The Gospel for the Dispersed
Notes
Transcript
The Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ is everything to us as believers. We sometimes think of the gospel as what we did to enter the Christian life, but we now need to move on to the bigger and better things, whatever we think that those might be, but the reality is that the Gospel is not just the first thing, it is the main thing, All that we do as Christians comes back to the gospel. The gospel is essential in every moment of the Christian life.
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 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.
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, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 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. 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, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully,
1 Peter
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 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.
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, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 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. 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, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully,
• When we sin - we need the gospel. It is because of the gospel that I can find forgiveness, it is only through the gospel that I can overcome a sin.
• When we fear - we need the gospel. Christ has conquered all through the Gospel and is able to keep us and bring us faithfully home.
The Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ is everything to us a believers. We sometimes think of the gospel as what we did to enter the Christian life, but we now need to move on to the bigger and better things, whatever we think that those might be, but the reality is that the Gospel is not just the first thing, it is the main thing, All that we do as Christians comes back to the gospel. The gospel is essential in every moment of the Christian life.
• When we worry - we need the gospel. When we are worried about what the future holds, we remember that the future is sure because Christ has overcome and we are able to hope, that is be certain, that he is interceding for us and will hold us. He is our Anchor.
The gospel is essential in every moment of the Christian life.
• When we doubt - we need the gospel. Let’s be honest, we all face times of doubt. And when we do, we need to be reminded of the glorious truth of all that Christ has accomplished for us though the gospel. We may doubt it is worth it to continue the Christian life, but we are reminded that He is worthy, Jesus has reconciled us to God. Sometimes in our doubt we think that we can’t go on, or that we are not really saved because we have failed yet again, but the Gospel reminds us that we have failed, but Christ has not. He has accomplished it for us. He is the one working in us.
when we sin - we need the gospel. It is because of the gospel that I can find forgiveness, it is only through the gospel that I can overcome a sin.
When we fear - we need the gospel. Christ has conquered all through the Gospel and is able to keep us and bring us faithfully home.
Every day, we are desperate for the gospel!
When we worry - we need the gospel. When we are worried about what the future holds, we remember that the future is sure because Christ has overcome and we are able to hope, that is be certain, that he is interceding for us and will hold us. He is our Anchor.
When we doubt - we need the gospel. Let’s be honest, we all face times of doubt. And when we do, we need to be reminded of the glorious truth of all that Christ has accomplished for us though the gospel. We may doubt it is worth it to continue the Christian life, but we are reminded that He is worthy, Jesus has reconciled us to God. Sometimes in our doubt we think that we can’t go on, or that we are not really saved because we have failed yet again, but the Gospel reminds us that we have failed, but Christ has not. He has accomplished it for us. He is the one working in us.
This morning I want to turn to 1 Peter to encourage our hearts with the gospel at this time when we cannot meet together. This is going to be more of a devotional than a sermon, but I Pray that it encourages you.
Everyday, we are desperate for the gospel!
This morning I want to turn to 1 Peter to encourage our hearts with the gospel at this time when we cannot meet together.
ESV
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 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.
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, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 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. 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, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully,
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Peter is writing to a group that he calls the elect exiles of the dispersion. These are believers who have been forced apart, out of their home church, and scattered across a number of regions. Now we are not scattered like this, we will be gathering again when this is over, but for now we are the elect dispersed in Goble, St. Helens, Clatskanie, Tillamook, etc... They were scattered because of persecution; we are out of love for our neighbor. But the things that Peter says here apply to us equally.
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Peter is writing to a group that he calls the elect exiles of the dispersion. These are believers who have been forced apart, out of their home church, and scattered across a number of regions. Now we are not scattered like this, we will be gathering again when this is over, but for now we are the elect dispersed in Goble, St. Helens, Clatskanie, Tillamook, ect. They were scattered because of persecution, we are out of love for our neighbor. But the things that Peter says here apply to us equally.
Peter is writing to a group that he calls the elect exiles of the dispersion. These are believers who have been forced apart, out of their home church, and scattered across a number of regions. Now we are not scattered like this, we will be gathering again when this is over, but for now we are the elect dispersed in Goble, St. Helens, Clatskanie, Tillamook, etc... They were scattered because of persecution; we are out of love for our neighbor. But the things that Peter says here apply to us equally.
