1 Peter Chps 1 to 3 are in the Shadow of the Passover
1 Peter Chps 3 to 5 are in the Shadow of the Cross
1 Peter Chapter 1:
1.1:1-2 The Pastoral Heart of the Apostle
2.1:3-5 The Power and Security of the Christian Life
Note the Vitality of the Christian Experience:
i.Begotten Again (v3)
ii.Living Hope (v3)
iii.By the Resurrection (v3)
iv.Kept by the Power of God (v5)
3.1:4-7 The Problems and Suffering of the Christian Life
4.1:8-12 The Prospect and Salvation of the Christian Life
5.1:13-22 The Preparation and Sanctity of the Christian Life
The introduction of the great theme of holiness
A heavenly people on an earthly journey
We don’t belong here!
If that is the case do we live it out?
6.1:23-25 The Permanence and Seed of Christian Living
How it began and how it can never end
1 Peter Chapter 2 & 3:
1.2:1-3 The Believers as Babes : The Secret of Personal Growth
2.2:4-8 The Believers as a Building: The Secret of Collective Growth
3.2:5-10 The Believers as Priests:
i.A Holy Priesthood :
Before God in the Temple – Priestly Service in the Sanctuary
ii.A Royal Priesthood:
Before men in the world – Priestly Service in the Kingdom
4.2:11-3:17 The Believers as Strangers and Pilgrims : Living Heavenly Lives in an Unholy World
Living out the Royal Priesthood in the Every Day Relationships of Life:
1.Subjects and Sovereigns (2:13- )
2.Servants and Masters (2:18-25)
3.Wives and Husbands (3:1-7)
4.Brethren (3:8-11)
1 Peter Chapter 4
1.4:1-6 Death to the Flesh (cf. 3:18)
2.4:6-11 Life by the Spirit (cf. 3:18)
3.4:12-19 Suffering for Christ (cf. 3:22)
4.5:1 Sharing His Glory
iii.A Holy Priesthood – Before God in the Temple
iv.A Royal Priesthood – Before men in the world
1 Peter & Zechariah :
The themes of 1 Peter parallel the themes of Zechariah:
1.A People Scattered
2.A Priesthood Sanctified
3.A Temple Built
4.A Pastor Suffering
1.A People Scattered
Note the myrtle trees of Zech 1:10 speak of the nation of Israel – cf “Hadassah” from the Heb. Myrtle, the Heb name of Esther, amongst the many treasures of the book of Esther you will find encrypted within it a history of the nation of Israel from Eden to the Second Coming of Christ.
In Zech1:10 the nation of Israel is scattered throughout the earth: “And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.”
The nation of Israel are a People Scattered:
i.scattered amongst the Gentile nations
ii.scattered by human persecution
iii.scattered by Divine providence
God had a purpose in their scattering, the gospel was too precious to remain in a holy huddle and so the message was scattered abroad.
A people scattered but a people gathered to Glory: “For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her” (Zech2:5) and gathered to God (Zech 2:10-12), cf. 1Peter1:3,4.
Notice that the worlds strangers, the worlds scattered ones (1 Pet1:1) are the Lords Chosen ones (1 Peter 1:2).
Does our life seem unimportant or insignificant?
1 Peter Chp1
1:1-2 The Pastoral Heart of the Apostle
v1 – Peter a man with a mission, a mission to scattered believers, taking up the commission given to him by the Lord (Jo21:15-17) – this isn’t a job, it’s a Divine calling.
Do I want good success in my mission? I need Divine Calling not just a good idea, I need to be obedient to that calling.
v1 Here is the Shepherd heart of Peter, a heart he received from the Saviour Himself (Jo21) – Catching Fish, Feeding Sheep and minding your own business.
Do we need a shepherds heart for His people? That will only come from Christ.
1 Peter chp1 begins with the heart of the Shepherd and ends (chp5) with the Chief Shepherd – talk about pastoral epistles!
1:3-5 The Power and Security of the Christian Life
Note the Vitality of the Christian Experience:
i.Begotten Again (v3)
ii.Living Hope (v3)
iii.By the Resurrection (v3)
iv.Kept by the Power of God (v5)
Vitality of a new birth?
