I Peter 1

Peter...the fisherman, the one who chopped off a man's ear, walked on water, spoke up too quickly, denied Christ three times. The Apostle Peter is writing to scattered Jewish Christians who are undergoing intense persecution for their faith. He reminds his readers that “God….has given us the privilege of being born again 1:3. Therefore they should not be surprised when suffering comes their way; they should expect it, prepare for it and respond to it correctly. He also encourages them to have a submissive spirit toward one another. If they do, God will richly reward them when the trials of life are over.

The time of the writing is approximately A.D. 63-64 and is probably written from Rome. Peter speaks of salvation and sanctification…the new birth and a new building.

Peter gives his readers in the midst of persecution and suffering a true picture of the way God blesses, encouraging them to “stand firmly in His love”. God has chosen them in Christ Jesus with the guarantee that one day they will experience the full and final enjoyment of their salvation in His presence. Buoyed up by that hope, they can persevere through even the sternest trials, knowing their endurance under persecution brings great glory to God. And they can take heart that Jesus Christ has set the pattern by suffering unjustly.

We always have a choice. When you suffer for doing what is WRONG such as going 70 in a 55 mile speed zone, it is relatively easy to bear. After all, you merely got what was coming to you for improper behavior.

But what happens when you suffer for doing what is RIGHT such as telling the truth…and getting fired for it? Then you are faced with a choice…How will you choose to respond? Retaliation and revenge? Consider abandoning faith in Christ when the “heat is on? Or respond like Jesus Christ who entrusted His unfair treatment to God and returned love for hatred.

Peter addresses the readers as “strangers…resident aliens, sojourners. They were citizens of heaven through faith in Christ and therefore were not permanent residents on earth. Because Christians are strangers in the world, they are considered to be “strange” in the eyes of the world. We have standards and values different from those of the world….many experience difficulties and suffering because of their differences.

The Christians he addressed were scattered in 5 different parts of the Roman Empire. People were on the move in those days, and dedicated believers shared the Word wherever they went.

We might address this portion of Peter as PAIN WITH A PURPOSE. “There are no roses without thorns, nor victories without battles.”

They were going through a time of suffering and persecution. Some were suffering because they were living Godly lives and doing what was good and right. Others were suffering reproach for the name of Christ and being railed at by unsaved people. Peter wrote to encourage them to be good witnesses to their persecutors and to remember that their suffering would lead to glory.

Peter knew that the Roman govt. would take official steps against Christianity when it became clear that they were not a sect of Judaism. Peter wanted to prepare the churches.

Bad times may come upon even the most devoted Christian. When they do, fellow believers should manifest genuine compassion, gladly giving of themselves for the well-being of their brothers and sisters in Christ.

But positive actions are not all we can offer. In Peter’s first epistle we learn that suffering and sorrowing people need more than anything else to be instructed in the spiritual realities of the Christian faith. They must recognize that they are pilgrims and strangers on their way to their eternal home. They must be reminded in a loving manner that it is far more important to be ready for heaven than to enjoy physical comforts here. They must know that character and conduct, combined with an intelligent witness to the truth, can do more lasting good than the finest program of social welfare and economic relief.

The best news of all for believers is that God is able to use bad times to make us better people, and that He will give us grace to be triumphant in all kinds of trouble.

Things had gone rather well for awhile for the Christians in Asia Minor…they had formed churches and were meeting regularly for prayer, instruction and fellowship…BUT then trouble arose! In Rome, the Godless emperor Nero had singled out Christians to be scapegoats for problems he had brought on himself. Many believers had been imprisoned, tortured and put to death for their faith.

The Christians scattered through the provinces wondered if God had suddenly decided to withdraw His favor or was punishing them for some sin. And then they received Peter’s letter. That a comfort to every believer who listened. Peter is reminding them that they were special recipients of God’s redeeming grace. He made their identity clear… sojourners, elect and saints.

One distinctive of all Christians is that they are the chosen of God. Election raises questions in the minds of many people. God absolutely elected some to be saved – those who are IN CHRIST! And in the Lord’s FOREKNOWLEDGE (a trait that man does not have)…He knows ahead of time who will be and is IN CHRIST!

In the face of adversity, we can take great comfort in saying “God knew me before the foundation of the world. He drew me to HIMSELF, gave me a ‘measure of faith’ just as He does all men…I responded to His drawing by repentance and reception by the power of His grace … I stand undaunted IN Christ, whatever may come my way!”

Sojourners: we have become a citizen of heaven. Only temporarily here; our face is set toward our heavenly homeland. As pilgrims, we are walking by faith through foreign territory, keeping in mind our heavenly citizenship and eternal home. As aliens, we should not be surprised when this world treats us with hostility. In a sense, we don’t belong here. We must constantly be cautious that we do not fall in love with this world.

You can be certain that the persecuted believers to whom Peter was writing found comfort in being called sojourners. This assured them that their suffering was not be construed as punishment by God. It reminded them that as Christians they were a distinct people who by their faith in Christ had become aliens in a world where the majority do not believe. It helped them realize that hatred by the ungodly is a natural reaction of the unregenerate to the righteous conduct of people who know the Lord. Peter’s letter is assurance that suffering is only temporary and that a fadeless, wonderful eternity in heaven is just ahead. We too should see that as aliens and pilgrims we have both a glorious privilege and a solemn responsibility.

SAINTS: “set apart”, “sanctified” by the Holy Spirit for the worship and service of God and belong to the Lord in a unique way. SAINThood begins at the moment of salvation and the most humble believer is a SAINT!

