Aug. 26, 2026

Dear Friends,

I hope you can join us tonight for Bible study. We will study 1 Peter 1:1-5. Notes are attached. 

LIVING THE CHRISTLIFE

WAYNE BARRETT

AUGUST 26, 2026

1 Peter 1:1-5

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to

Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

3 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, 4 to an

inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power

are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

______________________

vv 1-2 – “Peter, an apostle …”

more lit. “Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect sojourning [ones] of the Dispersion of

Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to [the] foreknowledge of God

the Father, in [the] sanctification of [the] Spirit, unto [the] obedience and [the] sprinkling of

the blood of Jesus Christ: may”

A rich salutation! Combining an acknowledgment of the Trinity with other rich theological

content.

First: Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ

The apostles are always identified as apostles “of Jesus Christ” or apostles “of Christ”

“to the elect sojourners …”

The teaching of election is prominent in Scripture—which does not mean that all brothers’ and

sisters’ interpretation of that doctrine is infallible. [And we can’t spend all night on this!]

All Christians should recognize that we are saved by the election of God—that should be a

source of joy and praise to God for everyone!

sojourners- parepidémos, sometimes translated here as exiles, but sojourners or pilgrims is the

more common translation and, I think, the better one here. The emphasis of “sojourner” or

“pilgrim” is on a journey with a destination; with “exile” the emphasis is on having been

sent away—and the coming word, Dispersion, acknowledges that.

“of the Dispersion”–

here, the persecution of Christians, driving them out of Jerusalem, following the martyrdom of

Stephen.

“in Pontus …”

Regions in Asia Minor to which the letter would be delivered by Silvanus (5:12), and may have

reflected the anticipated the route of his journey.

“according to [the] foreknowledge of God the Father …”

2

This would appear to reference most directly back to their being elect, although their Dispersion

was also according to God’s foreknowledge. Their entire life situation was according to His

foreknowledge.

“in [the] sanctification of [the] Spirit …”

This is their (and our) present condition

“unto [the] obedience and [the] sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:”

Our lives are to be lived in obedience to Christ, the obedience of faith—but our holiness is

accomplished by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ—a direct reference to his

sacrifice that covers us and our sin.

“May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”

The blessing that concludes this rich salutation.

v 3 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ …”

more lit. “Blessed [is] the God …”

What follows is an expansive praise unto God for what he is doing and has done for us!

“he has caused us to be born again …”

more lit. “having begotten us again”(!). This is an active verb and aorist tense (completed

action). God did it.

This is Christian doctrine, not a “version” of Christianity—taught by Christ to Nicodemus and

taught by the apostles and affirm by Christian history, Biblical and otherwise.

“to a living hope”

Biblical hope is a certainty, a sure expectation that has not yet been received or fulfilled

Here strengthened by “living.” This hope is a vibrant encouragement to our everyday living, a

part of our relationship with the living God

“through the resurrection …”

The resurrection of Christ was a bodily resurrection –and we all need one as well

The Jewish Christians did not see Jesus’ resurrection as Him being restored from some state of

non-being, or nothingness. Jesus rising from the dead was like saying “from among the dead”

or “from the place of the dead.” He had been existing among the dead.

Christ “being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and

preached to the spirits in prison …”—1 Peter 3:18-19

“whom God raised up, having loosed the agony of death, inasmuch as it was not possible

for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him … ‘For you will not abandon

my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption’” (Acts 2:24-25a, 27. Peter is

quoting Psalm 16).

“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the

same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death,

that is, the devil.”—Hebrews 2:14

“Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second

death has no power ...”—Revelation 20:6

Without the shared victory of Christ over death, a person who dies has no power to

escape. They cannot return to the realm of life receiving a resurrected, glorified body.

3

v 4 – “to an inheritance”

The inheritance we share in Christ

“imperishable, undefiled, and unfading”

These are rhyming words in Greek: “aphtharton, kai amianton, kai amaranton”

Our inheritance is eternal, it cannot be corrupted, and it will never diminish!

“kept in heaven for you”

lit. “being kept in the heavens for you”

This is done for us by God in Christ

v 5 – “who by God’s power …”

Again and again, God is doing this for us … and He has and He will continue to

Does this match our concept of our salvation—or is our concept performance based?

“are being guarded”

phroureó, watched over like a sentinel, kept in protective custody

“through faith”

Yes, faith is required. “… that whoever believes in Him might not perish but have everlasting

life.”

The miracle of grace is what God has done and will do for all on this basis—faith—and not on

the basis of works.

“for a salvation …”

more lit. “unto [or into, eis] a salvation …” It is not normal English, but it is normal Greek; I like

it better.

“ready to be revealed”

Our full salvation is a sure thing, an accomplished thing, and is “sitting on ready”

“in the last time.”

We are in the last days—and at the end of these days, the revealing of our salvation is certain.