Series – Confidence in a Complex World – 1 Peter
As in Peter’s day, we don’t spend all our time with fellow Christians. We’re scattered, often the only followers of Jesus on our street, at work, or even at home. These are our frontlines where, in our times, we are called “to be distinctive and to make a difference for Christ. When we gather as worshippers, we remind ourselves that we believe a very particular story about the world. We believe it’s God’s – he created it. We believe it’s broken – because of sin. We believe that Jesus’ death makes new life possible. We believe that one day everything will be transformed. We live as people with a distinct story in a culture that may not believe any of that.
This series through Peter’s letter written to people whose context he understood well and with which we can resonate today. Through his encouragement, challenge, insight, and knowledge of God – expressed first to them – we too will gain confidence to live well for Christ in our complex world, on our everyday frontlines.”
When Peter writes to small groups of Christians scattered across the country we now call Turkey, he’s longing for them to live well as the people of God in a complex world. So, he starts by using two pivotal words to describe them and then he reminds them of a stunning truth. That we can have Confidence in the Gospel.
1. Confidence in the Gospel – 1 Peter 1:1 – 2:3
Confident in the Gospel because chosen
Do you address your letters with Hi or Dear Sir?
to whom it may concern or to my gorgeous luscious lips?
Gospel of Luke addressed to Most Excellent Theophilus
You want to relieve a letter like that!!!!
Peter addresses them as the Elect – that grabs your attention
David Coffey referred to us as the Elite of the Baptist Union, the best the Union had to offer.
I felt both proud and over awed – David knew how to win the hearts of people.
Of course it wasn’t really true but it made me feel good
But when Peter refers to God’s people as the Elect – It is true!
And we should feel good about it!
And realise we have been chosen for a purpose!
From Genesis 12 onwards, it’s clear that God’s purpose was that Abraham and all his descendants would be blessed and would be a blessing to the world around. Writing to these early Christians, most of whom would not have been Jews by birth, Peter draws them into the ongoing story of God’s intention for the world by using the language of calling – ‘chosen’, ‘elect’.
God chose a people to himself …….
You are now part of that Story
v15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
You are Called the verse sort of takes it for granted!
Because Confidence in His Story – History of people of God
Confident in the Gospel because it applies in every situation
Peter also refers to God’s people as Exiles
Here, Peter recalls the great disaster of the Old Testament – when Israel lost their land. At first, their only hope was in a quick return, but the prophets told them that most of that first generation of exiles would not return, though they could remain distinct and be a blessing where they were (Jeremiah 29).
It was a radical change for these early Christians: turning away from their old way of life and embracing Christ. Being drawn into the heart of God’s community meant being pushed to the outside of their earthly communities.
In becoming the people of God (2:10), they turned towards Christ and away from other gods. Doing so had repercussions (4:3–4, 12–16). Now they were targets of malicious accusations, their names now the ‘x’ in the ‘have you heard about x?’ conversations between neighbours or fellow slaves. Households, fields, markets, and streets, which might once have felt like home, did so no longer. They had become outsiders.
Peter understood their situation, he knew how they felt. He had seen this elsewhere (5:9). He’d experienced rejection himself. Knowing how they felt, and knowing who they were in Christ, he wanted to help them make sense of what was going on and renew their imagination of what life could be like in this old-yet-new world.
They were ‘foreigners and exiles’ (2:11). The word he uses for ‘foreigners’ means someone who is not a citizen of the area they currently inhabit, and an ‘exile’ is someone who will not stay there indefinitely. Peter was “very happy to apply Old Testament language to New Testament followers of Christ, whether Jew or Gentile. In referring to them as ‘foreigners and exiles’, he’s doing it again.
When living among the Hittites, Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, described himself as ‘a foreigner and stranger’ (Genesis 23:4). And between the times when Abraham and Jesus walked the earth, the Jewish nation walked from Jerusalem to Babylon as exiles, before walking back again.
When Abraham found himself in a foreign land (willingly), and when the Jewish people found themselves in a foreign land (unwillingly), God was with them and was furthering his plans and purposes through them. Their job was to trust God and be channels of his blessing in those places. Whether they were making their way to the Promised Land, living in the Promised Land, or were exiles in a strange land, God remained their God, they remained his people. His good plans for them stood firm. Unlike the Israelites, Peter’s audience was not literally in exile. But just like the Israelites, Peter’s audience were called to bring glory to God and blessing to others.