Is our hope living? Does our hope make an impact upon our life? Upon the lifes of others?
A living hope, therefore I’m actively looking forward to it!
Does that power mark my Christianity? My assembly? My evangelism? My faith?
A living hope from a living Christ (v3)! Are we dead?
Note the activity of the Spirit in chapter 1:
1.Sanctification of the Spirit (v2) – Preparing
2.Spirit signifying in them (v11) – Prophesying
3.Preaching with the Spirit (v12) – Preaching
4.Purified the believer by the Spirit (v22) - Purifying
Peters life had been changed by a “living hope” – that of the resurrected Christ, this had changed Peters perspective forever (John21).
Is our Christianity lived on the right side of Easter?
1:4-7 The Problems and Suffering of the Christian Life
The “trial of your faith” (v7) – how is faith strengthened through trial? Because through the trial we are, “kept by the power of God through faith” (v5) – we rest upon Him, we are strengthened by Him and depend upon Him.
The “trial of your faith” (v7) – is much more precious than gold, but why?
Some of you preachers have spoken in the gospel and have preached in Luke 16 and have preached the reality and the horrors of hell. Amongst those horrors you have noted: “a great gulf fixed” and have highlighted the persistence of memory into eternity – the memory of time is retained into eternity.
Now apply that to ourselves; so in eternity I will look back and see that “The lord thy God has led thee these 40 years in the wilderness to feed thee and to cause thee to hunger…”
As I look back I will see through all of lifes experiences the presence of God with me, the way He guided me, sustained me, upheld me by His spirit, “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1Pet1:5)
1:8-12 The Prospect and Salvation of the Christian Life
v10 – a general statement, looking back into OT scriptures there were many pointers to Christ.
v11 – a specific statement; “the time…” of “the sufferings of Christ,” only 1 prophecy fulfilling this criteria: Daniel chp9!
1:13-22 The Preparation and Sanctity of the Christian Life
The introduction of the great theme of holiness
A heavenly people on an earthly journey
We don’t belong here!
If that is the case do we live it out?
v13 – “gird up the loins of your mind” – often quoted as a stand alone verse, it’s not! “wherefore..” – in view of the journey, in view of where you are going, passing through “trial” (v7), saved by Grace and heading to salvation (v9), in view of the greatness of the salvation which belongs to us, need to gather up loose clothing, “belt up” and ‘focus down’ look at the things we need to gird up.
The first aspect of self I must bring under control is my mind; in daily life, in priorities, in the assembly, focused thoughts, focused goals, focused energies.
That begins when I “gird up the loins of my mind” – crucial, for if I fail my life will be fruitless and will have gone nowhere and achieved nothing.
Protect your brain, protect your thought life! Photos, TV, Radio, Literature?
Phil4:8 “think on these things”
The battle for the believers life begins with the believers mind.
Girding up but to what end? “Revelation of Jesus Christ” – the time of judgment.
v13 – Minds that guide us to our destiny, that guide our life and determine the outcome, these are the “loins” to be girded up, the “heart and reins” that guide our destinies.
God does not destroy the human will he seeks to win it, he seeks to have it offered to Him upon the altar of our life (Rom12:1)
If I refuse to allow the Lord into every room / door / avenue of my life I will reach the tragedy of Laodicea with the Lord outside the priorities of my life, outside the affections of my heart with Christ standing at the door and knocking.
Or I will like Simon Peter of old go down paths, well intentioned and well meaning paths directed by my own will and empowered by my own flesh: “Peter answered and said unto him, “Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.” (Matt26:33), “Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus” (Jo18:10).
The destiny is sure, “Revelation of Jesus Christ” – but the route is of my choosing!
If you are a believer then the location the destination is secure and settled and unchanging (Jo10:28),
Our destiny is not in question, that was secured at Calvary. What is in view is the route that I choose to take to get there, either by the will of the flesh or by the will of the Spirit.
