By examining verses in the books written by Peter, it can be determined that his writing is to the believing remnant of Israel, not to the church, the body of Christ.
1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Israel was referred to as strangers when they were in Egypt in Exodus 22:21. The Lord called them strangers in Leviticus 25:23. Gentiles were called strangers, because they were not of the house of Israel (Leviticus 17:8).
The strangers Peter wrote to in this letter were not Gentiles. The lands in verse 1 were Gentile nations; Gentiles could not be strangers in their own Gentile lands. Peter called his recipients strangers and pilgrims who were to have their conversation (lives) honest among the Gentiles, this would exclude them being Gentiles (1 Peter 2:11-12). Peter also recalled their past behavior as working the will of the Gentiles, thereby eliminating them as being Gentiles (1 Peter 4:3).
Israel rebelled against the Lord and would not walk in his statutes, neither would they keep his judgements, so the Lord purposed to scatter them through the countries in Ezekiel 20:21-23 (Psalm 44:11).
The believing remnant of Israel was also scattered in Acts 8:1.
1 Peter 1:3 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,
Peter says the remnant of Israel has been begotten again by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Israel could have the firm hope that Christ was raised from the dead to sit on the throne of David in the kingdom on earth (Acts 2:30 Luke 1:32-33).
The remnant of Israel was promised to reign with Christ over the nations when Christ comes to establish his kingdom on earth (Exodus 19:5-6 Isaiah 61:6 Isaiah 60:3).
Israel was the firstborn of God (Exodus 4:22), and to enter the kingdom, Israel had to be born again of the Spirit (John 3:3-5).
1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
For the believing nation of Israel, salvation will be revealed at the last time, after the tribulation period, at the coming of Christ. They however, had to be steadfast, and endure til the end (Acts 3:21 Hebrews 3:14 Mark 13:13).
1 Peter 1:7 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:
Israel will be tried by fire, and refined, to be purified and prepared for the coming of Christ (Isaiah 48:10 Malachi 3:2-3 Zechariah 13:7-9 Matthew 3:11).
1 Peter 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
If the remnant remained faithful until the end, they would inherit the promise of the kingdom (Hebrews 10:36-39 Luke 21:19).
1 Peter 1:13 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;
At the revelation of Christ, at his coming, Israel will receive salvation. Israel will receive grace by the fulfillment of the new covenant. Under the new covenant, God will, by his Spirit, cause Israel to keep the law for righteousness, give them the promised land, and forgive their iniquity (Zechariah 12:10 Romans 11:26 Jeremiah 31:31-34 Deuteronomy 30:5-9 Ezekiel 36:24-28).
Peter preached unto Israel, to repent, and be converted, that their sins would be blotted out, at the coming of Christ Jesus (Acts 3:19). Israel, as a nation, had to wait until the coming of Christ to realize forgiveness.
1 Peter 1:17 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:
Peter, in Acts 10:34-35 says, that whoever works righteousness is accepted of God. Peter, in the above verse, is saying to the remnant, that their works would be judged to determine entrance into the kingdom on earth (Psalm 103:17-18).
1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Once again, Peter speaks of being born again, which pertains to Israel. Israel as a nation, was born of God (Exodus 4:22 Jeremiah 31:9). Jews were born of flesh as Israel but, had to be born again of the Spirit, to be the Israel of God, the Israel of faith (John 3:6-7 Romans 9:6-8 Galatians 6:16).
1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Peter says the remnant are lively stones, which should be compared to Matthew 3:9, in which, Israel was admonished not to think that just because they had Abraham as their father, they were accepted of God.
The remnant of Israel would be the holy priesthood according to Exodus 19:5-6, Revelation 5:10, and Revelation 20:6.
1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
Christ was to be received by Israel as the chief corner stone according to Psalm 118:22 (Isaiah 28:16 Romans 9:31-33 Matthew 21:42). The remnant of Israel believed on Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
It was the Israel of faith that received Jesus as Messiah, the Son of God, who are a royal priesthood, an holy nation. The earthly kingdom was taken from unbelieving Israel, and given to believing Israel, as seen in Matthew 21:43 (Isaiah 61:6 Psalm 33:12 Genesis 12:2).
1 Peter 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
God said of the believing remnant of Israel, they are now the people of God (Hosea 1:9-11 and Hosea 2:23). Peter in saying they are now the people of God and applying Hosea to them is identifying them as the believing remnant of Israel; Hosea is not speaking of Gentiles.
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Israel is specifically identified in Isaiah 53:5-6 as the ones healed; Christ was wounded for their transgressions, and bruised for their iniquities.
It is Israel who has returned unto their Shepherd (Psalm 80:1).
1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
By being baptized, Israel justified God (Luke 7:29). Israel had to be baptized to be physically saved to enter the kingdom (Mark 16:16). For Israel, belief in the name of Jesus, and baptism was required for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Israel had to be baptized for the remission of sins to be cleansed for the priesthood in the kingdom on earth (Exodus 29:4 Luke 3:3 Revelation 5:10). The resurrection of Christ gave assurance to Israel that their baptism would save them, in that, Christ being alive, would return to establish the promised kingdom on earth to Israel, in which, they will receive the new covenant.
1 Peter 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
Again, Here Peter is distinguishing his audience as being Israel, in saying they had wrought the will of the Gentiles. God exhorted Israel not to be like the Gentiles in Leviticus 18:24-30.
1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
In Isaiah 48:10 the Lord has chosen Israel in the furnace of affliction to refine them, that they might obtain their future salvation at the Lord's coming.
1 Peter 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
To be saved to enter the kingdom, Israel had to be righteous (Matthew 5:20 Psalm 1:5-6 Isaiah 64:5 Proverb 11:31 Ezekiel 18:24 Hebrews 10:38-39
1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
The elders and overseers of Israel were to feed the flock of God, the people of God (Ezekiel 34:30-31 Ezekiel 34:2-3 Acts 20:28).
1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth ...
