1 Peter 1

God knew who would choose Him while we were still in our mother's womb. In His mercy and grace given in Christ Jesus we are sanctified by the Holy Spirit so that we can be His hands here on earth and to share the good news of the gospel. Just as we are refined by the trials and sufferings we go through to show the genuineness of our faith we can help those going through those very same sufferings. The only thing that pleases God is faith and even that is a gift from Him so that we would know that it is all about His goodness and has nothing to do with ours. Jesus is the truth and only in His birth, death and resurrection are we made heirs to the Kingdom of God. Our love for God should be reflected in our concern for others and in the actions we take so that we are doing the works of God here on earth.

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24 because

"All flesh is as grass,

And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.

The grass withers,

And its flower falls away,

25 But the word of the Lord endures forever."

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

The NKJV Study Bible says this: Peter, the author of this letter, writes to Christians living in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey). By way of encouragement, he identifies them as people who live in the light of their relationship to God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, and God the Son. Peter received a special commission from the Lord to act with official authority as God's representative among believers, in order to carry God's message to them. Believers are chosen to be included in God's family, not on the basis of what they have done or who they are, but on the basis of God's eternal wisdom. Sanctification is the ongoing process whereby the Holy Spirit works in believers, making their lives holy, separated from their old ways and to God in order to be more like Him. One reason that God chooses us is so that we might serve Him. Our salvation is grounded in God's mercy, His act of compassion toward us despite our condition of sinfulness. God has given believers a new, spiritual life that enables us to live in an entirely different dimension than the one our physical birth allowed. God has set aside in heaven a wonderful inheritance that is waiting for us even now. God keeps His people safe from external attack and safe within the protective boundaries of His kingdom. We do not now see or understand fully the salvation that God has prepared for us, but one day we will. While there is much rejoicing because of the salvation God has prepared for us, there will also be agony because of the pressures and difficulties of life. As the purity of gold is brought forth by intense heat, so the reality and purity of our faith are revealed as a result of the fiery trials we face. Ultimately the testing of our faith not only demonstrates our final salvation but also develops our capacity to bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ when He comes into His kingdom and we reign with Him. There is a final, positive outcome for trusting God through all the difficulties of life—our salvation, which here has an eschatological sense. Although humans may preach God's message of salvation, ultimately the Holy Spirit is the One who proclaims these great truths. Even the angels are amazed at what a wonderful salvation God has enacted on our behalf. We need to exhibit confidence that God will accomplish all that He promised He would do. We are to live so as to be dedicated totally to God and separated totally from the sin of this world. Moreover, our relationship to Him as His children does not imply that we will escape judgment. God does not show favoritism in judgment but invokes His judgment on all people according to their works. We need to remember that God is both our merciful Savior and our holy Judge. God bought our freedom, paying for us with His Son's life. God's way of salvation is contrasted to human attempts at gaining salvation through the use of earthly means. Peter describes Christ as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb, who is offered in our place to pay the price for our sins. What was known only to God before the creation of the world is now made known to us. Peter does not say that we purify our own souls but that we accomplish the purification of our souls by obedience to God's truth. It is unclear whether this obedience is a reference to the conversion process or to the sanctifying process after one's conversion. The purpose of studying God's truth is not only to learn more, but to become mature in the faith.