1 Peter, Day 1
Former Ignorance versus Future Glory (I Peter 1)
It all comes down to the word “hope.” This word has been part of so many conversations in the last year. The chaos that has ensued in our culture has drawn people to a journey looking for hope. As believers, we have been born again into hope:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, . . .” (I Peter 1:3).
“Hope” is defined differently by those who do not know Christ and those who do. Dictionary.com defines “hope” as, “the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best . . .” In this definition, “hope” is defined as a feeling or wish. The verb hope (elpizo) in Paul’s letter has a very different focus. “The most important sense of this verb is the firm conviction that because of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, we can have confidence as we face the future (Romans 8:24 – 25; 1 Corinthians 15:19).”1 Instead of just hoping that things work out, as believers, we are confident that God is at work and we can walk in that confidence knowing that God is in control. On our spiritual journey, there is a recognition of the grace extended to us and a call to holiness in our lives. Peter points out that God’s grace moves all believers from former ignorance to future glory. Peter articulates the role of the prophets in the process as they proclaimed to the people that transformational grace was to come through Jesus.
In Verse 13, Peter begins to list several declaratives as he clarifies the call of holiness in a believer’s life: preparing our minds, being sober-minded, setting our hope (elpizo) fully on grace (charis), not conforming to the passion of our former ignorance, choosing holiness, and conducting ourselves with reverence and respect (phobos). The actions in Peter’s list lead to living lives that glorify God and are only possible through the grace of God. Peter then describes the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ given to us, so that our “faith and hope are in God.”
My favorite part of this passage is found in the final paragraph. Peter has made his summary statements concerning hope and holiness only found in Christ and then challenges believers in their relationship with each other. He calls them to an earnest, sincere, and pure brotherly love. He then proceeds to tell them that the investment in these relationships has eternal implications “through the living and abiding word of God.” He finishes the section by using a few verses from Isaiah 40 to proclaim the eternality of the abiding word of God:
“All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever” (Isaiah 40:6b, 8).
The hope found in God’s Word should stoke a passion for holiness. Peter also intimates in these verses that it should lead to an authentic relationship filled with earnestness, love, and purity with each other as the Body of Christ. Our relationships in turn bring glory to God and prove that hope for the world is only found in Christ. In this passage, we see that hope and holiness are connected through the power of the Holy Spirit as we enjoy the living hope only found in Christ and strive for the purity found in choosing holiness in every situation.
As you prepare to take on the day, assess your preparation for what’s ahead by looking at the declaratives by Peter concerning holiness (1:13, 15, 17). Is your heart focused on grace, hope, and truth, as you prepare for the journey ahead? You will survive as you make the living and abiding Word preeminent in your life!
Pastor Chuck
1 Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, Copyright © 2006 by William D. Mounce, accessed on Apr. 12th at biblegateway.com).