The Gospel of Peter

Welcome, introduction, invitation to read text. Note on translations to be used. LEB HCSB ESV

1 Peter 1:3–7 LEB

3 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, 4 into an inheritance imperishable and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you 5 who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time, 6 in which you rejoice greatly, although now for a short time, if necessary, you are distressed by various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith, more valuable than gold that is passing away, but is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

1 Peter 1:3–9 LEB

3 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, 4 into an inheritance imperishable and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you 5 who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time, 6 in which you rejoice greatly, although now for a short time, if necessary, you are distressed by various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith, more valuable than gold that is passing away, but is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom, although you have not seen, you love; in whom now you believe, although you do not see him, and you rejoice greatly with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

:3-9

Pray

Simon. Peter. Simon Peter. Cephas. Rock. Petros.

One of the most galvanizing characters in scripture. No one would have accused Peter of not being a man of action. His words preceded his thoughts, as well as his actions. Peter is a man who when we read his words from the early stages of Christ’s ministry we shudder, thinking, “I would have said the same thing, or worse.”

1 Peter: An Introduction and Commentary Author’s Preface

“I do not think that any Christian can study this letter for long without hearing in it the voice of God speaking powerfully to the needs of today’s church. In only 105 verses, 1 Peter ranges over a wide field of Christian theology and ethics. Here is the great doctrine of redemption, from its conception before the foundation of the world to its consummation in our receiving an inheritance that will never fade away. Here are repeated calls to holiness and to humbly trust in God for each day’s needs. Here is practical counsel—for marriage, for work, for relating to the government, for witnessing to unbelievers, for using spiritual gifts, for serving as a church officer” - Wayne Grudem

Peter on the Water

Peter on the road Story

Peter in the garden Story

Peter in the courtyard Story

As the New Testament unfolds, this man who seemed to come within inches of disaster due to his actions, is transformed into a man who is boldly championing the cause of Christ, his master and friend. It really is a testament to the transformative power of the gospel that these men who wrote these letters with all the power of the Holy Spirit were massive blunderers and unbelievers when we encounter them in the gospels. James, the brother of Jesus, who wrote the incredible letter of James, and went on to be the leader of the church in Jerusalem, was not a follower of Christ until after the resurrection. “These are my mother and brothers”

What happened to change these men!?

Inheritance Received

These men and women of the early church were living in the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. Their hearts had been unveiled by God as they saw Jesus resurrected over death.

2 Corinthians 3:18 LEB

18 And we all, with unveiled face, reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory into glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

1 Peter: An Introduction and Commentary Author’s Preface

I do not think that any Christian can study this letter for long without hearing in it the voice of God speaking powerfully to the needs of today’s church. In only 105 verses, 1 Peter ranges over a wide field of Christian theology and ethics. Here is the great doctrine of redemption, from its conception before the foundation of the world to its consummation in our receiving an inheritance that will never fade away. Here are repeated calls to holiness and to humble trust in God for each day’s needs. Here is practical counsel—for marriage, for work, for relating to the government, for witnessing to unbelievers, for using spiritual gifts, for serving as a church officer.

Peter quickly bears witness to what God has done.

Which is exactly what all of us would do concerning our track records.

You wanna lead with your best foot forward.

Peter begins his letter by addressing the diaspora, the scattered believers all over the world. Explain. People who had not seen Jesus, but believed the Gospel.

And he proceeds to bear witness to the sustaining, sanctifying, and satisfying work of the gospel.

Peter begins his letter by addressing the diaspora, the scattered believers all over the world. And he proceeds to bear witness to the sustaining, sanctifying, and satisfying work of the gospel.

1 Peter 1:3–7 LEB

3 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, 4 into an inheritance imperishable and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you 5 who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time, 6 in which you rejoice greatly, although now for a short time, if necessary, you are distressed by various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith, more valuable than gold that is passing away, but is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

Peter declares that God CAUSED us to be born again to bring us into this inheritance.

Inheritance Revealed

He describes the inheritance with three accusative adjectives that put flesh on the bones of this inheritance. Imperishable. Undefiled. Unfading. aphartos. amiantos. amarantos.

The Inheritance is firstly Imperishable

Christ’s victory over death gives us the hope of the imperishable quality

Christ’s victory over death gives us the hope of the imperishable quality of the inheritance

Undefiled

When something is defiled, that means it was by nature defile-able in the first place.

The history of relationship between God and man was that man was defiled by the sin of Adam, and required blood sacrifice to be in God’s presence.

Christ’s perfect propitiating work on the cross ended the need for blood sacrifice, now, and in eternity.

Unfading

An earthly treasure will wither and fade with time, but the inheritance kept for us in heaven is an inheritance that will shine for eternity.

‘into” an inheritance. Present enjoyment fulfilled in eternity.

All of the promises that we read about in Ephesians are for us now.

We have been seated with him in the heavenlies.

1 Peter: An Introduction and Commentary 1. Joy in Future Heavenly Reward (1:3–5)

the inheritance is kept in heaven for you. The form of the verb ‘kept’ (perfect passive participle) indicates a completed past activity (by God) with results that are still continuing in the present: God himself has ‘stored up’ or ‘reserved’ this inheritance in heaven for believers and it continues to be there, ‘still reserved’ for them.

