1 PETER 1:1-12

Reading: Act 4:8-13

Songs:

Theme: understanding what we have in Christ

INTRODUCTION

A. Person with a serious medical condition or other type of serious ailment.

B. The context of this letter reveals that Peter had written to “brethren who were under the perils of persecution and were facing serious trials of tribulations.” [^[1] page 3] Their faith was under attack and they were suffering (1Pe 1:6; 2:21; 3:14, 17; 4:12-13, 16, 19; 5:10). Peter had written to comfort, encourage and instruct them.

C. Peter had written the letter from “Babylon” and with him was “Marcus” (1Pe 5:13). “Marcus” was with Paul in Rome when the letter to the Colossians was written (Col 4:10). This all sets the time period somewhere between 64 A.D. to 67 A.D. which was around the time of Nero’s persecution of the Christians. In encouraging them to endure Peter wrote to them of the greatness of what they had in Christ. Let’s consider the greatness of what is found only in Christ.

I. GOD’S PROVISION (1:1-5).

The Opening

A. ... to the strangers scattered ... Elect (1:1-2).

KJV

1 ¶ Peter <4074>, an apostle <652> of Jesus <2424> Christ <5547>, to the strangers <3927> scattered <1290> throughout Pontus <4195>, Galatia <1053>, Cappadocia <2587>, Asia <773>, and <2532> Bithynia <978>,

2 Elect <1588> according <2596> to the foreknowledge <4268> of God <2316> the Father <3962>, through <1722> sanctification <38> of the Spirit <4151>, unto <1519> obedience <5218> and <2532> sprinkling <4473> of the blood <129> of Jesus <2424> Christ <5547>: Grace <5485> unto you <5213>, and <2532> peace <1515>, be multiplied <4129> (5684).

Textus Receptus

1 petrov <4074> {N-NSM} apostolov <652> {N-NSM} ihsou <2424> {N-GSM} cristou <5547> {N-GSM} eklektoiv <1588> {A-DPM} parepidhmoiv <3927> {A-DPM} diasporav <1290> {N-GSF} pontou <4195> {N-GSM} galatiav <1053> {N-GSF} kappadokiav <2587> {N-GSF} asiav <773> {N-GSF} kai <2532> {CONJ} biyuniav <978> {N-GSF}

2 kata <2596> {PREP} prognwsin <4268> {N-ASF} yeou <2316> {N-GSM} patrov <3962> {N-GSM} en <1722> {PREP} agiasmw <38> {N-DSM} pneumatov <4151> {N-GSN} eiv <1519> {PREP} upakohn <5218> {N-ASF} kai <2532> {CONJ} rantismon <4473> {N-ASM} aimatov <129> {N-GSN} ihsou <2424> {N-GSM} cristou <5547> {N-GSM} cariv <5485> {N-NSF} umin <5213> {P-2DP} kai <2532> {CONJ} eirhnh <1515> {N-NSF} plhyunyeih <4129> (5684) {V-APO-3S}

1. Peter had written this letter to those he described as:

a. strangers, Strong’s - 3927. parepidhmov PAREPIDEMOS par-ep-id’-ay-mos; from 3844 and the base of 1927; an alien alongside, i.e. a resident foreigner:— pilgrim, stranger.

TDNT-2:64,49; adj AV-pilgrim 2, stranger 1; 3 1) one who comes from a foreign country into a city or land to reside there by the side of the natives 2) a stranger 3) sojourning in a strange place, a foreigner 4) in the NT metaph. in reference to heaven as the native country, one who sojourns on earth

(1) The word describes our residency in reference to the earth.

(2) Elsewhere the people of this residency were described as:

(a) “sojourning here in fear” (1Pe 1:17).

(b) “strangers and pilgrims” (1Pe 2:11).

(c) In his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemene for all his disciples Jesus said that "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world" (Joh17:15-16).

(d) “our citizenship is in heaven” (Php 3:20).

(3) It is a reminder that we are to view ourselves as just passing through this world (cp. Heb 11:13).

(4) The home to which we are directed is not here on the earth but in heaven (cp. Col 3:1-3).