Peter is writing to a group that he calls the elect exiles of the dispersion. These are believers who have been forced apart, out of their home church, and scattered across a number of regions. Now we are not scattered like this, we will be gathering again when this is over, but for now we are the elect dispersed in Goble, St. Helens, Clatskanie, Tillamook, ect. They were scattered because of persecution, we are out of love for our neighbor. But the things that Peter says here apply to us equally.
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.
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.
According to the foreknowledge of God - Their dispersion wasn’t a surprise to God, and neither is ours. God the Father knows about everything his chosen people face. He works it all out as part of his plan. This also suggests that all we go through is “according to God’s fatherly care.” God knew our circumstances of pain before the world began and cares for us in accordance with his fatherly care.
ESV
According to the foreknowledge of God - Their dispersion wasn’t a surprise to God, and neither is ours. God the Father knows about everything his chosen people face. He works it all out as part of his plan. This also suggests that all we go through is “according to God’s fatherly care.” God knew our circumstances of pain before the world began and cares for us in accordance with his fatherly care.
Peter than goes on to tell us it is in the sanctification of the Spirit. In the midst of this dispersion, God is using it to bring about their sanctification, that is their growth in Him. The Holy Spirit is using this to grow us ‘for the obedience to Jesus Christ’ - This is in holiness and Christ likeness. This is following all that Jesus commands us.
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.
And we are able to do this because of the sprinkling with his blood. This is the Gospel. Because of Christ’s death on our behalf, we now are new creations, we have a new heart and we can obey all that Jesus commands us, through the power and work of the Holy Spirit, because of the Father’s love and care for us. This is awesome! This is what it means to be a Christian. And this is the very thing that the believers that Peter is writing to needed to hear, and it is what we need to hear as we face a world that has changed because of Covid 19.
Peter now spends the next numbers of verses examining why the Gospel is what we need at this time.
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,
Look at this list of truths about the gospel. It is because of His great mercy, he has caused our salvation, and given us a hope, that is confirmed to us by Christ’s Resurrection from the dead!
Do you sense Peter’s tone here? These truths are not just a list of facts and truths that he can list for us, they are truths that leave him in awe and worship.
This is the first ‘take home’ as we say in Men’s Bible study. During this time of social distancing, meditate on the Gospel. There is nothing that you can do that is more important than this. And as you meditate on the Gospel, allow it to lead you to awe and worship. Thank God for the Gospel! Rejoice in the Gospel, sing praise to God for the gospel! As believers this is our appropriate response.
to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Here are yet more truths for you to meditate on and worship God for. However, I have separated them because I want to pull another truth and take home from them.
1 peter4-5
Nothing that we face can diminish our salvation. Just because we cannot gather together right now, does not mean that we have failed as Christians or as a church. If we get sick with Covid 19 it isn’t all over for us. If we face economic hardship because of what is happening, it is OK. Our salvation is sure. It is imperishable, it is being kept for us, God’s power is guarding it for us.
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 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.
1pt1.6
We have never been promised an easy, plentiful, life on earth. Those who say otherwise are ignoring what Scripture says and are lying to you. However God uses the hardships and trials of this life to cause us to grow in godliness. we are seeing and learning the preciousness of a life by faith. And because we know what is to come, and that this world is not our home, we can rejoice, even in the midst of uncertainty and trials.
We have never been promised an easy, plentiful, life on earth. Those who say otherwise are ignoring what Scripture says and are lying to you.
Take home - don’t lose sight of the joy. If you do, go back and remind yourself of the Gospel.
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, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter1.8-
As we dig into this salvation that we have been given, we grow in love for Jesus.
As we dig into this salvation we rejoice.
As we dig into this salvation we glorify God. That is we display his Glory, who he is, his love, and mercy as well as his holiness and justice. We show the gospel, that all mankind is rightfully under God’s holy and just wrath, but that in his love and mercy salvation is offered.
We display God’s glory in this way to each other as well as to a sinful world.
I read this week that as Christians we need to remember that this world is the closest thing to hell we will ever experience, because jesus has paid it all for us, and we have this glorious salvation. However, for the lost, for those who do not have Christ and this glorious gospel, this world is the closest thing to heaven they will ever experience. Let that sink in. Think of the worry, doubt, uncertainty that you are facing now, this is the best that they will experience unless they repent and believe in the Gospel.
Take home: Make the most of this time in dispersion. Strengthen yourself in the gospel and than display it to God’s glory:
1. by encouraging one another via telephone, Faithlife and other social media, but remember, we don’t need to be encouraged with false hope and human wisdom, we need to be encouraged by the gospel. Speak gospel truths to each other.
