GOD’S MESSAGE TO THIS CHURCH BY THE HAND OF PETER
(A Sunday School Lesson)





Text: 1 Pet 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
1 Pet 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.



1 Pet 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Pet 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,



1 Pet 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Pet 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:



1 Pet 1:7 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:



Intro: Let us search the letters from Peter for things God would have US to know.
V-1. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,



A. As the Jerusalem church scattered, they found themselves surrounded by an unfriendly world.
Jno 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.



B. They were strangers to the world, but not to God.

We also, should be separated from the world.
II Cor 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?



16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,



C. We must either stand out from our surroundings or blend into them. One cannot blend in, without weakening one’s spiritual condition.
Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

V-2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.



'ELECT'' This word is an adjective modifying 'strangers' in verse one.


Paraphrase: ' You are chosen sojourners and God has set you apart through the Holy Spirit and the blood of Christ.' (Through salvation and obedience.)



The Jews have often been strangers in other lands. They have been despised because they held themselves aloof as a special people. They had Jehovah as their God. They had His promises. They wore their ribbands of Blue to indicate that they were a heavenly people. They had the mark of circumcision.



How much MORE should WE celebrate our differences; We have been saved; we have the mark of heaven’s baptism; We have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and are members of the Body of Christ. Viva la difference!.



V 3. 1 Pet 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy he hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,



A. 'BLESSED' -worthy of our utmost praise, is God.
When aliens praise their homeland and king, they are often hated but they ARE noticed. Are you being noticed or are you blending in?



B. We should boast of Him because; "hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,"
An earthly king might offer a deserving felon another opportunity if there were extenuating circumstances, but God has extended to totally undeserving and rebellious sinners, eternal life!.



V-4. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
A. The Best is yet to come!.



Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.



Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.



If children, then heirs; ALL the saved are heirs of God; and JOINT heirs (a special relationship for his bride) IF we suffer with him.



V-5. 1 Pet 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.



A. God will see to it that we make it all the way!
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.



B. We are kept, not by the power of OUR faith but by the power of an omnipotent God. We can trust that power to give us a COMPLETE salvation.
Jno 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
("And by the way")
30 I and my Father are one.



C. Ready to be revealed. Always prepared. Like a woman who prepares a feast ahead of time. The inheritance [v-4] is locked away for safekeeping and it belongs to you.



V-6. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
Hope for our eternity keeps our present trials in proper perspective.



Illus: Little lame girl as she endured many painful operations, "someday I'm going to run and jump in my new red shoes!" The greater the pain, the more precious the dream. The temporal dream of M.L.King comes far short of the grandeur of the hopes of his forbearers. "Oh, Them Golden Slippers'



V-7. 1 Pet 1:7 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:



The purifying of something far more precious than gold.
(The crucible of your faith.) Gold is not cast out when impurities are found in it. The impurities are skimmed away and the gold becomes more precious.



As our faith is tried in the crucible of temptations, persecutions and temporal oppression, let us rejoice that it will result in a more pure praise and honor and glory when we stand before Jesus!.