Intro to 1 Peter

1 Peter 2:21 “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”

P.O.P.

Those who suffer as children of God will find sustaining faith and right living in the person and work of Jesus.

Kids

Jesus is the only answer to our sins and sufferings.

Introduction:

Author - Peter (Petrine time period, claim of witnessing the sufferings of Christ, 2 Peter 3:1 - a second letter, early church attributed - Clement of Rome/Ireaneaus, lack of ecclesiological development, lack of developed heresies - Gnosticism)

Date - AD 60’s (AD 62-63), While Peter was in Rome (hence “Babylon”) and before Nero’s burning, Peter martyred between AD 64-67.

Recipients - 1 Peter 1:1 “...To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,” / Jews who are dispersed throughout Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) but Gentiles as well, most likely to the Church (churches) in parts of Asia Minor.

Introduction: 1 Peter 1:3 “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,”

Explanation: 1 Peter 2:21 “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”

Purpose: 1 Peter 5:12 “... I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.”

I. A Sovereign God

a. Sovereign authority

According to...

Elect exiles (1 Peter 1:2)

Caused us to be born again (1 Peter 1:3)

Keeping our salvation (1 Peter 1:4)

Assurance in His guarding (1 Peter 1:5)

Standard of morality (1 Peter 1:13-25)

Over rulers (1 Peter 2:13-17)

Over unjust treatment (1 Peter 2:18-25)

Over husbands and wives (1 Peter 3:1-7)

All things (1 Peter 3:22)

Over church Elders (1 Peter 5:1-5)

Suffering

Another significant theme through 1 Peter is the “will of God”. Peter is making the case that there are not multiple wills in which we have the option to choose. There is the will of God and the will of man.

1 Peter 4:2 “so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.”

b. Sovereign choosing

Those who are children of God have been chosen by God by His will.

1 Peter 1:1-2 “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”

1 Peter 1:3 “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,”

1 Peter 2:8 “and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.”

1 Peter 5:10 “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

Romans 8:28-30 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

II. A Suffering People

a. Suffering

1 Peter is about the sufferings of God’s people. Suffering is to be expected but listen to the language accompanied with expectation of suffering:

In this you rejoice… (1:6)

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly (2:19)

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed (3:13)

For it is better to suffer for doing good if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil (3:17)

We live within inaugurated eschatology (Already-Not Yet) which helps us to understand our suffering does not define us.

b. Sojourning

1 Peter 2:11 “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.”

First Peter challenges Christians to reexamine our acceptance of society’s norms and to be willing to suffer the alienation of being a visiting foreigner in our own culture wherever its values conflict with those of Christ.

Karen Jobes

Agustine “City of God” - writing to pagan Rome. The Christians are not at fault for what is happening at Rome. Christians live balanced in between the City of God and the City of Man. How does one determine if what they are doing is honoring God? Does it show a love for the City of Man or the City of God?

The Church must balance living in a vacuum and living immersed: Living in a vacuum (Monastic life) removes us from unbelievers while immersing ourselves in the culture has us live like unbelievers.

Neither of these is the aim of Peter’s theology of suffering.

“Benedict Option” Rod Dreher (2017) - A book suggesting Christians ought to give up the notion of trying to fight for a place within the political arena and fortify communities and ministries. Creating metaphorical monasteries and leave the pagans behind.

The recent rise of Christian Nationalism (Theonomy) urges Christians to seek out conforming government to Christian law.

As the culture moves more morally corrupt the more we will be sojourners.

c. Sanctifying

A child who is fighting with their sibling. They want to explain why they reacted the wrong way. They were wronged first. “But, but, but...” How often do we seek to justify our sins by comparison or justification from being wronged?

Sanctifying against our own sin.

1 Peter 1:13-21 “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.” 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, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

Sanctifying against the world's sins.

1 Peter 3:13-17 “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.”

Sanctifying against the temptations of Satan.

1 Peter 5:8-11 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Even those Christians who do not suffer persecution for the faith are called to the suffering of self-denial. Sin is often thought of as being motivated by the temptation for pleasure. But perhaps the real power of sin lies in the avoidance of pain and suffering. It is better to suffer unfulfilled needs and desires than to sin.

Karen Jobes

III. A Sufficient Savior

a. Suffered

Peter develops the Suffering Servant identity in Isaiah 53 as Jesus.

Isaiah 53 “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearer…”

b. Standard

of salvation

1 Peter 1:20-21 “He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

of suffering

1 Peter 2:20-25 “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 to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 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. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

Peter’s theology is showing a line of thought that connects Christ’s sufferings to moral transformation in Christians.

of sinlessness

1 Peter 4:1-2 “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.”

of glory

1 Peter 4:12-13 “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.”

of shepherding

1 Peter 5:3-4 “...but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”

c. Savior

1 Peter 1:14-21 “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.” 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, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

His willingness to suffer unjustly to fulfill God’s purpose is the exemplar to which Christians are called as they live out their lives in faith, following in his footsteps

Karen Jobes

Conclusion:

Peter seeks to highlight the sufferings and work of Christ to newly formed Christian communities. Christ’s death means everything!

Peter is not merely telling us about life after final salvation but exhorts us to live as those who are saved even amidst suffering.

Is life as a Christian and life here and now hard to reconcile sometimes? Look to Christ!