But sometimes SAINTS don’t act very SAINTly. The term does not imply that we no longer sin, nor that we have no need to confess our sins and experience the Lord’s forgiveness. God expects us to obey His will but also to experience the joy of daily cleansing as we walk in fellowship with Him.

UNTO OBEDIENCE: The vessels of the tabernacle and temple were to be used only for worship and service of Jehovah, we too are ‘set apart’ to the working of His will.

UNTO SPRINKLING: The blood of the sacrificial animals had three different meanings…signified cleansing, symbolizing the ratification of a covenant between God and man. Sealed by the sprinkling of the blood of a sacrificial animal, the application of blood designated certain articles of the temple as set apart for worship/used exclusively for the service of the Lord from then on.

Peter is speaking of cleansing…I John 1:9…daily cleansing is a blessed privilege and keeps the relationship between the believer and God at the sweetest and highest level. It is not our salvation that is put in jeopardy when we sin, but our communion with the Lord.

The Christians who received Peter’s 1^stletter were facing persecution…bewildered and discouraged…and Peter wrote to tell them that the riches of their salvation could give them joy and victory even in their circumstance. In essence he said, “I know you are going through difficult times, and I am going to give you some help and encouragement, but first let’s just praise the Lord for His great salvation…Join me in a doxology.” 1:3 Afterwards, he began to describe some of the glories of our great salvation. They had not yet learned that their blessings far outweighed their distresses. They were probably sighing rather than singing.

LIVING HOPE is ours in Christ. Our LIVING HOPE is imperishable and indestructible; it is not merely wishful thinking, a vague feeling that everything will turn out all right in the end. It begins with the miracle of the new birth…nothing short of regeneration can give life to those who are dead in sin, or spiritual sight to those who are utterly blind to God and His Word. By the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the believer is not only given new life, he is ENLIGHTENED. The result is a LIVING HOPE that can never be extinguished.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a proven fact of history and gives us the foundation for believing that we too will go to heaven.

v. 4 describes our inheritance: incorruptible…so secure that no invading force can destroy it. Undefiled…we enter heaven without evil practices…see no reminder of sin’s effects. Permanent and unchanging…

v.4-5 kept by the power of God … He is the ONE Who saves and keeps. Remember Peter’s denial of Christ 3 times (Luke 22:31-32) “THAT THY FAITH FAIL NOT!

V. 6-7 We are assured that we will profit from our suffering and trials…more precious than gold…eternal praise, honor and glory at His coming. Every Christian has the obligation to submit to the hardships of life with a spirit of humility and with a sincere desire of heart to learn from all of them.

What we see clearly on this side of Calvary, the OT prophets saw only in shadowy foreview. V. 8:12 We can know with certainty what the prophets could see only dimly. These suffering believers could take heart and not find cause for excessive worry or doubt…that same surety of a completed salvation should encourage our hearts.

What shall we do in view of all these blessings? Shall we just sit back and enjoy them? Peter’s answer is NEVER! Here are the responses the LORD expects from us:

1. Face life squarely without fear. V. 13 “Get ready for action. Be tough-minded. Face life sensibly and confidently” Expect to triumph and determine not to betray.

2. Be marked by obedience. V. 14-16 “Be ye holy for I am holy!”

3. V. 17 REVERENTIAL FEAR! How can we not stand in awe of His so great a love?

IMPOSSIBLE! The Lord will do the work in us…our part is yieldedness to His life in us so that He can live His life out through us! The LORD never makes a demand without providing for its fulfillment.

A life if reverence. Peter knew how it was to fail! He had fled disgracefully but the loving Savior later restored their broken fellowship and through the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter became a bold and fearless witness for Christ.

Living in fear of the Lord…the constant awareness that He knows everything that I think, say and do and will deal with me accordingly impacts our behavior and a reverential walk daily.

Our new relationship with God … we are in His family and He is our heavenly Father. We KNOW we must answer to Him. We are to receive instruction and will be disciplined when we do differently.

We were redeemed by the greatest of all price. V. 18-19 From an empty life alienated from God and marked by sin and guilt, we have been emancipated, as the apostle points out by this precious blood of the Lamb without blemish and without spot.

V. 20-21 live believingly. Living daily a life of humble trust in God. Peter couples our responsibility with important doctrinal teaching to give us instruction and help. 1. Our salvation is grounded in God’ eternal plan and 2. The resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee that the price for sin has been paid in full and the power of death has been completely broken.

*Our salvation was planned in eternity, *His resurrection is proof that God was complete *love-filled lives – mutual fondness for one another and agapao love that willingly sacrifices one’s own interest.

v.22-23 This is a call for the kind of love which rejoices when good things happen to people…sacrificing valuable time or giving generously of scarce commodities, sharing the sorrows of people whose attitudes and actions ordinarily are distasteful to us, praying for those who may oppose us, turning the other cheek, going the extra mile, and actually sacrificing our own desires to help the other person.

This agape love is impossible in our own strength. The miracle of the new birth gives us the capacity to love purely and unselfishly…God has implanted new life within us. V. 23-25

Sometimes we do not feel as if we are born again. We fail to love as we ought. We become discouraged but be reminded that our salvation is grounded in the infallible, unchanging, and incorruptible Word of God. Learn to appropriate the wonderful truths of your new life in Christ. Yielding to His life in you and letting Him live His life out through you is when you “do the impossible!”