1 Peter 1:1 - God's Call
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Beginning series tonight in 1 Peter, and I really didnt make it very far into the book before I really honed in on a verse.
Lets look at verse 1
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Peter signs the letter.
We did a sermon last week to talk about who Peter is.
He puts apostle of Jesus Christ to give some authority to the letter.
He walked with Jesus and then was set up by Jesus as a apostle of the church.
Tonight want to look at the calling on Jesus has on Peter’s life as an Apostle, and then bring this back to the calling Jesus puts on our lives.
The word apostle means “one sent forth” (vines expository dictionary p65)
(may not use)
Uses of the word about Jesus
1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,
3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
Jesus labels his disciples as apostles
12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: 14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Peter is named first here in a list of those assigned this position of apostle. This is one of the defining moments for the 12.
Peter says he was sent by Jesus Christ, but the way he uses it, he is insinuating a position or office of “sent-ness”
This makes me think of what Jesus said about Peter in Matthew 16:18
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Peter is sent to build Jesus’ church.
So we have 3 instances or realities of this word, apostle or “sent one”.
The Apostles - those that walked with Jesus, heard directly from Jesus, wrote it down in the NT, and built the first round of what we see as the church.
They wrote the New Testament
They started the church
Basic meaning of the word - Sent ones - anyone sent on a mission with a message
Several instances of this in NT, but it would have also been a common word to use for an ambassador back then.
spiritual gift of apostle -
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way.
This reference could be taken as listed in numerical order specific. Like there are apostles and prophets that wrote the bible, then the rest
Problems are that he doesnt seem to use it as a proper title. Also, the prophets came before the apostles so its a little strange to list this way. When showing that not everyone has the same gift, he doesnt seem to be distinguishing titles and offices, only gifts.
Ephesians 4:11–14 (ESV)
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
This reference is similar in content except it seems to point more toward an office than a gift.
Since they aren’t capitalized, it could be that Paul is saying these specific gifts are for building the church.
These two passages do give us a lot of context for what a gift of apostleship is.
Most modern understanding of the gift of apostle is a ministry and mission starter that plants churchs or starts new ministries by spiritual gifting.
3 levels of calling that every human is called to consider, although not everyone will receive all three callings.
1. Call of Salvation
3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
2. Call to make disciples
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
9 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.
3. Call to Ephesians 4:11-14 ministry
a. apostle, prophet, evangelist, teacher, pastor (shepherd)
Go through what these are
b. to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
Resources:
https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/stewart_don/faq/the-various-gifts-of-the-holy-spirit/01-was-apostle-a-spiritual-gift-or-an-office.cfm