What We Have In Jesus

Prayer

God you are _____________________.

God I need you because ___________________.

God I thank you for _____________________.

God I need to see you move in __________________.

Mission

We are a church that seeks to Outfit the Body to Rescue the Searching and be a church that makes disciples who make disciples.

Who is Peter?

When’s the last time you received a letter from someone? These days we communicate through text messages, facebook messages or maybe if we have something really long to write we type it up in an email. Some of the most meaningful letters I’ve ever received I have saved in a safe place for safe keeping.

As I begin this series on Peter’s letters to the church, I wanted to kind of set the stage for what we will be studying. You might read about the life of Peter and think many things but what Peter seems to want to accomplish in the 8 chapters that make up these two letters, in essence, is he is penning the most important words the early church and as it turns out, the church today could ever want to hear from this man who walked with Jesus.

In this letter from Peter, somewhat unlike James, we read more about who we are and our faith and what will build our faith. If James was challenging the early church to look at what an authentic faith looked like lived out in their daily lives, than Peter through the power of the Holy Spirit is challenging the early church to look at what they possess in the faith that they have.

Before we get started in chapter 1 of 1 Peter, lets remember who is writing to us.

Peter was not merely an apostle, but there is a sense in which he was the leader of the apostolic group. Peter was an important and influential man in the early church. Considering the author, the first Christians would receive this letter with a sense of importance.

Peter’s name is mentioned in the gospels more than anyone except the name of Jesus. No one speaks in the gospels as often as Peter did, and Jesus spoke more to Peter than to any other individual.

Jesus rebuked Peter more than any other disciple.

Peter was the only disciple who dared to rebuke Jesus.

Peter confessed Jesus more boldly and accurately than any other disciple.

Peter denied Jesus more forcefully and publicly than any other disciple.

Jesus praised Peter more than any other disciple.

Jesus addressed Peter as Satan alone among the disciples.

Regardless of our opinion about Peter as an apostle, he was a leader. Placed on top of all this from Jesus to Peter is the fact that the Gentile church was ushered in through a vision given to Peter. Yes, Paul had to rebuke Peter because he was seeking to please people when it came to how he acted around Gentiles in front of the Jews, but once rebuked by Paul you never hear of Peter struggling with this ever again. I promise I’m not just trying to defend my namesake. In the end, these letters aren’t about Peter. They are about what God has taken Peter through. As we seek to be a church that makes disciples that makes disciples, God will ask you to take others through what He has brought you through.

D. Edmond Hiebert says of the extended passage 1 Peter 1:3-12: “This beautiful passage is the outpouring of an adoring heart. Only one who has devoutly contemplated the greatness of our salvation could utter such a magnificent Song of praise and triumph, one that prepares and encourages the suffering soul to steadfastly continue the spiritual battle.”

Greeting

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,

Peter describes himself as “an apostle of Jesus Christ”. No one ever argued this fact like some did Paul. This brief phrase indicates Peter’s Authority as an apostle.

Who is he writing this letter to? “ Those who are elect exiles”. The word elect means chosen (we will talk more about that in a bit) and the word exile is also translated pilgrim, not to be confused with our normal idea of a “Quaker”.

The idea behind the word exiles is of someone who lives as a temporary resident in a foreign land. Exiles are sojourners and travelers, and exiles live in constant awareness of their true home.

This is how we are to see ourselves. No matter whether we were born as Montana’s, or came here from another state or country, we are not permanent residents of this place. This state, country or planet.

“They inhabit the lands of their birth, but as temporary residents of it; they take their share of all responsibilities as citizens, and endure all disabilities as aliens. Every foreign land is their native land, and every native land a foreign land… they pass their days upon earth, but their citizenship is in heaven.” (Cited in Barclay)

“The opening characterization of the readers as elect was meant to strengthen and encourage them in their affliction. The doctrine of election is a ‘family truth’ intended to foster the welfare of believers.” (Hiebert)

This is what God intends for us, to be said of us.

