“You have the Words of eternal life?” Those seven words reveal the spiritual depth of the disciple known as Peter the fisherman. With those immortal Words he summarized the eternal role of the man called Jesus the carpenter (Jn. 6:68). Though Peter (Petra–small pebble) would occasionally allow his emotions to override his knowledge, once he had been converted following Christ’s death and resurrection (Mat. 18:3/Lk. 22:32), his words became pure spiritual gold as the Lord’s “apostle to the Jews” led many of his fellow Israelites to the Lord. As the Apostle Paul noted in Romans 3:2, Jews had an advantage over Gentiles relative to Christianity in that, being Israelites, they had grown up with “the oracles (Words) of God” which they had received from their forefathers–Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (renamed “Israel”). As converts, the Gentiles had no knowledge of the writings of the prophets which, along with the writings of the apostles, provided the foundation of the New Testament Church (Eph. 2:20). Therefore, Gentiles had to first be introduced to God’s Word. They then had to learn it, believe it and obey it order to inherit eternal life.

Knowing that every Word in the Holy Scriptures came from Jesus, Peter had voiced that fact in his John 6:68 statement. With this Truth in mind, let us approach the first epistle (letter/book) he wrote to Jewish converts who had been scattered throughout several foreign regions where they remained “strangers” and “pilgrims” among the native Gentiles of those areas (2:11). Their lives were as foreign to their Gentile neighbors as a modern day saint’s life is compared to those among whom they live, including their families. Of my extended family, only one–a granddaughter–is a Bible Christian. All others are church Christians who reject everything I proclaim and prove by the Scriptures. Jesus warned that our enemies would be those of our own households (Mat. 10:36).

In chapter two verse ten Peter reminds his fellow Jews that they had rebelled against their Lord in the past, causing Him to declare them “not a (His) people” because their sins had separated them from Him (Isa. 59:2). However, they had later obtained mercy from Him by embracing and obeying His Word (2:25) which their ancestors had rejected many generations earlier. Having found their way back to their God through Peter’s ministry, the converted Jews had since then performed “good works” (of obedience), and in so doing, had glorified the Lord Jesus before the Gentiles among whom they lived. Peter points out that, upon Christ’s return, the Jews themselves would be glorified (2:10), meaning that they would be born again–changed from physical to spiritual bodily composition. Read Born Again. Key word–Born. Let us now return to chapter one and begin our study of one of the most complete epistles/books found in God’s Holy Bible. Like the Apostle John’s first epistle, Peter’s first letter could stand alone as God’s Word relative to the PROCESS OF SALVATION. Read The Salvation Process. Key word–Process.

In verse two Peter states that true converts are God’s “elect,” meaning that those who have been Biblically converted (reversed their life’s “walk”) have been “sanctified.” Sanctification means that one is now a member of God’s church (ekklesia–“called out ones”). Though living IN the world, true converts are called OUT of the world, meaning that they do not live as do those who spiritually are of the world. Though physically and socially they are part of the world system, God’s elect are spiritually separated from the world and live on a higher moral level than those among whom they live. When I see and hear what my fellow Americans do and say I find myself momentarily in another dimension of earthly life, a dimension so alien from my spiritual existence that it is hard to believe that we are on the same planet.

In verse two Peter explains this sensation, noting that true converts have been sanctified by the Holy Spirit unto (leading to) OBEDIENCE TO GOD’s WORD. “Sanctification” refers to the act of being “set apart for holy use.” Sanctification involves one’s spiritual separation from the world, including the religious entity known as “the church.” Read Second Corinthians 6:14-7:2. True conversion involves receiving the Holy Spirit within the heart (mind) of the convert. The Spirit of God is His power (Lk. 1:35) by which the convert is able to resist the devil’s temptations (Jam. 4:7) by having his “fiery darts” (Eph. 6:16) glance off one’s spiritual armor, thereby preventing temptation to enter the mind where, if it is allowed to remain, “conception” (union with one’s desire), occurs, thereby producing sin (Jam. 1:15). The sensation of being in an alternative world when around worldly people is a natural result of becoming part of God’s church and called out and away from all other types of religions.

In verse three Peter heaps praise and glory upon the Father of the true saint’s LORD–Jesus Christ. Notice that he did not call Jesus the saint’s SAVIOR. As this website has repeatedly proven, salvation is not awarded in this life. As is brought out in Peter’s first epistle, salvation will be awarded upon Christ’s return (vss 4,5,7). Paul declared that we are closer to salvation today than when we first believed (Rom. 13:11). Eternal life will be awarded only to those who have allowed Jesus to be their LORD–absolute Master and owner–Who exercises absolute power over their lives. These are they who, knowing that they were “bought with a price” (Christ’s death), know what is commanded of them by their Owner and do that which He commands. These are those who have been “begotten again.” This is not the same as being spiritually born again, but is rather a second begettal, the first being their physical conception leading to a physical birth, the second (“again”) being when they are truly converted and have received the Holy Spirit. Read Born Again and the multi-posted series dealing with the Salvation Process. Key words–Born and Process. L.J.