1 Peter 1 and What it means to me...

I found a remarkable website with many versions of the Bible available to study online (here), I know there are others out there like this but I particularly appreciated that many versions of the Bible available to study.

I don't think I've ever really studied 1 Peter either at home, or in church, so it was very interesting to read this chapter over a few times and it's so perfect for my life right now I can't help but think that God set this chapter on Joanna's (a lady from my church who is starting a Bible study with some of my friends here) heart for me (not that it's just for me, but it seems very relevant to what I'm feeling these days)! I really liked the New International Version for this Chapter and I encourage you to read it on your own! Here is 1 Peter 1 in my words.

*1* From Peter, a student of Jesus Christ's. To God's elect living as strangers (foreigners, aliens) in the lands of Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.

*2* You were chosen at the beginning of time by God the Father to be santified by the Spirit for being obedient to Jesus Christ and being cleansed by His blood. Grace and Peace to you!

*3* Our Awesome God, who is the Father of Jesus, and is full of mercy, has allowed us to be reborn through Jesus who came back to life from the dead which allows us to live with hope of

*4* an inheritance--eternity in heaven--that will never fade away, is unchanging and remains perfect.

*5* we are kept safe by the power of God because of our faith in Christ, which led to our salvation--all of this will be revealed at the end of the earth

*6* You can greatly rejoice in the promise of Heaven even though you have been grieved by various trials.

*7* these trials test how genuine your faith is. Your faith is tested because it is much more precious than gold, which fades away, and even though your faith is tested by fire, when the testing is done it will bring glory to Christ.

*8*Even though you have not seen Jesus with your eyes you have loved Him. You can be full of inexpressible joy because you have faith in Him and His promises.

*9* This inexpressible joy will be full when you receive the salvation of your soul.

*10* The prophets of old searched diligently to figure out the meaning of this salvation and they foretold that this salvation would come

*11* these prophets served to testify beforehand that Christ would suffer and that glory would follow.

*12* The prophets who foretold of Christ did not get to experience Him first hand but instead shared what knowledge the Holy Spirit gave them. Even angels long to figure out these things!

*13* Since you have been entrusted with salvation you must live differently. Be sober, rest your hope fully on the rewards you will inherit when you see Christ

*14* be obedient and do not conform to the ways os this world like you did before you understood what Christ had done for you

*15* Be holy just as God is HOLY in everything you do!

*16* God says: BE HOLY AS I AM HOLY

*17* Be assured that God judgest us all in the same way--He is partial to no one--he judges according to each one's work so we ought to live each day in a way that pleases Him

*18* you were not redeemed with things that pass away like silver or gold,

*19* but with the precious blood of Christ--He was without sin and perfect in all His ways

*20* He was foretold before the foundation of the world but has just recently come to live on earth and sacrifice Himself for you

*21* you who have believed through HIM in GOD (who raised Christ from the dead and gave Him glory) know that your faith and hope are in GOD

*22* you have purified your soul by obeying the truth therefore, love one another intensely with a pure heart

*23* you are born again--not of flesh that passes away but through Christ who lives forever

*24* all flesh is as the grass and the glory of man is like the flower of the grass--the grass withers and the flower will die

*25* the Word of GOD endures forever.

Amen!