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“Wives and Husbands: Part One, Wives” 1 Peter 3:1-6

“Living Hope”

A Sermon Series Through 1 Peter

“Wives and Husbands: Part One, Wives”

1 Peter 3:1-6

Introduction

Now that Peter has introduced why he is writing the letter and to whom, he then turns to particular groups within the church. First addressing household servants or slaves, then turning to Christian wives, specifically those whose husbands were not saved. The wife has become a believer, and the husband is not. How then does a wife reach her husband for Christ? Then Peter turns to Christian Husbands and how they are to live.

The Christian marriage is the God-given picture of salvation. There is leadership, submission, roles lived out, both seeking a healthy relationship with God, seeking the same life goals, both pulling in the same direction, based on the same core values. When the world looks at the Christian marriage it should get a glimpse of Jesus and the transformation that takes place in a believer’s heart, especially in the way that the husband and wife interact with each other.

Christian Wives Described (vv. 1-6)

Before we jump into today’s passage, you “can’t claim the Bible to be the source of authority, while at the same time declaring that particular biblical teachings reflect sinful chauvinistic attitudes imposed upon the church by the Apostles.”[1] Or to say, that the traditional way of interpreting a section of text was wrong, so you seek to reinterpret them in such a way that matches the culture of today.

Peter writes six verses pointed toward wives and one verse toward men as husbands. Why such a unequal weight if it is not “chauvinistic attitudes imposed upon the church by the Apostles,”? In Peter’s day, when a wife became a Christian, the potential for difficulty was much greater than it was if the husband became a believer.

In that society when women, who were viewed as inferior to men, became Christians without their husbands also becoming saved, the likelihood of his being embarrassed and shamed by what was viewed as an act of defiance by his wife, was predictable, as was the conflict subsequently generated.”[2] The wife stops worshipping the gods of the household, specifically her husband, and now worships Jesus. This put them in a most difficult situation.

Submissive to Her Husband (vv. 1-2)

Likewise[3], wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct.

(v. 1) “even if some do not obey the word,” – the idea here is that the wife has presented the gospel, the truth of Jesus, and the husband has rejected the gospel. Instead of quoting Scripture and trying to persuade by arguing, or nagging him to follow Christian teachings (like going to church, giving, etc.) Peter encourages Christian wives to win them by holy living, “they may be won without a word (her spoken word, not the Word of God).” They had already heard and rejected the gospel – now the wives attitude and example would do the rest of the work of drawing the husband to Christ.[4]

This does not do away with Paul’s teaching not to be married to by choice a non-believer, 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial?2 Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” It is foolish to ignore God’s clear teaching on who you should and should not marry.

Can’t she just divorce him and find a Christian husband? No, 1 Corinthians 7:13, “If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.”

But Peter is writing here to a married woman who, after marriage, she becomes a believer. How then can she convince her husband to also become a follower of Jesus, especially after he has heard the gospel and rejected it? So first off, this is wives (married women) to their specific husbands. So it is not all women are to submit or adorn themselves with submission to all men. This is specifically wives toward their (chosen) husbands.

Colossians 3:18 says, “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.”

Ephesians 5:22-24 says, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.”

Titus 2:4 “Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”

We see the opposite of this in Proverbs 19:13; 27:15 “. . . a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.” . . . “A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike;” When there is no submission, only the butting of heads, it makes the marriage torture for the man. This submission does not mean that “a wife has to always agree with her husband, as here she differs on the most important issue of all: the gospel of Jesus Christ.”[5]

Adorned With A Changed Heart (vv. 3-5)

3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord.[6]

Then as Peter’s argument continues on how a Christian woman can persuade her husband toward Christ, he turns to her appearance. Instead of depending on her outward appearance to persuade him, she should turn inward and put on “a gentle and quiet spirit.” If she focuses on the “external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear,” How is she any different than the world, or ungodly women? And eventually those things fade, they are corruptible. It also does not mean an excessive movement in the opposite direction toward a puritanical plain appearance.

1 Timothy 2:9-13 “. . . likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. 11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.”

The word used here for “adornment” is the translation of the Greek word kosmos which is refers to the adornment of the ornaments worn by women. The word itself refers to an ordered system, namely a system where order prevails. The word that is opposite of kosmos is chaos, which means “a rude unformed mass.” How a Christian wife adorns herself starts in the heart, and expresses itself outwardly as submission to her husband in a gentle and quiet spirit toward her husband (as is ordered by creation[7]).

Remember, Peter’s whole point is how a Christian woman shares her faith (specifically to her husband), “Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart” If you seek to win others to Lord by how you do your hair, how you dress, the jewelry you wear – but have no heart change it will land as false. The focus is in the wrong place.

Our English word “masquerade” fits this idea, “When Christian women adorn themselves in the haircuts of the world, copy the world’s lavish and gaudy display of jewelry, and don the apparel of the world, they are masquerading in the garments of the world. They are in the language of the Greeks, hypocrites, acting like the world and the world thinks them to be people of the world. Then when they come with the news of the gospel, their message falls on deaf ears.”[8]

Peter is comparing what is perishable beauty (gold), with what is imperishable (a quiet spirit, the hidden person of the heart); gold and silver go away, but the condition of your soul is eternal. Show your husband how Jesus has changed your heart. Notice, the “be subject to your husband,” and “gentle and quiet spirit” are on the inside. You can hide submission, you can fake it, just as you can fake being a Christian – and look to outward displays to hide a false attitude.

The world’s first clothing

After Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, Genesis 3:7-10 “Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” The purpose of Adam and Eve sewing leaves together was to cover their shame which came after they sinned, later God provided them clothes, Genesis 3:21 “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.” Through the death and shed blood of an animal Adam and Eve’s sin and shame was covered. Which eventually would point to Jesus’ blood being shed for the covering of all sin.

When Peter says, “Do not let your adorning be external,” This is like Adam and Eve covering themselves with sewed fig leaves, it is man’s attempt to deal with his shame and sin. Instead, God has provided the way for our sin to be done away with forever through Jesus, that heart change then affects how we present ourselves to the world (and to our spouses). People can look to the world to try and cover their sin, or they can through our relationship with Christ cover our shame.

For the Christian, especially the Christian woman, how do you display Jesus in your life? Do you focus on the outward (gold, braiding of the hair, jewelry – your effort to appear a certain way), or do you accept what Jesus has done in your spirit and allow it to shine through your behavior. It’s easy to put on and take off jewelry – a changed life is also easy to display, but it doesn’t come off.

There is a saying, “whatever you do to get them, you have to keep doing to keep them.” If a church says “come and be apart of our church because we are cool like the world, see how we dress, see the jewelry we wear, see how we adorn ourselves (totally outward focused), then pivot and talk about “holiness, purity, compassion, modesty, sacrificial giving, (inward changes of the heart)” we will lose them. Car dealers call that “a bait and switch.”

