Hope for all who believe – Part 1

God is always conscious of the plight of His people. And from time to time, He sends out a message of hope to reassure His children of love and faithfulness and to comfort and encourage them not to relent in pursuing the path of righteousness that pleases Him. The First Epistle of Peter is one such epistle of hope. It was written to believers or saints, who were suffering numerous afflictions in the nations to which they were scattered. These Christians were “scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Capadocia, Asia and Bithynia” (1 Peter 1:1) and were suffering persecution for their faith. They needed reassurance and comfort. So, Peter wrote to them: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” “The trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth…might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:12; 1:7).

Through this Epistle, Peter brought hope to the persecuted Christians, so that they would not live “as others which have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). He started by reminding them that God, through Jesus Christ in His “abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope” (1 Peter 1:3). He then encouraged believers to “hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ’ (1 Peter 1:13). As our faith has been in God, he exhorts us that our “hope might be in God” (1 Peter 1:21). We should so trust, love and honour our God that we will “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” (1 Peter 3:15).

Some writers and commentators have suggested that the Epistle was written to Jews, who were dispersed into parts of Asia Minor. That cannot be true. Gentiles, who had believed were included in the audience. Peter had Gentiles in mind, when he said, “not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in YOUR IGNORANCE” (1 Peter 1:14). Referring to converted Gentiles, he said they were “called out of darkness into His marvellous light: which in time past WERE NOT A PEOPLE, but are now the people of God” (1 Peter 2:10). The Epistle contains a message of encouragement for everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The writer of this Epistle describes himself as “an Apostle of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:1). In his second Epistle, he describes himself as “a servant and an Apostle of Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1). Peter is the Greek form of the name Cephas (John 1:42), which the Lord Jesus Himself had given to the Apostle, meaning “a stone.” He was to be a stone, built upon the Rock of Ages, which is Christ (Matthew 16:18). He must have prized that name as the gift of Christ, reminding him always of Christ’s promise and urging him to maintain rock-like steadfastness throughout his life.

Though he was always mentioned first in the list of Christ’s Apostles, he called himself simply “an apostle,” not the first or prince of the apostles, simply, “a servant,” “who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ” (2 Peter 1:1; 1 Peter 5:1). He was now, in his own words, “clothed with humility” (1 Peter 5:5).

As a servant and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, he was sent by the Lord with a message for the Church. The consciousness of being sent directly by Christ gives earnestness, weight, and dignity to the words of Christ’s faithful ministers. The readers and hearers must receive his message with reverence and obedience because the Lord had said, “He that heareth you heareth Me” (Luke 10:16). His message is in perfect agreement with that of Christ. He echoes the recognition and blessing of Christ on those who had not seen, but yet had believed (John 20:29; 1 Peter 1:8). He bids us “gird up the loins of (our) min,” even as Christ had said, “let your loins be guided about” (1 Peter 1:13; Luke 12:35).

The Lord told His disciples that He came “to give His life a ransom for many” and Peter reminds us “that we are redeemed … with the precious blood of Christ” (Matthew 20:28; 1 Peter 1:18). Many other points of similarity occur between what Jesus had said and what Peter wrote in this Epistle. Read and compare 1 Peter 2:5 and Matthew 16:18; 1 Peter 1:22 and John 13:34; 1 Peter 2:7 and Matthew 21:42; 1 Peter 2:5 and Matthew 16:18; 1 Peter 2:12 and Luke 19:44; 1 Peter 2:21 and John 13:15; 1 Peter 2:25 and John 10:11,14; 1 Peter 3:9,14 and Matthew 5:39-41; 1 Peter 3:20 and Matthew 24:37,38; 1 Peter 4:10 and Luke 12:42; 1 Peter 5:2 and John 21:15-17; 1 Peter 5:3 and Matthew 20:25-27. Truly, as a servant of Christ, he faithfully submitted to and taught the Master’s Word. That is all we, as children of God, ministers of the gospel, are called to do! Jesus only, not our accomplishments or earthly philosophies, is our message.
Further Reading (King James Version): 1 Peter 1:1,2; 1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; John 1:40-42; Luke 5:3-11; Matthew 4:18-20; 16:15-18; 10:2; John 21:15-17; Acts 4:18-20; 5:29.