I have at the end of that route of my choosing to face Christ: “the Revelation of Jesus Christ” cf. Rev1:1, 13-17. The revelation of Christ brings with it the revelation of self:
i.His eyes – piercing and burning
ii.His mouth – the sharp two edged sword
iii.His feet – brass, proved through fire
1Co3:13 “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”
Where does that fire come from that tests my work? From the eyes of the Saviour (Rev1:14) – the all seeing and the all discerning eyes of Christ.
Vs 13 to 21 We have allusion to the Passover of Ex12.
Vs 22 to 25 We have allusion to the Feast of Unleavened Bread
There was a people, and a nation who girded themselves up and set off on a journey to the promised land, their destination was certain but the route was of their choosing.
Deut 1:2 – 11 days journey from Horeb unto Kadesh Barnea, 11 days for about half of the journey, could have undertaken the journey in 40 days, took them 40 years!
40 years experience? The same years experience repeated 40 X?
v11 – a clean break with the old life
v15 – holiness a break free of sin
v17 – labouring for Christ
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1:18) – not so much the thought of the absolute value of our redemption as the thought that follows on from that – since we are the recipients of such a redemption how much do we owe God?
I live with a huge responsibility towards God
cf. 1 Peter and Exodus 12:
1 Peter Chapter 1
Parallels with Exodus 12:
“Gird up the loins of your mind” (v13)
“Thus shall ye eat it with your loins girded…” (v11)
“Redeemed…” (v18)
“But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.” (Deut24:18)
“Precious blood of Christ” (v19)
“And they shall take of the blood, and strike it” (12:7)
“Lamb without blemish and without spot” (v19)
“And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month:” (12:6)
“Raised Him up from the dead.” (v21)
“And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.” (Ex12:10)
Faith
Love
Hope
1:5 “Kept by the power of God through faith”
1:8 “whom having not seen ye love” – Love For Christ
1:3 “living hope” or as per the AV a “lively hope” a mistranslation I rather like!
1:7 “Trial of your faith”
4:8 “fervent love among yourselves”
1:13 “hope to the end”
1:21 “who by Him do believe in God”
1:22 “love one another with a pure heart fervently”
1:21 “faith and hope might be in God”
1:21 “faith and hope might be in God”
Evidence of the growth of the incorruptible seed of the word of God (1:23) and of the new birth.
Note the theme of holiness in the Christian life:
1.The Standard is set by God (v15,16)
2.The Standard is set by the Sacrifice (v19)
God did not give Christ as of a lamb without spot and without blemish so that I might live life with 1 foot in the world, if I try I will be stirring up perpetual unhappiness and continual sorrow as God purges the world and sin out of my life.
God did not give His sinless Son so that I might continue in sin!
1:23-25 The Permanence and Seed of Christian Living
How it began and how it can never end
The Word as Seed (1:23):
i.The beginning of life
ii.“liveth and abideth forever”
iii.Start with the Word
iv.Sown in the Spirit (1:12)
v.Received by the Spirit (1:22)
The Word as Milk (2:1):
i.The maintenance of life and the growth of life
ii.Receievd because I need it
“that ye may grow thereby”
1 Peter Chp2 & Zechariah Chp 3:
2.A Priesthood Sanctified
A “brand plucked out of the fire” (Zech3:2) cf. 1 Pet1:7.
ii.Holy Priesthood Zech3:3-5 cf. 1Pet2:5
iii.Royal Priesthood Zech3:5-7 cf. 1Pet2:9
3.A Temple Built
Personal Growth as a Babe (v1-3)
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (2:2) - for personal growth – I need Christ – the Word of God!
The milk comes from the Word and the Word comes from the Lord (v3,4).
“newborn babes” – an attitude of humility.
At the outset of chp2 we have the foundation / the pre-requisite of holiness (v1) – sincerity: ‘malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy, evil speaking’ – never to be found in the child of God.
If you want to find all of these together (Gen3) – they are features of Satan.
Must judge them radically in your life! Wishing ill of someone, under handed double dealings, half truths, subtle deception, hypocrisy – appearing to act the part appearing to be one thing when actually we are another.
