v. 8—This verse is set in the context of trial and suffering. These, if endured, will be to the glory and praise of those who are triumphant at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Verse 8 now begins by sins, “You have never seen Him, but you love Him; even though you do not see Him you believe in Him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy.” “Because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
v. 9—When Peter speaks of salvation in verse 5 he refers to our complete emancipation from everything that is earthly. We have not experienced this but will do so when Christ raptures us home.
In verse 9 Peter is reminding them that in another sense they had already received salvation, the salvation of their souls. It was a present reality.
By faith we appropriate this. See Hebrews 11:1—“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
v. 10-12—The prophets who prophesied about this salvation, searched and inquired diligently of the Spirit as to the time Christ would suffer and the glory that would follow.
According to Peter it was revealed to them that the things they wrote about were not for themselves, but for us. Through the gospel which has been preached and by the revelation of the Holy Spirit these mysteries from the OT have been revealed to us. The angels desired information about these things.
v. 13—Wherefore! Consider the circumstances. On the one hand the sufferings and trials; but on the other hand, the revelation of the salvation in Christ.
Circumstances are apt to get one down. Hence the exhortation “gird up the loins of your mind.”
Brace your minds; be alert, fix your hope unchangeably on the salvation and grace to be brought unto you when the Lord returns. One of the tragedies of the Christian life today is our lack of thinking. Peter exhorts us to think, be alert, and hope for the blessed hope.
v. 14—We are exhorted to be obedient children. We should leave the habits of our former life.
v. 15—The reason we should leave our former beliefs is because God is holy, Who has called us. Therefore, we should be holy in all our conduct and manner of living.
Every spiritual believer should aspire to become more holy every day that he lives.
v. 16—This verse presents the ultimate for us. It should read: “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” When Christ comes to rapture us all earthly traits will go. We will be changed, “our body will be fashioned like unto His glorious body.” Philippians 3:21. We will be holy in the absolute sense.
v. 17—And if you address as Father, etc. This verse reminds each believer that our Father is judging our life impartially. Therefore we should conduct ourselves in the light of His all-seeing eye.
v. 18-19—Redemption by blood. In these verses Peter sweeps away every vestige of reason that they might have to cling to their Jewish faith. He says distinctly that we are not redeemed with silver or gold. Our redemption is though the precious blood of Christ.
v. 20—He was chosen for this task before the world was, but in the end of the age He was manifested for this purpose.
v. 21—He not only is the slain lamb, but He is also the resurrected Christ. He was crucified in shame, but God resurrected Him and gave Him glory.
v. 22—Our souls are purified by obeying the truth. The outcome of this purifying is that through the Spirit we love our fellow-believers with unhypocritical love, or sincere affection.
Then comes the injunction, “see that you keep on loving each other fervently from a pure heart.”
v. 23—The new birth. We are not “born again” of corruptible seed. See John 11:12. The new birth is a mysterious affair. See John 2:8. The Holy Spirit is the active agent in the new birth. The Word of God is the seed He uses to produce new life.
“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Romans 10.
The Word of God is a comprehensive term and certainly would include the message of the Gospel. This Word is incorruptible and abideth forever.
v. 24—In contrast to the eternal nature of the foregoing, we have the transient nature of man.
v. 25—Peter winds up his treatise by reminding us that the Word which has been given to us in the gospel endures forever.