These specific areas, Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, were places Christianity had extended in the first several decades after the beginning of the church. It was probably the route that the original courier of Peter’s letter followed in distributing the letter. This was not written to any one congregation, but intentionally written to all Christians.

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.

Many would be tempted to pick out the term “elect” from verse 1 and wear that identity as some sort of badge of self proclaimed achievement or worth based on the fact that God has chosen them and as Heibert explained it is not the most important purpose here.

The phrase “according to the foreknowledge of God” describes the nature of their election. God’s choosing is not random or uninformed, but according to His foreknowledge, which is an aspect of His omniscience. This foreknowledge includes prior knowledge of our response to the gospel, but is not solely dependent on it.

There is more to His foreknowledge than His prior knowledge of my response to Jesus. Election is not election at all if it is only a cause-and-effect arrangement basing God’s choice only on man’s.

I think the key here is not to look at election as merely being chosen to not go to hell but spend eternity with God in heaven, it has an application and expectation for our time here on earth. Verse 2 points to our sanctification. While we rest and glory in the fact that God has chosen us he also has a work He wants to do in us. Sanctification of the Spirit and for obedience to Jesus Christ.

A claim to be among the elect is doubtful if there is no evidence of sanctification and obedience. This was James whole point of his letter. There should be evidence of an authentic faith.

However, since all the elect fall short of perfect sanctification and obedience, there is cleansing from sin provided for them through the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.

i. There were three circumstances in the Old Testament where blood was sprinkled on people.

At the establishment of Sinai or Old Covenant (Exodus 24:5-8).

At the ordination of Aaron and his sons (Exodus 29:21).

At the purification ceremony for a cleansed leper (Leviticus 14:6-7).

 The sprinkling of the blood of Jesus on us accomplishes the same things. First, a covenant is formed, then we are ordained as priests to Him, and finally we are cleansed from our corruption and sin. Each of these is ours through the work of Jesus on the cross.

And he describes all this while pointing to the truth of the trinity.

What We Have from the Father

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 starts out this next section with the word Blessed. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. As Peter reflects on what we have from the father his natural response is to bless His name. To praise His name. Adoration to the Father because of the salvation and life we have in Him!

Peter then describes what we have from the Father as a result of being chosen by Him. Becasue of His great mercy.

“No other attribute could have helped us had mercy been refused. As we are by nature, justice condemns us, holiness frowns upon us, power crushes us, truth confirms the threatening of the law, and wrath fulfils it. It is from the mercy of our God that all our hopes begin.” (Spurgeon)

God is merciful to us, compassionate to us. Because of God’s great overflowing compassion for us, even in our own sins, He has caused us to be born again.

We are born again to a living hope because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We don’t have a dead or dying hope, our savior has conquered death! He is risen and defeated the one who held the power of death, that would be Satan!

It is a living hope. We don’t hope in something that we currently have. We may look to our 401K and retirement as a source of hope for retirement but it is not our hope. We may hope for a future day when we can not work anymore and have our bills in a manageable state but we don’t possess that hope today. We may even hope for a large installment of money from an inheritance of a rich uncle or from our parents, but that just means we hope to get that so we can hopefully retire someday or have lots of money someday. But even those things don’t offer a living hope. We may be living as we hope but what that hope is based on is nothing like the living hope we have in Jesus! Why, because the inheritance we have form Him doesn’t have an end. IT doesn’t run out or loose it’s value.

The inheritance we have in our living hope through Jesus is “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading”. On top of that, it is being kept in heaven for you!

“It is also called a ‘living hope,’ because it is imperishable. Other hopes fade like withering flowers. The hopes of the rich, the boasts of the proud, all these will die out as a candle when it flickers in the socket. The hope of the greatest monarch has been crushed before our eyes; he set up the standard of victory too soon, and has seen it trailed in the mire. There is no unwaning hope beneath the changeful moon: the only imperishable hope is that which climbs above the stars, and fixes itself upon the throne of God and the person of Jesus Christ.” (Spurgeon)

How much hope does that give you? That God Himself is guarding the inheritance we have in Him! Kept, guarded, reserved for us by Him!