To make spiritual progress we need to get over Eden! The idea that God is trying to catch us out, that God is insincere, that God doesn’t want the best for us, that we know better, the idea that when the Lord speaks and commands that obedience is optional.
Repentance is optional, baptism take it or leave it, “forsaking not the gathering of yourselves together,” an instruction only for others, consecration for those interested in a higher level of Christianity (Rom12:1) only, and actually in contradiction to the Word of God I can love the world and serve Christ, I can serve 2 masters and I am able to live as a believer whilst constantly putting myself first!
“sincere milk” = “guile free” – God does not deceive me with His Word, what He says, He means!
Do we believe that God sets standards just as an ideal but never really expects anyone ever to live by them?
Collective Growth as a Building (v4-8)
Note that personal growth comes first
If I’m faulty what I build in will be faulty
The Stone (Zech3:9) – the foundation of the Temple? Cf. 1Peter2:7-8, the stone is laid by God (Zech3:9; 1Pet2:6).
“chief corner stone” (1Peter2:6) – a lesson learnt by Peter from personal experience? “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt16:18).
Built upon Christ, Christ at the heart, at the center of the building (2:4)
Need to be focused upon Christ.
A lamp of testimony (Zech4:2)
Building Gods House in the power of the Spirit: “not by might, not by power but by My Spirit saith the Lord of hosts”
1Pet2:5: “lively stones” – life in the stones, “are built up” – built up by the Spirit, “Holy Priesthood” – sanctifying work, “spiritual sacrifices.”
“To whom coming, as unto a living stone” (2:4) – is for collective growth of the Spiritual House - for collective growth of the Church, I must be founded upon Christ.
This is a Living Stone because it is the Stone that is building the house!
Not the builders building the house but the Stone is building the house!
He is the Corner Stone in the building (v6)
He is the High Priest in the House (v5)
Whatever stone have you heard say: “I will build my Church”?
Spiritual growth by spiritual means – there are no shortcuts!
Need to depend upon the Spirit of God (Zech4:6)
Spiritual Growth upon a Spiritual Foundation cf. 1Pet2:4; Zech3:9; Ps118:22.
Note the foundation / corner stone (Isa28:16) is laid in Zion ie. For the temple!
“no other foundation can any man lay than that which is laid…”
Not social – I like the people, not ecclesiastical foundations – come to the church – evangelism very quickly becomes about church growth! Rather than about the Glory of Christ and the Good of the Sinner!
If we get the foundation wrong devotion to Christ can be confounded with commitment to the assembly and Christianity can become synonymous with meetings!
The purpose of the building is to function as a church – the House of God.
What purpose has the Church?
1.A Place of Worship (v5) – offering up spiritual sacrifices, a House of Prayer (Matt21:13),
2.A Place of Testimony (v9) – “the pillar and ground of the truth.” – A Royal Priesthood, moving out, “ye shall show forth.”
v5 – What we are to God in the House: “A Holy Priesthood” – moral implications – separated to God.
A Holy Priesthood serving in the house cf. Zech3:4.
1.A Holy Priesthood
cf. Zech3:4-7 – Holiness a pre-requisite for service
The Holy Priesthood are offering up spiritual sacrifices in Gods House
2.A Royal Priesthood
Zech3:5 – the High Priest wore a “miter” – A Crown – it reminded men that the priest belonged to God – “Holiness to God” inscribed upon it
The Royal Priest is offering up the sacriice of a Holy Life
cf. Zech3:5-7 – going out and serving in the Kingdom, serving now in the precincts of the temple.
Is this a Priesthood of Kings? Believers are certainly priests but hardly Kings!
“And hath made us kings and priests unto God” (Rev1:6) – really a “kingdom of priests unto God”
Implies a King – God is our King
A Kingdom of God moving within the Kingdoms of men
A Kingdom of Pilgrims (v11)
A Kingdom of Priests
Its all in the smell!
Ex30:25 “And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil” the tabernacle had a unique smell from the Holy Ointment.
The smell of the ointment was only to be found in the sanctuary, its use was forbidden any other place (Ex30:31ff).
As the High Priest moved out of the Holy Place he carried the fragrance of the sanctuary.
