The Bible Series 1 Peter
Transcript Search
Notes
Transcript
Jesus would look at His young ambitious disciple, full of passion and zeal… not that long ago this disciple would declare in Matthew 16 when Jesus asked… “who do you say I am?” … it would be this disciple that declared boldly without hesitation!!! … “You are the Christ (Messiah). the Son of the Living God!”
Jesus response to this disciple was this… “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. ”
But that last night with His disciples Jesus looked at this man PETER… and said you will deny me! Not once, not twice but three times. … We read in scripture that as pressure mounted, persecution was at hand, trouble approached… “Peter followed at a distance.”
Jesus would be beaten, hung on a cross, he would die, be buried… and Peter saw it all. Peter would run to the tomb three days later to find it empty after the women had told them the angel told them to tell the disciples and PETER… that Jesus had risen. John 21 records a conversation after His Resurrection, between Jesus and Peter by the lake after a meal together…
Jesus three times would ask Peter… “do you love Me?” each time Peter would respond “Yes Lord, you know I love you!”
Jesus instructed this disciple of His to:
CARE for His sheep
SHEPHERD His Sheep
FEED His sheep
The mandate Jesus gave would be done with all the passion, and zeal Peter had and soon Jesus would send His Holy Spirit to help. One final word Jesus would give Peter… “FOLLOW ME!”
Peter would look at the other men there and asked Jesus what about them Lord… in so many words Jesus says don’t worry about or compare with them… “YOU, just follow me!”
Peter would live his life in contrast to the world, God used him to shake things up and declare the gospel boldly, never again would Peter “follow at a distance”, it is this man who writes the book we are looking at today… 1 Peter… In this book we will truly be fed solid spiritual food… some of it requiring some chewing. We see Peter’s shepherd’s heart as he deeply cares for those he is writing to…
First Peter Letter Info
First Peter Letter Info
In Turkey a pastor was held hostage and beaten two years for preaching the gospel… yet he danced in his prison cell with joy
In Nepal a family is evicted and beaten for sharing Christ… they would sing and share in the outdoor elements with joy
In Columbia Christians are beaten, murdered, and refused work or pay because of their faith… they continue without fear
In America we have seen teens killed, shop owners prosecuted, and those who would stand up for lives of unborn children persecuted vandalized because they follow the Lord and what His Word declares… and we are at risk of growing weak.
Nero and the Roman empire is building up for some severe persecution of those who follow Jesus Christ… “CHRISTIANS” they are called. Peter opens up this way 1 Peter 1:1-2
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.
Peter as he writes is most likely in Rome. (64 AD)
His readers are struggling and Peter draws their attention to the sufferings of Christ their Savior
This letter would be circulated to various churches to Jews and Gentiles alike
Throughout this letter Peter will draw their attention to God’s Word, to the scriptures. for its size it has the most OT quotes of any NT book
Peter truly cares for these saints he is writing to. You sense his seasoned heart in ministry come through as he seeks to shepherd these people from afar as he feeds them solid biblical truth for their daily lives.
1 Peter Overview
1 Peter Overview
Hardships, trials, troubles, … and persecution can result in two outcomes for our Christian lives… 1) GROWTH or 2) GRUMBLING
Peter approaches his readers with a very practical style of rhetorical ideas and issues that build on each-other…
Foremost he addresses their salvation, their faith.
He understands that BELIEF will ultimately impact BEHAVIOR
As people begin to alter their BEHAVIOR based on what they BELIEVE… it opens the door for one to endure BUFFETING (hardship, growth, stretching)
(EXAMPLE: Believing health is important for one’s life… I watch better what I eat, I begin to exercise, … I am able to better endure harder workouts and even discomfort because I believe this is good for me)
FOCUS:
Peter is ultimately adjusting his readers focus… often our focus is too small and all we like to or want to FOCUS on is US!
