A New Journey Through I Peter

A NEW journey through I Peter Preparing for Battle pt 1 I Peter 1:1-2

Background-♦ It had been almost 60-63 years since the

birth of Christ and over 30 years since he had ascended into Heaven. Pentecost had come just a couple of years earlier so the church was young, its followers a mix of ages, and this mix was being challenged by a society that did not stand for what they were doing—sound familiar? (perhaps it would look a bit like our church..)

Observation– Time in Grade ♦ This is the picture of what is happening

right now. Peter is telling us, we have been set apart (positionally) and now it is time to keep training (practically) for the battle that is sure to come…And It came just a year or so later and this General Peter gave his life just three years later♦

Author– 1:1a ♦ . Peter is the Greek translation of Aramaic

Cephas, this the name Jesus gave Simon when he was called to be a disciple (John 1:42). This name is easily translated to mean “Stone” or “Rock” in its original form. It signifies a description of Simon’s future strength of character. Interestingly enough, there is no other Peter mentioned in the New Testament!

Observation-♦ The credibility of this author is staggering

to me. Peter knew Christ personally more than anyone else ever has. He knew his love and grace in ways that many of us ever will. In his life, he was called by Christ, challenged to follow Christ, denied Christ, reconnected with Christ, and then cast with the challenge of “building” the church Christ was seeking.

Observation- The Acts Peter ♦ His famous sermons are seen all through out this

letter as well: ♦• 1 Peter 1:20-Acts 2:23 ♦• I Peter 4:5-Acts 10:42 ♦• I Peter 2:7-8 Acts 4:10-11 ♦o This is interesting in this last example that Peter was present when Christ himself used Psalm 118:22 to refer to His rejection by the Jewish leaders (Mt. 21:42) ♦

1:1b-God’s Elect and Strangers —Why Persecution♦ ♦ There were three main sources of

Persecution at this time: ♦ 1. the Romans ♦ a. As mentioned above, only persecuted at this point if Christ followers refused to enlist in the military or if they rejected the emperor.

Persecution cont… ♦ 2.

the Jews ♦ a. Did not want to be associated with this new sect so found ways to persecute them in order to not be connected or united to them. ♦ 3. Their Families ♦ Under Jews law, the head of the house had absolute authority. If the man did not accept Christ as Lord and Savior, he would persecute his wife and children.

Scattered-Diasporas ♦ Scattered--Diasporas-had special meaning

to these Jewish Believers. The Diasporas referred to Jews who were separated from their homeland. Peter adapted this word which previously described Israel to emphasize the condition of the early church-Scattered!

1:2-The Warm reminder of Who we are Why we are ♦•

Chosen from Before Time began-Foreknowledge of GOD ♦• Are being Sanctified from your creation till today (jer. 1:5) work of HOLY SPIRIT ♦• For Obedience to CHRIST JESUS

Level one-God the Father ♦ Peter made it very clear from the beginning

that this letter was written to Christ followers that did not merely chose Christ but that God, the creator and the universe, the Omni’s God had chosen. This was God’s sovereign and unconditional choice to choose his people, of which, as Christ followers today, we are apart of.

♦

Level two-God the Spirit ♦ The sanctifying work of the Spirit had set these

chosen ones apart for service, putting God’s choices and purpose into effect. The Spirit guides us in all that we do-we can not be tempted beyond that which we can handle, as Paul reminded us in Romans-why-because there is a Spirit of God in everyone of God’s children that he foreknew, and is saying, teaching, guiding, convicting, and challenging us to choose Christ

Level Three-God the Son ♦ Obedience comes from the Greek word

meaning-“To Come Under”---Jesus said you will know my disciples, my followers, by their fruit. This word fruit is all too often misinterpreted by Western Theology as meaning, church growth, salvation growth, baptism growth, Finance growth, etc….

God the Son cont… ♦ I believe this word entails all of this possibly, yet

the root of this word is daily, moment by moment Christ honoring Decision making that sees a follower of Christ coming under complete authority and submission to Christ and his WordThe Bible.-♦• Ex. 24:7 ♦• Rom 1:5 ♦• Rom 15:18 ♦• Rom 16:26

♦ A person living in Obedience with Christ and his

word is constantly being cleansed with Christ’s blood---communion---setting them apart from the World ♦• I John 1:7,9 ♦ ♦ This word picture of “Blood Sprinkling” comes

from the work of the Priest in the tabernacle as recorded in the OT: ♦• Lev 7:14 ♦• Lev. 14:7/16/51 ♦• Lev 16:14-15 ♦• Heb. 9:13 ♦• Heb. 12:24

Grace to you and peace be Multiplied-----♦ 1.

You have been Chosen by God the Father ♦ 2. You are being Sanctified through God the Spirit ♦ 3. For total obedience to God the Son ♦• This week----As a chosen child of God-Filled with His Spirit-and with His Word in our hands and heart-we can make Christ like choices THIS WEEK!