So far in this series:

Talk 1

The background to the letter and the circumstances in which it was written. The theme of the whole letter is:
Suffering now, maybe. Future glory, certain.

Talk 2

We saw that the first two verses in chapter 1 are more than a formal greeting but are actually of a special significance to the suffering Christians to whom Peter was writing at the time.
They were exiles, rejected by men, but chosen by God.

Talk 3

Verses 3-9 spell out some of the great privileges of being a Christian. To be chosen by God is something very special. As Peter says in verses 6-7, at present we may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials but this will result in praise, honour, and glory when Jesus Christ is revealed.

We looked at these verses under main headings:

Present suffering

for a little while…you have been grieved by various trials…

your faith is more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire

Present blessings

We have received God’s mercy

We have been born again

We are being guarded by God’s power

We are able to rejoice

Future blessings

Resurrection

An inheritance

Praise, glory and honour when Jesus returns

The salvation of your souls

Today’s passage, 1 Peter 1:10-25

continues the theme of the great privileges of being a Christian but also reminds us of:

our responsibility to live holy lives
things that encourage to fulfil that responsibility

The great privileges of being a Christian (10-12)

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully,

11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.

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

The prophets prophesied it but didn’t fully understand it (10-11)

Because they lived before it happened and under a different covenant

Compare Ephesians 3:1-6

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

The angels long to look into it (12) but they can’t fully understand it either

Because they have never known what it means to have forgiveness of sin

But now the good news has been announced to us by the apostles 12

The same Holy Spirit who inspired the OT prophets inspired the apostles

(The Spirit of Christ 11 is another name for the Holy Spirit (12) cf. 2 Pet.1:21)

Note again the reference to suffering followed by glory 11

Our responsibility to live holy lives (13-17)

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,

15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile…

Five commands:

13 prepare your minds for action, and being sober-minded,
set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
14 do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance
15 be holy in all your conduct
17 conduct yourselves with fear

Things that encourage to fulfil that responsibility (17-25)

17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,

18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,

19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God,

21 who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;

24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,

25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Jesus is coming

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

God is your Father

17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,

You have been ransomed

18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,

19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

You have hope because Jesus is alive

21 who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

God’s word remains true forever

23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;

24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,

25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.