1 Peter 1:1-5: A Message of Hope and Salvation
The Elect Exiles
The first epistle of Peter is a letter written by the apostle Peter to the early Christian communities scattered throughout the Roman Empire. In 1 Peter 1:1-5, Peter addresses these believers as "elect exiles" (1 Peter 1:1), emphasizing their identity as strangers in a foreign land.
1 Peter 1:1-2
"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with his blood: May grace and peace be yours in abundance." (NIV)
Peter reminds these believers that they have been chosen according to God's foreknowledge, and that their salvation is the result of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. This emphasis on the divine initiative in salvation highlights the sovereign grace of God.
1 Peter 1:3-5
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." (NIV)
Here, Peter expresses praise to God for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. He emphasizes the "living hope" that believers have in Christ, a hope that is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus. This hope is further secured by the promise of an inheritance that will never perish, and which is kept in heaven for believers.
Conclusion
In these opening verses of 1 Peter, we see a clear message of hope and salvation. Peter reminds believers of their identity as elect exiles, chosen by God and sanctified through the work of the Holy Spirit. He emphasizes the divine initiative in salvation and the living hope that believers have in Jesus Christ. As we reflect on these verses, may we be encouraged by the promise of an inheritance that will never perish, and may we live as strangers in a foreign land, looking forward to the coming of our salvation.
