1 peter week 4. 1 peter: godly relationships themes our great salvation our response – holy lives...

1 Peter

Week 4

1 Peter: Godly Relationships

Themes• Our great salvation• Our response

– Holy lives– Godly relationships– Godly suffering

1 Peter: Godly Suffering

Godly men suffered in the Old Testament• Joseph (Gen 50:20)• Job (Job 2:3)

Jews struggled with this idea• Psalm 44• Psalm 73


Psa 44:17 All this happened to us,

though we had not forgotten you

or been false to your covenant.

Psa 44:18 Our hearts had not turned back;

our feet had not strayed from your path.

Psa 44:19 But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals

and covered us over with deep darkness.


Psa 73:12 This is what the wicked are like--

always carefree, they increase in wealth.

Psa 73:13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;

in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.


Mat 5:11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Mat 5:12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.


Sending out the 12 (Matt 10)• Sheep among wolves• Handed over to councils; flogged

Mat 10:22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.


Mat 16:21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Mat 16:22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"


Peter resisted the suffering savior• Jesus rebuked him• Had in mind things of man, not of God• Must deny self, take cross, follow

Later...• Tried to keep Jesus from being arrested• Denied Jesus rather than risk suffering


Joh 21:18 Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."

Joh 21:19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"


Joh 21:21 When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"

Joh 21:22 Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."

Jesus' message to Peter: He would have to suffer for Jesus.


Peter was transformed in Acts• Courage astonished Jewish rulers (Acts

4)• Prayed for boldness, not safety (Acts 4)• Out of prison, went back to preaching

(Acts 5)• Sleeping peacefully in prison awaiting

execution when angel came to release him (Acts 12)


Fast forward about 30 years• Peter writing letter we call 1 Peter • Circa AD 60-65• Persecution under Nero: AD 64

– Rome burned– Blamed Christians– Public torture and martyrdom as

entertainment


1Pe 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. [ESV]

Roman historian Tacitus:

“...they were covered with the hides of wild beasts, and worried to death by dogs, or nailed to crosses, or set fire to, and when the day waned, burned to serve for the evening lights.”


1Pe 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.


For a little while• Suffering is temporary• 2Co 4:17-18 For our light and

momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.


Suffering serves a purpose• Proves your faith genuine• Results in praise, glory, honor


1Pe 2:18-20 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.


Unjust suffering• Bear up / endure patiently• Because conscious of God

– “conscience toward God”

• Commendable before God!


1Pe 2:21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.


To this you were called• Christ suffered for us• Follow in his steps

– Suffer for Christ!


1Pe 3:13-14 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."


Isa 8:12 "Do not call conspiracy

everything that these people call conspiracy;

do not fear what they fear,

and do not dread it.

Isa 8:13 The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,

he is the one you are to fear,

he is the one you are to dread,

Isa 8:14 and he will be a sanctuary;


1Pe 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

1Pe 3:16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

1Pe 3:17 It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.


Peter concerned that, under persecution, Christians might be tempted to be silent.

• Remembered his own denial of Jesus

• Had demonstrated his repentance for 30 years

• Would soon be martyred for his faith


1Pe 4:15-16 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.


Mar 8:38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."


Temptation to alter standards • Make them more culturally acceptable• Rationalize that it is more “relevant”

Truth• The more the church is like the world, the

less relevant it is• Relevance: changing and healing broken

lives


Mat 10:25-28 It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household! "So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.


Persecution forces us to decide whom we fear.


1Pe 4:17-18 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

And,

"If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,

what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"


1Pe 4:19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.


1Pe 5:8-9 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.


1Pe 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.


1Pe 5:12 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.

True grace of God comes with suffering.

Stand Fast in it

It will be worth it!


Recap• Our great salvation• Our response

– Holy lives– Godly relationships– Godly suffering

Live a life worthy of our great salvation!

1 peter week 4. 1 peter: godly relationships themes our great salvation our response – holy lives...

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