Introduction to 1 Peter

Introduction

Have you ever been somewhere that you were just homesick?

The first time I ever remember this feeling, I was at my cousins house. I was scared of the monster under the bed.

The most pronounced it ever felt was my last few days in Buffalo, NY. I had enjoyed being there, but I missed my friends and was ready to come home.

Peter is speaking to people who are homesick. They are far from home, Jerusalem. This world was not their home, and they were ready for their eternal home.

Explanation

English Standard Version Chapter 1

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

1. Context: To understand 1 Peter and 2 Peter, we first need to understand who Peter was.

2. Jesus had 12 disciples. Jesus had three, inner-circle disciples. Jesus had one disciple that he confided more than the others.

Peter had spoken the truth about Jesus, given to Him by the Holy Spirit, that no one else had been given.

Peter saw Jesus talking to Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration of Jesus.

Peter denied Jesus three times the night that Jesus was arrested.

Peter was restored to Jesus over breakfast.

He preached at Pentecost shortly afterwards where thousands were saved and the church began.

2 Peter 1:17-18 // For when we received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him bu the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice born from heaven , for we were with him on the holy mountain.

Themes to Watch

Peter is not giving advice. He has an authoritative word as one designated an apostle (really the chief of apostles), and his word is binding on the church.

Notice also, that the entire Trinity is in this opening section. The Father, Son, and Spirit are all at work in these people in different ways.

1-2 Peter are written, in my opinion, more than any book in the New Testament, to suffering people. The pages are full of encouragements for people who are confused, hurting, and scared.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

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

Elect exiles is an important term.

Elect means that they are chosen by God, cared for by God, and loved by God.

Exiles means that they are no longer in the place they would call home.

Scholars debate as to whether to translate sojourner or exile. Whether voluntary or involuntary, they are no longer home.

Home is where the Lord is.

In the prophets, God told Israel that he would gather them to Himself again. He is doing exactly that.

The Diaspora was the dispersion of Jews, not at the persecution in Jerusalem, but rather, as punishment for their sins in the Old Testament. The term “elect exiles” really means their spiritual reality more than their physical location.

When you feel out of place, know that God still has you. Your status has not changed, because your address has changed.

Application: How does your life look different from the people around you? How has some looked at you strangely for your Christian convictions?

English Standard Version Chapter 1

2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,

God knows everything that will happen to you.

You are not left outside of the knowledge of God for even a moment.

He is with you, and He loves you.

It is overwhelming how a simple, “It’s ok,” can calm the fears of a child when spoken by a parent. The world may be crashing down around them, only a word from my parents meant that all was ok.

They knew what to do.

So, I did not have to worry about it.

God’s plans never go sour. God’s figures never have an error.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

in the sanctification of the Spirit,

Because you have the Spirit, the trials that you face are for your good. God uses them to strengthen your faith, grow your life for Him, and call you to deeper obedience.

I once had a Jr. High coach who was cruel. Played semi pro ball. He would hit the ball with the intention of hitting players instead of helping them in practice. Instead of lifting weights, he would give us cruel exercises to do. He would make us take our practice time to clean out the varsity lockers, take out trash, clean his truck. He often did not use our time the way a coach was supposed to use it.

We sometimes wonder if God is simply inflicting a pound of flesh. After all, we have done some pretty rotten things.

Good coaches only allow their players to experience things that would better them.

No one in the Olympics over the last two weeks got there by accident.

They were placed in extreme conditions to train for their event.

Just as a coach causes their players to go through hardship so that they will get better, God places us in difficult situations so that we will get better.

Your struggle is not a punishment, but rather, it is a chance for God to pull you closer to Himself.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

Obeying Jesus is vitally important. You must always obey Jesus.

The sprinking of blood is used in the old testament for two things: the cleansing of lepers and the ordination of priests.

Something had to die so that others could be cleansed.

Jesus took that death for us.

He bore it on the cross.

Something had to die for the word to be proclaimed.

Jesus took that.

Peter speaks of a “royal priesthood.” We are all priests now. We have access to God through the blood of Jesus.

Conclusion

Give your life to Jesus.