2. by your loving actions to a world in fear. Share your hope to your neighbor, to your loved ones over the phone, Show your faith by trusting in God to get the church through this, rather than responding in either fear or anger.
Proclaim the gospel, it is our every moment need, it is our life breath. The Good news of Jesus Christ, He is all that we need, all that we cling to for our hope of salvation in this world and the next.
Because we are not together, I want to write out a prayer that I am praying for each of us at Shiloh Basin.
Father God,
We live in a world that has so many voices competing for our attention, a world that is at this time fearful. Father, it is so easy for us to become fearful or discouraged. Help us Father to truly trust in the Gospel for all of our life. Father I pray that we would grow in our knowledge of the gospel, that we would see how high and how deep and how wide it is. That we would be drawn to worship you as we spend time reflecting on Jesus and what he has done for us.
Father, as we have been forced to slow down as we social distance, help us to make the best of our time by being in your Word, discovering the riches of Christ. Father I pray that as we are unable to gather as a body, we would develop and grow in family times of worship. That we would teach our kids the importance of the gospel for all of life, that we would teach them to study your word and pray. Father use this time away to strengthen our families as places of worship.
Father I pray that you would give us opportunity and boldness to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to our neighbors and loved ones help us to faithfully display your glory in our salvation through our words and actions.
Father, I pray that you would use this time to be sanctifying us. Father use this time to cause us to evaluate our life in light of your Word. Father I pray that you would put in us a desire for you and your people, that we would yearn for the time when we can be the church gathered again. But Father, until then grow our faith as we trust in your care for us as we continue to be the church dispersed.
Father, I pray for our leadership, who are making decision for our safety during this pandemic. Give them wisdom. Father I pray for the medical field, as they seek to care for the sick and come up with treatments for this.
Father I praise you that even in this storm that we find ourselves in, you are on the Throne. Father we believe that you are in control, help us when we experience unbelief.
God, protect our loved ones. calm our fears with the truth of your word. Father help us to cling to you our rock, our refuge, and our fortress.
I pray all of this in the name of Jesus, our Savior and Intercessor,
Amen.
According to the foreknowledge of God - Their dispersion wasn’t a surprise to God, and neither is ours. God the Father knows about everything his chosen people face. He works it all out as part of his plan. This also suggests that all we go through is “according to God’s fatherly care.” God knew our circumstances of pain before the world began and cares for us in accordance with his fatherly care.
Peter than goes on to tell us it is in the sanctification of the Spirit. In the midst of this dispersion, God is using it to bring about their sanctification, that is their growth in Him. The Holy Spirit is using this to grow us ‘for the obedience to Jesus Christ’ - This is in holiness and Christ likeness. This is following all that Jesus commands us.
And we are able to do this because of the sprinkling with his blood. This is the Gospel. Because of Christ’s death on our behalf, we now are new creations, we have a new heart and we can obey all that Jesus commands us, through the power and work of the Holy Spirit, because of the Father’s love and care for us. This is awesome! This is what it means to be a Christian. And this is the very thing that the believers that Peter is writing to needed to hear, and it is what we need to hear as we face a world that has changed because of Covid 19.
Peter now spends the next numbers of verses examining why the Gospel is what we need at this time.
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,
ESV
Look at this list of truths about the gospel. It is because of His great mercy! He has caused our salvation! He has given us a hope, that is confirmed to us by Christ’s Resurrection from the dead!
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,
Look at this list of truths about the gospel. It is because of His great mercy! He has caused our salvation! He has given us a hope, that is confirmed to us by Christ’s Resurrection from the dead!
Do you sense Peter’s tone here? These truths are not just a list of facts and truths that he can list for us, they are truths that leave him in awe and worship.
This is the first ‘take home’ as we say in Men’s Bible study. During this time of social distancing, meditate on the Gospel. There is nothing that you can do that is more important than this. And as you meditate on the Gospel, allow it to lead you to awe and worship. Thank God for the Gospel! Rejoice in the Gospel, sing praise to God for the gospel! As believers this is our appropriate response.
to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
ESV
Here are yet more truths for you to meditate on and worship God for. However, I have separated them because I want to pull another truth and take home from them.
to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Here are yet more truths for you to meditate on and worship God for. However, I have separated them because I want to pull another truth and take home from them.
