1 Peter 1 – 3
Verse 1:3 is the core to Christianity:
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,
We are born once through our mothers, but the second rebirth is more of our core.We cast aside the old us and renew in Christ Jesus, it’s like our souls are reborn. What we have become living in the world changes on an instant and the best analogy is birth. Our souls are reborn into eternal life with God. Think about the term “born again” and really think about how this works for you?
To become “born again” it’s as easy as ABC. Accept Jesus as your Lord and savior. Believe he is who he says and came to this world to die for our sins. Confess your sins and transgressions to be cleansed by the blood of Jesus. After this it would be a good idea to pick up the Bible and read as much as you can. Start in the Gospels then move to the first 5 books called the Torah. Or follow this study guide, it does a great job matching Old Testament and New Testament events so you will understand them better.
In this case Peter is addressing his writings to the Jewish people. So much of what is said in this book may be difficult to understand without reading the Torah. That’s why it’s best to jump around and learn everything you can. Finally find a good Bible based church that matches your worship “style”. Verify everything said with the Bible and understand you may “grow” out of a church that worked early on. Many times adjustments should be made for changes in your family.
Verse 1:13 is a call to prepare for you representation to the world:
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.
We often times need to really prepare our minds for action. The problem with not being prepared is we get slammed with difficult questions or our actions are judged. Unless you are prepared to address these issues, you will often either get defensive or shut up in fear of saying the wrong thing. Both can have disastrous effects in a person gaining salvation. This is why one must live with Jesus and learn as much as we can. Don’t feel you need to read everything before you can witness, just be aware that you need to be careful either way.
Chapter 3 has the famous “Husband/Wife” verses which are great to read as long as you read and do your role! Don’t try to force the others role, they will respond when you do! Now look at verse 3:9 and see how God works different than human nature:
Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
We think of the “eye for an eye” analogy being how we should live. Exodus 21:24does say that is how we should repay for doing wrong, but in Mathew 5:38 Jesus starts to turn that notion or Law on its head. We don’t need to live with revenge on our minds, since that emotion tends to consume us. We need to turn human nature on its head and live the way we want to be treated by God. Do you wish to be forgiven by God? Then do the same to other people!