Joy in Suffering- An overview of 1 Peter

Introduction

We are about to begin a brand new study through the Epistle of 1 Peter.

But before we dive deep into its truths, I want us to look at the book as a whole.

I believe that as the churches in Asia received this letter they would have sat down together and read it start to finish. looking at everything Peter had to say

Our goal (today)

To see this letter that Peter wrote to the church in its entirety.

To understand the truths he intended for his original audience to glean

To embrace why this book is still so important for us today.

TRANSITION: Are you ready to Jump into our study of 1 Peter?

Authorships / Audience

It Only takes reading the first verse of the book to know who the author and the recipient of this letter are.

1 Peter 1:1 (ESV)

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

The Author

Peter- My Favorite Apostle

So what do we know about Peter

In Matt 4: We see that Peter was one of the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus Christ himself.

Matthew 4:18–20 (ESV)

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Simon was a Galilean fisherman by trade When Jesus called him to be his disciple.

And in Matthew 16- Jesus asks Peter who do you say that I am? And Peter quickly answered “You are the Messiah the Son of the Living God” and at that moment Jesus declares that Simon, son of Jonah, will now be known as "Peter" (which means "rock" in Greek), signifying Peter's foundational role in the early Christian church.

Peter's journey as a disciple is a testament to God's transformative power.

He was one of Jesus’s Closest friends, He was in the inner circle with Jesus , and yet it seemed like every time he opened his mouth His foot was on its way to fill it. And yet even in all of his failures God still chose to use him to do great things.

Think about Peters life

Matthew 16:21-23 - Right after After Peter confessed Jesus as the Messiah, and God changed his named to Rock, he rebuked Jesus for talking about His upcoming suffering and death.

and so Jesus responded, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns."

can you imagine having Jesus call you satan because of what You just said?

Matthew 17:1-5 - During the Transfiguration, Peter all of the sudden speaks out and suggested that they should build three shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. He missed the significance of what he was seeing, and a voice from the cloud corrected him, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him, I am well pleased. Listen to him!" ...Peter stop talking and start listening!

Matthew 26:33-35 - Peter boldly declared that even if all the other disciples would fall away from Following Jesus, he would never deny Him.

And again Jesus again, Rebukes him right there and says “Peter Even you will deny me three times before the Rooster crows”... and we all know from the story that this is exactly what He did,

John 13:6-10 - When Jesus began to wash the disciples' feet, Peter objected and said, "You shall never wash my feet."

and so Jesus explained the symbolic significance of the act, and Peter then asked for a complete washing, to which Jesus responded “Peter only your feet need to be washed.

Friends this is the author of the book we are about to delve into.

He was impulsive and often flawed in his actions,

However, Peter's faith and commitment to Christ were unwavering, and even as a flawed man, God chose to grow him and to use him to do great things for His kingdom.

I love that God uses flawed people for His glory. I love that through the power of the H.S working in our lives God can change everyone of us into the person he desires we should be.

Peter went from being a self righteous man to a humble servant of Christ, and was eventual martyred for his faith because He would not waiver from the Message of Jesus Christ.

So why does all this matter?

Well I believe that when Peter wrote this letter- the churches wanted to listen to what He said, Because he wasn't just a man who was a pastor He was one of the closest friends of Jesus, who was an apostle who was gifted by the H.S. to do the things that only an apostle had the power to do, But most importantly he was an average guy just like them, that God changed and chose to use.

The Audience

1 Peter 1:1 (ESV)

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

MAP SLIDE- of the possible route of circulation

This letter was addressed “to the temporary residents dispersed in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” (1:1). These five Roman provinces are part of Modern day Turkey.

The order is probably the route the letter carrier followed. and No doubt it would have been taken to the major cities in these providences, cities that were thriving and growing under the Roman Empire. Cities like Colossae, Laodecia, Ephesus and Nicea.

Evidence within the letter suggests that these believers were primarily Gentile in background, although there was probably also a Jewish minority in these churches as well.

There is no biblical account to how the gospel reached this area, but what we know, is that Peter addresses them as the Elect- Those Whom God chose. Meaning True Believers in Jesus Christ.

Peter wrote this Letter while living in Rome, likely around 62 AD, during the very beginning of a period of Christian persecution under the Roman Emperor Nero.

The Letter seems to suggest that much of the persecution these Believers were going through at this time seems to be verbal slander, reproach, and false accusations. leading us to believe that the time was right before the great persecution in AD 64.

This letter is written by the Apostle Peter to a bunch of young Christians who were suffering persecution for their Faith.

Trans.: So why did Peter write this letter to these churches?