Peter then gives a historical example of Sarah, “For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord” quoting from Genesis 18:12 “So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” referring to the coming birth of Isaac. “This comment was a mere aside; she was talking to herself, and there was is no indication that she intended Abraham or anyone else to hear her.”[9] We are spectators to her inward feelings about her husband. Peter’s point is that women of history submitted to their husbands, and as children of Sarah (those who live by faith in God), will follow her example and submit to their husbands.

But her submission was not to a perfect man who always got life right – he told her to say she was his sister and lie to the pharaoh of Egypt which ended badly. Abraham listened to Sarah’s bad advice and had a child with Hagar. As a couple, they didn’t always get it right, but they both loved the Lord and sought to serve Him. Abraham and Sarah both loved the Lord and had faith in God. They are an example of a godly couple who believed God’s Word. That Christian way of life id passed down from generation to generation.

Active In Her Christian Walk (v. 6)

And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

(v. 6) “do good . . .” is to do God’s will. 1 Peter 2:15 “For this is the will of God, that by doing good . . .”“. . . and do not fear” – “alludes to Proverbs 3:25 “Do not be afraid of sudden terror . . .,” The idea is that Christian woman are not to let nothing terrifying frighten them from their course. “frightening or intimidating could include and individual or experience posing a threat to one’s well-being (Prov. 3:25), it is likely that the danger posed by unbelieving husbands is what Peter has particularly in mind”[10] “The wife has to hold to her new Christian confession and practice, whatever threats may be leveled against her.”[11]

“you do what is good and have no fear in doing so” – “the wife is to do what is appropriate for her as a Christian even within the confines of a marriage to a non-Christian husband, a husband who may use fear and intimidation in the attempt to compel activity inappropriate for her as a Christian.”[12] She then becomes an example of how we are to live as Christians in a culture that may be hostile to Christ’s teachings – we get along as best we can, in as many areas of life as we can, we live at peace – and we don’t compromise on the areas where to do so would be against the will of God. And we try to evangelize where we can use words, and where we can’t we let others see how Christ has changed our hearts.

__________________________

[1] R. C. Sproul, 1-2 Peter: An Expositional Commentary, 1 Peter (Sanford, Florida; Ligonier Ministries, 2019) 74.

[2] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, 1 Peter (Chicago, Illinois; Moody Publishers, 2004) 175.

[3] MacArthur, 177. “Likewise” refers back to the two previous mentioned examples of submission; citizens to civil authorities (2:13) and servants to masters (2:18). But “correspondingly” may be better because it suggests the responsibilities are not identical, but nevertheless associated in some way. Dubis, 84.

[4] Kenneth S. Wuest, First Peter in the Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan; WM B Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1960) 73.

[5] Sam Storms, ESV Expository Commentary, Volume 12: Hebrews-Revelation (Wheaton, Illinois; Crossway Publishing, 2018) 332.

[6] See Isaiah 3:16ff. adornment stripped away as judgement.

[7] See 1 Timothy 2:9-13.

[8] Kenneth S. Wuest, First Peter in the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1960) 77.

[9] Storm, 333.

[10] Storm, 333.

[11]Paul J. Achtemeier, Hermenia, 1 Peter, A Commentary on First Peter (Minneapolis, Minnesota; Fortress Press, 1996) 208.

[12] Achtemeier, 217.

“Who Are You?” 1 Peter 2:4-11

“Living Hope”

A Sermon Series Through 1 Peter

“Who Are You?”

1 Peter 2:4-11

Introduction

God has delivered the Israelites from Egypt where they had been in slavery for over 400 years. In preparation to enter into the promised land, and before receiving the 10 commandments and the law (Ex. 20), God says, Exodus 19:4-6 “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests (a royal priesthood) and a holy nation.’” These words are foundational to understanding their identity. Israel was to be led by God, and to be a light to the nations.

There is an expectation that to be delivered is that a person will obey God, keep His commandments, and carry His name as a kingdom of priests (those who stand before people representing God) and teach the world His ways.

Peter uses this same idea to help us understand our salvation through Christ, and how we are to live holy lives. You have been saved therefore as Christ followers you are to live according to God’s commands. In the previous verses Peter tell us to be holy in all our ways (1:13-16), to conduct ourselves in fear of God (vv. 17-21), to be bound together in love (vv. 22-25), to keep only the Word of God (2:1-3) – all four of these encouragements grow directly out of our connection to God as His children.

Christ Is A Living Stone (vv. 4-5)

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

When the disciples were rebuked for praising Jesus, Luke 19:39-40 “And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” Stones don’t speak, or cry out – that is something impossible. They are not alive – yet Peter tells us that when we come to Christ, he is a stone that is alive. We also, as begotten of God, are also living stones.

Jesus called Peter (Petros – rock), Matthew 16:18, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,” But in writing this epistle, Peter uses the word for stone. Peter is saying that the believer is apart of something that is being build – one stone upon another.

When the NT discusses this building of the church, the foundation is the prophets, apostles, and they gave us, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God. Psalm 11:3 says, “If the foundations are destroyed what can the righteous do?” Jesus is the “living stone” because he has risen from the dead. Those who place their faith him, are made alive as well, “like living stones.”

(v. 4) “rejected by men,” – “Based on their blind hearts and false standards (Matt. 12:2, 10, 38; 15:1-2; 16:1; Mark 12:13-34; John 12:13-34; John 8:12-27), they concluded that He did not measure up, so they rejected Him (John 19:7, 12, 15; cf. 7:41-52; 12:37-38). Contempt and hatred characterized their rejection (Matt. 26:57-68; 27:20-25, 39-43; Mark 12:12; Luke 6:11; 13:14; John 8:59; 10:31, 39; cf. Luke 4:28-30); it was unthinkable to them that Jesus could possibly be the cornerstone of God’s kingdom (cf. Ps. 118:22). They viewed Him as one who foolishly denounced their religious system (cf. Matt. 23:1-36; Mark 8:13-21), was too weak and humble to overthrow the occupying Romans and secure the Jews’ national freedom, and was willing to die ignominiously on a cross (Matt. 17:22-23; 20:17-19; Mark 9:30-32; Luke 18:31-34). He simply did not measure up to any of the Jewish establishment’s expectation.”[1]

“In the OT priests would offer up sacrifices to God in keeping with the sacrificial system of the old covenant. The sacrifices that the priests offered up were physical sacrifices, animals and grain offerings. We are a different kind of priesthood, in which the believer is called to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God. From the very beginning, with Cain and Abel, God’s people brought their offerings to God as a sacrifice.”[2] To “offer up” was the act where the priest would take your offering, go up a ramp and place it on a four-foot by four-foot bronze grate.

