Encouragement in Trial I. Base Text: 1 Peter 1:1-7 II. Understanding the Text A. Context of letter (1 Peter 1:1) 1. Written by Peter the Apostle 2. Written to "elect exiles of dispersion" in Roman provinces of modern Turkey 3. ca. 60 CE? 4. Language of "exiles of dispersion" very Jewish, but likely referring to Christians as spiritual Israel (cf. Romans 11:16-24, Galatians 6:16) 5. While "elect exiles of dispersion" may seem as if Peter writes only to Jewish Christians, speaking of people who were not a nation in 1 Peter 2:10 makes it seem as if all Christians of that area under discussion 6. Thus, "elect exiles" not from Judea, but from world! B. The Trinity and the Christian (1 Peter 1:2) 1. 1 Peter 1:2 speaks clearly of Trinity: Father, Son, Spirit 2. The exiles "elect" according to the foreknowledge of the Father (cf. Romans 8:29-30, Ephesians 1:3-14) 3. In sanctification of Spirit: seems to indicate that Spirit has role in sanctification 4. Purpose: to obey Jesus Christ, sprinkled with His blood a. Sprinkled blood as image of cleansing b. Sprinkling of blood on the altar for atonement in Leviticus c. Not some kind of direct baptismal image C. The Blessings of God (1 Peter 1:3-5) 1. Peter begins letter, as Paul begins Ephesians, speaking of God's great blessings (cf. Ephesians 1:3-14) 2. While similar in concept, Peter's descriptions vibrant, purposeful 3. Blessing of God's great mercy: reconciliation while sinners (Ephesians 2:1-10, Titus 3:3-8) 4. Blessing of being born again (John 3:1-5, Romans 6:3-7) 5. Born again to a living hope (Romans 8:23-25) 6. Born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead a. Resurrection made atonement possible (1 Corinthians 15:17) b. Resurrection provides hope of our own resurrection (Romans 8:11) c. Resurrection secures promise of judgment, glory (Acts 17:30-31) 7. Born again also to an inheritance (Romans 8:16-17, Ephesians 1:3-14, Hebrews 11) 8. That inheritance as imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in Heaven (cf. Matthew 6:19-20) 9. Believers as guarded by God's power through faith for salvation (Romans 8:31-39) a. No denial of responsibility b. Must have faith, live obediently (1 Peter 1:2, Romans 8:1-10) 10. Salvation as ready to be revealed in the last time (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:20-58, Revelation 21:1-22:6) D. Trials and Faith (1 Peter 1:6-7) 1. In the blessings of God, believers are to rejoice (Acts 8:39, Philippians 4:4) 2. Grieved for a "little while" by trials 3. Trials have purpose: refinement of faith like one refines gold 4. Gold as purified through fire: faith as more precious, thus, need for purity! 5. Purified faith results in praise, honor, glory of Christ on final day (Philippians 2:9-11, Luke 17:6-10) III. Application A. "Elect exiles" 1. A reminder that we are not "home" 2. We are as exiles on the earth, waiting to be with Jesus (Philippians 3:20-21) 3. Do we consider ourselves as exiles or citizens of the world? B. God for us 1. Peter indicates how every Person within the Trinity is for us 2. The Father has foreknown our faith 3. The Spirit works with us for sanctification 4. We obey the Son, obtain redemption through His blood 5. Romans 8:31-33 C. Encouragement through blessings 1. Peter's descriptions of God's blessings are very positive, encouraging 2. Extremely active and vibrant 3. "Great mercy," "living hope," "imperishable, undefiled, unfading" 4. Underscores the message of encouragement: great value in what God has accomplished and is accomplishing for us! D. "Living" Hope 1. Christianity too often looks to the past, almost like a religion of heritage 2. Peter looks at it in terms of the present; God's blessings now, the hope that exists today 3. The believer's hope in God is not dead or stuck in the past: it should be active, living, and rather present! 4. Christ is Risen; Christ is Lord; we presently have salvation; we await the fulfillment of our hope (Matthew 28:18-20, 1 Corinthians 15:20-58) 5. The resurrection of Christ is the wellspring of that glorious hope of our present and future new creation (2 Corinthians 5:16-17, 1 Corinthians 15:20-58) 6. Is our hope alive and present? E. Heaven's Stability 1. Peter highlights the security and stability of our inheritance 2. Imperishable, undefiled, unfading 3. Three antitheses of the world: everything on earth perishes, is defiled, fades (cf. Matthew 6:19-20, 1 Timothy 6:17-19) 4. Peter makes it clear that the heavenly realm is not like the earthly one! 5. Highlights our need to trust in God and store up our treasure in Heaven! F. Salvation: Now and Not Yet 1. We can also understand the nature of salvation from Peter 2. He indicates that we have been "born again to a living hope" in verse 3 3. Yet we are reserved for a salvation to be revealed at the last time in verse 5 4. Salvation, therefore, as "now and not yet" 5. Now: through faith, baptism, obedience, reconciled to God, association with Him, part of the church, in the Kingdom (Romans 6:3-7, 1 John 1:1-10, Colossians 1:13, 18) 6. Not Yet: waiting to gain the resurrection, transformation, eternity with the Lord (Romans 8:19-23, 1 Corinthians 15:20-58, Revelation 21:1-22:6) 7. Thus, we are to have "security" in our saved state now through our faith while looking forward to the ultimate reconciliation 8. Neither "once saved, always saved" nor "if saved, barely saved"! G. Rejoice 1. Peter indicates that the brethren rejoice in all of these blessings 2. Do we rejoice in them, or take them for granted? 