• From Peter
    • To pilgrims of dispersion
      • Elect and Sanctified
        • Set apart to obey God and come under Jesus’ blood.
  • Blessed be God
    • Father of Jesus
    • Whose mercy has given us a new birth
      • Bringing us a living hope
        • Comes through Christ’s resurrection
        • Bringing us an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance
          • It won’t fade away
          • It’s reserved in heaven for us
            • Us = those kept by the power of God
              • Kept by our faith
              • Kept for salvation
                • This salvation will be revealed in the last time
        • You rejoice in this hope
          • Even though you are currently going through trials
            • These trials will refine and reveal that your faith is genuine
              • That you will stand tall when Christ is revealed
                • Though you haven’t seen Jesus, you love Him
                  • You rejoice in your faith of Christ, even though your eyes haven’t seen Him
  • The prophets spent their time and energy seeking this salvation
    • They prophesied of this salvation and grace
    • They sought the time, according to the Spirit in them, when Christ would suffer, and the glories would follow
    • It was revealed to them that their prophecies were for future people (us today), not for them.
      • This is the gospel that was preached to you
        • Preached by the Holy Spirit from heaven
      • These are things that even angels want to know about.
  • Your faith brings salvation for your soul
  • Focus entirely on this hope that comes with the revealing of Christ
    • Be holy
      • Know that God will judge you without partiality
      • Know that you were redeemed by Christ’s pure and holy blood
        • Christ existed before creation, but was manifested in these last times for you
          • Through Christ you believe in God
            • Because God was the one who raised Christ from the dead and glorified Him
      • Love each other with a pure heart
        • This capacity comes from the new life you received through God’s Word
          • God’s Word is incorruptible
            • Isaiah 40:6-8
          • This is the Word you received when you received the gospel
          • Lay aside your sinfulness, and seek the pure milk of God’s Word
            • Remember how good the Lord tastes?
    • Present yourself to God, the way the stones were presented to build up God’s temple
      • You are living stones
        • Men reject you
        • God chooses you
        • You are precious to God
      • You are building up a spiritual house
      • You are building up a holy priesthood
        • Through Jesus Christ your offerings are acceptable to God
          • Isaiah 28:16 – Chief Cornerstone
            • He is precious to those who believe
            • Ps. 118:22; Is. 8:14 – those who reject Him will stumble
              • They were appointed to do this
        • Christians are a chosen people, proclaiming the praises of Him who brought us to light
          • You once were not a people and once did not know mercy, but now you do
    • Abstain from fleshly lusts
      • You need to have a good testimony to silence and convert the Gentiles
        • Submit yourself to human ordinances – kings and governors
        • God wants you to testify your freedom by your good works
        • Honor all people, but show special love to Christians
        • Fear God, but honor the king.
    • Servants need to submit to masters
      • Even the harsh masters
        • It is commendable to suffer wrongly if we do it to please God
          • The testimony comes when you suffer wrongly, not when you suffer for something you deserve.
          • God called us to suffer wrongly
            • Christ gave us an example to follow
              • He was sinless and did not deceive when He suffered
              • When He was punished, He did not fight back, but committed His situation to God.
                • God judges righteously.
                • His suffering bore our sins
                  • Brings death to our sins and life to righteousness 
                  • Reconciles us to God
    • Wives need to submit to husbands
      • Even if they are non-believers
        • Your conduct may win them to the faith
      • Don’t focus on outward adornment
        • Make sure your inner person is beautiful before God
        • Holy women of the past showed this beauty in their submission to their husbands
          • Ex: Sarah obeying Abraham, even when it was dangerous for her
    • Husbands need to give wives a special honor and grace
      • She is a weaker vessel
      • Both husband and wife inherit God’s grace
      • It will keep your prayers from being hindered
    • Everyone should show compassion for each other
      • Be of one mind
      • Love as brothers
      • Bless when others revile and do evil toward you (1 Pet. 3:9)
      • Psalm 34:12-16 – God promised to be near to the righteous, who do no evil
      • It is unlikely that people will harm you if you follow what is good
        • If you suffer for doing good, you are blessed (3:13)
          • Isaiah 8:12 – don’t be afraid of the threats, or be troubled by them
          • Set God over your hearts
            • Be ready to defend the hope you have
              • Do this with meekness and fear
            • If your conscience is good, they will be ashamed when they revile you
          • It is better to suffer for doing good, than for doing evil
          • Christ suffered unjustly for our sins
            • This resulted in bringing us to God
            • It destroyed his flesh, but brought life by the Spirit
              • By this Spirit He preached to those in prison (who were disobedient during the flood)
                • While Noah’s family was saved through the water, like us being saved through resurrection of Christ, seen in baptism
            • He has now been glorified and has power over all.
          • Have the same mentality as Christ, knowing that the suffering of the flesh destroys sin
            • This suffering frees him from service to his flesh and his lusts; he is able to serve God
              • We have lived in our flesh, like the Gentiles, long enough
                • When we no longer serve our flesh, they notice and speak evil of you.  God will judge them on this.
                  • This is why the gospel is preached to all who are dead in their fleshly nature.
  • The end of all things will come soon.
    • Be serious and watchful in prayer
    • Have fervent love for one another
    • Show hospitality, without grumbling
    • Minister to one another with the gifts God has given
      • Speak with God’s words
      • Minister with God’s gifts
  • Don’t be confused about your trials
    • Rejoice that you get to suffer like Christ
      • Bringing more joy to you when He is glorified
    • You are blessed if you suffer reproach for Christ’s name
      • It is evidence that God’s Spirit rests on you
    • It would be bad, though, if you suffered as an evildoer.
    • Judgment is starting at God’s house
      • It will eventually lead to those who don’t know the gospel
        • And it will be terrible for them compared to what it is for us
    • If you suffer, commit your souls to God by doing good
  • I exhort the elders
    • I am a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and a partaker of this future glory
    • Shepherd the flock as overseers
      • Not by compulsion, not for dishonest gain, not as a lord
      • If you do this right, you will receive an eternal crown of glory from your Shepherd, Christ.
  • Younger people should submit to their elders.
  • Everyone submit to each other with humility
    • God gives grace to the humble, not the proud
    • If you humble yourself under God’s hand, He will exalt you in due time
      • Cast your care on God
  • Be on the lookout for the Devil who seeks to devour you
    • Resist him by standing in the faith and knowing that the same sufferings are happening to others
  • May God mature you after your suffering
  • This letter is brought by Sylvanus
    • A faithful brother
  • This letter was written to encourage you that you are in the right standing with God
  • Some people greet you.
  • Greet each other with a kiss of love.