Introduction 

• 1^st – The author…
  • 1^st – A FISHERMAN…
    • There is little argument among scholars that PETER was the author…
      • But it is worth taking a moment to look at who PETER was…
      • FISHERMAN – along with his brother ANDREW – from the city of Capernaum…
      • Peter was one of the inner THREE – Peter / James / John – ONLY they got to see…
      • Jesus revive the little girl – Mark 5:37 / Mount of Transfiguration – Matthew 17:1
      • Only they went with Jesus when He prayed in Gethsemane – Matthew 26:37
      • This leads us to believe these disciples were SPECIAL – SUPER disciples!
      • They saw MORE – because they were destined to be powerfully used by God!
    • NOT special…
      • They were NOT better than the rest – they were more TROUBLE…
      • Peter – speak then think – was always saying things he should not…
      • Right after receiving the TRUTH – Jesus was the CHIRST…
      • He told the Lord – He would NOT have to die and be resurrected…
      • Matthew 16:23 – “[Jesus] turned and said to Peter – Get behind Me – Satan!”
      • James and John – the Sons of Thunder – had AMBITION…
      • They wanted to call down fire to consume the people of Samaria – Luke 9:54 
      • They debated over WHO was the GREATEST in the KINGDOM – Mark 10:37
    • Why God chose FISHERMEN…
      • When Peter and John were called in front of the Sanhedrin [congress] – Acts 4:13
      • UNBLEARNED – [ἀγράμματος] – literally illiterate…
      • IGNORANT – [ἰδιώτης] – literally idiots…
      • In spite of their ACCURATE estimation of these FISHERMEN…
      • They were very IMPRESSED – even MARVELED – at their BOLDNESS!
      • And realized that the men had been with Jesus!
      • I Corinthians 1:27-29 – “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise… that no flesh should glory in His presence.”
      • We may think that God only uses those with great gifts – ability…
      • But God uses the FOOLISH – ignorant and unlearned FISHERMEN…
      • Which is a HUGE encouragement – because that means He can use us…
      • Since God choose us because we are FOOLISH – He does not expect much from us!
      • And when God uses foolish people – people do not give credit to the person…
      • They instead stand amazed because they see Jesus working through the person!
  • 2^nd – MARRIED…
    • Peter had a WIFE…
      • There are some denominations today that insist Peter never married – yet…
      • Jesus healed the Mother-in-law of Peter – Luke 4:38
      • He would even take his wife along with him on his ministry trips – I Corinthians 9:5
    • Advantage to being SINGLE…
      • I Corinthians 7:32-33 – “He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord–how he may please the Lord.  But he who is married cares about the things of the world–how he may please his wife.”
        
      • When we are MARRIED – much of our TIME and energy goes to our family…
      • When single we are freed up in our TIME and resources to serve the Lord…
      • For those who are SINGLE – it is a TIME to WHOLLY serve the Lord!
    • Advantage to being MARRIED…
      • Proverbs 18:22 – “He who finds a wife finds a good thing…”
      • God knew that we do not do well on our own – we need HELP…
      • Having someone who will encourage us – stand beside us – in Jesus is priceless…
      • It is good to have someone there – to pray for us – and point back to Jesus!
      • Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 – “Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one…  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.”
    • Forbidding to MARRIED – is a FALSE TEACHING!
      • I Timothy 4:3 – “[Listening] to deceiving spirits – doctrines of demons… forbidding to marry.”
      • The idea is that somehow SINGLENESS is more holy than MARRIAGE…
      • Is a false teaching – and has come to cause a LOT of problems in the church!
      • The doctrine that priest must be SINGLE – has led to huge scandals…
      • There are allegations of thousands of cases of sexual abuse…
      • The Catholic church has had to pay BILLIONS in court fees / fines…
      • All because of a FALSE teaching – men are more HOLY if they are SINGLE!
      • Most are called to be MARRIED – only a few are able to stay SINGLE – Matthew 19:11
      • If someone is NOT called to be SINGLE – then they should GET MARRIED – I Corinthians 7:9
      • A church leader is NO exception – Pastors should have a wife – I Timothy 3:3
  • 3^rd – A PREACHER…
    • Peter denied Jesus THREE times before the crucifixion – Mark 14:71
    • Peter went back to fishing – QUITTING the ministry – John 21:3
    • Yet – FIFTY days later – BOLDLY preached Jesus and THREE thousand were saved – Acts 2:41
    • The difference – Peter was no longer FULL of himself – he was FULL of the SPIRIT – Acts 2:14
    • Having the right EDUCATION – does not QUALIFY us to be used by God…
    • Peter spent THREE years with Jesus – best Bible college EVER – and sill denied Him…
    • Being a FAILURE – does not disqualify us from being used by God
    • Peter denied Jesus THREE times – cursing – and God still had a plan for him…
    • The only QUALIFICAITON – is to be FILLED with the Spirit of God!
    • II Corinthians 4:7 – “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
    • If we are full of ourselves – then we will have no POWER in life…
    • But when we are emptied – FILLED with the Spirit – nothing is impossible!
  • 4^th – A ROCK…
    • Peter was one of the PILLARS of the church in Jerusalem – Galatians 2:9
    • There are some who say he was the FOUNDATION of the WHOLE church!
    • Matthew 16:18 – “You are Peter – and on this rock I will build my church…”
    • PETER – [Πέτρος] – a name the means the LITTLE stone…
    • Rock – [πέτρα] – is a HUGE foundation stone…
    • Peter was a PEBBLE – but on his confessions of Jesus being the CHRIST…
    • That was the ROCK God would build His church upon!
    • Peter was NOT the first Pope – and he was NOT the foundation of the church…
    • The only FOUNDATION of the church is Jesus Christ!
    • I Corinthians 3:11 – “No other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid… Jesus Christ.”
  • 5^th – An APOSTLE…
    • I Peter 1:1 – “Peter – an apostle of Jesus Christ…”
      • APOSTLE [ἀπόστολος] – one who is sent out – an AMBASSADOR…
      • There are many APOSTLES – we would call them MISSIONARIES – Ephesians 4:11
      • But Peter was not an APOSTLE – he was one of the TWELVE Apostles…
      • There are FOUR lists of all TWELVE Apostles – Matthew / Mark / Luke / and Acts
      • In each of all of those lists Peter is mentioned FIRST!
    • APOSTLE to the Jews…
      • Peter was the APOSTLE to the JEWS / while Paul to the GENTILES – Galatians 2:7
      • Peter was the working man – Paul was a PHARISEE – Philippines 3:5
      • Simple logic would tell us – Paul should have been called to the JEWS…
      • Paul knew the JEWISH faith inside and out – he was perfect to minister to them!
      • As a FISHERMAN – Peter could have easily related to the GENTILES
      • Yet God called them to the exact OPPOSITE ministries!
      • II Corinthians 12:9 – “My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
      • We are not always used where we think we are the strongest…
      • If God called us to our STRENGTHS – then we would trust in our own ABILITIES…
      • More often than not God calls us to our WEAKNESS – so that we TRUST in Him…
      • Remember – God used a simple man to build the ARK – while the experts built the TITANIC!

