1 Peter is referred to as the Epistle of Livng Hope.

Today, hope is defined as a possibility somehting might happen. However in the Bible it is defined as a certianty. It was often written in the past tense, as if it had already happened. It was this sure to come true, that they used this type of language.

Peter audience then is much like us today.
1. They were not facing any type of governmental persecution. The trials they faced were common to all Christians.
2. They had never seen Jesus nor had any personal contact with Him.

So Peter begins this letter at the very beginning, salvation and reminds us about the key to our faith as a whole, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He begins here so that he might bring us along on common ground to his first focus for us.

There is a question that many Christians ask today, and I feel sure they asked back in this day as well. Why do Christians face trials?

Refinement is necessary to purify the believer and to establish his faith, and to remove all doubt.

1. Trials meet needs. Our Lord uses it to displince us, to prevent us from sin, or to help us grow spiritually.
2. Trials vary. Dr. Cramer wrote: “Each generation has its own unique experience of suffering.”
3. Trials are not easy. The word used here is grieved. It is the same word used to describe our Lord while He was in the garden.
4. Trials are controlled by our Lord. Eastern Goldsmith kept the metal in the furnace until he could see his own reflection in it.

So how do we need to understand so that we might learn whatever lesson our Lord desires for us to learn through our trials?

1. Love Jesus. When we find ourselves in a trial, lift your heart in worhsip and praise. Remember the enemy wants to use trials to bring out the worst in you. Our Lord desires trials to bring out the best in you.
2. Trust Jesus. Faith means we surrender to our Lord and obey Him in spite of what is happening.
3. Receive from Jesus the answer or peace that passes all of our understanding.
   Verses 10-12 amazes me. The Old Testament prophets reread what they were moved to write by the Holy Spirit, trying to make sense of it all. They wrote about the suffering Messiah and the Sovereign King. They tried to understand it, but just could not. We have everything we need to understand exactly what they were trying to say.

We have everything we need to obtain all the things we truly need like acceptance, love, forgiveness, purpose and hope. All we have to do is admit we needs these things, believe that Jesus can and will provide them, and then committ our life to Him.