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First Peter • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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What have you gleaned from our series in the past few weeks? We’ve been looking at Peter’s letter to the church, or as he put it, to “those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.” Today we are coming to the end of Peter’s first letter to the church. What would you have to say on such an occasion?
Peter has spoken strongly, powerfully to his fellow followers of Christ that are spread throughout the northeastern part of the Mediterranean region. And he still speaks powerfully to you and I today.
We are “born again” according to Peter, “to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
1 Peter 1:3–4 (ESV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! ... he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you...
We learned that Peter’s audience was not primarily a jewish audience, but a Gentile one, and yet he calls them to live
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
and reminds them it is written in God’s Word, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:44).
Peter has reminded his readers of who they are as followers of Christ, referring to them as 1Pe2:9
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
...you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession,
and as such are given a purpose 1Pe 2:9
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
...that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
I don’t know about you, but I find it immensely encouraging that these words might come from Peter. We’ve talked about Peter’s history, especially with Jesus, I don’t know how you picture him, but I picture him as big, strong fisherman. With a gruff attitude, hardened by the hard labor of fishing and the salty vocabulary to go with it. Yet throughout the Gospels and now in his letters we see how he’s been changed by his encounters with Jesus.
It was Peter who was constantly jumping in with both feet, a man of raw emotion, who professes Jesus as the Christ one moment and the next has Jesus tell him, “Get behind me Satan.”
It’s Peter who walked on water.
It’s Peter who when Jesus washes the disciples feet at the last Supper doesn’t just want his feet washed but all of him.
It’s Peter who claims if all of the others desert Jesus, he won’t and then denies Christ three times before morning. Every one of the Gospels records him doing so. Think about that - his failures are recorded and common knowledge throughout the early church.
It’s Peter who is reported as cut off the right ear of the high priest’s servant, Malchus.
It’s Peter who after Jesus’ death and burial, even after seeing the resurrected Jesus appear to him in the upper room, determines to go back to what he knows and go fishing.
It’s Peter who Jesus asked, “Do you love me?” three times.
He knows what it’s like to suffer for his faith, and he encourages Jesus followers to not be afraid of suffering but seize upon it as opportunity to witness. 1Pe 3:14-15
1 Peter 3:14–15 (ESV)
if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
He’s called us to be servants of one another and of all: 1Pe 4:10
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
And now he comes to the closing of his letter, Peter begins with this word, “elders”
elders = πρεσβύτερος (presbyteros)
Presbyteros is where we get the term “Presbyterian”. Now the word in the Greek itself comes with some combined meaning. The reason for that is that it means “elders” in the sense that we have the word “elderly”. In other words it means quite literally “older”. At the same time it refers to those that are selected to govern over the early church from among these older, wiser, members of the congregations throughout the dispersion.
It was John Calvin in the 1500’s who again brought forth this type of governing and spoke of the elders “representing” the rest of the congregation and seeking to honor God with their decision on behalf of the congregation.
So Peter writes, 1Pe 5:1
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:
At the time of this letter, Peter is older and one would think wiser, but he also is among those who witnessed Jesus’ suffering - his crucifixion and resurrection. And Peter is referring to the “elders” - those that are older, wiser, and leaders in the church and what does he tell them?
shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
He reminds the younger to be humble themselves and be subject to the elders.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
He closes with these strong words:
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
These words bring to mind the Lord’s words to Cain way back in Genesis: Ge 4:7
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”
To tell someone they must master sin, says that it must be possible. I don’t know about you, but I seem to have found the opposite to be true. Yet Peter tells us in verse 6-7 to humble ourselves before God and to cast all our anxieties onto the Lord and he will lift us up at the proper time.
Perhaps one of the most sobering things Peter reminds us of is that doing right doesn’t mean that we will live easy, peaceful lives. Just because we do the right thing doesn’t mean that others will respond to us in the ways that we would hope. Sometimes our efforts are met with suffering. Yet Peter reminds us of God’s promise, and that promise gives us hope:
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
I have heard people say, “I’ve never suffered for my faith.” Really?
Sometimes holding on to your faith means that your life circumstances don’t make sense. You believe, you trust, but right not you don’t feel blessed, strengthened, or encouraged in any way. You feel overwhelmed, beat up, and perhaps even cast aside.
Sometimes when we hold on to our faith our friends and perhaps even our family don’t want to hear about it. “That’s fine for you...” they say. The truth is that it is good news for any and all who will believe.
So as you’re on your faith journey and perhaps your life circumstance doesn’t seem to make sense in light of God’s blessings, remember Peter says, “No! That’s not the end of the story.” You and I need to keep on moving forward in our faith. And he gives us a promise as we just read: 1Pe 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
He closes with: 1Pe 5:12
1 Peter 5:12 (ESV)
I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.
God’s promises are not for our glory, but for His, and it is by this grace that we can stand firm in the midst of whatever we are going through. To God be the glory. AMEN!