The Grace of God

Neros Reign 54-68 AD

In 64 AD burt Rome and blamed the Christians. Satan was using Rome to try and wipe out Christianity. Peter stands up to this persecution.

Peter

Peter denied Christ but was a great man.

In all the list of the 12 apostles, Peters name is #1 on every one of them.

Peter was brave enough to walk out on the Sea and come to Jesus. Mathew 14:22

One of the 3 of Jesus inner circle with James and John.

He confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the son of the living God. Mathew 16:16

Peter is rebuked by Jesus. Mathew 16:18

He was with Jesus in Gethsemane and cuts off the high priests servants ear.

He denies Christ because he is in total confusion. The king of all kinds if being crucified. How can that be. the apostles did not understand the nature of the kingdom.

John 21:15-17 Do you love me? Feed my sheep. Gods choice that Peter preach the sermon that established the church at Pentecost. That he took the message to the uncircumcised gentiles.

The Grace of God

Gods grace is sufficient to supply all the persecuted. To make us stand in our faith and our trust in God.

We are not of this world

English Standard Version Chapter 1

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 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.

Elect - Gods chosen people

Exiles (parepidemois ) - emphasizes foreign nationality and temporary residence

Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Dispersion (diaspora) - referred to Jews who were separated from their homeland

Born again

English Standard Version Chapter 1

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

Ephesians 1: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

Troubles are coming, persecutions are coming, judgments are coming : but our future is secure because of his mercy.

Isaiah 64:6 For we are all become as one that is unclean, and all our righteousnesses are as a polluted garment

We have nothing to brag of. Its Gods mercy that keeps us from being destroyed in our sins.

Jeremiah 31:3 Jehovah appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Ephesians 2:8 for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God

Born again - aorist active participle -

aorist - something that is already done

born again like with Jesus and Nicodemus in

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

living -present active participle-

present - continually active, its living

Titus 1:2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal

The empty tomb is what gives us this confidence. Nothing can touch our living hope. the resurrection of jesus is a historical fact and proof that he pleased God. No one has life or hope but through the resurrection of Jesus.

John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live; 26 and whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never die.

Because of this, nothing can hinder our salvation.

An inheritance

English Standard Version Chapter 1

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.

The inheritance is ours and we do nothing to get this inheritance. We are born into this inheritance.

inheritance (klēronomian)- is the same word used to refer to Israels promised possession of the land of Canaan.

Peter uses 3 adjectives:

imperishable-incorruptible, no destructive force can remove it, not an earthly thing

Solomon's temple, Zerubbabel’s temple done with. All made by hands.

undefiled-with out stain, nothing can defile it, no sin. it is pure and holy

unfading-term used for flowers they fade away and turn into that which is not beautiful. supernatural beauty

all 3 are negative terms. Why

Because our inheritance is so glorious and magnificent the human language cannot begin to explain the glories that we are going to receive.

No passage in the bible that speaks of the glories of heaven.

kept-perfect passive participle

perfect-result of a past completed action, stands in the state of God reserving it

Conclusion