• 2^nd – The THEME…
  • 1^st – SUFFERING…
    • I Peter 1:6 – We are grieved by various TRIALS…
    • I Peter 1:11 – Testifying of the SUFFERING of Christ…
    • I Peter 2:19 – This is commendable if one endures grief and SUFFERS…
    • I Peter 3:16 – When they DEFAME you as evil doers…
    • I Peter 3:18 – For Christ also SUFFERED for our sins…
    • I Peter 4:12 – Do not think it strange concerning the fiery TRIALS…
    • I Peter 5:8 – Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring LION…
    • Over SIXTEEN times in this letter – the idea of SUFFERING and TRIALS comes up!
    • SUFFERING and TRIALS are a not a question – they are a PROMISE in this life!
    • John 16:33 – “In the world you will have tribulation….”
  • 2^nd – HOPE…
    • Peter also encourages us to have HOPE – through the GRACE of God…
    • I Peter 1:3 – Blesses be the God and Father – who has begotten us again to a living HOPE…
    • I Peter 1:13 – Rest your HOPE fully upon the GRACE that brought at the revelation of Jesus…
    • I Peter 5:12 – The true GRACE of God in which you stand!
    • The reality is when life is going WELL – we tend to FORGET about the Lord…
    • But when we SUFFER – in TRIALS – we reach out and cling to God… 
    • SUFFERING has a purpose – it teaches to depend on Jesus!
    • James 1:3 – “Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

• 3^rd – Where it was written…
  • The book was written in BABYLON – I Peter 5:13
  • There is some uncertainly as to which BABYLON Peter is referring to…
  • BABYLON in Egypt – not a city – but a Roman outpost known for loose morals…
  • BABYLON in Macedonia – on the Euphrates River – modern day Iraq…
  • BABYLON – as a code name for the city of ROME…
  • John refers to mystery BABYLON – as the city on SEVEN hills [ROME] – Revelation 17:9
  • Peter called ROME – BABYLON – to try and avoid persecution for the church there…
  • There is NO record in the Bible of Peter in ROME – but it is in church tradition!

• 4^th – When it was written…
  • Most scholars assume it was between 63-67 A.D.
  • In the summer of 64 A.D. – Caesar Nero lit ROME on fire – and blamed the Christians…
  • It was followed up by a horrific persecution of the believers in ROME!
  • Church history tells us Peter was martyred in 68 A.D.
  • That same history tells us that Peter was crucified upside down for his faith in Jesus…
  • Upside down because he was not worthy to die in the same manner as His Lord!