Instead of approaching an alter, we approach Jesus (directly). Instead of going to a priest, you are a priest. Instead of offering slaughtered animals we are to offer spiritual sacrifices. Instead of going to a temple, we are the temple where God resides. Instead of wearing priestly garments and headwear, we have been clothes in righteousness, We don’t go into a holy place and sprinkle oil, we have been anointed with the Holy Spirit, “Our status as chosen and beloved people of God results in praise to God.”[3]

Worship is when God’s people lift up their praises, adoration, and affection to God.

“We bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord.”

Hebrews 13:15-16 “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

(v. 5) “like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house,”— The stones are being built up into a spiritual house – The church is being built up. God is at work in the life of a believer, and in obedience and service they allow God to “build them up.” It is not quiet participation, but always active service. A building is not a single stone – it is a group of stones being placed together. You cannot be the Christian God desires for you to be without being connected to a local church (remember the book of 1 Peter as God’s Word was written to churches).

Christ Is the Cornerstone (vv. 6-8)

6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”[4] 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

When builders and stone workers select a cornerstone it must be perfectly straight and square – because the wall going to the left, right, and straight up will find their angle off of this one stone. The building’s being square depends on the quality of the cornerstone. This cornerstone (Jesus) is precious, meaning “unequal in value, irreplaceable” – you can’t substitute another stone for this cornerstone. God the Father himself chose Jesus the Son to be the one who determines how salvation will be laid out.

The builders, Peter is referring to, were the Jewish religious leaders. They rejected Christ as the Messiah, but he has become the one true way for one to receive salvation.

Jesus causes people to stumble and they take offense to His Words. How/Why? “because they disobey the word,” We fall into the same lie Satan told Eve many years ago “you will not surely die” – consequences are controllable, “your eyes will be opened,” – God doesn’t want what is good for you – He is keeping something from you. Ultimately , “I know better how to live my life and make decisions than the loving God who desires fellowship and a relationship with me. When we disobey God’s Word it breaks fellowship between us and God.

(v. 8) “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense,” – literally, “a loose stone on the path,” and “to strike against,” It is a stone that you run into, that makes you fall. Jesus and God’s Word are stumbling blocks for unbelievers because they don’t accept Him, The Word of God, and being true (straight, the way, the truth, and the life).

There is no middle ground with Jesus – either you accept Him and build your life upon His Word, “Cling to the Rock of Ages” or you reject Him and be dashed against Him. (v. 8) “as they were destined to do.” “Their disobedience is not ordained, the penalty of their disobedience is”[5] They rebelled against God and paid the penalty (that is always the same). If you reject Christ the outcome is always the same (destruction).

“Salvation comes through belief in him through the gospel message; destruction comes upon those who disobey, reject, the message of Jesus . . . That is why we Christians must ensure that people are faced with the message of Jesus and not the particular opinions, viewpoints, or cultural habits of church people.”[6] If someone rejects Jesus we must make sure (as His ambassadors) that the Jesus we share matches the Jesus of the Bible – the effects are eternal.

The Church is called to share the gospel, not our opinions or preferences.

When Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This is the exclusivity of Christ. To a believer it is beautiful and aligns our heart to what is true. For the unbeliever, it is offensive to them because want to live according to their own hearts (which is corrupt and sinful).

Remember 1 Peter was written to various churches who were undergoing persecution because of their following Jesus’ teachings. They were being rejected by the world because of their beliefs and behavior. One of the mistakes that the modern church has made is seek to appeal to the lost world instead of understanding why the world rejects church.

Many congregations seek to compromise the message of the gospel to make it more acceptable. We lower moral standards, as if to say, “see we are just like you,” or we accept you as you are, don’t ever change.” The church thinks that it should be more like the world so that the teachings of Jesus will be more easily accepted – but it actually diminishes the impact of the gospel because the compromised church has no power – it is weak. We must love the sinner, but hate the sin.

God’s command to the church is to be holy, not popular.

“Be holy, as I am holy”

Most people have stood on the elementary playground as teams are chosen for a game. One by one your classmates are chosen – your heart yearns to be chosen – pick me, pick me. Who do you want to be proud that you are on their team? The world or God? Peter reminds us that we have been chosen by God (when you were not worthy to be picked); who cares what the world thinks about us?

Believers Are A Holy Priesthood (vv. 9-10)

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Unlike the Jewish priests, who were only priests – Christians are king-priests. Chosen by God, belonging to God, and given a purpose “that you may proclaim the excellencies of him,” What is it that you would say? How do we know what to proclaim? You tell the world of how before Jesus you were in darkness, you were alone, and were living with the full consequences of your sin. Now, you live in marvelous light, you belong in Christian fellowship, you have purpose and meaning, and especially you are dearly loved by God who has completely delivered you from your sin.

“The phrase “priesthood of every believer” is based on 1 Peter 2:9. The idea rose from the Reformation when Martin Luther and others came to believe that Roman Catholic clergy were abusing their spiritual authority. We no longer need someone to stand in between us and God – we have direct access to God ourselves.

This doctrine is typically taken to mean that each individual believer has the same rights and authority as ordained clergy. (access to God, God hearing our prayers, presenting your offering to God, etc.)”[7] Peter’s focus is not on authority (who is in charge) but responsibility and relationship (what all Christians do).

“There are some elements of representative democracy within the congregational form of church government. Certain persons are elected by a free choice of the members of the body to serve in special ways.”[8] The words pastor, elder, and overseer in the NT all refer to the same office within the church. But the word priest (as in 1 Peter 2) does not refer to the office of pastor.

Hiereis meaning priest deals with what this person does – All Christians have within them the Holy Spirit, access to God’s Word, and the ability to communicate with God and the common command to use their spiritual gifts in service to the church. We then take that calling, and various gifting and serve before Him. Service and representing God to others is the focus here.

11 Beloved, I urge you has sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”

Jesus said, Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so nthat2 they may see your good works and ogive glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Peter is saying to believers, live a godly life, which is the single most effective foundation for making the gospel attractive and believable.

Godly living always begins on the inside, “abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” There is an ongoing battle between the flesh and the spirit. While we are no longer slaves to unrighteousness, we still must choose to abstain from it. To wage war is the idea of a long-term military campaign, relentless aggression. The world will attack again and again. This battle is won or lost on the inside.

Then that inner victory will present itself outwardly in a changed life, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable,” – because you carry the name Christian.

________________

[1] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, 1 Peter (Chicago, Illinois; Moody Publishing, 2004) 105.

[2] R. C. Sproul, An Expositional Commentary, 1-2 Peter (Sanford, Florida; Ligonier Ministries, 2019) 47.

[3] Dennis R. Edwards, The Story of God Bible Commentary, 1 Peter (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Harper Collins Publishing, 2017) 97.