Peter is drawing us to focus on some greater things… throughout his letter there are things we as believers need to focus on and things… well that are not as healthy to focus on…
What to focus ON & NOT
What to focus ON & NOT
Peter primarily draws you and I to focus on Christ Jesus as our example
He is the author of our salvation
Peter takes his readers to the scriptures repeatedly… it is eternal
We are called to focus on our LIVING HOPE!!!! Here and now for all eternity
We are to have a focus on our testimony in this life… what does the world see
Your humility… when you look at self how is your pride? in your heart, mind, and life… who is greater YOU or GOD?
Focus on our relationships… others focused, church, marriages, workplaces, family
Eternal things… this is temporary
NOT ON THESE:
Self
Sorrows / woes
Sufferings
The temporal things of this life…
Peter starts right away drawing his readers attention to their SALVATION 1 Peter 1:3-9
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
Our Salvation
Our Salvation
Do you notice right away how Peter draws their attention to the HOPE they have… IT IS ETERNAL!
This is a LIVING HOPE as well, designed by God to begin and be demonstrated here AND NOW
Salvation changes everything:
It changes your Standing
It changes your Purpose
It changes your Future
It changes your Actions
It changes YOU!!!
In 1 Peter 1:13-16 we see Peter give his call to action, the result of this Salvation we have…
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
In the following verses he speaks to the brevity of our lives and the eternal aspect of what lies ahead… the eternal authority and power of God’s Word!
God’s Word holds power and purpose for our lives NOW just as much as it does for ETERNITY!
Let this salvation be more than just fire insurance… GROW!!!
Peter speaks to the GROWTH or SANCTIFICATION as a building
You and I are LIVING STONES
Christ is our CORNERSTONE (Peter no doubt is remembering Christ’s words… “I will build my church”
Yet some find Christ as not the cornerstone but rather a stumbling block an obstacle…
Peter reminds believers… of their eternal standing, their citizenship and identity… 1 Peter 2:11-12
Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Our Submission
Our Submission
IF… God has saved us, Jesus is who He says He is, and the work of Salvation has been done in your soul… THEN you and I need to BEHAVE differently!!!
We are called to SUBMISSION… “for the Lord’s sake”!!!
Peter as he starts building on this thought process comes right out with FOUR DIRECTIVES… 1 Peter 2:17
Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.
Submit yourselves to the governing authorities (Nero)
Submit in your workplaces (even unjust suffering or bad employers)
This is hard for a FEW… Peter pauses and then has them consider Christ’s example of submission and humility!
Peter then jumps int the most wonderful and beautiful of all relationships… Marriage!
Wives submit to your husbands
Husbands honor and understand your wife
Peter sums it up this way for all of them… 1 Peter 3:8-9
To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
Government, Work, Marriages, Relationships… (IF) I submit, and live different (THEN) there is great opportunity for suffering…
Our Suffering
Our Suffering
Yes, they mistreated our Lord. Jesus would say in John 16:33,
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Peter speaks to their conduct (actions, words, attitude)
Live so they ask WHY???
Peter says since Christ suffered, “arm yourself with the same purpose!” an eternal perspective
Peter takes time once again to direct us to Christ and His example for us!!!
IF… you struggle with your Behavior,
IF… you struggle with the Buffeting or suffering
GO BACK TO BELIEF… examine your Savior Jesus Christ!!!
Peter gets very practical with them even encouraging them as they build each-other up!!!
Love, prayer, hospitality, serving, giving
As a fellow shepherd Peter exhorts the elders in the church to SHEPHERD, FOLLOW CHRIST, CARE FOR & FEED the sheep, (people of God!)
There is a final reminder of HUMILITY for ALL…
Peter then closes with PEACE… it is amazing how our ETERNAL HOPE brings TRUE PEACE NOW!!!
What to do with this letter?
What to do with this letter?
By your actions and behavior… what is it that people would see you believe?
“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”― Brennan Manning
Peter writes in 1 Peter 3:15
but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
It starts in the heart
It is demonstrated in our lives
He is declared with our lips as we are asked WHY?
We give the answer! (Yet with “gentleness and reverence”)
Church, what is your focus… are you following Christ?
Are you following at a distance?
Are you READY to share the HOPE within you?
There is NO EXCUSE and there is less time now than there was yesterday for people to see and know our Savior Jesus Christ!