A.C.T.S. Grid

A.C.T.S. reflection

1 Peter 1

1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 10Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. 13Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Adoration

Father, we praise You for Your great mercy that gives us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Peter blesses the Father because, according to His “great mercy,” He has given believers new birth. This birth brings “a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”. God also preserves His people, who “by God’s power are being guarded through faith”. Our hope rests on His merciful action and sustaining power.

Confession

Lord, we confess that we let our former sinful desires govern our choices instead of obeying Your call to holiness in all our conduct.

Peter commands believers, “do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance”. The central failure is letting former sinful desires govern our conduct rather than obeying God as His children. This contradicts the command to “be holy in all your conduct”. Calling God our Father does not excuse this pattern, because He “judges impartially according to each one’s deeds”.

Thanksgiving

Jesus, thank You for perfectly obeying the Father rather than sinful desires, and for shedding Your precious blood to bear the penalty for our obedience to those desires.

Peter says believers were “ransomed from the futile ways” of their inherited life by “the precious blood of Christ”. He describes Jesus as “a lamb without blemish or spot”, showing His fitness to redeem sinful people. Unlike us, Jesus perfectly obeyed the Father rather than sinful desires, and His sacrificial death bore the penalty for our obedience to those desires. God “raised him from the dead”, grounding our faith and hope in the God who saves.

Supplication

Holy Spirit, change what our hearts desire so that we pursue holiness in all our conduct as children who belong to our holy Father.

The godly life reflects the character of the God who says, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” Peter places this obedience within “the sanctification of the Spirit,” so holiness is not merely outward self-correction. The Spirit changes believers into children whose desires and conduct agree with their Father’s character. This holiness includes the command to “love one another earnestly from a pure heart”.

Prayer prompt

Pray these four lines slowly, adding your own names, situations, or specific sins to each as appropriate.

Make this reflection your own

Reflect on 1 Peter 1

Reflections on this page are generated with AI to guide your own prayer — always read the passage yourself first. Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.