“To have been told, as in the preceding verse, that our inheritance was reserved in heaven could have yielded us little comfort, unless that assurance had been followed and capped by this, that the heirs also are being kept for its full enjoyment.” (Meyer)

Trials and the Elect

1 Peter 1:6–7 ESV

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Here Peter gives us an expanded view on what James said in his letter. James challenged us to count it all joy when we face various trials. He even talked about what would happen when we leaned into those trials. Here Peter adds some perspective for us. He’s still suggesting joy, or rejoicing for the believer. These trials have come upon these dispersed believers and they have grieved them. He also mentions that these trials are even necessary, at least for a little while.

Why would trials be necessary? and Why would he suggest that this is for a little while when some trials don’t seem to end?

Sometimes it seems like it never ends, but again we are focused too much on this life on this earth, this side of eternity. In the grand scheme of ETERNITY, our 75+/- years are like a few days. The thing I get hung up on is this word Necessary! Trials as discussed in our study of James, have a way of showing the worst that is with in us. God’s purpose is for us to see our worst, be grossed out by it and want it to be dealt with in a way that it won’t resurface again. That God would rid us of that nastiness.

“Indeed, it is the honor of faith to be tried. Shall any man say, ‘I have faith, but I have never had to believe under difficulties’? Who knows whether thou hast any faith? Shall a man say, ‘I have great faith in God, but I have never had to use it in anything more than the ordinary affairs of life, where I could probably have done without it as well as with it’? Is this to the honor and praise of thy faith? Dost thou think that such a faith as this will bring any great glory to God, or bring to thee any great reward? If so, thou art mightily mistaken.” (Spurgeon)

Faith is tested to show that it is sincere faith or true faith.

Faith is tested to show the strength of faith.

Faith is tested to purify it, to burn away the impurities from the gold.

The result is that after this we will look more like Jesus. At least a little bit more like Him.

Isn’t that the goal? God’s will is for us to be conformed into the likeness of His Son.

Romans 8:29 ESV

29 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.

This phrase, “may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ”. This is as a result also of our testing. The more testing we endure, the more we uproot the nastiness, the more we will respond to our trials with praise and glory and honor for Jesus and our relationship with him. It’s a conditioning of our faith that brings us to a point where we see Jesus in everything He is doing in this world, in us and in His church. No matter the good, bad or the ugly, we see Him working. We see His might and power! We see His glory! And we see all of this in our lives as we are being purified through our testing.

1 Peter 1:8–9 ESV

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Peter knew that though he had seen Jesus (both before and after the resurrection) most every Christian in the early church had not seen Jesus. Nevertheless, they loved Him. Jesus was no less real because they had not seen Him.

“In short, there is an equality between the believers in the present time, and those who lived in the time of the incarnation; for Christ, to a believing soul, is the same today that he was yesterday and will be forever.” (Clarke)

What is our response to loving Him and Believing in Him? We live a life of rejoicing with a joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. We can live that life now! IF you want to live “your best life now” live it standing securely on the truth that you, if you have been born again, have been chosen by the God of the universe, have the promise and hope of a salvation that is based on a living savior that offers us a living hope, guarding our salvation and inheritance in heaven till that day when Jesus will return and we will obtain fully the outcome of our faith, the literal salvation of our souls on judgement day. That isn’t a ferry tale, it’s the truth of scripture.

Do you stand in that truth? Or are you sitting in the wings waiting to understand it all before you place your faith in Jesus Christ? You don’t need to completely understand it all to believe. You just have to believe! And when you do, the joy that you will have will be Inexpressible! A joy so profound as to be beyond the power of words to express.” 

To be able to walk in the confidence of the relationship you have in Jesus is to be able to live a life with a Living Hope. Stand in the truth of who you are in Him! Stand firm! Stand firm and rejoice, giving Him Glory!

Let’s pray!