[4] See Isaiah 8:14, 28:16

[5] Archibald Thomas Robertson, Word Pictures In The New Testament, Volume VI (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1933) 98.

[6] Edwards, 95.

[7] Edwards, 92.

[8] Millard Ericson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Baker Books, 1985) 1080.

“Friendship and Spiritual Growth – Both Take Time and Effort” 1 Peter 1:22-2:3

“Living Hope”

A Sermon Series Through 1 Peter

“Friendship and Spiritual Growth – Both Take Time and Effort”

1 Peter 1:22-2:3

Introduction

The Result of Holiness In the Believer’s Life – Love For Other Christians (vv. 22-25)

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

1 Peter 1:15 the believer is commanded to be holy. Our holiness is not just for our own sake, but it also affects those around us, specifically the church body that we are to be connected to. Peter is writing multiple churches (Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia) and he tells individuals to be holy – then he shows why this is important – because our personal holiness will affect the effectiveness and potential power of the church.

(v. 22) “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth,” – obedience to God’s Word (the truth) leads to purification of the soul, Then, that purification of the soul leads to further obedience which leads to further purification, etc. Just as sin has devasting consequences, obedience also has healthy consequences. Obedience leads to further obedience. Rebellion and Sin leads to more rebellion and sin. Starve the wolf and eventually it will die. Feed the wolf and it will grow to eventually devour you.

Romans 6:16 “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?”

Obedience Produces Further Holiness In The Life of the Believer.

Obedience to God leads to “a sincere brotherly love,” and “earnestly from a pure heart” The love that Christians have within the same family of God must be genuine and steadfast, “without hypocrisy.” Because they are followers of Jesus, they are obligated to love other Christians. The book was written to multiple churches experiencing hardship due to what he calls “the Dispersion.” In that time of stress, they gather together and what characterizes their meetings? Love.

Love is a characteristic of a Christian, but is there a difference in loving one’s neighbor Matthew 22:39 “. . . You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – which leads to the parable of the Good Samaritan, and loving your brother (a fellow believer)? (v. 22) “a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,”

Should I love the world the same way I love the Church?

The “pure heart” carries the idea of not being hypocritical, of having a gesture where you turn toward the person, and the action comes “from the heart.” With the neighbor you are to show love (bind their wounds, put them on your donkey, pay for their hospital/in stay – show compassion, a love in action), but with a fellow Christian (a fellow chosen exile) your heart faces them, there is a genuine concern for their welfare (your heart is engaged toward them).

Not a hypocritical love, “The Greek word from which we get our word “hypocrite” was used of an actor on the Greek stage, one who played the part of another. The word means literally, “to judge under,” and was used of someone giving off his judgement from behind a screen or mask. Some of these whom Peter was writing, had put a mask of feigned (false) love over their usual countenances when associating with certain others of their brethren.”[1] “There is always danger that we pretend like an actor instead of having actual affection.”[2]

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What Is Required to Drop the Mask of Hypocrisy At Church?

5 things required to drop the mask of hypocritical warmth toward other believers. 1) time. Most of us only see each other on Sunday. How many Sundays does it take to develop a friendship? Most people don’t give church enough time for a genuine connection to develop. 2) Not letting your guard down – I want to be known and at the same time I don’t truly open up to people. They only know the false face you present on Sundays. 3) false or unrealistic expectations. You have too high an expectation on how people are going to treat you, or how quickly relationships will form. 4) Doing Ministry Together – the best way to get to know another person (and for them to know you) is to serve in a ministry together. If you want to get to know someone really quick go on a week-long missions trip with them. 5) Small Groups – am I actively involved with a group of people so that I can be known?

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Because God loves Christians (having given His life for them), and as His child and name bearer, we imitate Him in loving (other) Christians. But it is a supernatural love (because they are born again) that the world should look on and marvel, John 13:35 “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

(v. 21) “sincere brotherly love, “love one another earnestly,” In the original language there are two words for love used here, one is “brotherly love” – phile (where we get Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love,) This love is a love of liking. One person likes another person because that person is like himself in the sense that person reflects his own personality, the same likes, the same dislikes, as himself. It is an affection or fondness, a purely human attachment for another person. There is a commonality that connects them together.

It is used here to contrast how a person feels toward fellow Christians, with worldly associates. What is it that attaches two people together in friendship? Salvation should change how we view our worldly associates with the Christians in our lives. There is the saying, “birds of a feather flock together.” The species of birds gather together based on the similarity of character.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6YDhVeW5Kc birds murmuration. The starling is a bird and it was created to fly, so it flocks with other starlings and they fly together in formations called murmurations (named because of the sound of their wings). Scientists don’t know why they do this or even how.

Christians were saved and set apart to bring Jesus glory with their lives; so they gather together and worship God in formations called churches. Angels look on in astonishment how they have been shown grace, and how these churches bring God glory in their obedience to His Word and their dedication to seeing others saved. In that murmuration of the church our relationships one with another must be pure.

Where the church gets this wrong is that we think the common characteristic is our race (Hispanic church, black church, white church), or socio-economic (rich, middle-class, poor), or culture (cowboy church, etc.) or generational (contemporary or traditional, Gen. x church, etc. ) – no our common bond is a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

It doesn’t matter where the man next to me is from, what color he is, what team he cheers for, what college he went to (or not), the car he drives, the square footage of his house – none of these things matter – what makes us brothers is that we both have been saved from our sin, we love Jesus and are seeking to be faithful to His Word.

The other word for love is “love one another earnestly” This is a agape love, one that expresses the ideal love, “that is exercised by the will rather than emotion, not determined by beauty or desirability of the object, but by the noble intention of the one who loves. Earnestly, means to stretch to the furthest limit of a muscle’s capacity. To go “all out.” – this kind of love requires serious effort.

Why should we love this way? Because (v. 23) “you have been born again” Because I have been supernaturally saved, born anew, I am therefore able to love another believer with a love that is different than how the world loves.

Then as he is discussing how believers are to have a genuine love for each other, he says, V. 24 “all flesh is like grass,” and them references, 40:6, “The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” These things always follow the same pattern – growth, flowering, and decay. But God’s Word remains unchanged and will exist forever, “the word of the Lord remains forever.”

To explain why he quoted Isaiah Peter adds, “And this word is the good news that was preached to you.” The word of God that had been preached to them was the gospel, the good news of salvation. The gospel enters the heart, regenerates you, imparted its eternal life to you, overcame what is corruptible and perishing by replacing it with what is incorruptible and remains forever. Let the good news of salvation, do its’ work in you. Let fade what needs to fade, and let bloom what needs to grow in your heart.

