I Peter 1:1-2

1. Intro.
1. contrary to the teaching of some, Christians are not exempt from hard times
1. Christians are expected to handle the rough issues of life in a unique fashion
2. if they model their response on secular patterns or seek encouragement from non-biblical sources, they will not respond in a way that is pleasing to God
2. the reason for the letter
1. to warn the believer of the coming difficulties
2. to encourage them in their spiritual situation
3. to encourage them to live as a Christian in the malicious circumstances they are about to endure
3. the recipients had already begun to learn by bitter experience, what it meant to follow in Jesus’ footsteps
2. "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ" - 1:1
1. a customary introduction
1. one that reminded his readers of the power of God demonstrated in his life
2. he used the name given to him by Jesus, which predicted that he would become a rock despite all natural tendencies to the contrary
3. what he had to say was credible because he was a man changed by the power of God
2. a statement of faith
1. "Jesus" means savior
2. "Christ" was the title which only God’s chosen and anointed Messiah could rightly use
3. an "apostle"
1. was a claim of a special relationship with Christ
2. means "a person sent with full authority"
4. the writer of this letter should be listened to because...
1. the changed life points to trustworthiness
2. his conviction of Jesus being Christ is a faithful testimony
3. his office of apostle gives authority
3. the recipients - 1:1 "to the strangers"
1. is used in a spiritual sense
1. it emphasized something with which they were painfully familiar
2. their Christian profession had put them at odds with the surrounding society
2. their Christian stance on some issues was deeply resented
1. the Roman games were so violent & cruel, that they felt compelled to separate themselves from such entertainment
2. they also declined to participate in the worship activities of the Roman gods
3. they were often seen as being against the state because they took a stand against the national sport and the national religion
3. at first the Christians were considered odd, but then came the hateful opposition
1. as Christians we are not at home in this world
2. we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come
3. they may have been strangers to those around them, but to God they were well know & well pleasing
4. their spiritual classification - 1:1 "scattered"
1. because of the persecutions they were "scattered"
2. they may have been removed from their own country, but they were made heirs of a better country
3. their unfortunate circumstances could be turned into a fruitful and joyous experience
1. if they saw their situation as a strategic plant by the hand of God
2. their undesirable circumstances became a privileged place of service
3. as humans, we have a tendency to look at things from a human perspective (a distorted perspective)
5. the work of God in our life - 1:2
1. "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father"
1. salvation is dependent on the initiative and decision of God
1. both of these precede any action of man
2. nothing can stop God or His plan
2. what God chose to do
1. to offer salvation to the ungodly
2. to make it available through His Son
3. through faith in Jesus and His work salvation would be available
4. those that put their faith in Christ will have eternal live and reign with Him forever
5. not one once of pressure was put on the Father in any of these decisions
6. these decisions by the Father do not cancel out human choice
3. salvation is based solidly on the immutable purposes of our Sovereign God
4. here is great security for the troubled believer
5. foreknowledge
1. does not mean that God knew before hand who would believe and therefore chose us
2. it means to set one’s love upon a person or persons
3. God’s decisions were not based on our actions, but on His love
2. "through sanctification of the Spirit"
1. sanctification means to set apart
2. separation from common use to service for God - "unto obedience"
3. we cannot do this without the Holy Spirit
4. from Him comes the indwelling love and life of God
6. "sprinkling of the blood of Christ"
1. all of the Trinity is engaged in the work of lifting us from the bondage of sin
2. notice that the mention of blood follows that of obedience
1. the best obedience could not avail to save us
2. our best acts need sprinkling
7. Peter’s desire for them - 1:2 "grace..., and peace, be multiplied"
1. no greater wish than this
2. Peter had great love for these people, and wanted to comfort them in their trials of faith