Preached Sunday, January 6, 2013 from 1 Peter 1:1-2
Theme: In the introduction to this letter, Peter reminds suffering Christians that they travel through a hostile world as God’s greatly loved sojourners—chosen by Him for a better land.
(Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version; copyright 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
This morning, we begin what I believe will be a very encouraging and enriching series from the New Testament letter of 1 Peter.
The reason I believe this would be a good portion of Scripture for us to study is because it was a letter that the apostle Peter wrote to a group of Jewish Christians who were seeking to live the Christian life under the pressures of a hostile environment. They were suffering persecution for their faith in Jesus; and for them, walking the daily Christian walk felt like a constant battle against the tide.
We sure can relate to that pressure, can’t we?—trying as we are to live faithfully for the Lord Jesus in the times that we’re in? It may well be that the pressure we feel now will only get more intense over the next few months and years. And so, I truly believe that Peter’s message of encouragement to those early believers is meant by God to also be a message of encouragement to us today.
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I think that Peter’s message of encouragement in this letter is best summarized by what he tells them at the end of it—in 1 Peter 5:12. It’s a verse that, I believe, is the key verse to this letter. He tells them, “I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.”
If Peter were a guest preacher in our church this morning—and if he had looked at the difficult and hostile times in which we’re living—I believe that that’s the very same message of encouragement he would give us. Knowing what he has written in this letter, I imagine that he might say something like this: “Dear brothers and sisters in Christ; I know that the times are hard. I know that you’re living in a cultural environment that is hostile to your faith in Jesus Christ. I know that, for many of the people around you, the name “Christian” has become a term of derision; and that calling someone’s deepest convictions “faith-based” has become a way of pushing those convictions off into the side-lines of irrelevance. I know that you can become easily discouraged. I know you often grow tired of being laughed at and mocked all the time. And I know you are tempted at times to wonder if the whole thing is a big mistake.
“But I—the apostle Peter—have written to assure you, and to encourage you, and to testify to you with all my being, that this really is the true grace of God in which you stand! God truly has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world; and you are truly saved by faith in Him. Nothing that you suffer for Him will ever be forgotten by Him. The suffering only lasts for a little while; and the reward of eternal glory really is just around the corner! I, personally, am an eyewitness of His sufferings; and am also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed! Trust me in this! Stay true to our Lord Jesus; and don’t you ever give up!”
I’m hoping for us, this morning, to look mainly at the first two verses of the letter. But please let me read the introduction to the letter as a whole—starting with verse 1 and going all the way to verse 9—to just give you a foretaste of the encouragement this letter gives to us in these hard times:
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:1-9).
I am so grateful that the Holy Spirit has seen fit to protect this letter for us and preserved it in the Bible! We really need to hear its message in times such as these!
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Now; as you heard in that introductory passage to the letter, these were Christians who were seeking to live-out their faith in Jesus in an environment that was hostile to that faith. They were suffering hardship as followers of Jesus. If you will permit me, I would like to take you on a quick trip through this little letter; and show you some of the ways Peter himself said that they were suffering—as well as how he was encouraging them to be faithful in the midst of those times of suffering.
First, look at 2:11-12. There, Peter writes;
Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation (2:11-12).
Here, you can take the name “Gentiles” to be a reference to unbelievers. Unbelieving people in the culture around them were ‘speaking against’ these Christians ‘as evildoers’. And these believers needed to be particularly careful to live with such obedience to God that the accusation of ‘evildoer’ consistently proved untrue. That’s happening to us today. We also are spoken against as evildoers. And we too need to make sure that our conduct is always ‘honorable’ among those who don’t believe.
Or look at verses 20-21;
For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps . . . (2:20-21).
Some of these early Christians were actually suffering for having done what is right in the sight of God. But whenever they did so, they were simply following the example of Jesus Himself—who willingly suffered for us. In a culture such as ours—one that increasingly gives open approval to sin—we suffer for following our Lord and doing what is right in His sight. And when this happens, and we take this patiently—just as He did for us—this is commendable to God!
Along the same lines is what Peter says in 3:13-17;
And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil (3:13-17).
Sadly, in this day and age, there are many that would indeed do us harm for being followers of what is good. But even this becomes an opportunity for us to bear-up patiently, to do good faithfully, and to declare the hope that is in us through Jesus Christ!
Back in Peter’s day, these dear brothers and sisters were suffering just for being called “Christians”. That name—originally—was meant as an insult; and in the minds of many, it’s becoming one again today. In 4:12-16, Peter writes;
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter (4:12-16).
