1 Peter 1:1-12
Even before Peter had denied Him, the Lord had told him: "When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" (Luke 22:32). The apostle carries out that service in this epistle. He recalls our priceless privileges: the salvation of the soul (v. 9); an incorruptible inheritance in heaven (v. 4). God is both keeping it for the heirs and keeping them for the inheritance. However even now they get a foretaste of it: "joy unspeakable and full of glory". It is based: on the living hope which they have in a living Person: Jesus Christ risen from the dead (v. 3); on faith (vv. 5, 7); on love for the One whom the redeemed have not yet seen but whom they know well in their hearts (v. 8). The more we love the Lord the more will we feel that we do not love Him enough.
Just because God attaches great value to faith, He sets out to purify it in the melting pot of trials. However we are given an assurance: He only does it "if need be" (v. 6).
These are, dear friends, the blessed realities which concern us, for which the prophets searched diligently (vv. 10, 11) and which the angels desire to look into closely (v. 12). Are we to be the only ones not interested in them?