Sermon Tone Analysis

Author & Audience

1 Peter 5:12 (NASB95)

12 Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God.

Stand firm in it!

Peter is the Author of the Letter, But Silvanus May have Written

“Silvanus” is an Alternate Spelling of “Silas”

He was One of Paul’s Travelling Companions

1 Peter 5:13 (NASB95)

13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark.

Peter Sends Greetings From Babylon

He is Likely Referring to Rome as the New Babylon

They are the New Wicked Pagan Rulers of the World…

As Babylon was at One Time in OT History

The Recipients of the Letter are Gentile Christians in Several Different Regions

1 Peter 1:1 (NASB95)

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen

(Show Map)

Peter Refers to These Gentile Christians as:

Exiles Who are Scattered and Chosen By God

These 3 Descriptions are Reminiscent of OT Language Directed at Israel

They Were God’s Chosen People Who Were Called to Live as Scattered Exiles

Gentiles Who have Faith in Jesus are Now God’s Scattered Chosen Exiles Too

Purpose

These Gentile Christians Were Experiencing:

Persecution, Harassment, and Mistreatment By Their Greek/Roman Neighbors

Peter Writes this Letter to Encourage Them to Remain Faithful

Do What is Right, Even if it Leads to More Mistreatment

God will Reward Those Who Faithfully Endure

Peter Presents Jesus as Our Example to Follow

He Suffered for Doing Good

But this Didn’t Stop Him From Continuing to Do Good

Do What is Right, Even if it Hurts…

And Let God Take Care of the Rest

Summary

Chapter 1

Peter praises God for his great mercy…

Which has allowed us to be born again, because of the resurrection of Jesus

We now get to live with a great expectation…

Of an inheritance that is being reserved in heaven for us

Because of this, we are able to have a joy, even though we suffer in this present age

Suffering is like a refining fire

It can cause our faith to grow stronger when we endure

Even though we don’t yet see Jesus, we love him and trust him

And if we continue to do so, it will result in the salvation of our souls

Now we need to:

Prepare our minds,

Practice self control

And put all our hope in the glorious salvation that Jesus is going to bring to us

We need to live obedient and holy lives for God…

Not slipping back into our old ways of living that were all about satisfying our desires

God does not show favoritism

He will judge or reward everyone based upon how we live

So we ought to live in reverential fear of Him as our Father

He paid our ransom with something more precious than gold or silver

With the blood of Jesus

Now, because God resurrected Jesus and gave him a glorified body…

Our faith, and hope is in God

We have been purified and born again, through obedience to the gospel

Now we ought to love one another with a sincere heart.

Chapter 2

As newborn babies in Christ…

We should rid ourselves of all wicked and evil living…

And desire the pure milk of the gospel

Only by continuing to drink from the gospel…

Will we be able to grow up as mature Christians and inherit salvation

Peter tells these Gentile Christians that Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone of the new temple

They are living stones that make up His temple

And they are the priests that serve within His temple…

And make spiritual sacrifices to the glory of God

Those who don’t trust in and obey the chief cornerstone…

Will fall and meet a terrible fate

1 Peter 2:9–10 (NASB95)

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Gentiles have been grafted in to the family of God

Peter lets them know how they ought to behave themselves…

As foreigners in this present age

1 Peter 2:11–17 (NASB95)

11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.12

Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.

15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

Christian slaves are expected to be submissive to their masters…

Even if they are harsh and cruel

It pleases God when his people endure unjust treatment…

For his honor and glory

Chapter 3

Christian wives are also to live in submission to their husbands…

Regardless of if their husbands are Christians

It’s possible for a wife to win her husband to Jesus with her pure and reverent life

Christian women don’t need to concern themselves with fancy hair, clothes, or jewelry

Instead, they should focus on the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit

Trust God

Submit to your husbands

Do what is right

And don’t be afraid

Christian husbands also are to honor their wives…

And be considerate of their wants, needs, and feelings

Treat them with respect as equal heirs of the inheritance that is to come

1 Peter 3:8–18 (NASB95)

8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.