(5) Where do your desire reveal the home is your are seeking?

b. scattered, Strong’s - 1290. diaspora DIASPORA dee-as-por-ah’; from 1289; dispersion, i.e. (specially and concretely) the (converted) Israelite resident in Gentile countries:— (which are) scattered (abroad).

TDNT-2:98,156; n f AV-dispersed 1, scatter abroad 1, scattered 1; 3 1) a scattering, dispersion 1a) of Israelites dispersed among foreign nations 1b) of the Christians scattered abroad among the Gentiles

(1) The “dispersion” was a term given to the Jewish people who had been dispersed to foreign lands during captivities.

(2) James referenced the idea with “twelve tribes” (Jam 1:1).

(3) However, unlike James, in Peter’s letter the article “the” did not appear with “dispersion.”

(4) Therefore, the reference is likely to those Christians who had been dispersed to other lands due to the persecution which had come on the church following the martyrdom of Stephen (Act 8:1, 4; 11:19).

c. elect, Strong’s - 1588. eklektov EKLEKTOS ek-lek-tos’; from 1586; select; by implication, favorite:— chosen, elect.

TDNT-4:181,505; adj AV-elect 16, chosen 7; 23 1) picked out, chosen 1a) chosen by God, 1a1) to obtain salvation through Christ 1a1a) Christians are called "chosen or elect" of God 1a2) the Messiah in called "elect", as appointed by God to the most exalted office conceivable 1a3) choice, select, i.e. the best of its kind or class, excellence preeminent: applied to certain individual Christians

(1) Peter described how the saints were picked by God.

(2) In fact the scriptures describe all Christians as picked out by God.

(3) We were elected “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.”

(a) The “foreknowledge” is a reference to God’s having elected, predestine or previously determined, who would be saved and who would not be saved.

(b) However, most have been taught that the choosing was an “inflexible prearrangement by God, made from eternity, that certain individuals shall be saved and that other persons are just as irrevocably sentenced to condemnation.” [^[2] page 3]

i) The idea that God has chosen or preordained particular people to eternal life and others to eternal damnation (death), is false according to the scriptures.

ii) Such false teaching seeks to remove our personal responsibility in our salvation, leaving it entirely up to God.

iii) It is God who is then at fault for the lost.

iv) It seeks to make God partial and therefore (according to his word) unjust (cp. Rom 3:10, 23; 5:12; 2Pe 3:9; 1Ti 2:3-4; cp. 2Pe 1:10).

(c) Though God did do the choosing before time, before creation, God’s choosing was not arbitrary, at random or of personal whim.

(d) Each person was chosen according to their response to Jesus and his gospel.

i) God did his part for our salvation in Jesus.

ii) We must do our part in properly responding (according to our free will) to the gospel

(e) God elected that all who respond properly to his word to be chosen for salvation.

(f) Conversely, he elected all those who would not respond properly to the his word to not be saved.

(g) It is the same manner in which the Spirit works.

(4) We were elected “through sanctification of the Spirit.”

(a) sanctification, Strong’s - 38. agiasmov HAGIASMOS hag-ee-as-mos’; from 37; properly, purification, i.e. (the state) purity; concretely (by Hebraism) a purifier:— holiness, sanctification.

AV-holiness 5, sanctification 5; 10 1) consecration, purification 2) the effect of consecration 2a) sanctification of heart and life

Thayer Definition:

1) consecration, purification 2) the effect of consecration 2a) sanctification of heart and life

Part of Speech: noun masculine

A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G37

Citing in TDNT: 1:113, 14

(b) The sanctification comes through the truth (Joh 17:17,19; 2Th 2:13).

(5) We were also elected “unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.”

(a) Jesus became to all who obey, the source of salvation (Heb 5:9).

(b) As we continue in obedience, his blood sacrifice continues to cleans us (1Jo 1:6-10).

(6) Therefore, we can see that the whole Godhead is involved in our salvation.

2. For the elect, those found in Christ, those who live faithful to his word, there is always grace from God and peace between them.

