Opener:
Welcome and good morning everyone! So blessed to see everyone here today! This morning we are starting a new sermon series on the book of First Peter. This study will lead us into studying how to suffer well for our faith in the Lord.
You may have heard, recently, NASA landed the rover named Perseverance on Mars. Truly, it is an amazing feat for mankind and will further the study on the planet Mars. That piqued my interest about learning a bit more about our own planet. I want to share a couple things that maybe you are not aware of. The composite makeup of the earth is mostly Iron, Oxygen, Silicon and Magnesium. The earth is covered by 70 percent water and of the 30 percent of land, one-third of this land is actually desert. Because of the earths molten core it creates a sort of magnetic field. This field protects earth’s inhabitants from the Sun’s powerful solar wind rays which could harm us. Beneath the earth surface resides tectonic plates. These plates shift and collide with one another which produce geological activity such as: earth quakes and volcanic eruptions.
Before we begin diving into 1 Peter, I would like to share several interesting facts surrounding this wonderful book. This may surprise you, but this book uses the name of God more than any other letter in the New Testament. This book can be seen as a manual on how we can have an intimate relationship with Christ through living right. The book of 1 Peter was written around early 60 A.D. There was a lot that was going on during this time period as the Roman Emperor Nero was in charge.
Nero was known to be a very harsh man. So harsh that he killed his own mother, his first wife named Octavia and allegedly his second wife. In addition to all of this, he started the great fire of Rome in AD 64 and blamed the Christians just so he could build a posh new palace.
That gives you a little background about the book and the time period. Now let’s learn a bit about our author Peter. Peter was one of the more outspoken disciples. He was one that was very bold in his faith. He was born around 1 B.C and was martyred around 67 A.D. We know that Peter had a wife and kids and was known to be a follower of John the Baptist.
Peter was called into the ministry while working as a fisherman. Fishermen at the time were rough and tough characters. They were unkempt and often used vulgar language. During this time period, fishing was a very physically demanding job and can still be. They had to be somewhat fearless because storms would often kick up while fishing.
I. Peter was called
A. The calling
a. We see that Peter was chosen by Jesus to be one of His disciples in the book of Matthew 4:18-19(NKJV) 18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
b. It appears that Peter never met Jesus before this encounter and Jesus walked by Peter and uttered those words: “follow me”
c. When Jesus said those Words, Jesus was asking Peter to leave everything behind. His fishing boats, nets, all the accessories that were needed for the trade, his family. Everything!
B. Peter’s response
a. I love how Peter responded to the Savior. He did not hesitate; he did not try to negotiate the positions terms. He did not question Jesus about how he would support his family while working in this new position.
b. Peter response to Jesus is beautiful, as we continue in Matthew 4:20 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
c. Wow, what an amazing response! How many of us today would be willing to drop everything and follow someone that you just met?
d. Yet, this is exactly what Peter did!
C. Peter’s Qualifications
a. Let me say this before I get too far here, Peter was not called based on his qualifications, his education nor his experience, because he had none.
b. Peter did not go to seminary; he did not have any formal religious training as far as we know. He was a fisherman.
c. Jesus could have easily chosen someone much more qualified than Peter, someone that had more knowledge, and more experienced.
d. The fact that Jesus was willing to choose Peter, really encourages me, it give me hope. Jesus is interested in using ordinary people to accomplish His supernatural plans. I love what John 15:16 (NKJV) 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
II. A living hope
A. New birth
a. Now that we have a lot of the background information, lets hop right into our text this morning.
b. After Peter greets the readers of this letter, he shares with us some encouraging news.
c. If you have your bibles, turn with me to 1 Peter chapter one we are starting in verse 3-5:
d. 1 Peter 1:3-5 NKJV 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
B. Salvation response
a. It is when Peter considers the power and the complexities of salvation, his response is profound.
b. It is one of immediate gratitude and one of Praise.
c. This response is perfect, because it comes from a heart that understands that God was not obligated to bring salvation to humanity, rather, He chose to do so.
d. He did so because of the abundance of love that is in His heart and His motives are pure.
