Sermon Prep | 1 Peter 1:1–12

Introduction to 1 Peter

the bearer of the letter would land at a port of Pontus, travel to Galatia, then through Zela to Caesarea in Cappadocia, then westward on the great trade route which traversed south Galatia (passing through the Pauline churches of Iconium and Pisidian Antioch), then to Laodicea in Asia, then perhaps into other churches of Asia (Colossae?, even Ephesus?), and finally through the major churches of Bithynia (Nicea, Nicomedia, and Chalcedon). From Chalcedon or Byzantium on the Bosporus he could board a ship returning directly to Rome. Thus, all the major centres of Christian influence in Asia Minor would be reached.

Peter grounds the "choseness" of the (possibly spiritual) exiles not in their own work or specialness, but in the foreknowledge of God. In the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. They were chosen for obedience. To be obedient to Christ and sprinkled with his blood to be made clean. All these great things that were given to the people, and Peter wishes that grace and peace be multiplied to them. That they would understand more the grace that God has shown and be able to experience the peace that God offers even in trials.

Elect modifies stranger/exiles. They are exiles or sojourners because of their faith in Christ.

Peter wants to get across that these believers are a chosen family, a holy nation, a royal priest hood. The inheritance is the promise that we will rule over the earth with Christ in the New Heavens and the New Earth (Chapter 2) but Peter here is putting in the ground work for them to understand that these trials are not meaningless, but instead their identity is supremely more meaningful.

Rejoice in Salvation

Because of God’s mercy he caused us to be born again to:

A living hope

An inheritance

Endure Suffering

The Christian life and suffering go hand in hand.

It's not strange for believers to undergo rejection. Jesus is our example. He lived a perfect life yet he was rejected by men. It was not meaningless. He redeemed us by his blood.

“If necessary” The hardship might be necessary so that they no longer depend on themselves or their stuff, but only in God. Faith alone will be blessed in the end.

The world today offers no hope to those in suffering. They speak in terms of powering through on your own term. But if you look around the brokenness of a world trying to fix its own suffering is apparent. Marx said that religion is the opiate of oppressed people, but his ideas do not offer any relief. Peter on the other hand, knows that difficulties will come. He saw them first hand with Christ, where he suffered and died. When Christ was rejected and beaten. Peter is not speaking out of no experience of his own either. He was beaten and jailed for the gospel of Christ. So he knows the peace that the gospel has to offer. Not only that he knows that there will be justice. Like Jesus standing in judgement over the Pharisees when Stephen looks into heaven, he will wield the sword better than any earthly government. Believers will be vindicated, they will rejoice in God’s salvation.

Peter did believe in it (that is the resurrection), and it provides a great incentive for those suffering, reminding them that the veil of tears will not last long, that a great reward is laid up for those who are faithful.

Christians aren't escapists. We look forward to a future without pain and death, but its not a new world, its a "recreated world"

Live in Expectant Hope

John says it another way at the beginning of 1 John, that which we have seen and heard we now testify to you.

TV Cook shows: We wish you were here to taste and smell this. They experience the baking different than us and we are on the outside looking in. In the gospel, however, angels get to marvel at what God has done in Christ, but the readers of the letter get to actually experience it.