Nothing that we face can diminish our salvation. Just because we cannot gather right now, does not mean that we have failed as Christians or as a church. If we get sick with Covid 19 it isn’t all over for us. If we face economic hardship because of what is happening, it is OK. Our salvation is sure. It is imperishable, it is being kept for us, God’s power is guarding it for us.
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 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.
ESV
We have never been promised an easy, plentiful, life on earth. Those who say otherwise are ignoring what Scripture says and are lying to you. However, God uses the hardships and trials of this life to cause us to grow in godliness. we are seeing and learning the preciousness of a life by faith. And because we know what is to come, and that this world is not our home, we can rejoice, even in the midst of uncertainty and trials.
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 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.
We have never been promised an easy, plentiful, life on earth. Those who say otherwise are ignoring what Scripture says and are lying to you. However, God uses the hardships and trials of this life to cause us to grow in godliness. we are seeing and learning the preciousness of a life by faith. And because we know what is to come, and that this world is not our home, we can rejoice, even in the midst of uncertainty and trials.
Take home - don’t lose sight of the joy. If you do, go back and remind yourself of the Gospel.
ESV
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, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
As we dig into this salvation that we have been given, we grow in love for Jesus.
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, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
As we dig into this salvation that we have been given, we grow in love for Jesus.
As we dig into this salvation we rejoice.
As we dig into this salvation, we glorify God. That is, we display his Glory, who he is, his love, and mercy as well as his holiness and justice. We show the gospel, that all mankind is rightfully under God’s holy and just wrath, but that in his love and mercy salvation is offered.
We display God’s glory in this way to each other as well as to a sinful world.
I read this week that as Christians we need to remember that this world is the closest thing to hell we will ever experience, because Jesus has paid it all for us, and we have this glorious salvation. However, for the lost, for those who do not have Christ and this glorious gospel, this world is the closest thing to heaven they will ever experience. Let that sink in. Think of the worry, doubt, uncertainty that you are facing now, this is the best that they will experience unless they repent and believe in the Gospel.
Take home: Make the most of this time in dispersion. Strengthen yourself in the gospel and then display it to God’s glory:
1. by encouraging one another via telephone, Faithlife and other social media, but remember, we don’t need to be encouraged with false hope and human wisdom, we need to be encouraged by the gospel. Speak gospel truths to each other.
2. by your loving actions to a world in fear. Share your hope to your neighbor, to your loved ones over the phone, show your faith by trusting in God to get the church through this, rather than responding in either fear or anger.
Proclaim the gospel, it is our every moment need, it is our life breath. The Good news of Jesus Christ, He is all that we need, all that we cling to for our hope of salvation in this world and the next.
Because we are not together, I want to write out a prayer that I am praying for each of us at Shiloh Basin.
Father God,
We live in a world that has so many voices competing for our attention, a world that is at this time fearful. Father, it is so easy for us to become fearful or discouraged. Help us Father to truly trust in the Gospel for all of our life. Father I pray that we would grow in our knowledge of the gospel, that we would see how high and how deep and how wide it is. That we would be drawn to worship you as we spend time reflecting on Jesus and what he has done for us.
Father, as we have been forced to slow down as we social distance, help us to make the best of our time by being in your Word, discovering the riches of Christ. Father I pray that as we are unable to gather as a body, we would develop and grow in family times of worship. That we would teach our kids the importance of the gospel for all of life, that we would teach them to study your word and pray. Father use this time away to strengthen our families as places of worship.
Father I pray that you would give us opportunity and boldness to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to our neighbors and loved ones help us to faithfully display your glory in our salvation through our words and actions.
Father, I pray that you would use this time to be sanctifying us. Father use this time to cause us to evaluate our life in light of your Word. Father I pray that you would put in us a desire for you and your people, that we would yearn for the time when we can be the church gathered again. But Father, until then grow our faith as we trust in your care for us as we continue to be the church dispersed.
Father, I pray for our leadership, who are making decision for our safety during this pandemic. Give them wisdom. Father I pray for the medical field, as they seek to care for the sick and come up with treatments for this.
Father I praise you that even in this storm that we find ourselves in, you are on the Throne. Father we believe that you are in control, help us when we experience unbelief.
God, protect our loved ones. calm our fears with the truth of your word. Father help us to cling to you our rock, our refuge, and our fortress.
I pray all of this in the name of Jesus, our Savior and Intercessor,
Amen.