They were not to think that it was a ‘strange thing’ that they would suffer for being identified as ‘Christians’. And neither should we. But instead, we should live good and faithful lives that will never bring dishonor to the worthy name by which we are called.
Finally, in 5:8-10, Peter let his readers know where all this suffering was really coming from. He wrote;
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you (5:8-10).
We often think that all the things we suffer as Christians in our day are only because of the hostility of the people around us. But really, they are simply the instruments of our ultimate enemy, the devil. But God uses the attacks the enemy throws at us to make us even stronger and more devoted to Himself.
Well; hopefully, from all of that, you can see how very relevant this letter of 1 Peter is to us today. It’s a letter written to encourage suffering Christians not to give up; but to give themselves fully to their walk with Christ in dark times—that this is the true grace of God in which we stand!
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Now; with all this in mind, let’s go back to the first two verses of this letter. This is where we find Peter’s formal greeting to these suffering and oppressed Christians.
And what I suggest that we find first is that . . .
1. THERE WAS NO BETTER PERSON TO HAVE WRITTEN TO THEM (v. 1a).
The letter begins, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ . . .” (v. 1a). And I truly believe he was the perfect person to offer the kind of comfort and encouragement that suffering and oppressed Christians needed to hear.
You see; there was no one more in love with and more devoted to the Lord Jesus than the fisherman Peter. I like what one preacher said—that when you read the Gospels, you get the impression that if Jesus was walking down the road and suddenly stopped, Peter would have bumped into the back of Him. You remember the kind of things that Peter said, don’t you? When Jesus said that He was going away and that Peter could not come, he said, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake” (John 13:37). He talked that way often. Oh, how he loved the Lord Jesus!
And Jesus likewise loved Peter. Peter was the one who declared to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”; and to whom Jesus said,
“Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:16-17).
That “rock” was the testimony of Peter concerning Jesus. It’s the foundational testimony of the church. But even so, Peter—when the pressure was on during the time of Jesus’ arrest—got afraid and denied that he even knew the Lord. Peter, this devoted follower of Jesus and the giver of the foundational testimony of the church, was fallible and prone to give-in to the pressures—just like you and I sometimes are.
And yet, the Lord forgave him and used him. The Lord Jesus knew that Peter would fail far in advance; and even once told him,
“Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:31-32).
After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to Peter. Peter must have been ashamed to stand before the Lord he had denied; but Jesus asked him repeatedly if he loved Him more than the other disciples. Peter made the earnest affirmation that—in spite of his failures—yes he did. And Jesus told him repeatedly, “Feed My sheep” (John 21:15-17). Jesus even told Peter that, in spite of his denial, he would still nevertheless lay down his life for Him. He told Peter;
Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me” (John 21:18-19).
And follow Him he did! Peter was the one that the Holy Spirit used to preach the first great gospel sermon after Pentecost in Jerusalem! And later on, when the authorities told him and the other apostles to stop preaching in the name of Jesus, Peter was among those who said,
“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20).
Peter, you see, was the perfect person to encourage us as believers to stay true to our Lord in times of opposition and suffering. He knew perfectly well what it was like to feel afraid and to give-in to the pressures. But he also knew what it was like to be forgiven; and to rise up again in the power of the Holy Spirit and live faithfully for Jesus to the very end.
He stands forever as a great encouragement to Christians who are suffering for their faith in hard times.
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Not only was Peter the perfect person to write this letter to these persecuted and suffering Christians; but when you look at how he addressed them, you see that . . .
2. THERE WAS NO BETTER WAY TO DESCRIBE THEM (vv. 1b-2a).
At the very beginning of this letter, he reminds them what they are in God’s eyes. Look at what he calls them. He writes; “To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia . . .”
We might get a bit confused by the name “pilgrims”. When we hear that word, we’re used to thinking of the folks with big wide-brimmed hats and muskets. (One friend even told me that calling someone “pilgrim” marked him think of John Wayne.) But to be a “pilgrim”, in the sense that Peter is using the word, means to be a wanderer or a stranger or a sojourner—someone who is living with and walking about among those who are not his people—someone whose true residence is somewhere else—someone who is just passing through. And that’s what the Jewish people to whom Peter wrote were. They were Jews who had been “dispersed”—and who were living far away from Jerusalem and up into the regions of Asia Minor—in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.
And the way that Peter puts this in the original language is very careful. He doesn’t say that these Jewish Christians who had been driven from their homeland were “the Dispersion”. Rather, he says that they were “of the Dispersion”. They were, in other words, among those who were far from their homeland. Not all the Dispersion were believers; but all these believers were “of the Dispersion”.