The Result in the Believer’s Life – Love For the Word of God (2:1-3)

2:1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.[3]

So, as you are sincerely showing brotherly love, and love that you choose to show toward another believer (with exertion) – it requires that you put away, “all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.” – Malice is the desire to bring harm to another person, then we are given parts of we may do that (deceit (bait for fish), hypocrisy (lies behind a mask), envy (ill-will at the sight of another’s good fortune), slander (using words to destroy another person), etc.)

If the church is to be unified it must be characterized as a place and people of love and these spiritually immature behaviors (deceit, hypocrisy, malice, etc.) have to diminish. How does a person put away “all malice, envy, hypocrisy, etc.” How does a believer change that part of them that they know is corruptible? It is the Word of God that showed them how to be saved, so it is the Word of God that nourishes our spiritual growth.

(v. 2) “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation,”[4] – The word that is used for pure here is a reference to uncontaminated food. God’s Word has no contaminates, and gives us what we need to grow spiritually. The point is not to compare milk with solid food (like Hebrews 5, or 1 Cor. 3) but to push the believer to the source of spiritual growth (God’s Word), and that we should desire for it to be apart of our lives. So, unlike Paul saying you will move past milk to soild food, Peter is saying the believer should always crave God’s Word. If you are a new convert, or have been a Christian for many years – the same principle applies. God’s Word is the source of spiritual growth.

In Exodus 16:1-4 God has given the people freedom from sin, they have escaped pharaoh’s army, and now they are headed toward the promised land, “And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3 and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat (flesh) pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, . . .” Where do you go, where does your heart long to find subsistence for your soul? Flesh pots or manna? Do you go to what enslaved you for nourishment or the manna provided from heaven?

“The goal of every Christian’s life here on earth is to fully mature, becoming the person God intends for each of us to be; simultaneously all believers together are growing into the mature fellowship we ought to be (God’s intended community).”[5]

The Isaiah passage that Peter quotes shows the life cycle of plants, always following the same patter (growth, flowering, fading, and death). The human life cycle is similar (birth, childhood, young adulthood, middle age, and old age, and eventual death). There is no stopping the natural process. Spiritual growth follows a similar cycle, but it is different – to grow spiritually it takes effort – there must be a longing.

A five-step plan for what to do when you have your quiet time:

Start with prayer. Ask God to prepare you to meet with Him. If there is something in your life that you know displeases Him, confess it. Let Him forgive you so that nothing will hinder your communion together.
Read a specific passage of Scripture – perhaps a chapter or two. If you are not very familiar with the Bible, you may wish to start with the New Testament. Many people think that the Gospel of John is a good place to start. Perhaps you would enjoy reading one or two of the Psalms every day.
Meditate on it for a while after you have read a passage. Think about what you read, and ask yourself what it means. What does God want you to do? Remember, even though you may not understand all you read in the Bible, you can still obey what you do understand.
Write down questions about the passage as you read. It is good to write down the things you learn and the questions you have. Later you can search out the answers from someone who knows the subject or Bible commentaries. You can ask the question, “what did this teach me about God?” and “what did this teach me about myself?”

Write down the big idea and insights. Journaling is simply writing your thoughts and reflections about your life and relationship with the Lord in a notebook. Spend some time writing your thoughts as you spend time with God in His word and prayer. It can be as simple as writing what’s on your heart.

You can write about what God is teaching you in your Bible reading time. You can also write about how you are feeling and struggling with. Develop the habit of writing. This habit reinforces what God is trying to tell you in your mind and heart. I believe it is part of a good quiet time because it is a way for you to remember what God is revealing to you during that time.

Finally, respond and take action. Respond with praise and thanksgiving – “I praise you God for…..” Respond in repentance and confession – “I confess my sin of ……” Respond by asking for guidance – “Lord, lead me today by…..” Respond with obedience – “I will obey you in……”

Conclusion

I have discovered that anything that is an “ought” in my life I will always be a failure at, for “ought” is a lousy motivator. Anything that is an “ought” I may in time do. I will do it out of compulsion, guilt, or duty – it will do it begrudgingly but I won’t do it often.

There are many of who understand our salvation to be in terms that Jesus has saved me so that I may serve Him. Didn’t Jesus say, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” We become disciples of Christ, so that we may become His fishers of men (and we serve, and we work, and we toil). What we miss is that Jesus’ invitation simply says, “Come, follow me,” – meaning to be in a relationship with Him. Being a fisher of men was not the purpose of my salvation (it happens, it is an outcome) – but the relationship with Jesus, the following comes first.

We serve, and in our minds we “I ought to have a quiet time” “I ought to spend time with Him” — and we get burn out, and tired, and disillusioned by life, all the while we work, and serve, and toil – and Jesus says, I said “Come and follow me.” Jesus invites us to a relationship first (service comes later as an outflow of the relationship). He simply wants to know you, and for you to know Him. He did not die, so that you can serve Him, he died so that, you can have a relationship with Him. He doesn’t really need our help anyway, He’s God!

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[1] Kenneth W. Wuest, First Peter in the Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan; WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1960) 45.

[2] R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of 1 and 2 Epistles of Peter, the three Epistles of John, and the Epistle of Jude (Minneapolis, Minnesota; Augsburg Publishing House, 1966) 71.

[3] See Psalm 34:8

[4] See also Hebrews 5:11; 1 Cor. 3:1, ff.

[5] Dennis R. Edwards, The Story of God Bible Commentary, 1 Peter (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 2017) 79.

“Be Holy” 1 Peter 1:13-21

“Living Hope”

A Sermon Series Through 1 Peter

“Be Holy”

1 Peter 1:13-21

Introduction

The Christians that Peter is writing to are scattered because of what he calls the Dispersion. Their being pushed out seems to be because of their following Jesus’ teachings. They are described as “elect” and in v. 3 “born again to a living hope.” Chosen or set apart to be changed and have a relationship with God. When a person becomes a Christian, they begin to break away from societal norms, they become citizens of another country. The traditions they once held, they no longer conform to – they become strangers to the world.

In today’s text Peter is directing Christians to be holy (set apart). Which will cause them to become ever further separated and dispersed from the world’s culture.

Exodus 3:1-2 “Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush . . . (v. 5 ) “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” What made this ground holy, and the surrounding ground not holy? It is the manifested presence of God in that place that made it holy – God chose to have his presence manifest there (in the burning bush). Within the heart of the believer is a plot of land where God wants to manifest His presence. But there has to a “removing of the sandals,” on that plot of land.

The Command For Holiness In the Believer’s Life (vv. 13-16)

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

In the previous verses (vv. 3-12) Peter has explained to us that we have a salvation and inheritance waiting for us in eternity, therefore . . . there is a conclusion that we should reach as a result of Peter’s words. We are not to just have hope, but that hope should lead to action (a living hope) – show that hope has been given to you. (v. 13) we are to set our hope on grace.

