“Five Precious Things”
1 & 2 Peter
by
Dr. Steven G. Cook
I. Introduction
A. Read – 1 Peter 1:1-7
B. The 1st Epistle of Peter was written to suffering saints, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.
C. Peter writes this epistle to encourage them spiritually – We all need encouragement from time to time – and Peter, of all of the apostles knew what it was like to be discouraged.
D. Peter, as you know, was a colorful individual – He is always mentioned first among the lists of the apostles, and served as a spokesman for them.
E. Many times Peter opened his mouth only to put his foot in it, yet strangely enough, the Lord loved Peter dearly!
F. Excerpts of Peter’s Life – Discuss
G. No doubt Peter was a large, strong man, but the Lord had melted his heart.
H. Peter, having experienced many times of disappointment and discouragement, now reaches out to encourage these suffering saints who are scattered and discouraged.
I. 5 Times Peter uses the word “Precious” in 1 & 2 Peter.
J. This is a strange word coming from a fisherman – yet it is a word of great encouragement to those who have been discouraged.
K. What is most Precious to YOU? I love all women, but there is just one woman that I call “Precious” – my wife.
L. As we examine these 5 Precious Things may God help them be an encouragement to each of us here this morning.
II. Precious Trials of Our Faith (1 Peter 1:5-7)
A. It is encouraging to know that we are “kept (guarded) by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
B. In God’s proleptic thinking, we are as good as already in glory!
C. What we experience in this life is meant to prepare for us for the life to come in heaven.
D. Why then do believers faced fiery trials???
E. Peter uses the word “trials” instead of tribulations or persecutions because he is dealing with “general problems” experienced by believers.
F. There are 4 Facts we should know about Trials: (vs. 6)
1. Trials Meet Our Needs – Notice Peter’s phrase, “if need be”; There are special times in which God knows we need to go through trials; Sometimes because we have disobeyed God’s Word; Sometimes to prepare us for growth; Sometimes to prevent us from sinning. We do not always know the reason, but we can be sure that God does what is best.
2. Trials Are Varied – Notice Peter uses the word “manifold”; This literally means “variegated; multicolored”; No matter what color our day is – whether a blue Monday or a gray Tuesday – God’s grace is sufficient to meet the need; Trials are varied and God matches the trial to our strengths and needs.
3. Trials Are Not Easy – Peter uses the word “heaviness”; This literally means “to experience grief or pain”; It is the same word used to describe our Lord in Gethsemane; Make no mistake about it – trials are difficult to go through!
4. Trials Are Controlled by God – “The greatest thing about trials is that they do not last forever!” Someone has said, “When God allows His children to go through a the furnace, He keeps His eye on the clock and His hand on the thermostat!” Sometimes He has to reset the clock, but when we submit to Him, He does not allow us to suffer one minute too long.
G. The ultimate purpose of such trials is to bring praise and honour and glory to Christ! (vs. 7)
H. No wonder Peter states that the Trials of our faith are Precious.
I. May God help us to learn that complaining and murmuring do not bring praise and honor and glory to God.
J. IF others see us do these things, what difference is there between us and those without Christ?
K. By the trials of our faith, we are more conformed to the image of God’s dear Son – we become more dependent upon Him Who has enabled us to be victorious in the past.
L. Read – Rom. 5:3-5; Phil. 4:11-13
III. Precious Blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-22)
A. The 2nd Precious Thing that Peter mentions to these suffering saints is the Precious Blood of Christ.
B. There are many today that have the wrong idea of salvation – They think that it is something that we are able to earn, merit, or achieve by ourselves.
C. When saints go through suffer the experience of trials, they often begin to doubt their salvation all together.
D. Peter encouraged these saints by reminding them of the fact that they are redeemed by the Precious Blood of Christ!
E. If our salvation was based upon our own merit or whether or not we felt like a Christian in the midst of trials, then we would all have our doubts.
F. Peter goes on in vs. 22 to say, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.”
G. The greatest evidence and assurance of our salvation is our unfeigned & fervent LOVE for other believers.
H. May God help us to love one another as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us sacrificially.
IV. Precious Stone & Savior (1 Peter 2:4-10)
A. The 3rd Precious Thing that Peter mentions to these suffering saints is our Precious Saviour – Jesus Christ.
B. Jesus Christ is the very Son of God, sent to this world to “seek and to save that which was lost.”
C. Peter emphatically uses the word – “Stone” – several times to describe our Precious Lord.
D. Christ is a “Living Stone” – because He was raised from the dead in victory.
E. Christ is the “Chosen Stone” – because He was chosen of the Father before the foundation of the world to offer Himself a sacrifice for sins.
F. Christ is a “Precious Stone” – because He alone can save us from our sins – and will save all who trust in His finished work on the Cross.
G. Christ is the “Stumbling Stone” – because the Jews would not accept Him as the Messiah foretold. They stumbled in unbelief and had Him crucified as a blasphemer.
H. Christ is the “Corner Stone” – because He is the chief corner on which the Church is being built.
I. Christ will one day be the “Smiting Stone” – because He will come back and smite all who reject His offer of salvation!
V. Precious Faith (2 Peter 1:1)
A. The 4th Precious Thing that Peter mentions to these suffering saints is our Precious Faith.
B. Peter calls it “like precious faith” because our standing with the Lord today is the same as that of the Apostles 2,000 years ago.
C. Just because they had walked and talked with Christ did not give them special advantages.
D. Our Faith Is Precious because of the Precious Person of Our Faith!
E. Our faith is in the Person of Jesus Christ – Notice that Peter reaffirms the Deity of Christ – “God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (vs. 2).
F. These do not refer to two Persons; both describe just One Person – Jesus Christ.
G. Our Faith in Christ is Precious because “without Faith it is impossible to please God.”
H. Our Faith in Christ is Precious because when we trust in Him, we can secure 3 Things no one else can supply – Righteousness; Grace; Peace!
I. His Righteousness becomes our Righteousness; God’s Grace (what we do not deserve) is always sufficient for each and every trial we face; and because of God’s Amazing Grace, we obtain Peace – Both Peace with God and the Peace of God.
VI. Precious Promises (2 Peter 1:4)
A. The 5th Precious Thing that Peter mentions to these suffering saints are the Precious Promises received from God.
B. What Promises have we received? Where Can We Find Them? The Precious Word of God!
C. God has not only given us all we need for life and godliness, but He has also given us His Precious Word to enable us to develop this life and godliness.
D. The are Precious because we could never calculate their worth.
E. When a sinner believes on Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to impart the life and nature of God within.
F. Just as a baby shares the nature of its parents, a person born into the family of God shares the divine nature of God Himself.
G. The lost sinner is dead, but the Christian is alive because of Christ!
H. Nature determines appetite, behavior, environment, and associations.
I. IF we are part of the family of God, we ought to have an appetite for the things of God; behave as God would have us to behave; go where God would have us to go; and associate with people God would have us to associate with.
VII. Conclusion
A. Have you been discouraged? Have you been facing fiery trials of your faith?
B. Remember the Precious Things Peter wrote to these suffering, scattered, saints.
C. Remember –
1. The Trial of Your Faith Is More Precious than Gold
2. Our Salvation Is Based Upon the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ
3. Jesus Christ, Chosen of God and Precious, Is Our Cornerstone
4. Our Faith Is Precious Because the Object of Our Faith Is Precious
5. God Has Given Us Precious Promises Contained in His Precious Word