But that’s not even the main name that he gives them. If you were to read the original language of what Peter wrote, you’d see that he puts another word first—for emphasis; and calls them “elect pilgrims”. They needed to know that, in spite of all that they may have been suffering, they were—from God’s perspective—a special, chosen, “elect” people. God had placed His eternal love upon them; and they were His. Look at what Peter calls them in 1 Peter 2:9-10;
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy (1 Peter 2:9-10).
And keep on going! Look at how he tells them the basis of their having been chosen. They were “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father . . .” The word “foreknowledge” here doesn’t mean that God looked far down into the ‘time tunnel’ and saw that they would one day choose to believe in Him. His foreknowledge, in the Bible, is always based on His sovereign purpose—and not the other way around. It’s like what the apostle Peter once preached about Jesus; that He was delivered up for arrest “by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23). In other words, these “pilgrims of the Dispersion” were chosen by God the Father in love for Himself—long before time ever was. They were ‘His’ on the basis of His predetermined purpose; and in that sense, they were elect according to the foreknowledge of God. They were “foreknown” in that God always knows what He has determined to do before it comes to pass.
Brothers and sisters in Christ; let’s not get all hung-up in wrong-headed arguments about “election”. The Bible clearly teaches us that God “elects”—that He chooses some for Himself. And all that we really need to know about it is this: If you are a believer today, then it’s proof that you were first chosen by God! And if you were chosen by Him, it was long before you could do anything to earn His love. You are His forever—not on the basis of your deeds but on the basis of His love! What a great thing to know in a time of suffering! Be secure in that! Rest in it! Rejoice in it!
Second, notice the means by which they were set apart as God’s “elect pilgrims”. It was “in sanctification of the Spirit . . .” To be “sanctified” means to be set-apart from all the others, and marked-out as those that God had chosen for Himself; and not only that, but also to be made increasingly holy in our walk before God as those He has set-apart for Himself. God not only chose them, but—if you will—also put His identifying stamp upon them as belonging to Him by placing the Holy Spirit in them. It’s as the apostle Paul expressed it; that we
were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:13-14).
And finally, notice what it was that they were chosen for. He says it was “for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ . . .” In other words, they were “elect” by God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, unto—one day—obeying the message of the Gospel and being sprinkled by the blood of Jesus for complete cleansing in God’s sight. As Peter puts it in 1:22-23;
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever . . . (1 Peter 1:22-23).
And dear brothers and sisters in Christ; that’s what you and I are! We are “pilgrims” in this world—wandering far from home; living in the midst of a people who are not our own. In fact, we may at times face hostility and persecution; because we really are ‘foreigners’. We are of a different kingdom. We serve a different King. But we are more than that. We are God’s “chosen pilgrims”—elect by Him from before the foundation of the world, set apart by the indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit, for obedience to our Lord and for cleansing by His blood!
Peter would want us to remember—even in the difficult times in which we live—what a special people we are in the sight of God!
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So; there is no person better suited to write such a letter than Peter; and there is certainly no better and more encouraging name to give to the suffering recipients of this letter than “elect pilgrims”—wandering in a hostile world that is far from home, but chosen by God for His eternal love. And finally, notice that in giving his greeting to them . . .
3. THERE WAS NO BETTER WISH BY WHICH TO GREET THEM (v. 2b).
Imagine being in the situation they were in; and yet receiving a letter that greets them by saying, “Grace to you and peace be multiplied” (v. 2b). But if they truly were God’s elect pilgrims, then this is an utterly appropriate greeting.
“Grace to you” is a greeting that emphasizes to them that they are the recipients of God’s unmerited favor. All their sins of the past are forgiven; all the resources of the Lord Jesus Christ are available to them for life and godliness; and all the eternal riches of heaven are theirs and are waiting for them in eternal glory. As the next portion of Peter’s letter will declare to them, they truly are recipients of great unmerited favor! God has “begotten” them “again to a living hope”. He has saved them to “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (vv. 4-5). No amount of suffering on this earth will ever take that away.
And not only that, but Peter wishes them “peace”. That’s a wonderful greeting to give to suffering Christians—and not just wonderful, but very true. They may not have had peace from this hostile world; but they could have an overwhelming peace while in the midst of it. As Jesus once said to the apostles—Peter included;
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
And the closer they draw to the Lord Jesus who has saved them, the more His peace in them would be multiplied.
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Dear brothers and sisters in Christ; we are living in dark and difficult times. But as the apostle Peter reminds us in this letter, we are traveling through a hostile world as nothing less than God’s greatly loved sojourners—chosen by Him for a far better and more eternal land!
In Christ, we are God’s chosen pilgrims! May He help us over the months to come to grow increasingly to believe and behave like what we are!