“preparing your minds for action,” literally to gird up one’s loins in the mind.[1] This was a first century practice where you would gather the loose material of your clothing and free it from your feet, by tying it around your waster, so that your feet would free to fight.[2] In Exodus when Moses gives the people God’s instructions for the Passover, they were to eat the Passover meal with their clothing girded up, a staff in their hand, and shoes on their feet – all actions steps of being ready to move at a moments notice (Ex. 12:11).

Peter is saying take action, in preparation of a fight, specifically in your mind – get your mind ready for some deep thinking. Mind meaning “the faculty of understanding, of seeing through a thing.”[3] For the Christian, the mind is fighting against worry, doubt, hate, unforgiveness, jealousy, impurity – all these things that enter into our mind. The Holy Spirit doing His work of sanctification (1 Peter 1:2); if our minds hold on to these things, it keeps our minds distracted from God’s purpose and intent.

“being sober-minded,” Don’t do anything that will distract you from, or cause you to lose clarity of the grace that we have through Jesus. The believer is able to see the world and its situations without the crippling affects of worry, fear, or sinful thoughts that cloud God’s revealed truth.

Hope is faith looking to the future believing that God will do what He said He would do. It is what Hebrews 6:19 calls this hope, “an anchor for our soul.” Our hope finds its anchor in the mercy and grace of God. When Christ returns or we meet Him in eternity, our hope in His grace if secure because God always keeps His Word, Romans 10:9 “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Our thoughts are to be focused and prepared on how it is only by God’s grace that we are saved. Grace is where “salvation is freely given by God to underserving sinners.” Think about God’s grace (the freely given forgiveness of your sin).

Drunk people staggering around in long robes around their feet are not good at fighting or doing hard labor. What do Christians do that cause them to fail to prepare their minds? How are they drunk-minded? Why would they not think about God’s grace? V. 14 helps us understand – we revert to the thoughts and actions of when we were not saved by God’s grace.

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

In 1 Peter 1:21 was learn that believers have a living hope, and “that hope is nurtured through deliberate action.”[4] Peter was saying that the Christian’s mind and how we understand the world around us, and what is truth, does not conform to the world’s mold. The world is trying to fit you into a mold, Peter says, your old passions will try to pull you back into a mold. That breaking away from the mold takes effort.

Paul says something very similar is Romans 12:1-2 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Being Holy Begins With Your Mind.

Obedience to God begins with the mind, a proper understanding of God’s will – then it moves to our bodies; action taking place. The right actions resulting from a mindset change is holiness. He quotes Leviticus 11:44, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”[5]

God is described as being holy, and there is an expectation that His followers would also be holy. “Just as God is different from the world, so are we as His children and heirs of the inheritance set before us in heaven, to be different from the world.”[6] For God, holy means separateness; He is separate from all of creation. It also means His moral perfection. His ways are morally pure and right. When His people violate the truth of Scripture God’s moral character cannot refrain from expressing His displeasure in judgement.

God has revealed certain attributes about Himself. Because we are his children there is an expectation that we mirror/emulate Him (to be like Him). For example, these would be things like holiness, love, patience, merciful, forgiving, etc. and then there are attributes that we will never be able to duplicate; eternality, omniscience, omnipresence, etc.

In the beginning God created all that exists and after each day of creation He said, “it is good.” The creation and its’ order is good because it flows from God’s moral character. Genesis 3 describes the fall of mankind, when sin came into the world. With that fall God’s created order was corrupted and mankind sins against God. But what makes it sin? Because it violates God’s moral order, His character.

Whereas God created Adam and Eve’s marriage perfect, now there is shame and hiding themselves from each other. Where siblings love each other, now brothers kill each other. Whereas mankind knew God personally and have a close relationship with Him, after the fall they worship the creation instead of the Creator. Etc. All of creation was corrupted – so now there has to a pulling away from that corruption, a mind re-set, an re-aligning ourselves with God and His moral character.

Marriage is good, family is good – adultery is bad because it perverts God’ creation and violates God’s moral character. When we don’t separate from the world and live in it’s fallen state we are rebelling against God’s order of creation and His moral character.

Because we are fallen and sinful, our heart’s desire this world and its fallen state, we are conformed, to those passions, and we are ignorant of how those things are wrong, evil, bad, and destructive (because it’s all we have ever known), Peter says, don’t be “conformed to the passions of your former ignorance.” The fallen world doesn’t know its’ fallen – so God steps in and reveals Himself and the truth of His ways to the world. We must separate ourselves from our previous sinful lives by following God’s revelation of Himself to us (His Word).

Another word for conform is fashion, “the act of assuming an outward appearance patterned after some certain thing, an appearance or expression which does not come from and is not representative of one’s inmost and true nature.”[7]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8xJ13pAZNw mimicking something on the outside, that you are not truly on the inside. The Christian must stop putting on the costume of their old self in order to blend in – it is a caricature of how you used to be.

One approach is to focus on the exterior – The Amish approach to avoid the appearance of the world. All their clothes are distinctively different than the outside world (no buttons, zippers, and identical colors). They avoid electricity, cars, and farm with animals only because those things represent the world. The men wear their facial hair and women wear their hair a particular way all in an effort to avoid a worldy appearance. But Peter’s focus begins on the inside; your mind being renewed, and how you think, your understanding of the will of God, that then leads to outward change in behavior.

Many Christians fall into the trap of simply adding or taking something away from their wardrobe, or putting a sticker on their car, or posting a picture of some religious activity – but not doing the hard work of “preparing their minds,” “setting their minds,” #quiet time, #alone with Jesus, #coffee and the Word – mind renewal is not an aesthetic. Don’t focus on how the cup is arranged in the picture, or making sure to show your highlighted pages, but gird up your loins of your mind and get serious about getting sin out of your life. (from ignorance to enlightenment).

The Reason For Holiness In the Believer’s Life (vv. 17-21)

17 And if (since) you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

(v. 17) “And if (since) you call on him as Father,” – It is not just to call God our Father, but it is to invoke His name, “to call on” as in to ask Him something, as in prayer.[8] A foundational requirement of a follower of God is Exodus 20:7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”

We are His children; we represent Him and carry the responsibility of representing Him in this world. It is only right that we seek to please Him with our lives, and represent him is such a way that gives Him glory. It is not right to ask God to answer our prayers, while not seeking to know His will (or to be out of His will in sin).[9] John 14:13 “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

The story of the prodigal son says, “And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.” Anyone who heard Jesus’ story would be aghast at the son’s rude and disrespectful behavior. Is it right to approach God (who is a good Father), ask for something being His child, and then live in such a way to bring discredit to His name and live outside of His will and plan for your life?

(v. 18) Because you know that you have been “ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers,” – to be ransomed is to be bought back, usually in the context of slavery. We were slaves to sin, chained with no way to free ourselves. God sent His Only Son, Jesus to pay what was required in order to free us. The ransom Jesus paid was His own blood (not gold or silver).