This is one of the beautiful doctrines of grace. That God wills that through Christ we are preserved in Him. We are hidden in Him. We are sustained in a continual act of spiritual regeneration through the finished work of Christ.

John

The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 6

39 This is the will of Him who sent Me: that I should lose none of those He has given Me but should raise them up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Romans

The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 8

And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified

Jesus isn’t done with you! The Master and husband of the bride is sanctifying His church. We have not yet realized the glorification of the church, so we hold onto this hope!

Romans

The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 8

Who can separate us from the love of Christ?

Can affliction or anguish or persecution

or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

We are residing in between Justification and Glorification

Inheritance Realized

What is this inheritance?

The light of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ.

Saved to and not out

“has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Our spiritual condition is homeless and dead.

“has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Unfading

Both Paul and Peter address our trials

Peter vs 6, you have been grieved by various trials

Paul in

2 Corinthians 4:7–9 ESV

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

2 Cor

It is the inheritance, the treasure, that gives us hope to carry through the trials.

There are 2 types of people who receive this news. They both share something in common. Original Spiritual Death.

We are born into a state of homelessness and death.

We all either were, or are currently dead homeless people.

Now the 1st man or woman was found laying dead in the ditch by God, he breathed new life into them, and then as if that were not enough He adopted them into his own family.

The other man or woman hearing this gospel, is currently dead in the ditch. And they hear this message, but the inheritance is not yet treasure for them because they’re in the ditch.

Every ditch full of the bodies of the dead, is within view of the kingdom.

And God, in His grace, has already done everything necessary to revive you from the ditch.

The man who conquers death, has conquered death for all who would be His.

And He didn’t just conquer death for you to then lay there alive in the ditch, He conquered death for the end goal that you would be adopted into His family, resulting in Praise, Glory, and Honor for His name.

Which brings us to the last part of our text

Praise

We praise God for the the inheritance we recieved

Praise

Glory

We glorify Him, not ourselves for we were created for this purpose.

Revelation Elders

An example of even those who have been given honor in eternity, laying it at the feet of Christ.

Honor

Honor is given to those in a position of status, and who command respect.

Honoring God is so much more than telling someone you’re a Christian. At least in the context of our culture. The New Testament tells us that honoring God is done with our bodies.

We honor Christ with our bodies by obeying him. And this is not done in a robotic fashion. We Honor Him through obedience because we want to.

This is so foreign to the dead homeless man in the ditch. From his perspective he assumes that family of God is acting the way they are because they are following rules.

And how can a dead man follow rules?

He can’t he’s dead.

This is why Paul reminds believers of what they once were. When we consider the disparity between dead in the ditch, and then not only alive, but adopted and given all of the rights and privileges of a son and daughter, we are compelled by LOVE to obey.

We are compelled by LOVE to obey.

Jesus said if you love me, you will obey me.

It’s true.

And Peter reminds us of this in verses 8 and 9.

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.

1 Peter

Peter was a man who intimately tasted the sweetness of knowing Christ. But before He could know Christ, he had to forget himself.

As I drift on the water, a voice calling to me had said "Sail in to the harbor, cast down your nets and follow Me" First of all the chosen, I saw the raising of the dead It must be my devotion, for I stood alone upon that sea

So I walked on the tempest, I saw the waves below my feet It's clear I was the bravest, to meet the stranger on the deep

I am the rock on which to build this land Got the keys to the kingdom, I'm at His right hand I was the first among the chosen, the boldest in devotion Walking out upon the ocean, what else could I need?

I'm well-versed in forgiveness, as many as seven times repeat In service was I fearless; attack my king, my blade you'd reap

What else could I need? What else could I need?

Haunting my reflection, a bitter thought comes to my mind I made known my objection, about how You had come to die

You said my thoughts were of the devil's kind I was opposed to Your kingdom, and I should get behind But You were talking like You're cursed, already laying in Your deathbed Maybe somehow You were mislead, may it never be!

You said I would fall away, before the rooster's crow would end To my shame did I betray, deny You as my closest friend

I'm singing, heart is hardened I'm sleeping in the garden I'm swinging swords I'm guarding my kindgom and my stardom

Am I different than Judas? For I betrayed the kindest friend I'm all out of excuses, with nothing to make my amends

O Love! O Love! O Love! You bottomless abyss! O Love! O Love! O Love! You bottomless abyss!

How tender You had spoken, though I betrayed the kindest friend Faithful in devotion, such love I cannot comprehend

Oh when You found me I was broken From the words that I had spoken But You were faithful in devotion You remembered me! You remembered me!

Peter was restored.

Christ asked him 3 times “Peter, do you love me?”

The love of Christ transformed Him, enabling him to love Christ and others.

Jesus charged him with feeding his sheep.

Boy did he.

Christ has not forgotten His church, he has not forgotten you, and He is calling those whom have not yet entered His family.

Inheritance Received, Revealed, Realized

Imperishable, Undefiled, Unfading.

Praise, Glory, Honor

The Gospel of Peter

The life of Peter