It’s probably fair to say that these early Christians “faced greater marginalisation than Christians these days in the West. Nevertheless, we too may feel like ‘foreigners and exiles’ in our nation, at work, or in our communities. At the same time, many Christians are a source of great blessing in their context and God has opened many doors for them to minister grace and love, to be messengers of the gospel. Yes, the media report on Christians taken to court over taking a stand for their faith. Others are sidelined. Yet we have enormous freedom to stand up for our faith. And many Christians have found ways to offer prayer, do good, and build meaningful friendships in their public spaces as well as their personal ones.
Whatever our lot, the call to us as resident aliens is the same: ‘be holy in all you do’ (1:15), commit yourselves to our ‘faithful Creator and continue to do good’ (4:19), and in so doing bring glory to God (2:12).
Confident in the Gospel because it points to [Glory]
Actually this is amazing
- cause us huge joy
- Confidence does not mean complete absence of doubt but it does mean deciding to put our faith in a direction based on what we know – ‘living hope’
Our future is kept safe in heaven, it is being merged into the now and one day will be fully merged with our earthly reality, transforming it and soaking it through with God’s presence, love and mercy (v4). And if that new world is kept safe for us, Peter assures us that we are being kept safe for it. Faith itself is the anchor which holds us firm within that hope (v5).
Bathroom reconfigured – taking shower out putting in a bigger bath sink where shower was.
First thing was to ascertain the Height Width Depth of the room and then deciding what the height width and depth we could go to in terms of each of the things we intended to put in it.
Confident in the Gospel because you are chosen – width
Confident in the Gospel because it applies in every situation – depth
Confident in the Gospel because it points to [Glory] – height
Peter reminds them of the wondrous truth that God – Father, Son and Spirit – is at work in them. They are known – the Father’s foreknowledge; they have been set apart – the Spirit’s sanctifying work; they can be confident of their relationship with God through the Son – the sprinkling of blood is a sign of being included in his covenant. And so, they are called to be obedient to Jesus Christ in a complex world and know grace and peace in abundance.
Then continues to tie them into the God story reminded them that the prophets had foretold the things that were now their own recent history. What they had hoped for had become reality. And so these believers that Peter writes to can also be sure that the things yet to come are just as certain.
Therefore …..
Therefore live confidently
Strange World, how do we help people who are living in this world?
Life as a child of God is exciting. The apostle Peter writes about being ‘filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy’ (1:8). It comes as a result of ‘new birth’ (v.3). Peter tells us that ‘new birth’ leads to:
1. Security in spite of ageing
Your future is certain because it is based on the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus was buried. God raised him from the dead (v.21). One day, the same will happen to you.
You are an heir to the greatest inheritance. Nothing in this life is perfect – all earthly possessions will ultimately decay or be destroyed. But your inheritance will ‘never perish’: it will never ‘spoil’, it will never ‘fade’ (v.4). It is guaranteed, ‘kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time’ (vv.4–5). It has your name on it.
C.S. Lewis wrote: ‘As we grow older, we become like old cars – more and more repairs and replacements are necessary.
“it will see me out!”
We must just look forward to the fine new machines (latest Resurrection model) which are waiting for us, we hope, in the Divine garage.’
2. Rejoicing in spite of suffering
Rejoicing is not dependent on circumstances (vv.6–7). Life is not always easy: ‘In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials’ (v.6). This letter was probably written from Rome, around AD 62–64, in the days immediately before the persecution by Nero. The Christians were already suffering. My suffering may be very small compared to theirs, but we all suffer bereavements, disappointments, opposition, temptation and all the struggles in life.
Peter says, ‘you greatly rejoice’ (v.6, see also James 1:2) for three reasons:
• the relative shortness of the trials (‘for a little while’, 1 Peter 1:6) compared to what lies in the future.
• because there is a purpose behind them: our ‘faith – of greater worth than gold’ (v.7) is being refined.
• their result is ‘praise, glory and honour’ (v.7) when Jesus Christ is revealed.
3. Intimacy in spite of invisibility
Peter had actually seen Jesus. Those to whom Peter is writing had not, yet: ‘Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy’ (v.8). Like them, you have never seen Jesus – but also like them, you too can experience a personal and daily relationship with Jesus, and receive the goal of your faith – the salvation of your soul (v.9).
