September 10, 2023
Morning Service

Last week we set the table for this study of I Peter by looking back at Peter’s journey that brought him to this point.  He had the privilege to walk with Jesus and experience many miraculous things along the way.  Many of these miracles were very personal to him.  He saw fish appear in his nets out of nowhere, his mother-in-law was healed, he saw Jesus transformed into His heavenly body, and he even walked on water!  He had great successes as he proclaimed Jesus as “the Christ the Son of the Living God” when Jesus asked him “Who do you say that I am!”  He became the leader of the Apostles preaching the first sermon on Pentecost and was the one God chose to invite the Gentiles to partake of the Gospel message of salvation. 

All of these things however did not make him perfect; he still had his share of failures.  He tried to talk Jesus out of going to the cross and of course he will always be known for his three denials of Jesus.  The good news for him, and us, is that he did not allow his failures to destroy Him but allowed the Holy Spirit to use them and mold him.  In his weakness he was made strong.  He came to realize a very key point in his relationship with God, he can’t do it alone; he needed help.  He needed a Savior.  We too have to come to that point as well as a part of our repentance.  We must come to grips with our faults and failures and cry out to God for help because we can’t do this alone.  In doing this we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do things beyond our abilities and Peter is a great example of this for us.  When we fail that is not the place to quit but that is the time to own your mistake, confess it, repent of it, ask forgiveness, and then move on to better things.  As we begin this letter you can feel the gratitude, love and respect Peter has for his Savoir and we now know where that comes from.

1Pe 1:1-2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, (2) elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

  In Acts chapter 8, persecution arose against Christians and many fled Israel which seemed to be a dark day for the faith.  But God did what God does and used that persecution to spread the Gospel Message through that dispersion to the whole world.  Peter writes to these believers who are “pilgrims” in countries that were not their true homes.  Peter reminds his readers that they were chosen (elected) by God, set apart for His use, for such a time as this to obey their commission to spread the Good News of Jesus where ever they were.  They were where they were for a purpose.  We too are pilgrims in this land (this world is not our home) and we were chosen by God, set apart for His use for such a time as this.  Don’t lose sight of that and get too comfortable in this world but be busy about our Father’s business growing where you are planted and being the Light we are called to be.

1Pe 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, (5) who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

            Peter, as we know from his journey, knew his salvation was not earned or deserved and now he shares the joy of that knowledge with us.  God blessed us with a “living hope” according to “His abundant mercy” not our perfection in obedience.  Our salvation is bought through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead and our faith alone.  This “living hope” is the gift of eternal life.  Notice, though we enjoy walking with Jesus in this life, our inheritance is “incorruptible, undefiled, does not fade away, and is reserved in heaven for you.”  We are wise in grabbing onto eternal life which we can never lose and to let go of this life is which we could never keep.  Not even our enemy can steal our salvation as Peter says, we are “kept by the power of God through faith.”  That is how we get back up after our failures and move on, by believing our reservation in heaven is confirmed and will not be revoked.  In John’s gospel Jesus says this about us who have chosen to follow Him.

 

Joh 10:29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.

 It is this fact that our future inheritance is safe and sure that we, along with Peter, can use that as our motivation to be an overcomer in the many trials and persecutions we will face in this life.

1Pe 1:6-9 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, (7) that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, (8) whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, (9) receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

            Jesus told the disciples and us to expect persecutions in choosing to follow Him (John 15:20) and Peter here reminds us of that as well.  Our faith can be made stronger by our failures, but also it can be increased by our “various trials.”  Just as gold is purified by fire, burning all the impurities out of it, our faith is purified that way as well.  Our faith is “tested by fire” through the many difficult things we face in this fallen world.  In reality every difficulty we face allows us an opportunity to build our faith by fully trusting in God to use them to mold us into the children He has designed us to be.  Today, in my life, and here in our entire congregation, I see many of us experiencing these trials first hand.  There is a whole lot going on in my life at this time and it can be overwhelming.  I find myself at a fork in the road with a decision to be made.  If I really believe and trust God, then I will act by faith and move on according to His Word and trusting Him to lead me; following faithfully.  That is the narrow road that is more difficult.  I could choose the wide path and throw aside all that God has for me and do what I want and just quit.  I choose to press on.  Peter exhorts us to use the trials as opportunities to allow God to work in us to bring “praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”  The motivation is in my love for Him as “I believe, and rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” that one day my faith will be rewarded with the salvation of my soul.  All the pain and effort I endure in this life will be worth it in the next.  An eternal home in which I will walk and talk with the One who died for me.  Nothing can take that living hope away from me; not cancer, not financial troubles, not marital troubles, not addictions, and not even death can take away the hope I have that heaven is my reward. Paul told the Roman church:

Rom 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

            “This world is not my home; I am just passing through.  My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue!”  Rejoice in the fact that in the end we win!  Hold on to that when there is nothing else left.  There is something much better than this life awaiting us and we are called to endure the difficult journey to arrive there safely bringing praise, glory, and honor to God along the way.  Hold tightly to your living hope!  Peter reminds us of the special time we live in as we are privileged to know God’s plan along our journey.  The OT prophets only saw this hope in the future.

 

1Pe 1:10-12 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, (11) searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.  (12)  To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

            These OT prophets were persecuted as well, but were not allowed to see and truly understand this plan of salvation.  Peter was writing to many who had firsthand seen Jesus and their faith came through that experience.  We live in an age in which we must walk by faith and not sight, but we have the revelation of the Holy Scriptures and through the Holy Spirit to know the Truth and the Truth sets us free (John 8:32).  That is the definition of faith as it is the substance of the things hoped for and the evidence of the things not seen.  Our living hope is not by sight, but by faith.  Peter encourages us today to fully trust God at His Word and, even when trials and persecutions come, believe that there is something better coming.  So I exhort you today as the cares of this world seem to be swallowing you up, rejoice for Jesus has overcome this world! (John 16:33) Live each and every day with the goal of bringing praise, honor and glory to the One who purchased our salvation.  Set your eyes on our future home and press forward with each day God blesses you with looking to the future which is our “living hope!”

 

Heavenly Father open our hearts and minds and build our faith that these words we read are true and Your promises will come to fruition.  Allow the Holy Spirit to empower us to be overcomers in this world with a constant eye on the world to come.