What the Prophets Discovered

Posted on November 13, 2025 by Stephen Nielsen

1 Peter 1:12

12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven — things into which angels long to look.

In their search they concluded that their words were written not for their own benefit but for those far in the future—for us. And they were announced to us through those who preached the gospel by the Holy Spirit. This wonderful gospel of grace certainly has had the attention of the angels.

The Prophet’s Predictions of Christ

Posted on November 12, 2025 by Stephen Nielsen

1 Peter 1:10-11

10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

The Old Testament Prophets prophesied of the coming Christ and of His grace, yet they had no clear understanding of it—because it was so far in their future. So, they made careful study and inquiries of their own prophetic words in order to understand the Spirit of Christ within them, speaking to them about how He would suffer and then also be glorified (look at Isaiah 52:14-15; 53:1-7; 61:1-3).

Salvation Based on Faith

Posted on November 11, 2025 by Stephen Nielsen

1 Peter 1:8-9

8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

Peter correctly expresses every dedicated Christian’s attitude: though we can’t see Jesus we love Him, believe in Him and rejoice in Him—because of the salvation we have that is based on our faith.

Trials Will Test Your Faith

Posted on November 10, 2025 by Stephen Nielsen

1 Peter 1:7

7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Their trials will be used to test their faith to see if it is genuine; and if it is, it is something that will bring them much praise and glory and honor when He rewards them (1 Thess 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 3:13-14).

Protected Even in Trials

Posted on November 7, 2025 by Stephen Nielsen

1 Peter 1:6

6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,

Peter tells them that they should be glad in their sure salvation and in the protection God will give them, even in the trials they are having to endure. But they are to know that the trials will only last for a little while (Some of these trials were from their persecution that came during the reign of Nero, who blamed the burning of Rome on Christians.).

We are Protected by the Power of God

Posted on November 6, 2025 by Stephen Nielsen

1 Peter 1:5

5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Not only is our inheritance protected and preserved eternally; we are protected by the power of God until we are glorified and arrive in heaven. We may die before our glorification (a temporary setback), but when He comes we will be resurrected and glorified (1Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 4:15-17).

Our Great Inheritance

Posted on November 5, 2025 by Stephen Nielsen

1 Peter 1:4

4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

In our living hope we have confidence in God that we will receive a great inheritance in heaven, which is imperishable (will not decay; it will last forever) and undefiled (will not be corrupted by evil) and will not fade away (like flowers that wither).

This inheritance is everything that belongs to our new life of glory—all the things that make us like Christ. We have some of those things now, like all the fruits of the Spirit. In heaven those things will be much more pronounced and free of corruption. We will also have a body that is perfect and will not age. And we will have great companionship with God and Christ and all the saints. And our rewards, of course, will be delightful.

Born Again to a Living Hope

Posted on November 3, 2025 by Stephen Nielsen

1 Peter 1:3

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Here Peter exhorts believers to bless, or to praise (NIV version) God for His great mercy, a mercy that has reached down in love and forgiveness, to give us new birth (to be a new creature in Christ, 2 Cor. 5:17). In this new birth we have a “living hope.’ This is a hope in what we will receive in our glorification at the Rapture—when we see Him in His glory (1 Jn. 3:2). This living hope is “through” the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; that is, His resurrection gives us hope in our resurrection; hence, it makes our faith valid (1 Cor.15:17). Likewise, because He is resurrected to life, we also will live in a resurrected body (Jn. 11:25, 26).

Grace and Peace

Posted on October 31, 2025 by Stephen Nielsen

1 Peter 1:2

2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

Here in verse two, Peter introduces these alien recipients as people who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. This means that God predetermined their salvation; and He did it by the sanctifying work of His Spirit, by which He made them holy (justified and righteous by His blood). But in addition to their justification, they were chosen to daily obey Jesus Christ by faith (Rom. 1:5), and also, to obtain a daily cleaning from sin, which Peter calls here to be “sprinkled with His blood.” This daily cleansing may be accomplished by a regular confession of sins, with the promise of His forgiveness and cleansing (1 Jn. 1:9), and by our understanding, in our faith, that the Lord automatically and continually forgives and cleanses His own (1 Jn. 1:7).

And so, according to what God has declare to us, we may have, and are welcome to have, a full measure of God’s grace and peace.

Peter Writes to Scattered, Chosen Believers

Posted on October 30, 2025 by Stephen Nielsen

1 Peter 1:1

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen…

In this first verse of 1 Peter, we see that Peter was definitely one of Jesus’ apostles. In fact, he was the first to be chosen, along with his brother Andrew. When Jesus first saw them they were fishing in the Sea of Galilee, and He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:18-20).

Peter refers to the recipients of this letter as “aliens.” That word is used because they are true believers who by their conversion to Christ have their citizenship not of this earth but in heaven (Phil. 3:20).Peter later on (in 2:11) also calls them “aliens and strangers,” an even stronger term, depicting their excellent behavior among Gentiles (but strange to them, 2:12).

The ones he is sending this letter to are “chosen” believers who are scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia—which are areas you can easily find on any bible map, generally located between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.