Text: I Peter 1:1-2
Title: Stand fast in the true grace of God
For the next several Sundays we are going to look together at the book of 1Peter.
1Peter was written to encourage the Christians of that day to endure the persecution that was prevalent in the area and to prepare the readers for the difficult times ahead.
The theme of 1Peter is found in 1Peter 5:12 where Peter writes, “with the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.”
The entire message of the book of 1Peter therefore can be summarized in this one sentence “Stand fast in the true grace of God.”
Now how many of us know from personal experience that this is easier said than done?
When we often have so many things coming against us there are times when it’s not easy to stand fast in the true grace of God.
Illustrate
I’m reminded of the story about the husband who got a call on his cell phone one day while driving home from work. It was from his wife warning him to drive carefully because she had just heard on the news that there was a car driving the wrong way on RT. 695 going east. To which he replied “it’s not one car but hundreds.”
Even the Apostle Peter years before he wrote this letter could not stand fast in the true grace of God.
“Even if all fall away, I will not”
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, ”today-yes, tonight- before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.’
But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.”
Mark 14:29-31
But isn’t it great that we can all learn from our mistakes and change?
And isn’t it just like God to take someone’s major weakness and turn it into their greatest strength?
So for the next few Sundays we are going to get some help from the apostle Peter on how we can stand fast in the true grace of God even when it seems like all the traffic is coming against us.
The best way to start this series on standing fast in the true grace of God is by making sure that we are in fact in the true grace of God.
After all how can I ever stand fast in the true grace of God if I’m not first sure that I’m even in the true grace of God.
So lets first look together at 1Peter 1:1-2
“Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, (which were five Roman provinces in Asia Minor, which is modern day Turkey) who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance”
Let me point out an observation that should be clear from these first two verses in 1Peter chapter 1
From these two verses
1. A person can know for sure how to receive the true grace of God
2. A person can therefore know for certain if they have or have not received the true grace of God.
A person can know for sure how to receive the true grace of God if they could only see it as a work done for us by God.
In verse 2 the Apostle Peter shows us how all the Trinity plays a part in allowing us to receive the true grace of God.
For if we look at verse two we see mention of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and how they work together to bring about the true Grace of God.
We are selected by the Father, sanctified by the Spirit and saved by the Son.
Here is another way of looking at it.
1. God the Father thought up the true grace of God
“Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father”
When did God the Father think up the true grace of God?
Was it after the fall?
Was it after the Old Testament but before the New Testament?
The answer is none of these. God the Father thought up the true grace of God before the foundation of the world.
“For he (God the Father) chose us in him (God the Son) before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. (Ephesians 1:4)
God thought about how he was going to save us long before we even thought about committing our first sin.
God the Father thought up the true grace of God and then Peter tells us that God the Holy Spirit brought the true grace of God.
“Through the sanctifying work of the Spirit”
It is God the Holy Spirit who brings the true grace of God to us.
The verse calls this bringing of the true grace of God by the Holy Spirit a sanctifying work.
To sanctify something means to separate it from that which is common and to make it holy.
In chapter 2:9 we have an example of this when Peter calls us “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God…”
How does the Holy Spirit sanctify us? By what he brings! And what did we say that he brings? Does he not bring us the true grace of God?
Do you know that the true grace of God is also a sanctifying grace?
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to all ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Titus 2:11-13
God the Father thought up the true grace of God
God the Holy Spirit brought the true grace of God
God the Son bought us the true grace of God
The true grace of God is free for us but it was not free for Jesus
It cost him his life.
God the Son bought the true grace of God.
“For obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood.”
God the Son bought the true grace of God with his blood.
“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1Peter 1:18)
Now the use of the term “sprinkled by his blood” that is found in 1Peter 1:2 held special significance for Peter and his Jewish readers.
The term “sprinkled by his blood” held special significance for Peter and his Jewish readers because it reminded them of how God delivered their nation from physical bondage when they were slaves in Egypt.
Read Exodus 12:1-13
What part did the Israelites have to play in their deliverance? None but Obedience!
What part do you and I have to play in our salvation? None but obedience!
Our obedience is to simply trust in the blood. Jesus alone is our forgiveness.
And the moment we turn to Jesus in obedience we are sprinkled by his blood and enter into the true grace of God.
Conclusion
Does the blood of Jesus cover us? Are we entirely trusting in the blood of Jesus for our salvation?
If we are then we are standing in the true grace of God and are ready to learn how to stand firm in the true grace of God.
If the blood of Jesus does not cover us then we need to ask ourselves why not?
Is it because we have never heard that God has already made a way of escape for us?
For most of my life I thought the way to salvation was by my works rather than by God’s grace.
If you are here today and you want to stand in the true grace of God then simply ask God the Father to forgive you because of the blood of Jesus and to send the Holy Spirit to come into your life and to make you holy.
There may be some that are not covered in the blood of Jesus because they would rather choose to continue walking in disobedience?
When we choose to walk in disobedience to God by rejecting Jesus what we really are saying is that we want an abundance of other things.
It could be an abundance of sin. It could be an abundance of money. It could be an abundance of anything.
But look at what God wants to give us an abundance of in verse 2. Grace and peace. Is anything better than that?
