1 Peter 1:20-21 ²⁰on the one hand, being foreknown before the foundation of the world, but on the other hand, was revealed in the last times for you, ²¹who through him believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, so that your faith and hope might be in God.

God already had the plan for the redemption of the world before he created the world. The participle foreknown(proegnōsmenou) is the same word used in 1:2 and refers to how God already knew he would send the Messiah (verse 19). This astonishing claim occurs in other places in the New Testament and has significant implications for theology and ethics. The coming of Jesus at a specific point in time fulfilled the divine plan for the redemption of all creation. This level of theological thinking could only be inspired and came out of deep reflection on what Jesus claimed about himself. The plan was already made before Adam and Eve were created and later sinned, and its purpose was to reveal the depths of God’s grace and love.

Do we make faith in the planned and resurrected Jesus too small and a matter of our convenience? Peter reminded his readers of the cosmic level of their faith. All of time focused in on the first century in the land of Israel and then radiates out, both backwards and forwards in time. We now live in the reflection of this light that shines from that moment in time. Peter sees himself as living in the last times because he witnessed God’s plan and knew it was now a matter of getting message out. These last times continue until Jesus comes again. Knowing our faith is in such an unfathomable plan should motivate us to stay true to this plan and not give up when temptation or trials come.

Christ is the source of our hope. Peter’s readers came to believe in the one true God through the message of Jesus. What Jesus did on the cross by shedding his blood (verse 19) opened up their thinking to the love of God and the hope of eternal life. Peter moves past the cross in verse 21 to Jesus’ resurrection and exaltation. From a legal perspective, Jesus is the only perfect sacrifice because he was without sin. He is the only one worthy to make us right before God. Relationally, Jesus reveals the very essence and character of God as the incarnation. Jesus’ power over death verified his position as Messiah (Romans 1:4). His resurrection and glorification confirm our faith and hope in God. We need to put our faith in something or someone if we are going to have any hope. Why not put our hope in a message that has been proven to be true through resurrection? Faith leads to and supports hope, and hope keeps faith strong in trials.