The Great Salvation

B. God ... hath begotten us again unto a lively hope ... To an inheritance (1:3-5).

3 ¶ Blessed <2128> be the God <2316> and <2532> Father <3962> of our <2257> Lord <2962> Jesus <2424> Christ <5547>, which <3588> according to <2596> his <846> abundant <4183> mercy <1656> hath begotten <313> <0> us <2248> again <313> (5660) unto <1519> a lively <2198> (5723) hope <1680> by <1223> the resurrection <386> of Jesus <2424> Christ <5547> from <1537> the dead <3498>, {abundant: Gr. much}

4 To <1519> an inheritance <2817> incorruptible <862>, and <2532> undefiled <283>, and <2532> that fadeth not away <263>, reserved <5083> (5772) in <1722> heaven <3772> for <1519> you <5209>, {for you: or, for us}

3 euloghtov <2128> {A-NSM} o <3588> {T-NSM} yeov <2316> {N-NSM} kai <2532> {CONJ} pathr <3962> {N-NSM} tou <3588> {T-GSM} kuriou <2962> {N-GSM} hmwn <2257> {P-1GP} ihsou <2424> {N-GSM} cristou <5547> {N-GSM} o <3588> {T-NSM} kata <2596> {PREP} to <3588> {T-ASN} polu <4183> {A-ASN} autou <846> {P-GSM} eleov <1656> {N-ASN} anagennhsav <313> (5660) {V-AAP-NSM} hmav <2248> {P-1AP} eiv <1519> {PREP} elpida <1680> {N-ASF} zwsan <2198> (5723) {V-PAP-ASF} di <1223> {PREP} anastasewv <386> {N-GSF} ihsou <2424> {N-GSM} cristou <5547> {N-GSM} ek <1537> {PREP} nekrwn <3498> {A-GPM}

4 eiv <1519> {PREP} klhronomian <2817> {N-ASF} afyarton <862> {A-ASF} kai <2532> {CONJ} amianton <283> {A-ASF} kai <2532> {CONJ} amaranton <263> {A-ASF} tethrhmenhn <5083> (5772) {V-RPP-ASF} en <1722> {PREP} ouranoiv <3772> {N-DPM} eiv <1519> {PREP} II hmav <2248> {P-1AP} II umav <5209> {P-2AP} II

1. God:

a. “according to his abundant mercy”

(a) Our salvation is not based on our own righteousness (cf. Rom 3:23; 1Jo 1:8, 10).

(b) It is based on God’s mercy which was offered even while we were yet sinners (cf. Rom 5:6, 8).

b. “hath begotten us again”

(1) “unto a lively hope”

(a) Hope is composed of two parts: desire and expectation.

i) It is possible to desire something without having any hope of getting it. For instance, you might desire to build up a savings of million dollars by the time your fifty, but you do not really have any hope of doing so.

ii) Also, you might expect some things to happen but not really hope that they would come to pass. When April 15th comes, every American expects to have to pay income taxes, but it surely is not something he desires to do.

(b) However, our living hope involves both desire for it and expectation of it ( 1Co 9:10).

(2) “To an inheritance”

(a) incorruptible

(b) undefiled

(d) reserved

5 Who <3588> are kept <5432> (5746) by <1722> the power <1411> of God <2316> through <1223> faith <4102> unto <1519> salvation <4991> ready <2092> to be revealed <601> (5683) in <1722> the last <2078> time <2540>.

5 touv <3588> {T-APM} en <1722> {PREP} dunamei <1411> {N-DSF} yeou <2316> {N-GSM} frouroumenouv <5432> (5746) {V-PPP-APM} dia <1223> {PREP} pistewv <4102> {N-GSF} eiv <1519> {PREP} swthrian <4991> {N-ASF} etoimhn <2092> {A-ASF} apokalufyhnai <601> (5683) {V-APN} en <1722> {PREP} kairw <2540> {N-DSM} escatw <2078> {A-DSM}

2. Peter wrote that the elect are “kept by the power of God.”

a. kept, Strong’s - 5432. frourew PHROUREO froo-reh