1 Peter, Chapter 1, verses 1-2, 10-12
1 He blesseth God for his manifold spiritual graces, 10 showing that the salvation in Christ is no news, but a thing prophesied of old1 Peter, Chapter 2, verses 6-10
4 showing that Christ is the foundation whereupon they are built2
2:6 He that believeth shall not be confounded - In time or in eternity. Isa 28:16.
2:7 To them who believe, he is become the head of the corner - The chief corner stone, on which the whole building rests. Unbelievers too will at length find him such to their sorrow, Mat 21:44. Psa 118:22.
2:8 Who stumble, whereunto also they were appointed - They who believe not, stumble, and fall, and perish for ever; God having appointed from all eternity, "he that believeth not shall be damned."
2:9 But ye - Who believe in Christ Are - In a higher sense than ever the Jews were. A chosen or elect race, a royal priesthood - "Kings and priests unto God," Rev 1:6. As princes, ye have power with God, and victory oversin, the world, and the devil: as priests, ye are consecrated to God, for offering spiritual sacrifices. Ye Christians are as one holy nation, under Christ your King. A purchased people - Who are his peculiar property. That ye may show forth - By your whole behaviour, to all mankind. The virtues - The excellent glory, the mercy, wisdom, and power of him, Christ, who hath called you out of the darkness of ignorance, error, sin, and misery.
2:10 Who in time past were not a people - Much less the people of God; but scattered individuals of many nations.The former part of the verse particularly respects the gentiles; the latter, the Jews.
Mark, Chapter 12, verses 1-12
1 In a parable of the vineyard let out to unthankful husbandmen, Christ foretelleth the reprobation of the Jews and the calling of the Gentiles12
12:10 Psa 118:22.
12:12 They feared the multitude - How wonderful is the providence of God, using all things for the good of his children! Generally the multitude is restrained from tearing them in pieces only by the fear of their rulers. And here the rulers themselves are restrained, through fear of the multitude!
1 holy obedience, the foundation of all which is, the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ - The atoning blood of Christ, which was typified by the sprinkling of the blood of sacrifices under the law; in allusion to which it is called "the blood of sprinkling."
1:1 To the sojourners - Upon earth, the Christians, chiefly those of Jewish extraction. Scattered - Long ago driven out of their own land. Those scattered by the persecution mentioned Act 8:1, were scattered only through Judea and Samaria,though afterwards some of them travelled to Phenice, Cyprus, and Antioch. Through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia - He names these five provinces in the order wherein they occurred to him, writing from the east. All these countries lie in the Lesser Asia. The Asia here distinguished from the other provinces is that which was usually called the Proconsular Asia being a Roman province.
1:2 According to the foreknowledge of God - Speaking after the manner of men. Strictly speaking, there is no foreknowledge, no more than afterknowledge, with God: but all things are known to him as present from eternity to eternity. This is therefore no other than an instance of the divine condescension to our low capacities. Elect - By the free love and almighty power of God taken out of, separated from, the world.Election, in the scripture sense, is God's doing anything that our merit or power have no part in. The true predestination, or fore - appointment of God is,
- He that believeth shall be saved from the guilt and power of sin.
- He that endureth to the end shall be saved eternally.
- They who receive the precious gift of faith, thereby become the sonsof God; and, being sons, they shall receive the Spirit of holiness to walk as Christ also walked.
Throughout every part of this appointment of God, promise and duty go hand in hand. All is free gift; and yet such is the gift, that the final issue depends on our future obedience to the heavenly call. But other predestination than this, either to life or death eternal, the scripture knows not of. Moreover, it is.- Cruel respect of persons; an unjust regard of one, and an unjustdisregard of another. It is mere creature partiality, and not infinite justice.
- It is not plain scripture doctrine, if true; but rather, inconsistentwith the express written word, that speaks of God's universal offers of grace; his invitations, promises, threatenings, being all general.
- We are bid to choose life, and reprehended for not doing it.
- It is inconsistent with a state of probation in those that must besaved or must be lost.
- It is of fatal consequence; all men being ready, on very slightgrounds, to fancy themselves of the elect number. But the doctrine of predestination is entirely changed from what it formerly was.
Now it implies neither faith, peace, nor purity. It is something that will do without them all. Faith is no longer, according to the modern predestinarian scheme, a divine "evidence of things not seen," wrought in the soul by the immediate power of the Holy Ghost; not an evidence at all; but a mere notion. Neither is faith made any longer a means of holiness; but something that will do without it. Christ is no more a Saviour from sin; but a defence, a countenancer of it. He is no more a fountain of spiritual life in the soul of believers, but leaves his elect inwardly dry, and outwardly unfruitful; and is made little more than a refuge from the image of the heavenly; even from righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Through sanctification of the Spirit - Through the renewing and purifying influences of his Spirit on their souls.Unto obedience - To engage and enable them to yield themselves up to all