1 Peter 1:1-7: Encouragement in Trial
I. Base Text: 1 Peter 1:1-7
II. Understanding the Text
A. Context of letter (1 Peter 1:1)
1. Written by Peter the Apostle
2. Written to "elect exiles of dispersion" in Roman provinces
of modern Turkey
3. ca. 60 CE?
4. Language of "exiles of dispersion" very Jewish, but likely
referring to Christians as spiritual Israel
(cf. Romans 11:16-24, Galatians 6:16)
5. While "elect exiles of dispersion" may seem as if Peter
writes only to Jewish Christians, speaking of people who were
not a nation in 1 Peter 2:10 makes it seem as if all
Christians of that area under discussion
6. Thus, "elect exiles" not from Judea, but from world!
B. The Trinity and the Christian (1 Peter 1:2)
1. 1 Peter 1:2 speaks clearly of Trinity-- Father, Son, Spirit
2. The exiles "elect" according to the foreknowledge of the
Father (cf. Romans 8:29-30, Ephesians 1:3-14)
3. In sanctification of Spirit-- seems to indicate that Spirit
has role in sanctification
4. Purpose: to obey Jesus Christ, sprinkled with His blood
a. Sprinkled blood as image of cleansing
b. Sprinkling of blood on the altar for atonement in
Leviticus
c. Not some kind of direct baptismal image
C. The Blessings of God (1 Peter 1:3-5)
1. Peter begins letter, as Paul begins Ephesians, speaking of
God's great blessings (cf. Ephesians 1:3-14)
2. While similar in concept, Peter's descriptions vibrant,
purposeful
3. Blessing of God's great mercy-- reconciliation while sinners
(Ephesians 2:1-10, Titus 3:3-8)
4. Blessing of being born again (John 3:1-5, Romans 6:3-7)
5. Born again to a living hope (Romans 8:23-25)
6. Born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
from the dead
a. Resurrection made atonement possible (1 Corinthians 15:17)
b. Resurrection provides hope of our own resurrection
(Romans 8:11)
c. Resurrection secures promise of judgment, glory
(Acts 17:30-31)
7. Born again also to an inheritance (Romans 8:16-17,
Ephesians 1:3-14, Hebrews 11)
8. That inheritance as imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,
reserved in Heaven (cf. Matthew 6:19-20)
9. Believers as guarded by God's power through faith for
salvation (Romans 8:31-39)
a. No denial of responsibility
b. Must have faith, live obediently (1 Peter 1:2,
Romans 8:1-10)
10. Salvation as ready to be revealed in the last time
(cf. 1 Corinthians 15, Revelation 20-22)
D. Trials and Faith (1 Peter 1:6-7)
1. In the blessings of God, believers are to rejoice
(Acts 8:39, Philippians 4:4)
2. Grieved for a "little while" by trials
3. Trials have purpose: refinement of faith like one refines
gold
4. Gold as purified through fire-- faith as more precious,
thus, need for purity!
5. Purified faith results in praise, honor, glory of Christ on
final day (Philippians 2:9-11, Luke 17:6-10)
III. Application
A. "Elect exiles"
1. A reminder that we are not "home"
2. We are as exiles on the earth, waiting to be with Jesus
(Philippians 3:20-21)
3. Do we consider ourselves as exiles or citizens of the world?
B. God for us
1. Peter indicates how every Person within the Trinity is for
us
2. The Father has foreknown our faith
3. The Spirit works with us for sanctification
4. We obey the Son, obtain redemption through His blood
5. Romans 8:31-33
C. Encouragement through blessings
1. Peter's descriptions of God's blessings are very positive,
encouraging
2. Extremely active and vibrant
3. "Great mercy," "living hope," "imperishable, undefiled,
unfading"
4. Underscores the message of encouragement: great value in
what God has accomplished and is accomplishing for us!
