Sermon Tone Analysis

ELECT

Date: 10 June 2018

Sermon Title: The People of God

Text: 1 Peter 1:1,2: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen

according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

1. Introduction:

a. Beginning a series on the Apostle Peter’s epistles

b.

This will be the series I will preach on when I’m in the pulpit.

c.

This is God’s Word for you today, and He has chosen me to deliver it, as flawed as I am.

d.

Key Verse for the epistle: 1 Peter 2:9

e. Peter’s reasons for writing:

i. God’s plan is intentional.

ii.

Exhort the faithful to denial of the world, contempt of it, to be freed from carnal desires and earthly hindrances, and aspire to the celestial kingdom of Christ.

Holiness.

iii.

AD 63-67 Beginnings of Neronian persecution.

Paul killed in AD 64 or so.

Preparing the elect for suffering – how to respond.

Suffering is normal.

iv.

So that they may understand who they are in Christ and why they are in this situation and how they might respond.

f.

Election is a controversial doctrine but it is central to this text and to God’s message for us today.

I’ve been in churches where this subject was assiduously avoided.

But in the context of this message, we cannot, nor should we avoid it.

2. Interrogative: What does election mean?

What does it mean to be the people of God? Can we know if we are the elect?

Chosen by God unto eternal life?

3. Exhortation/imperative: Yes.

We can and will know by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

We need to examine our lives, look at God’s providence, gain faith and confidence and follow Him.

4. Transition: Answer the question look at three aspects of it: the author, the recipients and the reason for the message.

5. First Point: The Author.

Peter, a apostle of Jesus Christ.

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ”

a. Explanation:

i.

No one on earth better qualified to write this letter.

Chosen by the Master, along with 11 other apostles, to carry the message.

Apostle, (Apostolos), a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (“apostle”), (with miraculous powers): - apostle, messenger, he that is sent.

ii.

Very human, very flawed, God prepared him, all the below formed a chronology of memories

iii.

Born in Bethsaida with Phillip, Bartholmew and brother Andrew

iv.

Fisherman in Capernaum.

Selected to study under the Lord Jesus Christ, before He was known

v.

Not the brightest

1. Mount of Transfiguration (James and John, Moses and Elijah)

2. Made an oath he could not keep

3. Stuck his foot in his mouth at the last supper

4. Denied Christ’s prophesy of His death.

vi.

Great declaration – your are the Christ, the Son of God (Matt 16:13-23) Christ declares this knowledge could only come from His Father, intimating work of the Holy Spirit.

vii.

Denial – difference between Peter and Judas?

Fled

viii.

Redemption- Restoration by Christ

ix.

Pentecost – power, sermon-eloquence, clarity, courage

x.

Ministry.

xi.

Wrote from Babylon – no evidence He made it to Rome, ever.

xii.

Inspired by God (2 Tim 3:16).

God led Peter through His life experiences, to form Him to be the perfect instrument of His will.

b.

Illustration: Moses, Noah, Abraham, the Judges, Paul, my life.

All were inadequate to the task at hand, or woefully unqualified, until God made them qualified.

c.

Argumentation: Hard-wired.

Pre-determined.

Genetics.

In many ways, these are all ways to legitimize sin and a worldly lifestyle.

Is this not a sort of secular predestination?

d.

Application: One of the ways of discovering if we are elect may come through retrospection.

A backwards, forensic look at our lives will reveal to us how God has been calling us.

The Bible tells us that His will for us dates from before the beginning of time.

Do you suppose Peters neighbors and relatives in Bethsaida and Capernaum would have expected him, of all people, to become an Apostle of the living Christ and one of the most influential men in history?

e. Exhortation: Examine your lives and see how God has interceded or intervened.

Follow His word.

6. Second Point: The recipients: “To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosenaccording to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood:

a. Explanation:

i. Elect, Eph 1:3-8

ii.

Strangers, aliens, Jews, “elect exiles”.

iii.

Pontus, G4195  Galatia, G1053  Cappadocia, G2587  Asia, G773  and G2532  Bithynia.

Many of these at Pentecost – Jews for the most part, but not exclusively

iv.

According to the foreknowledge (prognosis) of God.

Triune operation: