Are the days we live in any more difficult than the days of the past? Maybe not. Of course, the level of comfort has significantly increased due to the many advances in technology. But have these improvements in technology actually helped society. The truth is, people still face the same problems of life as they always have. With the invention of the television camera, we are now able to see what is going on all over the world. In years gone by, people knew very little of what was happening on the other side of the world. Today, though, we constantly see pictures of people starving in Africa, fighting in the Middle East, refugees of war in Eastern Europe, and the list goes on and on. We in North America perhaps have it the easiest of all people on earth. But even over here we have our share of tragedies. Today, we are shocked with the number of school shootings, saddened by the breakup of so many families, outraged at senseless murders, troubled with the abandonment of morals, and disturbed with the level of racism. And the Bible predicts that society will only get progressively worse until the coming of Christ.
Author: Peter
Vance Havner said, “God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to produce rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume . . . it is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.”
Theme: Christian hope in time of trial
A gardener took great pride in caring for his lawn. But one year it grew full of dandelions. He tried every method and product to get rid of them, but nothing worked. Exasperated, he wrote the Department of Agriculture explaining all he had done. “What shall I try next?” he wrote. “Try getting used to them,” came the reply.
Times of trial will not go away.
Four reasons to be positive in days of discouragement:
I. God has an amazing interest in us (1:1-2).
According to Baptist Standard reporter Robert O’Brien, “Desert-dwelling Bedouins come straight out of biblical history, but they don’t live in a land flowing with milk and honey. The eke out a hard existence, either as rootless nomads living in tents across the Middle East and North Africa or as cultivators who have gravitated into a more settled life in concrete and stone structures.” O’Brien goes on to say that, even for Bedouins who live in houses, “their nomadic past shapes and dominates their mindset and worldview.”
As Christians living in this world, we’re much like these modern-day Bedouins. Although most of us live in homes and not in tents, spiritually speaking we’re nomads and aliens whose mindset and worldview need to be shaped by this reality.
The people whom Peter addressed in this letter were also strangers in a strange land, scattered throughout the Roman world. These believers were living in provinces spread across Asia Minor, in what in now northern Turkey.
The main reason for these Jews leaving Palestine was persecution (see Acts 8:1-4).
Not only were they strangers because they were living in a foreign country; they were also strangers in the world (as are we). The Christians true citizenship is in heaven. “For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven . . .” (Philippians 3:20). These scattered Christians of Peter’s day were subject to the misunderstandings, threats, insults, persecution, and other abuse that a pagan culture often inflicts on followers of Christ.
In the opening of his letter, Peter gives words of encouragement to these Christians who were finding themselves increasingly alone. One reason to be positive in difficult days is God’s amazing interest in us. In the second verse we see that each Person of the Trinity plays an important part in the Christian’s life.
A. The Father chose us.
The first word of verse 2 is “elect.” This word means “chosen.” In Ephesians 1:4 we read, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world. . .” The doctrine of election is something we cannot fully understand. While it is true that God has chosen some to be saved before the world began, this does not mean that God favors some over others or that He makes it impossible for some to be saved. John 3:16 says, “. . . whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Perhaps you are wondering how you can know if you are elect or not. Here is the test. Every person falls into one of two categories: the “whosoever wills” and the “whosoever won’ts.” We don’t need to worry about God’s part in salvation. All we need to be concerned with is whether or not we have trusted Christ. God has given the invitation to everyone to come to Him. Despite us not being able to comprehend this wonderful truth of God’s election, it is clear that God has an interest in each and every Christian. He chose us before the world began.
B. The Son shed His blood for us.
Read Romans 5:6-10.
Remember that Peter was writing primarily to Jews who had been brought up in Judaism. They knew the Old Testament, and they understood that the high priest on the Day of Atonement took blood with him when he went into the Holy of Holies, and that he sprinkled the blood seven times on the mercy seat. Now the Lord Jesus Christ has taken His own blood to the throne of God (the throne at which we are judged as guilty sinners), and He sprinkled His blood there. He gave His life and paid the penalty for us. Now that throne of judgement is the throne of grace where you and I can come and receive salvation. Christ shedding His blood shows an intense interest for us—an incomprehensible love.
C. The Spirit works in us.
This work is called sanctification. The word literally means “to set apart” or “make holy.” God is not through with us once we are saved. The Holy Spirit performs the ministry of sanctification with the goal that every Christian will become mature.
Peter ends the verse by writing, “Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.” The phrase “grace unto you” actually means “be of good cheer.” There is joy and peace in knowing that God had such a profound interest in each Christian.
II. God has given us a new birth (1:3-5).
Verse 3 begins by stating, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” In other words, Peter was saying, “Praise God!” We often hear fathers praising their children, but seldom do we hear children praising their fathers (especially if they don’t get their own way). But we have much to praise our Heavenly Father for.
If for no other reason, every Christian should praise God for being born again. The new birth is the very foundation or beginning of our salvation. It is entirely of God’s initiative that we have been included in His family. It is because of His mercy; it is undeserved.
In verses 3-5 we see three results of the new birth:
A. We have a wonderful expectation (“lively hope”).
This expectation should probably be understood as the hope of the resurrection. This is only possible because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We have this certain expectation as a result of our new birth.
B. We have a matchless inheritance (v. 4).
This inheritance is described in many ways:
“Incorruptible” - it is indestructible. It cannot be damaged in any way—no rust, no moth, no germ, no fire can touch it. There was a man who was willed a beautiful home in Louisiana, but the very night the original owner died, the house caught on fire and burned down—and there was not insurance. The wonderful home that he was to inherit went up in smoke.
“Undefiled” - it has no spot of dirt or pollution on it; it is pure.
“That fadeth not away” - we won’t inherit it and then find it to be worthless, like some stock that once had value and then became completely valueless. This phrase is an allusion to the reward given to athletes in Peter’s day. Today, winners in the Olympics are give medals, but back then were rewarded with a crown made of leaves which, although considered very valuable, would very quickly fade and lose its beauty.
“Reserved in heaven for you” - The word “reserved” means it is guarded. God is taking care of it for us. We couldn’t have it in a better safety deposit box than that.
C. We have the assurance of our ultimate salvation (v. 5).
Salvation does not only refer to the initial experience of accepting Jesus Christ as Savior. It also the final, inclusive result of salvation; eternal bliss in the presence and service of God. What does the consummation of salvation include? No one knows, for as Paul said, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard” what “God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
We are told that we are kept by the power of God until that day. This is a military term for the protection of a city by means of a military garrison. In the picture here, the power of God corresponds to an army with the sole function of protecting believers. Some people say a Christian can lose his salvation. But if God’s power is keeping our salvation, how can we lose it. The answer is—we can’t. Philippians 1:6 tells us, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
So as a result of our new birth we have . . .
A. The expectation of our bodily resurrection which will reverse sin’s curse on our bodies.
B. An inheritance will guarantees us eternal wealth.
C. The assurance of ultimate salvation which will free us from the very presence of sin.
We could say that because of the new birth we are given eternal heath, wealth, and happiness.
III. God has a purpose for our trials (1:6-9).
In verse 10 we have a contrast on two words that are worlds apart: rejoice and trials. These are two words that don’t often appear in the same sentence.
The Christian’s joy is to be independent of circumstances.
One encouraging aspect to our trials is that they are temporary. Peter writes that they are “for a season.”
Another comforting fact about our trials is that they are actually for our own good. Peter uses the word “precious.” This is often considered a woman’s word. To some women everything is “precious.” You don’t often hear a man saying, “That’s a precious car” or “That tractor is a precious machine.” But notice who uses the word “precious” here—it’s the rugged fisherman Peter. And of all things to call precious, he says the trial of our faith is more precious than gold.
Why would Peter say that our trial are precious? Because God uses them to make us better. He was looking at the end result of our trials, not the process. We know that gold is purified by intense heat. When the gold reaches a certain heat, the impurities float to the top and can be skimmed off.
In a similar way, God uses trials to make us more like He wants us to be. Trials test the genuineness of our faith. Trial tell us who is really trusting in God. James wrote that “the trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:3).
God does not try us because He wants to be mean to us, but because He wants to teach us patience, help us grow, and prove the genuineness of our faith.
IV. God has allowed us to live in a special time (1:10-12).
The Old Testament prophets were very curious about salvation and grace. They were excited about this good news concerning the coming Messiah, but they did not understand it all. God had revealed tp them some truths about Christ, but today we know much more. We are living in a great time. A day in which the grace of God is fully known. How He sent His only Son to die for the sins of the world. In Old Testament times, people were saved the same way as today—by faith, but the content of faith is different today. We have so much more evidence of God’s love for us. We are privileged people.
We are told that even the angels desire to know more about our salvation. Although prophets and angels have been unable to satisfy themselves as to precisely what salvation is all about, we have the privilege not only of fully understanding it, but of actually possessing it.
Living God’s way in these difficult days is a challenge. But the challenge is made easier because of the many blessings that encourage us.
jonathanrmcleod@yahoo.com
