The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 58

(Vere. 20, 21.) Characteristic of Peter to emphasize the foreordination of Christ. It occurs here naturally when we see that it is a point in perhaps all his recorded sermons. What a redemption this is which is based on God's eternal purpose! and what a hope which goes back through all time, and finds its foundation in the everlastincr thouaht of Go9- I But the point ls that Christ was appointed to this work by the Fathe;, manifested by the Father, raised up by the Father, given glory by the Father-Redemption is the working out by the Father of his own plan, quite contrary to the idea that Calv!lry was to appease him. '.!.'he text says that God did all this that we might be believers in him, not stop short at JesUB, but go on to rest in the Father. Alienated man drawn to act in faith and hope. Then as the stream flows from the fountain, so by the constraint of conscious obligation and loving petition, consecration to God will flow from this faith and hope, and thus, if redemption is to faith and hope, it necessitates holiness. II. '.!.'BIS NECESSITY CALLS THE PROFESSING CHRISTIAN TO FEAR. (Ver.17.) The more Christian life we have, the more we find that fear is one of its characteristics. Not that which hath torment, and repels; but that which is the opposite of carelessness, presumption, self-confidence, disobedience. 1. For a filial spirit toward God leads to the fear of his disfavour. Perfect love produces fear-fear of distressing him we love. The woi;A "father" tells of tender relationship, mutual happiness, reciprocated affection; that (!it.lier would shrink from paining the other; and that any barrier coming between them Th unbearable. He on whom we call as Father must have holiness. 'l'hen we cannot help going through life with this element of fear; he who does not fear does not love. 2. Then, a remembrance of his impartiality leads to a fear of his judgme:nts. "The Father, who without respect of persons judgeth," etc. The kind Father is also the impartial Judge, and he will judge us by our works. We are saved by faith; we are judged by holiness ; we are redeemed to holiness. Then if we are amongst the redeemed, we are holy. "What should we like to be tested by-experiences, profession, creed, charity, opinions of others? God will judge us impartially by our works. "Show me thy faith by thy works." Is not that something to make us fear? 3. .A consideration of the brevity of life leads to the fear of losing eternal blessing. "Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear." We are here but for a short time ; the perfected blessings of redemption o.re yonder, and what they are no tongue can tell. But redemption is holiness, and therefore apart from holiness we have no right to anticipate these. With- out holiness there is no redemption, that is, no heaven. Is not this calculated to create fear, to destroy spiritual indifference, carelessness about conformity to Christ, light- heartedness respecting inconsistency ? Does it not compel us to examine heart and life with anxiety, and press forward to better things with something of the feeling of the racer lest he lose the prize? III. THIS FEAR IS CONSISTENT WITR JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY. This must be remembered to avoid misapprehension. The fear the apostle urges is not that which clouds life, but that which harmonizes with the joy he has spoken of. Yes; this fear contributes to the joy. 1. It leads to a correct knowledge of our Christian position. Making us search to the foundations of our hope, it enables UB to say, " I know." 2. It compels us to a simpler dependence on the Saviour. For looking for holiness as an evidence of redemption, we discover how little we have, and are compelled to fall back on Christ the more entirely-than which what is more blessed? Blessed fear, which makes us know better how perfect a Saviour Jesus is I 3. It glorifies even our trials as a means of keeping us holy. For if holiness be essential, we can welcome that as a friend which tends to deepen it, and makes us thank God for our very sorrows.-C. N. Vers. 22-25.-0hristian love the test nf the possession of salvation. Christian love is the subject of this paragraph. There are no words here to show why that is dealt with in this particular place, but as the preceding verses treat of fear lest we should fail of the fruits which prove the possession of redemption, we may assume that the apostle here gives them a test by which this fe::1r may be removed or confirmed, and no better test could be suggcRted than that of love. For love is such a test (John xiii. 3-!; 1 Cor. xiii. 1-3; l John iii. 14). Peter might have chosen some other test. Possibly he had reason for anxiety on this particult\r ground, for the Epistle contains several hints on the proper mutual relation of these Christians; e.g. eh. i. 22 ; ii. 17; iii. 8-10; iv. 8; v. 6. 62 THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF l?E1'ER. [cIT. 1. 1-26.