1 Peter Introduction
1 Peter • Sermon • Submitted
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The Author
The Author
His Faith & Life
His Faith & Life
The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).
The verb found in verse 41 speaks of a long search triumphantly ended.
Andrew and Peter may not have understood all that the title, Messiah, would imply but they knew that they had found the One they had been looking for.
Peter immediately gives Simon his identity by naming him Peter (Cephas). This would set the course for the rest of Peter’s life.
On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
Peter expresses a new and deeper level of awareness regarding the identity of Jesus. The more clearly he understood who Jesus was, the more aware he become of his sin.
Notice that Peter refers to Jesus as Master in v. 5, and after the miracle and his increased awareness of who Jesus was, he calls Him Lord in v. 8.
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
You are the Christ was Peter’s confession that he believed that Jesus was the the long awaited One who would answer Israel’s prayers and was the fulfiller of God’s promises.
As Messiah, He would be a prophet to teach them, a priest to pray for them and a king to rule them.
But in addition to referring to Jesus as the the Christ, referring ton Him as the Son of the living God was no small confession. Above all other truths about God to which the Jews held most passionately was that God is one.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
So Peter’s confession would have been considered blasphemy by most Jews.
Peter’s confession was made in Caesarea Philippi which was a center of pagan worship.
Perhaps Peter made this confession in front of the cave that was considered to be the birthplace of the Greek god, Pan. There were numerous temples erected in the honor of other gods and the Roman emperor. Peter’s confession was not only in conflict with Jewish doctrine, it would have also been regarded as an abomination to Greek theology.
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Much could be said about this interaction between Jesus and Peter, but what is clear is that Peter confessed his love for Jesus.
Peter’s confession of love for Jesus came after some significant turbulence.
From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
Date
Date
She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son.
Most agree that Peter’s reference to Babylon is to Rome, and if this is correct, this verse marks Rome as the place from which Peter wrote this epistle.
If Peter wrote this letter from Rome, he wrote it towards the end of his life which would date the writing of this letter in the 60s AD
If the letter was written after AD 70, we would expect to find some reference to the Neronian persecution.
Theme: Suffering
Theme: Suffering
helped by Mark Dever’s commentary
Blessed 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, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so 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.
1 Peter 2:21 (ESV)
For to this [suffering] you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
What do we know about the suffering of the Christians to whom this letter is addressed?
What do we know about the suffering of the Christians to whom this letter is addressed?
They knew various kinds of suffering. Peter mentions insults, intimidations, grumblings and threats. The threat of more severe existed as they became more identified with Jesus.
Their suffering was due to their faith in Christ.
Their mistreatment was not just, but their suffering was part of God’s good purposes for them.
Why do Christians suffer?
Why do Christians suffer?
Clarification: There are two kinds of suffering:
For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
Suffering that results from doing evil
Suffering that results for doing good
Christians suffer because God has made them holy.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
At one time, all people are not actually God’s people, but once we are made God’s people, we become holy and we are called to live holy lives.
Christians are to live in allegiance to God, and this allegiance will inevitably lead to conflict with the world. This conflict will often result in some form of suffering.
Therefore, 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. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
2. Christians suffer because they are exiles in the world.
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
And 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,
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;
Christians are exiles according to the design of God
Christians must not allow their identity as an exile to cause them to live in fear
The Christian’s status as an exile explains why they must wage war against all in them that opposes God.
The Christian’s exile causes distinction and division from the world which often leads to some form of persecution.
3. Christians suffer because they are called to participate in the sufferings of Christ.
The primary point about suffering
but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
Jesus’ sufferings were unique in that He died for the sins of His people. Christ was a substitute, bearing God’s righteous punishment for everyone who would ever repent and believe in Him.
Jesus shed His blood, was rejected and was killed on a cross all for the sins of sinners.
The secondary point about suffering
In addition to 1 Peter 2:20-21, referenced above, consider also:
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
The secondary point of suffering is that Christ’s suffering provides Christians an example for their suffering. The sufferings of Christ are a model for what Christians are to do as we continually repent of our sins and follow Him.
Christians must not be surprised by their suffering. Suffering is the call of Christ to His people and the result of living a godly life.
What should suffering Christians do?
What should suffering Christians do?
Be holy
since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Christians are to be holy because of their relationship to a holy God. We strive to reflect the holiness of God in our living because He has united us to Himself through Christ.
If Christians do not strive to reflect the character of God through living holy lives, they will experience suffering as a consequence of their sin which is suffering in vain.
2. Be witnesses
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
As Christians suffer, and strive to live God-honoring lives in the midst of our suffering the world’s attention is called to God. Through this kind of living, Christians eliminate any legitimate complaint against them or ultimately Christ.
When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
Peter’s instructions is for Christians to desire the good of those who persecute them, which are informed by the model Christ provided in His suffering.
Keep in mind that Peter knew firsthand the forgiveness of Christ as someone who denied Him and then was restored. This is the approach Jesus continues to take with sinners. We continue to reject Him, yet He continues to pursue us. Christians must therefore, allow the mercy they have been shown, and continue to receive from Christ, as the guiding principle for how we are to respond to those who persecute them because of their connection to Jesus.
3. Be loving
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
As Christians suffer and endure the persecutions and pressures of the world, a temptation will arise to allow that stress to cause conflict within the body of Christ. What is key to guarding against this division is:
Keep eternity in view (the end of all things is at hand)
Remain prayerful by keeping self-controlled and sober-minded
Love one another
Show hospitality to one another
Do not grumble
Be generous and self-less towards one another
Strive for the glory of God in all things among all people