C. Driving factor of mercy
a. As a result of this salvation that Jesus provides, it provides us a living hope in our lives.
b. A.W. Tozer, a pastor and author is quoted to saying this: When Jesus died on the cross the mercy of God did not become any greater. It could not become any greater, for it was already infinite. We get the odd notion that God is showing mercy because Jesus died. No--Jesus died because God is showing mercy. It was the mercy of God that gave us Calvary, not Calvary that gave us mercy. If God had not been merciful there would have been no incarnation, no babe in the manger, no man on a cross and no open tomb.
c. While we know that God has many different attributes, all of God’s goodness to us begins with the attribute of mercy. If we do not experience mercy, then nothing else really would matter.
D. Living hope
a. So because of God’s mercy, truly, we have a living hope. This hope is experienced to every “born again believer.”
b. Prior to coming to Jesus Christ in my life, I was living life in darkness. It was a hopeless life. It seemed like no matter what I did, there was always still an emptiness. It was as if I was living under a dark cloud.
c. That all changed when Christ came in my heart, that dark cloud evaporated and I found a new lease on life. I experienced a greater joy and I had a living hope. A hope for a better future, a hope for experiencing the Lord in a greater way in my life. I was rejuvenated by this hope.
d. This hope fuelled me to continue on. This hope encouraged me to never give up regardless of how bleak the situation may appear.
III. Faith tested by fire
A. The purpose of trials
a. As we pick our text back up in verse 6- 1 Peter 1:6-9 NKJV 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
b. As we talked about earlier, during the time period of this book, the church was experiencing a tremendous amount of persecution.
c. Peter is encouraging these believers to rejoice in keeping Gods power, knowing that this testing that they are currently experiencing, will produce a more powerful faith.
d. Let me say this: “The testing of our faith is not for God’s benefit. He knows the measure of our faith. This testing is for our benefit.”
B. More valuable than gold
a. This picture illustration that Peter is using of purifying gold was one that his culture and people were familiar with.
b. While today, we have modern equipment and machines to help with refining process. There are several elements that have remained the same.
c. The main element is heating the gold ore to a specific temperature which causes any impurities to be burned off.
d. The Lord is working to refine each of us through trying circumstances in our lives. Isaiah 48:10 NKJV says: 10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
C. Why is our faith tested?
a. So the question that begs to be answered is : Why does our faith need to be tested?
b. A faith that is tested reveals how pure that faith is. If there are any elements that should not be there, these elements are burned off.
c. Our faith test reveals to us the strength of our faith. It shows us that we have a stronger faith than maybe what we thought we had.
d. Thirdly, this testing shows to us if our faith is sincere and true.
D. Old testament reference
a. After sharing about the testing of our faith, Peter goes on to talk about how those prior to him were searching the Scriptures carefully.
b. He talks about how even the angels looked into these matters intently.
c. Peter then shares about the importance of how we live our lives and that we need to do so as Children of the light.
d. Living our lives in a holy manner.
IV. Motivation for godly living
A. Redeeming the times
a. Let’s pick back up our text in 1 Peter in starting in verse 18: NKJV 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
b. The first part of this text reveals to us that we were not redeemed by corruption.
c. Jesus paid the price for our redemption and His blood saved us so we could live a life for Him.
d. Peter warns the church of the traditions of the law, and that you cannot gain salvation through works.
B. Spotless lamb
a. Truly, Jesus was the perfect sacrifice to restore things back to what God had intended from the beginning.
b. Peter was sharing with us Jesus was totally pure in every way and that His life was without sin.
c. Think about that, the bible tells us that Jesus was tempted in every single way, yet He never sinned, not once.
d. Jesus was totally pure in every way and He needed to be in order to restore our relationship with God.
Closing:
As we wrap up here this morning, may the words of Peter challenge and encourage us in our walk with the Lord. May we reflect on the salvation that Jesus has provided to us through His death on the cross. Jesus was that perfect sacrificial lamb that God accepted and provided a way for us to have a relationship with our Heavenly Father. This relationship gives us a living hope with inexpressible joy in our lives. These words of Peter should impact our lives even today. They show us how we are to conduct ourselves and how we can bring honor and glory to God. As obedient children, living a holy life, living a life of purpose.
