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  Peter tells us that since God Who called us is holy, then we are to be holy in all of our conversation.   We need to ask before we speak if what we are saying brings honor to God, and not just some of the time, but all the time.  Verse sixteen states, Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.  Peter tells us that God's written word calls on us to be holy because He is holy.  Verse seventeen adds, And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:  Peter tells us that when we call on God that we need to remember that He judges everyone by their works, and this should bring fear into our lives, since by our works we will always be guilty of sin.  This is why Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation.  Verse eighteen continues, Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  Peter tells us that we are not redeemed by silver and gold, the corruptible things of the world, which some of the people had learned from the vain conversation of their fathers.  We need to make sure that what we believe is what God says, and not some tradition of man.  Verse nineteen proclaims, But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:  Peter tells us that we are redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb without spot and blemish.   Jesus did what no one else ever has or ever will do.  He lived in complete obedience to the heavenly Father.  Verse twenty adds, Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,  Peter says that the coming of Jesus Christ was preordained before creation, yet God created mankind, knowing what it would cost Him to redeem those who would put their faith in Jesus Christ.  At the time Peter was writing, he said Jesus had just recently come.  Verse twenty-one continues, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Peter said that those who would be redeemed must put their faith in the fact that after His crucifixion, God raised Jesus from the dead.  This must be our belief if we are to be saved.   Verse twenty-two says, Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:  Peter says that if we obey the truth of God truth the leadership of the Holy Spirit that we will have unfeigned love for one another.   Verse twenty-three adds, Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  Peter tells us that we are born again if we are Christians, and when we are, we become incorruptible.  Some people today say that they are a Christian, but not a born again one, and this is an impossibility.  Verse twenty-four continues, For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:   Peter tells us that without Christ as our Redeemer, we are like the grass, which soon withers away.  Verse twenty-five concludes, But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.  Peter proclaimed to those that he was writing to that the word of God endures forever, and that was the word by which the gospel was preached, and it always will be.  God's word will never change. 

 

1 Peter 1:1

1 Peter 1:1 says, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,  Peter identifies himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ.  We need to remember that this was after Peter had denied Jesus and was restored to Him after His arrest, death burial and resurrection.  We have likewise denied Jesus at one time, but the important fact is whether we then accept Him as our Savior and Lord.  Peter addressed his letter to many different churches, whereas Paul addressed his to a particular church usually.  Verse two adds, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.  Peter then listed the qualifications for being an apostle or a disciple of Christ.  God knew before creation that a way of salvation would be needed, and He knew the only acceptable way would come through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and for each individual to accept His sacrifice by faith.  Then, that person would be sanctified to God and have peace multiplied to him or her.  Verse three continues, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  Peter said that this was done for the glory of God, since it was by His abundant mercy and grace that salvation was and is made available.   Verse four states, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,  Peter told them and tells us that the inheritance that we have through Jesus Christ is incorruptible, undefiled and will never fade away.  This inheritance is not in this life but waits for using heaven.   Verse five adds, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  Peter also told followers of Christ in that day as well as those today that salvation is kept by the power of God.  Nothing can ever take away our salvation.   Verse six continues, Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:  Peter also said that they were to greatly rejoice, even if they were in heaviness because of manifold temptations.   Temptations are nothing new for Christians, but we can rejoice because through faith in Jesus Christ, we can overcome them all. Verse seven says, That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:  Peter also said that trials would come to our faith, which is worth so much more than silver and gold, even if that faith is tried but fire.  Peter added that the reward for faithfulness would come at the return of Jesus Christ, and He most certainly will return.  Verse eight adds, Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:  Though Peter had seen Jesus Christ in the flesh, those he was writing to had not, and yet they believed in Him.  This is true for every believer in Jesus Christ today.   Peter said they loved Jesus Christ with an unspeakable joy, and were full of His glory, and so should we also be today.  Verse nine continues, Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.  The end of faith in Jesus Christ then and now is the salvation of our soul.  Verse ten states, Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:  Peter said this salvation was nothing new but had been inquired about and searched for diligently by the prophets and they had prophesied about salvation which would come through the grace of God.  Salvation can never be earned, but always has been and always will be a free gift by the grace of God.  Verse eleven adds, Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.  Peter said that the Spirit of Christ was in the prophets even before He came in human form to be sacrificed for the sins of all people for all time.  Verse twelve continues, Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.  Peter said that this was not revealed to the prophets simply for their good, but for the good of those who came after them.  This Peter said was reported by those who preached the gospel through the leadership of the Holy Ghost.  We today have that same gospel to preach and the same Holy Spirit to enable us to do so.