◄ What Does 1 Peter 1:25 Mean? ►

As the elderly apostle wrote this epistle to God's elect people who had been chosen according to the foreknowledge of the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, it must have gladdened Peter's heart to know that these saints had purified themselves - which was being manifested to the world through their deep love for one another.

Peter rejoiced in God's great mercy, knowing that all who trust in Christ for the salvation of their soul through faith in Him, are shielded by the power of God until the coming of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ - Who is ready to be revealed at the last time.

He understood that the saints, to whom he was writing, had been chosen before the creation of the world and were born-again of imperishable Seed - which comes through the enduring, unchanging, and immutable Word of God.

However, Peter also knew that the heart of every man is at enmity with God and all humanity is born dead in their trespasses and sins. He understood that in God's sight, "All men are like grass, and all their magnificence and glory fades like the flowers of the field," as recorded in the book of Isaiah.

He had, no doubt, studied the prophet's writings and recognised that the brevity of man's life can be compared with the fleeting passing of grasses in the field, for he quoted the gloomy truth: "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory fades away like the flower which shrivels up," for, day by day, we witness this fact in our everyday lives as we watch the grass withering away and flowers fading before our eyes.

If this quote from the Old Testament had ended at this point, we would indeed be of all men... most miserable. But Peter completes Isaiah's statement with a beautiful and enduring truth: "But the Word of our God stands fast forever!" Indeed, Peter goes on to explain that the Word of God, which was spoken through holy men of old, is the same Word of truth through which the gospel is preached today.

The Word of the Lord is pure, perfect, and cannot be broken. God's Word stands fast forever and ever, and God has placed His Word above His holy name. And from start to finish, the Word of the Lord details the way of salvation for lost sinners and is the means by which the gospel has been preached to centuries of believers. Scripture continues to be the vehicle by which we too have heard the truth of the glorious gospel of grace.

From Genesis to the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are presented with God's gracious, redemptive programme for fallen man, as recorded in the Bible - that Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture, that He was buried, and rose again according to the Word of Truth so that whosoever believes on Him would not perish and pass away - as the grass in the field, but would receive the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. The Word of Life also contains all we need to live a life that glorifies His name - for we have been given all we need for life and godliness.

The Word of God is altogether true and His eternal order cannot be broken - let us, therefore, praise God that we who have been saved by grace through faith in Him, are the elect of God. But let us never forget that there are many who are dead in their sins who need to hear the truth of the glorious gospel of God.

May we be emboldened in these last days to go into all the world and preach the unchangeable Word of Hope to those that are perishing. Let us hold fast to the Word of the Lord which endures forever and ever - for this is the Word by which the gospel is preached unto us.

Heavenly Father, thank You that I have been called and chosen and that I have been born again into Your family. Thank You that I have an inheritance in Christ that cannot fade away. Open the eyes of those that are blinded to the truth of Your Word so that many may come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. Use me, I pray, as a witness to Your Word of truth and bring many more sons to glory in the days that lie ahead. This I pray in Jesus' name, AMEN.