We don't need to fit
Peter • Sermon • Submitted
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Christians just don’t fit in, this is the truth. and that’s not easy for the first-century church. Christians are suffering all over the world (1 Pe 5:1)
Article about the discovery of a new asteroid.
What ever God does in the world, he often does at a cosmic level
I have been part of dozens of movements in the time since I have been a Christian. The one I miss the most is the movement where it was primarily about the Gospel and preaching the Gospel.
Peter was speaking not just to Jews or just to Gentiles but to Christians who were living their lives in such a way that they would have stood out as aliens among the surrounding culture.
Peter begins his letter by calling Christians “aliens,” or residential foreigners to the Roman Empire (1 Pe 1:1, 17). Peter is not speaking of a literal exile.
Christians need to know why.
They need to know how to deal with it.
They need to know how to live.
And, And they need to know it’s not it vain.
Unjust or unforeseen suffering is one of the great problems that grips the hearts of people today. We struggle with frustration, anger, and uncertainty when trials strange and unexpected land on our doorsteps. Too often in those most difficult moments of our lives, confusion reigns while contentment wanes; questions arise while prayer subsides.
How do you react when suffering comes?
Many crumble at the mere thought of another pain or trial. Others rise to the occasion. Most of us are probably somewhere in between.
Peter’s encouragement to his Christian readers is one of perseverance in faith.
And, it is tough out there. And it is only getting tougher.
It isn’t enough for us to simply get up every morning and trudge through each day; neither is it advisable to paste a smile on our faces and ignore troubles. Instead, the lesson of 1 Peter is to push through the troubles, recognizing their temporary presence in our lives while walking in holiness and hope as people of faith.
Yet it is not human suffering that dominates the book but divine presence, direction, and protection. The two most frequent significant words are “God” (39 times) and “Christ” (22 times).
Trouble can cause either growth or bitterness in the Christian life. Response determines the result.
Peter encourages them to conduct themselves courageously for the Person and program of Christ.
The apostle Peter writes these Christians a letter to address these issues in two ways:
Testify the truth. The more they know about Jesus, themselves, and the world, the better they’ll understand their difficult situation.Exhort them to live accordingly.
Salvation of the Believer …… 1:3–12
Hope for the Future …… 1:3, 4
Trials for the Present …… 1:5–9
Anticipation in the Past …… 1:10–12
Sanctification of the Believer …… 1:13–2:12
“Be Holy” …… ;1:13–21
“Love One Another” …… 1:22–25
If anyone understood persecution, it was Peter. He was beaten, threatened, punished, and jailed for preaching the Word of God. He knew what it took to endure without bitterness, without losing hope and in great faith living an obedient, victorious life. This knowledge of living hope in Jesus was the message, and Christ’s example was the one to follow.
First Peter focuses on the importance of believers bearing up under unjust suffering yet continuing to live well (1 Peter 2:20). In this way, 1 Peter might be called the Job of the New Testament, providing encouragement for the true believer to continue on in the way that Jesus has laid out for all His followers. The endurance Peter called these believers to, is similar to Job’s, a man who suffered despite his righteousness. Peter maintained that this was the kind of true perseverance that God expects from His people.
Peter the best possible example of what it looked like to live in holiness amid a hostile world.
He then goes on to explain the relationship between suffering and salvation: suffering lasts now, but it proves our faith so that joy and glory can come later.
Therefore, Christians should be holy, or set apart (1 Pe 1:14). They should love one another and long for the word of God.
Holiness, Harmony and Humility
Peter speaks of God’s foreknowledge (1:2), power (1:5), living and abiding Word (1:23), people (2:10), will (2:15; 3:17; 4:2, 19), patience (3:20), grace (4:10; 5:10, 12), glory (4:14; 5:10), and gospel (4:17).
So press on! It is in the darkest times that our collective light shines brightest.