The Purpose of the Letter

Peter understood what it was like to be persecuted for following Jesus, He understood that it is hard to stand up for Jesus when the world is trying so hard to get you to deny his name,

But He also understood the grace that Jesus offers us even after we fail. He understood that Jesus still wants to use us for his glory even after we deny his name

and so,

He wanted to offer words of Hope and encouragement to those in the midst of suffering so that they could stand firm.

Chapter 5:10-12 Peter states this purpose clearly for us...

1 Peter 5:10–12 (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. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 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.

Friends, This book is packed full of the “theology of suffering, but Peter wants the believer to understand that our suffering is bathed in the Grace of God.

I believe that we need this truth more than ever.

The ruler of this world, Satan hates your God and he hates you as his child. and He wants you to fail. He wants you to deny the name of Jesus in your life today.

He wants you to suffer without grace, He wants you turn away from Jesus in the midst of your trials instead of running to Him in prayer.

Friends this world is not an easy place for Christians to live, because this world is not our home

Brothers and sister, understand that You have been Chosen by God, He has redeemed you from this world of Sin. We belong to Christ, This world is no longer our home, We have been made citizens of an eternal home with Him.

Friends understand that if you are in Christ You are a Chosen Exile in this world, but one day we will be going home to be with Jesus forever.

Friends, just like the first century churches in Asia,, we need to be reminded of the truths of1 Peter in our lives today.

Don’t be fooled into thinking this world is your home. Live your life with eternity in view.

Transition:

So for the rest of our time this morning I want to look at the Letter from a Satellite view.

After Peter Greets the saints in Asia He moves right into the meat of His letter.

I Believe This Letter can be broken down into three Big theological teachings about God’s Grace in our lives.

God’s Grace in Our Salvation(1:3–2:10)

Peter Opens up this letter pointing these suffering Believer's back to the salvation that God’s Grace has brought into their lives.

A. Salvation Brings a Living Hope (1:3–12)

1 Peter 1:3–5 (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, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Peter praised God for the resurrection of Jesus that has brought a new birth into the believers life and has given them a living hope and an indestructible inheritance

B. Salvation Leads to Living in Holiness (1:13–21)

1 Peter 1:13–16 (ESV)

13 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. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

C. Salvation Allows for Living in Harmony (1:22–2:10)

It is our salvation that changes our hearts from living our lives for ourselves to living for the spiritual good of others

listen to what Peter says in in verse 22

1 Peter 1:22 (ESV)

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

Friends it is impossible to love someone else with a pure heart if your heart has not already been made pure through Christ,

The Bible is very clear when it comes to the natural heart of mankind with out God, Peter in Chapter 2 verses 1-3 describes this

1 Peter 2:1–3 (ESV)

1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Peter is saying, Gods grace has saved you and changed you from your futile way of thinking, Now Learn to love Jesus more and more, Grow up in your faith.

Peter has laid the foundation of Gods Grace in the Believers lives through the Theology of our Salvation. and now he moves on to Show how God’s Grace is demonstrated through our relationships with others.

God’s Grace in Our Relationships (2:11–3:12)

A. Relationship to the World (2:11–12)

1 Peter 2:11–12 (ESV)

11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 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.

Friends Our reputation as a Christian matters in this community.

Peter tells the church to look more like Jesus than you do the world because they are watching you and through your conduct they may see Christ’s grace in your life and Accept His Salvation into their own.

When we live like chhrist in this world - His grace in our lives is on display,

B. Relationship to Authority (13-17)

1 Peter 2:13–14 (ESV)

13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.

Friends understand that your response to the authorities in your life matter.

I like How Peter says be subject FOR THE LORDS SAKE- Our submission to authority is not about our pleasure or Happiness, Peter says Submit so that the name of Christ is not hindered through your actions.

C. Relationship to masters (2:18–25)

In verse 18-25 He talks about -when a servant submits to his master, even when he is unfair, his gentle submission is a demonstration of the grace of God in his life, even when he endures unjust treatment.

D. Relationships in the home (3:1–7)

In Chpt. 3:1-7 Peter moves on to talk about our relationships with our spouses in the home and how they can be a picture of Christ’s grace to the lost.

in verse 1 He encourages women who are married to an unbeleiver saying..

1 Peter 3:1 (ESV)

1 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives,

Peter is simply saying when we live our lives understanding the grace that God continually pours out upon our lives- others will see Jesus in us and want that grace and Hope in their own life.

Finally Peter addresses one more relationship that must be bathed in the grace of God and that is their

E. Relationships in the church (3:8–12)

Friends when we live righteously in the world it points the lost to Jesus, it pictures the God’s Gift of Grace in our lives.

and when we live righteously in the church it builds up the body of Christ and brings him all the glory.

Listen to what Peter said in verse 8-9 of chapter 3

1 Peter 3:8–9 (ESV)

8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

Peter is saying Church you are a family, and when someone in your family is suffering Be the hands and feet of Christ in their life.