• 5^th – the DIVISION…
  • Chapter 1-2:10 – The Grace of God and SALVATION
  • Chapter 2:11 – 3:12 – The Grace of God and SUBMISSION
  • Chapter 3:13 – 5:14 – The Grace of God and SUFFERING

• 6^th – The Audience… vs. 1-2
  • 1^st – PILGRIMS… vs. 1
    • PILGRIMS [παρεπίδημος] – only 3x in NT – a foreigner – or a visitor…
    • Peter is writing to people who were SUFFERING – going through TRIALS…
    • He encourages them they are just PILGRIMS – this life is not their HOPE!
    • It is easy for us to forget that this is NOT our HOME – we are FOREIGNERS…
    • We are not HOME yet – our HOME is a place we have yet to see – HEAVEN!
    • Hebrews 11:13-16 – “[We are] strangers and pilgrims [παρεπίδημος] on the earth.  For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a home… that is – a heavenly country.”
  • 2^nd – DISPERSED… vs. 1
    • DIASPORA of Israel…
      • To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus – Galatia – Cappadocia – Asia – and Bithynia!
      • DISPERSED [διασπορά] – only 3x in NT – the DIASPORA…
      • Possibly referring to the DIASPORA of the nation of Israel…
      • 722 B.C. – because of sin – the Northern Kingdom of Israel fell – II Kings 17:18
      • 586 B.C. – the southern Kingdom was taken captive to Babylon – II Chronicles 36:21
      • After 70 years a remnant – just FIFTY thousand Jews returned – Ezra 2:64
      • The rest remained scattered [διασπορά] throughout the nations!
    • DIASPORA of the church…

No matter what circumstances – problems – or trials life might bring!

After the death of Stephen – a great PRESECUTION arose against the church – Acts 8:1

The result of the persecution was believers were scattered – DIASPORA…

Peter was writing to those the ones who were in Asia Minor – modern TURKEY…

Pontus / Galatia / Cappadocia / Asia [Ephesus] / and Bithynia!

Acts 1:8 – “You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Jesus commanded the Apostles to go out into the whole world…

But up to the death of Steven – the church had not moved far beyond Jerusalem…

It is very likely without PRESECUTION – the disciples would NEVER have left!

Sometimes God needs to shake us up and remind us – what life really is about…

We WASTE our time – being mindlessly entertained by TV / social media…

When there is a world full of people who do NOT know Jesus – a world going to hell…

Make time – seize the moment – to tell people about Jesus Christ!

Ephesians 5:16 – “Make the most of every opportunity for doing good…”

3^rd – ELECT… vs. 2

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father!

ELECT [ἐκλεκτός] – to be CHOSEN

This can be a hard concept for us to comprehend – God CHOSES those who go to HEAVEN…

When we got / or will get married – who CHOSE the person we married…

Would we have liked it if someone else made the CHOICE – committed for life!

We want the freedom to choose whom to spend our lives with…

Does it not seem fair that God gets to choose whom He spends eternity with!

John 15:16 – “You did not choose Me, but I chose you…”

FOREKNOWLEDGE…

FOREKNOWLEDGE [πρόγνωσις] – to KNOW beforehand…

We are CHOSEN – by the FOREKNOWLEDGE of God…

Romans 8:29 – “For whom He foreknew – He also predestined…”

Ephesians 1:4-5 – “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…”

God is ETERNAL – meaning He has no beginning or end – Revelation 1:8

It does not mean God has an endless amount of TIME – it means God is outside of TIME!

God sees all of time – from Genesis to Revelation all at once!

Isaiah 46:10 – “Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done…”

Since God sees EVERYTHING – He knows exactly who will believe in/receive Jesus…

God CHEATS – He knows our CHOICE – before we ever make it…

He then CHOOSES – those who He knows will CHOOSE Him!

If we WANT to go to HEAVEN – all we have to do – is CHOOSE Jesus…

And we will find He CHOSE us before the world ever began!

SANCTIFIED…

In sanctification of spirit for obedience!

SANCTIFIED [ἁγιασμός] – noun form of the verb [ἁγιάζω] – to be SET APART…

The definite article [THE] is not before the word SPIRIT…

This is NOT talking about who SANCFIFIES us – it is talking about us being SANCTIFIED…

Hebrews 2:11 – “Both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one.”

When the Father CHOSE us – He then also SANCTIFIED our SPIRIT…

Set us APART for the LORD – TRANSFORMS our desires…

Giving us a NEW heart – so that we WANT to OBEY His commands!

MULTIPLIED…

And sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied!

SPRINKLING [ῥαντισμός] – to sprinkle with the BLOOD of an offering…

PRIESTS would SPRINKLE the BLOOD of an animal to make someone PURE…

Hebrews 9:14 – “How much more shall the blood of Christ… cleanse [our] conscience…”

When the FATHER Chose us – He also gave us a PURE heart…

All of our SINS were nailed to the cross with Jesus Christ – Colossians 2:14

Allowing us to have GRACE [χάρις] – from God – the FREE gift of salvation!

Which gave us PEACE [εἰρήνη] – with God – because we no longer feared His judgment!

MULTIPLIED – to be OVERLY abundant – more than we will ever need…

Being CHOSEN – means there is ALWAYS enough GRACE / PEACE…