1 Peter 1 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered
A response and reply to the notes on 1 Peter 1 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).
King James Version
SAB comment
My comment
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Second, no confession of any church has ever taught this. No church father has ever taught this. No one defines the election like the author of the SAB does, so this is just a smear. He already forgot James 1:19 I suppose.
The fact is that we all have sinned. All of us deserve God's punishment. And God doesn't make us sin.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
Is Salvation by faith alone?
What must you do to be saved?
Does God respect anyone?
So this verse is not about if salvation is by faith, it is as preceding and subsequent verses affirm, but it's an exhortation to those who live by faith as an example to those who live without faith as such persons shall be judged by their works.
On if God respects persons, no of course, but see the verses where the author of the SAB reads a contradiction such as Psalm 138:6.
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
God planned to kill Jesus from the get-go. (Cf. Rev.13:8)
So the characterisation of the author of the SAB is completely off. Jesus Christ offered himself without being forced to. And yes, this happened before the world began. God made a world with free humans on it, but what if those humans rebelled against him? Would all be lost? But Jesus Christ was foreordained, that is accepted and appointed, to be the surety of God's elect. Even if those free humans would rebel, it would not thwart God's plans.Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
Life is ephemeral. Enjoy it while you can.
25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
We are all, according to Peter, predestined to be saved or damned. We have no say in the matter. It was all determined by "the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ."