Through the Bible - 1 Peter

As we were just singing that song, "You Are Holy," the whole earth is full of Your glory, Lord. We look forward to the day when we see that completely. But, Lord, we know right now that You have shed Your love abroad in our hearts. You have filled us, Lord, with the glory of Your Holy Spirit.

Lord, You shine brightly through us, and I pray that You would continue to shine through us even as we look at this letter tonight that talks about us being a chosen generation and a royal priesthood. We have a call and a commission to shine forth Your praises. I pray that we would be those who glorify Your name in all that we say and all that we do.

We come here tonight to continue to be further equipped for the work that You've called us to. So, Lord, we dedicate this time to You as we study through Your Word. I pray that You would, by Your Spirit, make application for us from the passage that we look at tonight and continue to transform us by the renewing of our minds. And all God's people said, "Amen."

All right, the first letter of Peter. We're going to look at 2 Peter next week, but this great little letter here has five chapters and was probably written around 64 A.D. It is very likely that it was written from Rome. In fact, if you read through 1 Peter, you'll notice that the very last couple of verses of the letter mention Babylon. He says, "The church that is in Babylon, elected together with you, salutes you, and so does Mark, my son. Greet one another with a kiss of charity, of love. Peace be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen."

We read there from Babylon, the church at Babylon salutes you, but it's very likely that he was speaking of that from more of a spiritual context than an actual physical place. He was probably not in Babylon, over there in that deserted area east of Israel, but he was likely in the capital of the empire at that time, in Rome.

Mark was with him. We know that Mark was actually in Rome around that very same time during the end of Paul's first imprisonment, and Peter, of course, ended his life there as well. He spent the last years of his life in Rome, and there is a lot of evidence that supports Peter being in that great city at this point in time when he writes this letter.

He addresses it to the saints, the strangers, and the pilgrims scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, as noted in verse 1 of chapter 1. He is likely writing from Rome to the church in the area we would call today Turkey, but during that time, it was known as Asia Minor. This letter is written to them as a great exhortation and encouragement in the midst of suffering and persecution. The church was about to suffer persecution in a significant way in the Roman Empire, beginning in the city of Rome.

Nero was the leader; he was Caesar at this point in time. Some of you who have studied a little bit of history know that Nero was a complete lunatic. It was during the year 64 AD that he began to instigate a series of fires that swept through Rome. Many historians say that he was the one who had those fires set because he wanted to rebuild Rome in his own image. However, he needed someone to blame for the destruction, so he shifted the blame onto the Christians in the area.

You can imagine that public opinion changed quickly against the Christians in Rome and throughout the empire. The people began to persecute them, and the government also targeted the believers. This letter is written to people who are going through troubling times and difficult circumstances, serving as a great exhortation and encouragement to them.

If you read through it at any time, including this week, you will see that he speaks some profound truths to those who are elect, as stated in verse 2, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. He concludes with, "Grace unto you and peace be multiplied."

We have seen those words start off many letters in the New Testament, but most of the time, they have been from the Apostle Paul. Here, we see the Apostle Peter, the one who made that great declaration in Matthew chapter 16, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

The keys of the kingdom were given by Jesus, who opened the door of the gospel to the Jews in Acts chapter 2 and to the Gentiles in Acts chapter 10. Peter, although he came from a poor background as a fisherman from Galilee, was powerfully used by the Lord after he was filled with the Spirit. Throughout the gospels, we see that he had a big mouth, and I can identify with Peter; I think a lot of people can. He often stuck his foot in his mouth, but he was also a man with a big heart. This heart is displayed in the two letters we will be examining over the next two weeks.

I believe that Peter's big heart came significantly from his failures, which are clearly documented in the Bible, especially in the gospels and a little in the book of Acts. Paul mentions one of his failures in the book of Galatians. Peter was just a man, like any other man. There was nothing inherently special about him, despite some venerating him as a great saint, more saintly than others. In reality, he was simply a man filled with the Spirit of God.

We see a great testimony of the leaders of Judaism in Jerusalem during the early days of the church. They looked at Peter and the other apostles and remarked that these were unlearned, untrained men. Essentially, they were saying they were just a bunch of idiots. They had not attended their schools or universities, and their accents revealed that they were from a backwater area of Israel. Yet, they had been with Jesus, and God had poured out His Spirit upon them. The Spirit was working through them, and the Lord used them in powerful ways.

Some have claimed that these two letters could not have been written by Peter because they were crafted with such skill that they must have been written by a learned individual. However, it is not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord. We see the Spirit of God working in this man from meager beginnings. The Lord is able to take what is base, what is nothing, and what is foolish, and confound the wise with it.

Many of us in this room tonight have that testimony. The Lord has taken something weak and foolish, something that seems insignificant from a worldly perspective, and has used it for His glory. And so, Peter writes this letter to this church.

To the church at large, which was going to be going through great difficulty, this message is filled with encouragement and exhortation, as well as a real call to holiness in the midst of persecution and hardship. In fact, we will look at this more closely when we get to verse 15, where it states that we are to be holy. God has called us to holiness, and I believe that this is one of the calls that the modern-day church has kind of skipped over and does not like to spend much time on. However, it is an important principle that God has outlined for us in both the Old Testament and the New, and we should take notice of it.

Notice how he begins this letter. He jumps right into it, saying, "I am writing to those that are elect according to the foreknowledge of God." This is a very interesting topic, and we could spend a lot more time than we have tonight discussing the election of God by His foreknowledge. It is clear that God knows the end from the beginning. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He changes not. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, the one who was, and is, and is to come. God knows the end and exactly what will come about. As a result of God's foreknowledge, He is able to elect individuals to be His.

We see this very clearly in a statement made in the Old Testament, which is also reiterated in the New Testament, where it says, "Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated." This is a powerful statement found in Malachi and reiterated by Paul in Romans chapter 11. Many people read this and wonder how God could have said that. Even before Esau and Jacob were born, God was able to declare, "Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated." Many have struggled with the phrase "Esau have I hated."

When we discussed this while going through Malachi, I mentioned that I have more difficulty with "Jacob have I loved" than with "Esau have I hated." We all know about Jacob from reading through the book of Genesis; he was a deceiver and a scoundrel. Yet ultimately, in Genesis chapter 32, we see his repentance. In contrast, Esau, who at the beginning of his life appears to be a decent guy—his father loved him, and he was a great hunter—has a different story. We learn more about him in Hebrews chapter 12, where we read that Esau was a profane and wicked man. He was immoral and never repented. He wanted the blessings he could receive and sought those blessings diligently with tears, but he found no place for repentance.

For repentance. As a result of that, the Lord could say, "Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated." I praise God that He has called us elect in Christ, and we have been called by the Lord according to His foreknowledge. He goes on to say here about the foreknowledge of God through sanctification.

There's another very important topic: not just justification, but sanctification. Justification takes care of the debt of our sin that Jesus died once for all on the cross. We really looked into that when we were going through the Book of Hebrews just a couple of weeks ago. He is the one who took my punishment and yours on the cross. He who knew no sin became sin for us. We receive righteousness in Christ, imputed righteousness to our account.

That is justification, but the work doesn't end there. We are to be sanctified as well. God desires that you and I would be sanctified wholly, sanctified completely. He is doing that work because it is God who works in us both to will and to do His good pleasure, as Paul said in Philippians chapter 3. I believe that we need to yield to His hand. We need to yield to Him and allow Him to do that work. As the Lord of our lives, we yield to Him and say, "Lord, do with me as You please."

That is a real profession of faith, even just to say that—to lay your life down as a living sacrifice, wholly and acceptable unto Him. It is so contrary to our flesh, isn't it? We want to be in control. Whether we will admit it or not, we want to be in control. It is a real step of faith to lay it down and say, "Lord, I am going to submit myself completely to You."

We are going to look at submission quite a bit in this letter as we move on. He has called us not only to be elect for justification but unto sanctification as well, unto obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. The blood is the important aspect for salvation. As we saw in Hebrews chapter 9, without the shedding of blood, there can be no remission of sins, no removal of sins.

In the Old Testament, there were sacrifices given, and they were sacrifices to cover sin, but Jesus is the one who is able to remove it as far as the east is from the west. We are so grateful and blessed that His sacrifice is sufficient, and that is why He was able to cry on the cross, "Tetelestai." It is finished. It is done. It is all paid for in Christ.

We have received the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace unto you, and peace be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according...

To His abundant mercy, He has begotten us again to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Now, I want you to note just two things. We first see the blood of Christ mentioned, but now we see the resurrection of Jesus Christ mentioned. Justification and sanctification cannot happen without the shedding of blood, and Jesus' blood would not have been enough had He not raised from the dead. His resurrection proved that His blood is sufficient; that He is the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world.

Paul reveals to us at the end of 1 Corinthians, in chapter 15, that if Jesus is not raised from the dead, then every single one of us is still dead in our sins. His resurrection is so very important. The blood and the resurrection are mentioned right off the bat in this letter. As he talks about justification and sanctification, those things cannot happen if it be not for the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If His blood was just shed and He was buried, and He remained in the tomb today, and we all went on pilgrimages to see His tomb, and He is still in His tomb, we would still be dead in our sins. If we only had grace from Christ here in this life, we would of all men be most miserable.

We are so thankful that He is not dead; He is alive. He is risen indeed. In just a month, we are going to be celebrating His resurrection as we celebrate Easter here at the church. We also read that, according to His abundant mercy, He has begotten us. It is by His mercy that every single one of us, who should have received judgment and the wrath of God, has been given a living hope.

We have a living hope. It is not just some sort of dead hope, like, "Oh well, I kind of hope it happens." It always grieves me when I talk with people and I ask them if they have assurance that they are going to be with God in heaven. If they died tonight, would they be with God in heaven? Often, they say, "Well, I hope so." It is not that kind of absolute expectation hope; it is more like, "Goodness, I really hope so."

But in Christ, because of the work that He has done, we have total assurance. The hope that we see in the Scriptures is an absolute expectation. It is not like a blind faith, where one is just really hoping it will happen. It is total assurance. He has given us a living hope because He is raised from the dead. Because He is alive, we also shall be alive with Him eternally. Not only has He given us this living hope, but He has also given us an inheritance.

He overly and abundantly blesses us, doesn't He? To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that fades not away, and it's reserved for us where? In heaven. Reserved for us in heaven.

One of the key things that we're going to see in this letter as we continue on is that He continually reiterates the idea of heaven and what's going to be revealed in the last time, the appearing of Jesus Christ, His return, and the revelation of Jesus Christ that is going to come one day. These terms are used over and over again in this letter. Why?

How can you possibly stand in the midst of persecution? What is going to keep you walking through trial, tribulation, and difficulty? We know we are going to experience these things in this life because everyone who desires to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Jesus said, "In the world, you will have much trouble."

So, how can we face those things with boldness? How can we walk through those challenges with joy and rejoicing, as James exhorted us to do last week? The only way we can do that is if we have this living hope—that this is not all there is. We must recognize that there is an inheritance reserved for us in heaven, and we are one day going to be with the Lord.

In John chapter 16, at the end of the chapter, Jesus said, "In the world, you will have much trouble." But in John 14, verse 1, He says, "Let not your heart be troubled." Why? "You believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions. Were it not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."

He has promised us this place that He is preparing. We have talked about this before: what makes heaven so heavenly is the abiding presence of God. We will be with Him eternally. If He had just made a really nice theme park or a beautiful paradise and said, "Here, you go for eternity," it would be a bummer; it would get old real quick. But what makes heaven so heavenly is that Jesus is there, and we are in the presence of God eternally.