It is an extraordinary privilege to live in a time after the first coming of Jesus. You live in the age of the Spirit. You have received the grace to which the whole Old Testament pointed. The ‘Spirit of the Messiah’ was at work in the prophets, pointing to Jesus’ suffering and glory. Jesus was active in the Old Testament, but they had to wait for his full revelation.
He is coming back. Be prepared.
In the meantime, grow up: ‘As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy”’ (vv.14–16, MSG). Only the Holy Spirit, who brings about this new birth and now lives in you, can make you holy.
Leave behind the empty way of life and, instead, live a life of ‘sincere love’, loving one another deeply from the heart (v.22). This is the ultimate goal of the Christian life: love for Jesus who died to make all this possible (vv.19–20) and a passionate love for one another (v.22).
‘So,’ the apostle Peter writes, ‘clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretence, envy and hurtful talk. You’ve had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God’s pure kindness. Then you’ll grow up mature and whole in God’ (2:1–3, MSG).
Notes for Discussion
First Thoughts
In 1581 Galileo’s father sent him off to Pisa to study medicine. It quickly became apparent that Galileo had a remarkable flair for mathematics. He switched tracks and went on to make extraordinary discoveries in the field of astronomy.
At the time, the majority opinion about our solar system was geocentric; that the sun and other planets revolved around the earth. Galileo, on the other hand, had read Copernicus’s theory that the earth revolved around the sun. The more Galileo investigated, the more he was convinced this was the case. Unfortunately for him, these convictions got him in trouble. Considered a dangerous heretic, he lived out his final days under house arrest. But he did not waver. His confidence in those truths shaped his life in profound and costly ways.
The apostle Peter was writing to groups of Christians who lived in societies where the gospel was seen as utter nonsense, and dangerous utter nonsense at that. Their newfound faith came under pressure and their confidence in the gospel was tested. Why should they remain confident in the gospel when everyone else around them was so sure this confidence was misplaced?”
Focus on the Theme
1. Have you ever been in a difficult or scary situation, yet remained confident?
Where do you think that confidence came from?
How did that confidence help you to do what you needed to do?
What Does the Bible Say?
Read the ‘Introduction to 1 Peter’ before jumping into 1:3–12.
2. In 1:3–5, Peter provides a glorious ‘gospel nugget’: a condensed insight into the rich treasure that is the good news of Jesus Christ for us and the world. What do you notice about how this gospel is ‘good news’ for those who trust in it?
3. According to Peter, why can this gospel be trusted? (1:3–12). You might like to divide the verses up between you and then pool your insights.
4. We know that the people Peter wrote to suffered for their faith. What is surprising about the way they responded to suffering ‘grief in all kinds of trials’ (1:6)?
“Why do you think they responded in this way?
5. In 1:10–12, Peter mentions the role played by the Holy Spirit in guiding the Old Testament prophets, as well as those who had preached the gospel to them. How does the Holy Spirit’s involvement further strengthen their confidence?
Going Deeper
6. Think about what Peter saw and experienced throughout his lifetime. Why do you think he had so much confidence in the gospel? (You may find it helpful to skim John 20:1–7, John 20:19–20, Acts 1:4–11, Acts 3:3–8, and Acts 10.)
7. In your Bible, take a look at 1:13–2:3. The passage starts with ‘Therefore’ – what Peter is about to tell them is linked to what he has just said about the gospel. What kind of life does this gospel call for?
Living it Out
8. How have the circumstances of your life and the beliefs of others around you impacted your own confidence in the gospel?
9. Think about one person that you meet on your frontline who is not a Christian. As far as you know, what do they think about the Christian faith and about Jesus Christ?
10. Based on what you’ve looked at so far, in what ways, if any, has Peter helped to strengthen your confidence in the gospel?
What impact do you think a greater confidence in the gospel would make in your life?
Prayer Time
Thank God for the goodness, truth, and power of the gospel.
Ask God to strengthen your confidence in this and to help you bear the fruit you desire.
Thinking about the non-Christians you meet, what might help them take a step closer to Jesus? Pray for this together.”
Theme and Questions from LICC booklet
– 1 Peter ‘Confidence in a Complex World’ by Joe Warton