As Royal Priests, as we move out into the world we must carry the fragrance of the sanctuary, a fragrance we will gather nowhere else.
“that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” carrying that fragrance of the sanctuary into the world is the essence of evangelism.
If there is real spiritual life about us if we are really operating as an Holy Priesthood then there will be inevitably off shoots of new life from us as we move out as a Royal Priesthood.
The Royal Priesthood works itself out on a daily basis through the every day events of life, through the relationships of life.
The next section of 1 Peter thus deals with Holiness in the relationships of life:
1.Subject to the King (2:13- )
2.Subject to our Masters (2:18-25)
3.Subject to our Husbands (3:1-7)
4.Subject to One Another (3:8-11)
Offering up the sacrifice of a Holy Life on the altar to God
“chosen generation” – out of all other generations
“Royal Priesthood” – Belonging to a King
“A Holy Nation” – Belonging to God
“A Peculiar People” – “a people purchased” / “a people for Himself” – belonging uniquely to Christ!
“Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them” (Ezek20:12) – ‘Jehovah Mekadeshahm’
3:8-17 – Note the Parallel with the Beatitudes
An address to a family? Cf. Jacob (Gen49)
i.V8 – ‘sumpathes’:4835 – ‘a fellow feeling, compassion one of another’ cf. Blessed are the Merciful (Matt5:7)
ii.V9 – cf. Matt5:10 “Blessed are they which are persecuted…” “Blessed are ye when men shall revile you”
iii.V9 – “ye shall inherit a blessing” cf. Matt5:5 “they shall inherit the earth.”
iv.V10-11 – “Blessed are the pure in heart” (Matt5:8)
v.V12 – “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.”
vi.V14 – “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.” (Matt5:11)
vii.V15 – “Blessed are the meek” (Matrt5:5)
4.A Pastor Suffering
“A voice of the roaring of young lions” (Zech11:3), cf. 1Pet5:8.
“Feed the flock of the slaughter” (Zech11:4), cf. 1Pet5:2.
“I will feed the flock of the slaughter” (Zech11:7) cf. 1Pet5:2.
The betrayal of Christ (Zech11:12-13)
The sufferings of Christ (Zech12:10; 13:6) cf. 1Pet3:18; 4:1,13.
The Chief Shepherd (Zech13:7-9) cf. 1Pet5:4.
Things Beyond Price:
i.“Precious blood of Christ” (1:19)
ii.“He is precious” (2:7)
iii.“in the sight of God of great price” (3:4)
Living Things:
i.A Living Hope (1:3)
ii.A Living Word (1:23)
iii.A Living Stone (2:4)
An epistle resonating with the vibrancy of new life in the valley of affliction
Pictures of Christ:
i.Christ as the Lamb (Chp1)
ii.Christ as the Rock (Chp2)
iii.Christ as the example of sinlessness in Suffering (chp2:21ff); and of faithfulness through suffering (3:8-21).
iv.Christ as the Shepherd (2:25), as the Chief Shepherd (5:4).
An epistle resonating with the vibrancy of new life in the valley of affliction
Notice the beginning and the ending of the epistle:
1.The Picture of the Lamb (Chp1)
2.The Picture of the Shepherd (Chp5)
Between the picture of the lamb and the picture of the shepherd is the truth / subject of suffering.
To become a shepherd of the sheep the lamb had to suffer for the sheep and with the sheep
If I am going to be a shepherd of the sheep I must needs suffer for the sheep and with the sheep (Jo10:1-3; 11-13).
The Progress of Peter:
“which in time past were not a people…” (2:10) – the gentiles now saved
Cf. Peters attitude to the gentiles in Gal2:11ff
The grace of God to soften hearts
Peter, a man changed from the first faltering steps of faith in the gospels
Peters life had been changed by a “living hope” (1:3) – that of the resurrected Christ, this had changed Peters perspective forever (John21).
The Word of God:
i.The Enduring Power of the Word (v25)
ii.The Prophetic Accuracy of the Word (v11)
iii.The Nutritional Value of the Word (2:2)
Sunday 2 July 2006
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