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 Word-
The 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!