The “futile ways” is our sin nature that we inherit from Adam. This sin nature is passed generation to generation – but the slavery to sin has been broken. You can still sin (if you choose), but now it is a choice. Life before Christ is a life living for something that doesn’t match how you were created. We were created to have a relationship God, and to bring Him glory – when we live for ourselves and try to live in this world’s ways it is pointless, never satisfying, and empty (futile).

(v. 17) But we have been bought back with “the precious blood of Christ,” – Is there any amount of gold and silver that can ransom a human soul? No, something more precious is needed. Is animal’s blood enough, or their life an equal exchange? No, that only covers a season, then another animal is needed, and then another, will be required – and that only covers the sin over, it does not remove it. The animals blood covers the sin, they are still separated from God because of their sin. Something more precious, of more worth is needed. In fact, we can’t find it on earth, it had to be brought to us from heaven.

As the old hymn says, “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow; no other fount I know; nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

(v. 20) Knowing that sin would enter the world, the plan has always been for Jesus’ blood to be shed for our redemption, “foreknown before the foundation of the world.” God’s plan for the redemption of the world was finished, accomplished in Jesus’ appearance.

So, as we understand the great price that was paid for our freedom, we then “conduct ourselves with fear,” better reverential fear. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Our mind is focused on the grace of God, our habits are holy, and our faith is anchored in grace as we reverently walk before God carrying his name and anticipating our inheritance.

Holiness is not just separation from the world but it is also a devotion and love of God that then drives us away from the world (to willfully abandon what the world offers.) God does what is consistent with His nature, we grow in holiness as we align our actions with His nature (truthfulness, love, grace, mercy, etc.)

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[1] R. C. Sproul, An Expositional Commentary, 1 Peter (Sanford, Florida; Ligonier Ministries, 2019) 26.

[2] Similar to a woman handing another person her ear rings, or guy rolling up his sleeves.

[3] Archibald Thomas Robertson, Word Pictures In The New Testament (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1933) 87. See also Matthew 22:37.

[4] Dennis R. Edwards, The Story of God Bible Commentary, 1 Peter (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 2017) 55.

[5] See also Matthew 5:48.

[6] Sproul, 30.

[7] Kenneth S. Wuest, First Peter in the Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan; WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1960) 37.

[8] Greg W. Forbes, Exegetical Guide to the New Testament, 1 Peter (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2014)

[9] See Prodigal Son

“Hope for the Chosen Stranger” 1 Peter 1:1-12

“Living Hope”

A Sermon Series Through 1 Peter

“Hope for the Chosen Stranger”

1 Peter 1:1-12

Introduction

For centuries men have tried to run a mile in four minutes. It has been attempted for thousands of years. The Romans and Greeks even tied athletes to bulls so they would run faster and develop stronger muscles, but in the end no one was able to complete the mile in four minutes.

It was simply deemed impossible, and people concluded that the physiological makeup of human beings prohibited them from this feat. In a well known slice of history, one man shattered millennia of belief when he did in fact run the mile in four minutes in 1954.

Roger Bannister finally did what people had tried to do for thousands of years, giving people a new reference about what was possible. Amazingly, once people had a new belief because of his model, within the next twelve months some two dozen others were able to break the four minute mile as well; something that today is a common occurrence. It is remarkable how everything changes when someone opens to us the truth.

Indeed, both can be demanding and both require that we push ourselves to the limit so that our muscles can more fully develop and our endurance increases. And in the end we will be able to look back and see how far God has brought us and be amazed as we can testify that, “With God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26).

“what the Christian life is meant to be in times of stress.”[1]

The Author and His Audience (vv. 1-2)

Peter,

In Matthew 4:18 we see Peter’s calling to be one of Jesus’ disciples, “While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he (Jesus) saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”2 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” Leaving his fishing business behind, he and his brother were with Jesus all through his earthly ministry. John 1:42 says, “Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).” Jesus looked at this man and could see that he would be a rock for the faith. Matthew 16:18, “upon this rock I will build my church.”

Mark 8:31, “And he (Jesus) began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” The book of 1 Peter was written to churches who were suffering because of their following Jesus’ teachings. Peter has grown in his understanding of what it means to be a Christian.

Jesus predicted that Peter would deny him three times, and when the rooster crowed he knew Jesus had been correct. After the resurrection, Jesus came to Peter and after asking Peter three times, “do you love me? John 21:17-19 “Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Peter was with Jesus all the way to His going up into heaven, and then was commissioned to go and tell the gospel, to “go therefore and make disciples.” His relationship with Jesus changed over the years of being with Him. The words, “follow me,” mean the same thing as when he is now an apostle – but to “follow me,” changes as we walk with the Lord. By the time the events in Acts took place, Peter gives moving sermons without hesitation declaring Jesus the Son of the living God, performs miracles, has visions, helps the early church advance, and his writings are included in the canon of the Bible.

an apostle of Jesus Christ,

“an apostle is an emissary who operates with full authority of the one whom he is sent.”[2] Peter was one of the twelve disciples who were apart of a group Jesus personally called to be his disciples. These men held the authority of apostles, and represented Jesus and His teachings. Jesus gave them “the keys of the kingdom of heaven,” judicial authority to “bind and loose” in the church (Matt. 16:19), and the responsibility to “feed” or “shepherd” Jesus’ followers (John 21:15-17).

In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians, it was agreed that Paul had been “entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews” (Gal. 2:7).

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood[3]:

“Who are elect exiles” – the chosen strangers, “these believers are estranged from their communities because of their distinctive Christian lifestyles.”[4] These elect exiles are scattered “the Dispersion” into various cities in Asia Minor (Pontus, Galatia, Asia, etc.) because of persecution of some kind (we are not told what it is). It does not seem to be persecution from the state, instead it is a result of the culture/the local people don’t like the Christian lifestyle (Christians in society) and so are pushing them out.[5]

What is it about these Christians that would cause society to want them to go away? They are described as “elect” and later in v. 3 “born again to a living hope.” Chosen or set apart to be changed and have a relationship with God. When a person becomes a Christian, they begin to break away from societal norms, they become citizens of another country. The traditions they once held, they no longer conform to – they become strangers to the world.

(v. 2) “according to the foreknowledge of God,” – foreknowledge[6], “refers to the past act of putting limits upon something with the present result that some certain thing has been appointed or decreed.”[7] The people are suffering, but God is not caught off guard. Just as Jesus’ suffering and going to the cross was part of God’s plan, their suffering is known by God and He is using it for their benefit, and for the furtherance of the gospel.

