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Bithynia。〃 His letters were the means of reviving the courage and
strengthening the faith of those who were enduring trial and affliction； and
of renewing to good works those who through manifold temptations were in
danger of losing their hold upon God。 These letters bear the impress of
having been written by one in whom the sufferings of Christ and also His
consolation had been made to abound； one whose entire being had been
transformed by grace； and whose hope of eternal life was sure and steadfast。
At the very beginning of his first letter the aged servant of God ascribed
to his Lord a tribute of praise and thanksgiving。 〃Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ；〃 he exclaimed； 〃which according to His
abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection
of Jesus Christ from the dead； to an inheritance incorruptible； and
undefiled； and that fadeth not away； reserved in heaven for you； who are
kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed
in the last time。〃
In this hope of a sure inheritance in the earth made new；
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the early Christians rejoiced； even in times of severe trial and affliction。
〃Ye greatly rejoice；〃 Peter wrote； 〃though now for a season； if need be； ye
are in heaviness through manifold temptations： that the trial of your faith；
being much more precious than of gold that perisheth； though it be tried
with fire； might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing
of Jesus Christ： whom having not seen； ye love； in whom； though now ye see
Him not； 。 。 。 ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory： receiving
the end of your faith； even the salvation of your souls。〃
The apostle's words were written for the instruction of believers in every
age； and they have a special significance for those who live at the time
when 〃the end of all things is at hand。〃 His exhortations and warnings； and
his words of faith and courage； are needed by every soul who would maintain
his faith 〃steadfast unto the end。〃 Hebrews 3：14。
The apostle sought to teach the believers how important it is to keep the
mind from wandering to forbidden themes or from spending its energies on
trifling subjects。 Those who would not fall a prey to Satan's devices； must
guard well the avenues of the soul； they must avoid reading； seeing； or
hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts。 The mind must not be left
to dwell at random upon every subject that the enemy of souls may suggest。
The heart must be faithfully sentineled； or evils without will awaken evils
within； and the soul will wander in darkness。 〃Gird up the loins of your
mind；〃 Peter wrote； 〃be sober； and hope to the end for the grace that is to
be brought unto you at the revelation
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of Jesus Christ； 。 。 。 not fashioning yourselves according to the former
lusts in your ignorance： but as He which hath called you is holy； so be ye
holy in all manner of conversation； because it is written； Be ye holy； for I
am holy。〃
〃Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear： forasmuch as ye know that ye
were not redeemed with corruptible things； as silver and gold； from your
vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers； but with the
precious blood of Christ； as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot： who
verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world； but was manifest
in these last times for you； who by Him do believe in God； that raised Him
up from the dead； and gave Him glory； that your faith and hope might be in
God。〃
Had silver and gold been sufficient to purchase the salvation of men； how
easily might it have been accomplished by Him who says； 〃The silver is Mine；
and the gold is Mine。〃 Haggai 2：8。 But only by the precious blood of the Son
of God could the transgressor be redeemed。 The plan of salvation was laid in
sacrifice。 The apostle Paul wrote； 〃Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ； that； though He was rich； yet for your sakes He became poor； that ye
through His poverty might be rich。〃 2 Corinthians 8：9。 Christ gave Himself
for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity。 And as the crowning
blessing of salvation； 〃the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord。〃 Romans 6：23。
〃Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit
unto unfeigned love of the brethren；〃
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Peter continued； 〃see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently。〃
The word of Godthe truthis the channel through which the Lord manifests
His Spirit and power。 Obedience to the word produces fruit of the required
quality 〃unfeigned love of the brethren。〃 This love is heaven…born and
leads to high motives and unselfish actions。
When truth becomes an abiding principle in the life； the soul is 〃born
again； not of corruptible seed； but of incorruptible； by the word of God；
which liveth and abideth forever。〃 This new birth is the result of receiving
Christ as the Word of God。 When by the Holy Spirit divine truths are
impressed upon the heart； new conceptions are awakened； and the energies
hitherto dormant are aroused to co…operate with God。
Thus it had been with Peter and his fellow disciples。 Christ was the
revealer of truth to the world。 By Him the incorruptible seedthe word of
Godwas sown in the hearts of men。 But many of the most precious lessons of
the Great Teacher were spoken to those who did not then understand them。
When； after His ascension； the Holy Spirit brought His teachings to the
remembrance of the disciples； their slumbering senses awoke。 The meaning of
these truths flashed upon their minds as a new revelation； and truth； pure
and unadulterated； made a place for itself。 Then the wonderful experience of
His life became theirs。 The Word bore testimony through them； the men of His
appointment； and they proclaimed the mighty truth； 〃The Word was made flesh；
and dwelt among us； 。 。 。 full of
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grace and truth。〃 〃And of His fullness have all we received； and grace for
grace。〃 John 1：14； 16。
The apostles exhorted the believers to study the Scriptures； through a
proper understanding of which they might make sure work for eternity。 Peter
realized that in the experience of every soul who is finally victorious
there would be scenes of perplexity and trial； but he knew also that an
understanding of the Scriptures would enable the tempted one to bring to
mind promises that would comfort the heart and strengthen faith in the
Mighty One。
〃All flesh is as grass；〃 he declared； 〃and all the glory of man as the
flower of grass。 The grass withereth； and the flower thereof falleth away：
but the word of the Lord endureth forever。 And this is the word which by the
gospel is preached unto you。 Wherefore laying aside all malice； and all
guile； and hypocrisies； and envies； and all evilspeakings； as newborn babes；
desire the sincere milk of the word； that ye may grow thereby： if so be ye
have tasted that the Lord is gracious。〃
Many of the believers to whom Peter addressed his letters； were living in
the midst of heathen； and much depended on their remaining true to the high
calling of their profession。 The apostle urged upon them their privileges as
followers of Christ Jesus。 〃Ye are a chosen generation；〃 he wrote； 〃a royal
priesthood； an holy nation； a peculiar people； that ye should show forth the
praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light：
which in time past were not a people； but are now the people of God： which
had not obtained mercy； but now have obtained mercy。
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〃Dearly beloved； I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims； abstain from
fleshly lusts； which war against the soul； having your conversation honest
among the Gentiles： that； whereas they speak against you as evildoers； they
may by your good works； which they shall behold； glorify God in the day of
visitation。〃
The apostle plainly outlined the attitude that believers should sustain
toward the civil authorities： 〃Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man
for the Lord's sake： whether it be to the king； as supreme； or unto
governors； as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of
evildoers； and for the praise of them that do well。 For so is the will of
God； that with well…doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish
men： as free； and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness； but
as the servants of God。 Honor all men。 Love the brotherhood。 Fear God。 Honor
the king。〃
Those who were servants were advised to remain subject to their masters
〃with all fear； not only to the good and gentle； but also to the froward。
For this is thankworthy；〃 the apostle explained； 〃if a man for conscience
toward God endure grief； suffering wrongfully。 For what glory is it； if；
when ye be buffeted for your faults； ye shall take it patiently？ but if；
when ye do well； and suffer for it； ye take it patiently； this is acceptable
with God。 For even hereunto were ye called： because Christ also suffered for
us； leaving us an example； that ye should follow His steps： who did no si