Temple Baptist Church - 8-7-2022
1 Peter 1:1-3
Introduction: I want to begin a mini-series this morning from 1 Peter, chapter one. I preached through the Book of 1 Peter six years ago and am not going to preach the same things nor the same way. I will spend several weeks in chapter one of the book.
A. The subject matter of this series is remembering during tribulations, trials, and troubles. With that said, let me give a little historical background on the book. There are several things that we need to understand at this point as to get the proper biblical interpretation. I will spend this morning on the historical reason for 1 and 2 Peter, along with Hebrews, James, and Jude as the historical setting is the key to understanding what Peter is conveying to these suffering Christians.
1. Peter states his Credentials. The Author of the Book: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. Of all the apostles, Peter was the most well-known and highly revered.
a) When the Bible lists the entirety of the apostles, Peter is always named first. When the Bible lists the “inner three” (Peter, James, and John), it always lists Peter first. As he opens the letter to the Jewish Believers, Peter (not bragging) reminds these Jews of both his person—a godly follower of Christ and his position—a God called apostle of Christ.
b) Throughout the transitional books of the Bible (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts) it is Peter who stands out first because of his love and zeal for Christ. When our Lord came for the disciples after His resurrection, He said, “Go tell Peter.” (John 21:15-17) It was Peter who asked the question: “ Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68) On the day of Pentecost, it was Peter who preached Christ Jesus and 3,000 men were saved. This lends authority to Book.
2. Peter states his Cause. “to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” The confusion caused by great persecution, dispersion, and relocation of God’s people. Hardship that causes questions.
1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,”
3. To whom 1 Peter was written. 1 Peter is one of the Hebrew Christian Epistles written to the dispersed Jews who had converted to Christianity. These Jews had come to a saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ in a time when Israel as a nation had rejected their Messiah.
John 1:11-12 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
4. Because of their conversion and Israel’s rejection, they became enemies living among their own people! These dispersed Jews were born and raised in Israel. Because Christ Jesus always makes a difference (a change that is recognizable), they stood out like “a sore thumb.”
Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
5. They could not live in peace in Israel because of the religious zealots (Pharisees and Sadducees) who were responsible for the crucifixion of Christ:
Mark 15:12-15 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? (13) And they cried out again, Crucify him. (14) Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. (15) And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.
6. They could not live in peace in Israel because of Saul of Tarsus: Our Lord, in Matthew, chapter 28; Mark, chapter 16; and Acts, chapter 1 told the believers in Jerusalem to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, but they did not leave Jerusalem and carry out our Lord’s command. People normally call this the Great Commission, but I call it the Great Commandment.
Acts 9:1-2 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, (2) And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Acts 26:9-11 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. (10) Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. (11) And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
Galatians 1:13-14 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: (14) And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
7. “to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” God raised up an “instrument of persecution,” Saul of Tarsus to bring about obedience in the believers at Jerusalem and all Israel. Saul scattered them throughout Asia Minor.
Now, they have left all and moved into the “mouth of the lion,” the Roman Empire where the emperor was “god” and would not allow anyone to worship any other. Once again, they were hated because they were Christians and would suffer the consequences.
Also, they would suffer because they were Jews living among the Gentiles. Out of sorts and out of place. The most hated race of people on earth are the Jews as they prayed down the blood of Christ upon themselves and also their children.
B. We have seen to whom the epistle was written (dispersed Jews) so now we will look at the reason for these Hebrew Christian Epistles.
1. We cannot comprehend their suffering, but they paid a price for coming to Christ as their Messiah and Saviour.
a. The price was horrific! Paul, in his Epistle of Hebrews referenced this:
Hebrews 11:36-40 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: (37) They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (38) (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. (39) And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: (40) God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
a. These people were dying for their faith!
1 Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: (7) That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
2. Here is the message for today: The result of such suffering caused these “strangers scattered” to doubt!
a. They doubted their relationship with God. How could their God, the Lord Jesus Christ, allow His people to suffer such atrocities?
b. They doubted their relation ship with Israel. These Jews were now outcasts among their own families and friends; they were outcasts in the nation of their birth and heritage.
c. The transition from the Old to the New Covenant caused them to doubt. All their lives, they lived in the shadow of the Temple. Their lives revolved around the worship of thousands of years, the worship of atonement. Paul spent much time in Hebrews explaining why what they had now was “better” (the key word of Hebrews) than what they had under the Old Covenant.
d. They needed to “remember” some things.
3. Times often get spiritually hard for God’s children as tribulations, trials, testing, and troubles come to us.
a. These things can cause doubt in the hearts and minds of God’s children when, despite of the circumstances we are so secure and blessed in Christ Jesus.
b. Often, in the midst of the troubles of this life, we need to just pause and remember some things! Peter reminds these suffering believers of some things that would anchor them in the storms of persecution. REMIND ME, DEAR LORD!
Conclusion: Next week, we will begin with what Peter called to their remembrance as these same things will anchor us in the storms of our lives.
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