Salvation is a work of the Trinity, the Father’s foreknowledge (see above), The Spirit’s sanctification (sanctify means “to set apart”), and the Son’s blood being sprinkled. It is the Father’s “sovereign plan to save His people. That redemption is accomplished by Christ and applied to people’s lives by the Holy Spirit.”[8] This plan for our lives doesn’t stop at salvation, but God works in our lives and lays out a path for us.

God’s foreknowledge God is an ordained plan for our lives, complete with boundaries and direction. Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

“for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood,” In the OT on the Day of Atonement, when reconciliation was made for the people of God, the blood of slain animals was taken by the high priest into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled on the mercy seat. It was a symbol of the covering of their sins by the blood sacrifice. When Jesus died on the cross his blood once and for all covered our sin.

With Salvation there is the expectation of obedience.

Exodus 24:7-8 “Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” 8 And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” Peter is referencing the OT people’s pledge to obedience to God’s word who were then sprinkled with blood. NT believers are also called to be obedient to God’s Word, but we are not sprinkled with the blood of animals, but with Christ’s blood. “God is the ultimate source (of our salvation), activated by the Spirit, for the express purpose of/for obedience.”[9]

The obedience that is referred to first is the obedience of following the Holy Spirit’s instruction to have faith in the blood of Christ – to follow the Word of God who became flesh (John 1:1,14). Then as we are sanctified by the Spirit we continue to grow in following God’s Word. We are set apart for God’s kingdom as his children, yet we remain in this fallen world which rejects God.

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

What the Christian Life Means In Times of Stress (vv. 3-12)

A Living Hope (vv. 3-5)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance[10] that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Peter gives a blessing to God, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!” – a short doxology, a praise. Why would Peter just stop in mid-sentence and praise God? We are to bless God because we have a “living hope.” When we think of hope it is usually about something we want to happen in the future, but we are not sure if it will happen. As in “I hope they have cheesecake as a dessert option.” But when the Bible uses the word, hope, it is a certainty that will take place in the future. Our hope of eternal life is living and certain because Jesus is living, resurrected from the dead.

This living hope carries more than just living (as in alive), but also actively living, an energizing hope, an optimistic attitude, one that produces excitement and movement.[11] The hope we have in our salvation moves us to action.

A living hope affects how we see the world around us and how we encounter life’s struggles, Proverbs 4:18-19 “But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. 19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.”

Peter then tells us of an inheritance, that is waiting for us in heaven. The inheritance is described as, “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.” Because we are the children of God, co-heirs with Christ, we have an inheritance that will never go down in value, substance, or purity, and it can never be taken away.

“by God’s power are being guarded through faith,” – Is there anything that break into heaven and steal our salvation, or somehow dimmish its value, or stain its beauty? No, God himself, guards our salvation – He will reveal it “in the last time.” By our faith in God we are able to understand God’s power – the power that guards our inheritance.

But what is the inheritance? “We received justification at the moment we believed. We are receiving sanctification, namely victory over sin and growth as a Christian life now. We will yet receive that part of salvation which awaits us in Glory.”[12] This is glorification – we will inherit a glorified body in which all things are made perfect.

We Can Have Joy In the Midst of Stress Because We have Eternal Life and An Inheritance.

Joy In The Midst of Trials (vv. 6-9)

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

(v. 6) “In this you rejoice,” – The central theme that runs through 1 Peter is that followers of Jesus, who are suffering (because of the Dispersion) should have hope. Peter is writing to comfort and encourage them. These trials they are enduring are temporary and they have a purpose. God is going to use this persecution against the followers of Jesus for their ultimate well-being.

(v. 7) “so that the tested genuineness of your faith . . . may be found to result in praise and glory and honor” God uses the pain and stress of this life to purify and strengthen our faith. The reason is, “that the trial of our faith might result in praise and honor at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”[13] The result is when Christ is revealed our praise and glory and honor of His name will be true and pure. That process (God’s sanctifying work in your life) is more precious than gold (or any earthly measurement of value).

1 John 3:2-3 “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”

We Experience Joy Because it is founded upon the promises of God

not Our Current Life Situation.

God values humanity so much that he was willing to give His only Son so that it could be redeemed – Your soul has immense value to God. Matthew 16:26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” The economy of God values human souls and having a relationship with Him incredibly high – how do you value your own soul? But just as gold is refined so is the human soul.

You value your current comfort; God values your soul’s development and how you end up. “Just as fire separates gold from useless dross, so God uses suffering and trials to separate true faith from superficial profession.”[14]

We Can Have Joy In the Midst of Stress Because God Is At Work In Our Soul.

The Prophetic Witness of the Christian Hope (10-12)

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.

This idea of salvation was not something new; the prophets of all throughout the OT spoke of God’s grace, salvation, and future glory. But they didn’t know when the Messiah would arrive. They had prophesied about where Jesus would be born, how he would live His life, even the details of the crucifixion. They knew Jesus would suffer.

Those Christians suffering as a result of the Dispersion, have experienced God’s grace and salvation through Jesus. But just as Jesus had suffered, they too, as His followers must also suffer – but His suffering led to Hid glory, and our suffering in His name (or because of our following His teachings) will lead to our being more like Christ.

12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

The prophets looked on and marveled at God’s promises, and the angels also look at on and marvel at what God is doing for human beings. Angels are not participants in salvation but spectators of it. Angels marvel at how once depraved creatures far form God, now live holy lives glorifying God. The angels delight in looking on to what God is doing on earth, and when one sinner repents, there is cheering in heaven, “Luke 15:10 “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Also, the prophets of old were painting a prophetic picture of Jesus and salvation over generations, and their ministry “were serving not themselves but you,” They were pointing the way for Jesus to fulfill their prophecy, and their words were for the future generations to have faith in Jesus because of their revelations. Today we are blessed to have the complete revelation of who Jesus is.

We Can Have Joy in the Midst of Stress Because We Have The Complete Salvation Picture.

Conclusion

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[1] J. Ramsey Michaels, Word Biblical Themes, 1 Peter (Dallas, Texas; Word Publishing, 1989) x.

[2] Greg W. Forbes, Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament, 1 Peter (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman & Holman, 2014) 11.

[3] See also Ezekiel 36:25-27.

[4] Forbes, 12.

[5] Leonhard Goppelt, A Commentary of 1 Peter (Grand Rapids, Michigan; William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1993) 20.

[6] Not knowledge beforehand.

[7] Kenneth S. Wuest, First Peter in the Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan; WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1960) 16.

[8] R. C. Sproul, An Expositional Commentary, 1-2 Peter (Sanford, Florida; Ligonier Ministries, 2019) 7.

[9] Forbes, 13.

[10] See also Matthew 6:19-21.

[11] Wuest, 20.

[12] Wuest, 22.

[13] Wuest, 25.

[14] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, 1 Peter (Chicago, Illinois; Moody Publishers, 2004) 44.

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