Friends we are in this life together - we are all Choses Exiles in a hostile land, and We need one another.

We must Be unified, & show sympathy to one another.

Friends we need to Understand, that even though it may look different than our suffering, our brothers and sisters in Christ go through times of suffering, they are persecuted for their faith just like us.

Church, When we Love each other with a tender heart and a humble mind we are exemplifying the Grace of God in our lives to one another and to the world.

Transition: Peter wants to make sure that these saints understand the grace God has given them through Salvation and then the need to build upon that Grace through their relationships..

and now Peter moves on to the Heart of his letter.

chapter 3 verse thirteen begins

NOW- Because you have been saved- Because You are the recipient of Gods continual grace in your life- “ WHO IS THERE TO HARM YOU if you are zealous for what is good?

He’s saying If you are standing firm in your faith -no one can really harm you because you secure as a child of God,

in verse 14 he goes on and say “ But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed

Friends when you suffer for being like Christ, Know that God will bless your life.

Peter is saying Remember to suffer well because your suffering points people to Jesus and in the end you will be blessed.

Peter Now wants these hurting Christians to See...

God’s Grace in Our Suffering (3:13–5:11)

and He gives them 5 ways that they can suffer well for the glory of Christ in their lives.

1. Honor Christ as Lord in your suffering (3:13–22)

Look with me at verse 15

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)

15 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,

to suffer well we must first have Jesus in the right place in our lives.

He must be our lord-the one we live our lives for.

In verse 16 Peter says that When Christ is Lord in our lives we can stand in the midst of suffering with a clean conscience

in verse 17 He says that when we suffer for doing Good it pleases God

In verse 18-22 He tells the believer that when we live for Christ and suffer in his name, We are a picture of Christ’s suffering to the world.

Friends Christ needs to be lord of your life- in the good times and in your suffering

the 2nd way to suffer well is to

2. Have Christ’s attitude in your suffering (4:1–11)

1 Peter 4:1–2 (ESV)

1 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, 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.

When we suffer have the same mind as Christ-In Phil 2 we see that Christ suffered for the spiritual good of others. Friends when we use our suffering for the spiritual good of others - we suffer well.

in verse 12- 19 Peter gives the 3rd way to suffer well. He says to use your suffering to Bring Glory to Christ’s name

3. Glorify Christ’s name in your suffering (4:12–19)

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.

Our suffering points to the glory of Christ,

Trans; In chapter 5 Peter addressing the Pastors of the churches gives us the 4th way to suffer well

and in verse 1-6 He says

4. Walk with Christ’s Church in your suffering (5:1–6)

Peter tells the pastors to shepherd the flock- Lead them, love them , be an example to follow, Dont let them go through their suffering alone.

and then In verse 5 he says

1 Peter 5:5–6 (ESV)

5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

Friends understand that suffering is meant as a group activity.

God does not intend for you to suffer alone, God says humble your selves, don’t let your pride keep you from letting your church family walk through your struggle with you. Dont let your selfishness keep you from humbly walking into your brothers struggles as well for their spiritual good.

Finally Peter says in order to Suffer well we all must

5. Depend on Christ’s grace in our suffering (5:7–11)

1 Peter 5:7–11 (ESV)

7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

Peter wants these Chosen Exiles to to understand that God is right in the middle of their suffering, He didn’t send them in alone, He is leading them through. He is still pouring out his grace upon their lives

It is hard to suffer- It is hard to go through difficult times in our lives,

It is hard to stand firm in our faith when the world is trying to call us liers and haters, and Peter is pointing the believer back to the Savior, and He says Give all of the weight of your suffering back to Christ- because you KNOW HOW MUCH HE CARES FOR YOU.

and then in verse 10 He wraps up his teaching on Suffering well with a Doxology about the grace of God in our suffering.

1 Peter 5:10–11 (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. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Our suffering will not last forever- and One day the God of ALL GRACE will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you completely-

He wants to use your suffering for His glory- Friends we should praise God for allowing us to suffer well.

We should Praise God that He has a plan for our lives that includes our suffering as a picture of His Grace.

Bring it Home

Paul Concludes this letter in verse 12-14

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.

In verse 12 PETER wants the readers to be reminded exactly why he wrote this letter

I love how the NLT Translators put it

New Living Translation Chapter 5

My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.

Wow what a letter we are about to delve into as a church.

Friends - If you are in the midst of suffering

I hope as you have listened today to the words of Peter, you have been encouraged and that you find your assurance in that what you are going through is truly part of God’s Grace in your life.

Friends Stand Firm upon the foundation of Grace that God has given you. even in the midst of your suffering.

Pray