3. Would our attitudes not be more godly if we rejoiced more and praised God for His blessings? H. Purpose of Trials 1. While we may not be able to presume the reason why we suffer in every particular situation, we can understand how any trial can have value 2. Trials shake us up; they cause us to question who we are, what we believe, what we're willing to stand for 3. Therefore, we will either endure the trial in faith or lose faith through our trial 4. If we endure, the trial has helped strengthen, test our faith! 5. Hence, our faith is refined through the fires of various trials 6. Our ability to endure trials faithfully result in glory for Christ, as it should be I. Purpose of Peter's encouragement 1. So why does Peter go on about God's blessings in 1 Peter 1:3-5? 2. To encourage the brethren to endure their trials in faith in 1 Peter 1:6-7! 3. Peter recognizes the challenges that trials bring to faith 4. Therefore, he seeks to remind the brethren that despite whatever they suffer, God has done all these wonderful things and has made these wonderful promises! 5. If, in the midst of any type of trial, physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, or a mixture, we keep God's blessings at the forefront of our minds, will we not be more likely to remain faithful and even grow in faith? 6. If we do not keep God's blessings in mind in the midst of trial, will it not be easier to believe that He does not exist or believe that He hates us? 7. Peter here proves the value of Philippians 4:8 in times of trial 8. As with Job, so with us: we must always keep in mind the wonderful things God has done, is doing, and will do on our behalf 9. When we do that, we will find it easier to remain humble in days of prosperity and encouraged in days of trial IV. Conclusion A. Peter begins his letter in a most encouraging way 1. Our election 2. God working for us 3. His great blessings 4. Endurance through trial B. Let us always rejoice in Christ for all the blessings we have obtained C. Let us always remember those blessings, especially in the midst of trial D. Let us have the faith that will provide praise, glory, and honor to the Lord when He returns! E. Invitation/songbook Scripture, Meditation, and Application 1: From Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those temporarily residing abroad (in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, the province of Asia, and Bithynia) who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by being set apart by the Spirit for obedience and for sprinkling with Jesus Christ's blood. May grace and peace be yours in full measure! (1 Peter 1:1-2). Peter wrote to encourage the Christians living in modern day Turkey. He considered them as "elect exiles." He spoke of them using the language of Israel in Babylon even though they were mixed groups of Jewish and Gentile Christians. Peter thus wanted them to see themselves in their current predicament as if they were like Israel in Babylon. How are we to live as elect exiles in our land? 2: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you (1 Peter 1:3-4). Peter began his letter with great and powerful encouragement. In Christ we have hope for eternal life and an imperishable inheritance. Peter exemplified the "now" and "not yet" of salvation: we have the hope now but await its ultimate fulfillment on the final day. Why should Christians persevere to the end? 3: This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials (1 Peter 1:6). Peter wrote such powerfully encouraging words to the Christians of Asia Minor because they were undergoing trials and difficulties. Thus it is always in Scripture: comfort is given only to those in great affliction. Such encouragement proves necessary to persevere through trial. Why do we need comfort in trial? What happens if we seek comfort when not undergoing trial? 4: Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold – gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away – and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed (1 Peter 1:7). Jewish people were used to suffering persecution for their religious beliefs. But it would be a new experience for Gentile Christians, and they might have questioned whether they had maintained God's favor. Peter wanted them to understand their difficulties in terms of purifying gold: the trial was not evidence of God's disfavor, but a necessary process by which they would be made holy. Suffering leads to praise, glory, and honor when Jesus our Suffering and Risen Christ returns. Why must Christians undergo suffering and trial to be made holy?