D. "Living" Hope
1. Christianity too often looks to the past-- almost like a
religion of heritage
2. Peter looks at it in terms of the present-- God's blessings
now, the hope that exists today
3. The believer's hope in God is not dead or stuck in the
past-- it should be active, living, and rather present!
4. Christ is Risen; Christ is Lord; we presently have
salvation; we await the fulfillment of our hope
(Matthew 28, 1 Corinthians 15)
5. The resurrection of Christ is the wellspring of that
glorious hope of our present and future new creation
(2 Corinthians 5:16-17, 1 Corinthians 15)
6. Is our hope alive and present?
E. Heaven's Stability
1. Peter highlights the security and stability of our
inheritance
2. Imperishable, undefiled, unfading
3. Three antitheses of the world: everything on earth perishes,
is defiled, fades (cf. Matthew 6:19-20, 1 Timothy 6)
4. Peter makes it clear that the heavenly realm is not like the
earthly one!
5. Highlights our need to trust in God and store up our treasure
in Heaven!
F. Salvation: Now and Not Yet
1. We can also understand the nature of salvation from Peter
2. He indicates that we have been "born again to a living hope"
in verse 3
3. Yet we are reserved for a salvation to be revealed at the
last time in verse 5
4. Salvation, therefore, as "now and not yet"
5. Now: through faith, baptism, obedience, reconciled to God,
association with Him, part of the church, in the Kingdom
(Romans 6:3-7, 1 John 1, Colossians 1:13, 18)
6. Not Yet: waiting to gain the resurrection, transformation,
eternity with the Lord (Romans 8:19-23, 1 Corinthians 15,
Revelation 20-22)
7. Thus, we are to have "security" in our saved state now
through our faith while looking forward to the ultimate
reconciliation
8. Neither "once saved, always saved" nor "if saved, barely
saved"!
G. Rejoice
1. Peter indicates that the brethren rejoice in all of these
blessings
2. Do we rejoice in them, or take them for granted?
3. Would our attitudes not be more godly if we rejoiced more
and praised God for His blessings?
H. Purpose of Trials
1. While we may not be able to presume the reason why we suffer
in every particular situation, we can understand how any
trial can have value
2. Trials shake us up; they cause us to question who we are,
what we believe, what we're willing to stand for
3. Therefore, we will either endure the trial in faith or lose
faith through our trial
4. If we endure, the trial has helped strengthen, test our
faith!
5. Hence, our faith is refined through the fires of various
trials
6. Our ability to endure trials faithfully result in glory for
Christ, as it should be
I. Purpose of Peter's encouragement
1. So why does Peter go on about God's blessings in
1 Peter 1:3-5?
2. To encourage the brethren to endure their trials in faith in
1 Peter 1:6-7!
3. Peter recognizes the challenges that trials bring to faith
4. Therefore, he seeks to remind the brethren that despite
whatever they suffer, God has done all these wonderful things
and has made these wonderful promises!
5. If, in the midst of any type of trial-- physical, emotional,
mental, spiritual, or a mixture-- we keep God's blessings at
the forefront of our minds, will we not be more likely to
remain faithful and even grow in faith?
6. If we do not keep God's blessings in mind in the midst of
trial, will it not be easier to believe that He does not
exist or believe that He hates us?
7. Peter here proves the value of Philippians 4:8 in times of
trial
8. As with Job, so with us: we must always keep in mind the
wonderful things God has done, is doing, and will do on
our behalf
9. When we do that, we will find it easier to remain humble in
days of prosperity and encouraged in days of trial
IV. Conclusion
A. Peter begins his letter in a most encouraging way
1. Our election
2. God working for us
3. His great blessings
4. Endurance through trial
B. Let us always rejoice in Christ for all the blessings we have
obtained
C. Let us always remember those blessings, especially in the
midst of trial
D. Let us have the faith that will provide praise, glory, and honor
to the Lord when He returns!
E. Invitation/songbook