1 Peter 1:1-12, We should be encouraged because of our SECURED future inheritance

• Timeline (key events):

48	I Thessalonians
43-49 or 60's	Mark (probably related to Peter's account)
64	Fire destroys most of Rome;  Nero blames Christians (means JEWS too)
64-67	1, 2 Peter
65	Hebrews (unknown author; Paul/Luke translated)
64-68	Death of Peter (historically crucified head down)
70	Jerusalem and Temple destroyed
90-95	Revelation
90-100	John
90-100	1,2,3 John



• Historical Background:
• Persecution related to Nero's attitude toward Jews (& Christians)
• While not official, it was officially tolerated
• Peter is the author
• Apostle to the Jews
• Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles (although Peter was the first to be presented with the idea of Gentile salvation)
• Purpose of the letter
• 1 Peter 5:12 (ESV) — 12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.
• To encourage; to stay strong in the faith


1 Peter 1:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.


• Who is the letter written to?
• Acts 2:7–10 (ESV) — 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,  …
• What are the elect?
• How are the elect defined?
• Chosen according to foreknowledge -- {{ Is God "determinate?" Does God foresee things or does God cause everything? }}
• So what does that mean?
• My personal feeling is that it is a very difficult concept to understand.  We are called elect because we elected to believe
• God, in his foreknowledge, knew we would be believe, so we are also chosen before time began
• What does "strangers" mean?
• Literal meaning makes sense ...
• Pilgrims, aliens, foreigners, or aliens residing in a foreign land
• Word "scattered" or "dispersed" is Greek word diasporas which has a very specific Jewish meaning
• Refers to the Jews scattered outside the Holy land
• Would suggest recipients were primarily Jewish
• Other verses 1:14, 18; 2:9,10; 4:1-3, 15 suggest Gentile readers
• Figurative meaning makes sense as well …
• Hebrews 11:13 (ESV) — 13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
• 1 Peter 2:11 (ESV) — 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
• Where are Pontus, Galatia, …?
• Present day Turkey


1 Peter 1:3–5 (ESV) — 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.


• What does the word "mercy" mean?
• God not giving me what I do deserve
• How is mercy different from "grace"?
• Grace is God give me what I don't deserve
• What has God caused us to, and what does that mean? Two ways of viewing
1. He caused us to be born again, but that would violate our free will
2. He caused (our rebirth) to be to a living hope through the resurrection of the dead -- but what does that mean?
1. A living hope is that we will live again
2. The resurrection of the dead is the proof. Jesus is the firstfruit of that new hope
3. So, when we are reborn (born again by faith) it is not just a changed life, but a changed future
• What else has our new birth secured for us? An inheritance
• There are four things about our inheritance. What are they and what do they mean?
1. Imperishable -- meaning it can't decay. Our presents bodies, even our planet are in the process of decaying with age
2. Undefiled -- It is not tainted with evil. This is the problem with our present life. Since the rebellion, life is not the way God intended, but it is because of sin
3. Unfading -- Fruchtenbaum suggests the emphasis is on its beauty, which would make it different in meaning from imperishable. It also harkens back to the creation when everything was beautiful
4. Kept in Heaven for you -- it is on safe deposit, a very safe deposit. It can't be taken back. We certainly don't deserve it, but belief in Jesus Christ is a guarantee of our future inheritance
• What does it mean, a salvation to be revealed in the last time?
• Salvation here refers to deliverance in last times (the are common eschatological terms)
• Salvation does not always refer to spiritual salvation (need to look at the context), here it is a physical salvation
• APPLICATION: Thankfulness -- we have a wonderful secure hope that we do not deserve.


1 Peter 1:6–9 (ESV) — 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.


• These verses probably represent the author's thesis statement.  From these verses, what do you think the author's purpose is?
• Strengthen faith
• Prepare them for suffering
• Encourage them
• I know Christians who have suffered horribly all their life -- is this verse then not true for them?  (or how do we reconcile this verse with those experiences)
• God's definition of a "little while" or "short time" may be different from us
• Also, some bring their own suffering upon themselves -- it never ends because they never learn the lesson that God is trying to teach them
• What lessons in your life do you feel you've struggled to learn?
• Faith is very important -- but what is faith?
• Fire destroys things, therefore faith remains despite suffering
• Faith believes God cares, and God can bring good out of trials (Rom 8:28)
• Faith loves God, even though you don't see Him doing what you would like Him to do in your life (this is very hard)
• APPLICATION: How do we respond to trials and testing? Do we seek God or seek what he wants us to learn through the trial?


1 Peter 1:10–12 (ESV) — 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.


• The Rabbis and the prophets searched the scripture intently trying to determine when and where this salvation would take place
• While it is not true today, the sufferings of Christ and the glories led them to believe in two Messiahs: the first would be Ben Yosef (the son of Joseph) and the second would be Ben David (the son of David)
• Today, modern Israel interprets the Ben Yosef or suffering passages as referring to the nation of Israel
• What they didn't understand was that one Messiah would come twice, the first time to suffer for our sins and the second time to establish his Kingdom
• God did give a partial answer to the questions. That they would not understand it. Instead, they were serving us, who now do understand
• An interesting comment concerning the angels
• They are very curious concerning the grace that has been given us


• APPLICATION
• We are to live as strangers in this world, not attached or comfortable (this isn't our home)
• We need to be thankful that in God's mercy we did not get what we deserved
• We need to grow in our faith -- it is of utmost importance and value to God
• We need to be thankful for God's grace and look forward to the coming of Jesus Christ (the second coming of the son of David)