The Letter of 1 Peter

Introduction

Starting a new series

Perhaps you’ve seen a decline in church engagement,

Politicization of values that oppose the Christian faith,

Education of children with family values and sexual ethics that the Bible calls sin

general secularization and marginalization of Christianity

Or maybe you’ve felt the sting of marginalization yourself when you voice your views on bc any range of issues and are labeled as old-fashioned, bigoted, uneducated, hateful, right-winged fanatic

How are we to respond to this increasing pressure?

It used to be we would agree with our neighbors on at least the most basic of values even if our neighbor would not call themselves a Christian. But now it seems we talk past each other. It’s not that we can’t see eye to eye, it’s that we are looking in two completely different directions. Like we’re from different worlds.

“Anti-Christian hostility reaching 'unprecedented' levels in culture, government under Biden, observers warn.

Their warnings come amid skyrocketing rates of church vandalism, legislation targeting church sacraments and the alleged weaponization of federal law enforcement against people of faith.”

— https://www.foxnews.com/us/anti-christian-hostility-reaching-unprecedented-levels-culture-government-under-biden-observers-warn

1 Peter 1:1–2 (ESV)

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 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.

1.1

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ

- It is important to remember who wrote the letter as you read the letter

- Peter (with Silvanus)

- an apostle - he has been with Jesus - authority and experience

- when he talks about what it means to be exiled - feeling like a foreigner - remember Peter joined a group that was ostracized by both the religious and the mainstream

- he tells believers they are chosen by God as one who has been chosen by Jesus himself

in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

- Roman provinces

- in modern day Turkey

- possibly the route he intended Silvanus to take the letter

To those who are elect exiles

- exiles (also 1:17; 2:11)

Russell Moore labels, “engaged alienation, a Christianity that preserves the distinctiveness of our gospel while not retreating from our callings as neighbors, and friends, and citizens.”

of the Dispersion

“Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired.”

— Tacitus

1.2

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:

- “Sprinkling” (see Ex 24:7-8)

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

- this is the goal: That grace and peace would be multiplied

Do you sense this? An increase of grace and peace in this world? Peter expects this is possible, and he writes this letter help believers increase in grace and peace in this hostile world through the living hope of Christ.

Suffering mentioned more than a dozen times.

While suffering may be a key word in 1 Peter, hope is the key theme.

1 Peter 1:3 (ESV)

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,

We will explore about this living hope and it’s implications on our life next week, but I want you to highlight it because it serves as the foundation for the rest of Peter’s letter.

In fact, we could break down the letter as follows:

Living hope gives us grace in salvation (1:1-12)

1 Peter 1:3 (ESV)

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,

Living hope gives us grace in submission (1:13-2:10)

1 Peter 2:5 (ESV)

5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9–10 (ESV)

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. 10 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.

Living hope gives us grace (to witness) as we suffer (2:11-4:19)

1 Peter 4:12–13 (ESV)

12 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. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

1 Peter 4:16 (ESV)

16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

Living hope gives us grace to make it home (5:1-14)

1 Peter 5:10 (ESV)

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.

1 Peter 5:12–14 (ESV)

12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. 13 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. 14 Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

This world is not our home.

“Exiles” of the “Dispersion.”

This world is not my home I'm just a-passing through My treasures are laid up Somewhere beyond the blue

— “This World is Not My Home” by Jim Reeves

Peter sees New Testament believers as a recapitulation of the exodus for the “new Israel” and of exiles in Babylon

Hebrews 13:14–16 (ESV)

14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

This echoes Jesus:

John 18:36 (ESV)

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

How does understanding that this world is not our home bring peace?

ILLUST - like walking into someone’s house and being stressed about their water bill

Truman Show

How much of our day is spent on things that only affect THIS world?

2 Corinthians 4:17–18 (ESV)

17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

ILLUST - We forget the things of this life already - how much more so when we are in eternity?

How important were:

1970’s:

roller disco parties

party line on the phone

playing Simon electronic game

waiting in gas station lines (not at Costco)

1980’s

Atari video games

Smoking / non smoking section

Pencil sharpeners

Phones with cords

cameras with flashbulbs

station wagons where you rode backwards

1990’s

Berlin Wall (1989)

Gulf War

Gameboy

Bop-It

Furbys

Ross Perot

The Internet

2000’s

loom bracelets

iPods

CDs

Flip phones

What would change if we began to see this world as simply a brief stop along eternity?

God has (abandoned) chosen you where you are.

“elect”

“foreknowledge”

Peter knew what it meant to be chosen.

Peter knew what it meant to be unlikely and chosen.

Peter knew what it was like to feel abandoned but then realize he was still chosen. (following the resurrection)

1 Peter 1:2 (ESV)

2 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.

The three Persons of the Trinity worked together to chose you and bring you out of this world.

Because God has chosen you, the Spirit works in you, and Jesus saves you,

Your measure of grace and peace is based on Christ in you and not the world around you.

Your grace and peace is tied to Jesus not your situation.

Peter is expecting grace and peace to increase in the lives of the believers he is writing to even as he is about to write to them about the increasing difficulties they will face.

Your peace is not proportionate to the comfort of your situation; instead, it is proportionate to the work of God in your life.

We are a people who chase comfort.

We tend to believe that good things happen only when difficulties diminish and comfort increases.

Then I can view it as grace.

Then I can have peace.

Peter is expecting grace and peace can increase even while pointing to suffering ahead.

I don’t know what is ahead for me, but the more I understand what Peter is saying here, the more resilient I will be.

The more peaceful I will be.

The better witness I will be.

Have you ever thought about how suffering might be a mission field?

If Peter is saying we can have peace through suffering that is “alien” to the rest of the world, then the hope we reflect as we walk through suffering might serve as a witness to the redemptive work of Jesus in our lives.

If we are more concerned about finding ways to avoid suffering or complain about suffering, then we will do little more than reflect the world and our own desires and we have an empty evangelistic strategy.

We need a theology of suffering well, and Peter gives us a rough outline for it.