This understanding helps us recognize that the sufferings of this present world are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. Peter was writing to a church or a group of people that were facing difficulties and were about to go through persecution. He repeatedly reminds them of this great expectation and hope that we have as believers.

This is not all there is, and we will one day be with Him eternally. There is an inheritance that is undefiled, incorruptible, and one that does not fade away. Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount that we are not to store up our treasures here on earth, where moth and rust can destroy or a thief can come in and steal, but to store up our treasures in heaven, where those things will not come and destroy.

There is this idea and recognition that we should not focus on this place, but rather fix our eyes and our hearts firmly upon that which is coming. We looked at this in Hebrews chapter 11 when we considered the men and women of faith from the Old Testament. These individuals desired a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. They did not look for an earthly city, and they had this great profession of faith. They understood that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. If they had been mindful of the city or the country they had come out of, they would have had a desire to return when they faced difficulty or trial. However, it was their understanding that this is not what we are waiting for or hoping for that enabled them to press on in the midst of adversity.

We are kept, as stated in verse 5, by the power of God. That is a great promise to hold on to when going through trials and difficulties. He is the one who keeps us through His power. It is not by my might and not by my power; it is by His Spirit, says the Lord. There have been many times in our lives when we really need to lean upon that and trust that He is the one who will keep us. We are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.

Here again, we see the focal point. He speaks to us about the incorruptible inheritance reserved for us in heaven in verse 4, but in verse 5, He speaks to us about a great salvation that will be revealed in the last time. This emphasizes the importance of focusing our attention on what is coming and not on what is happening right now. Seeing through the suffering to the salvation is crucial for us.

Wherein you greatly rejoice, just as we saw last week, as James says, "Count it all joy when you encounter various trials." How can you greatly rejoice and count it joy when going through difficulty and trial? The only way is to recognize that there is another life beyond this, and this is not all there is.

The Lord is the one who has given us power to stand in the midst of this. We greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you have heaviness through manifold temptations. The trying of your faith is much more precious than gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire. It might be found unto the praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

So, we are focused on His coming. We are focused on the inheritance we have in heaven and this great salvation that will be revealed in the last time. He fixes our attention and our eyes upon the appearing of Jesus Christ. There is coming a day when we will be found tried and true, our faith having been tested by all the manifold temptations, trials, and difficulties that we have gone through. It is shown and proven to be much more precious than gold.

Is your faith in God tonight more precious than gold? More precious than anything in this world? I believe that God brings each of us to a point, and maybe it doesn't happen right away in our walks with the Lord. For some who came out of a very difficult life or have one of those testimonies that leave everyone with wide-open eyes, it is clear how they got saved. For that person who comes out of that background, their faith and the work that Jesus Christ has done in their life is more precious than anything else.

However, I often deal with people at the Bible College and here at this church who grew up in church. They have been a part of church their entire lives and made a profession of faith when they were very young. For them, their faith and walk with the Lord at the beginning may not be more precious than gold. They haven't realized that it is the most precious thing, but I believe the Lord brings every one of us to that place.

Just as Paul said to the church at Philippi in Philippians chapter 3, if you don't believe this, I believe God will even reveal it to you. God brings us to that place where nothing else compares. I hope and pray that each of you is at that place in your walk with the Lord tonight, where He and the relationship you have with Him are more precious than anything.

We will look at that again when we get further along. The trying of our faith, being much more precious than gold, will ultimately bring Him praise, honor, and glory when He comes, when He appears. We haven't seen Jesus; we know that He lived years ago. We read the stories about Him here.

In the Gospels, we can even look at historical accounts about Jesus. We've never seen Him; we follow Him by faith. Remember Thomas, that doubting Thomas? After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to ten of the disciples, and they said, "Hey Thomas, you weren't here, man, you missed it." He replied, "Well, unless I see His hands and put my hands in His side, then I'm not going to believe."

The next week, Jesus appeared to him and said, "Here you go, Thomas." Thomas bowed down and said, "My Lord and my God." Jesus responded, "Blessed are you, Thomas, but even more blessed are they that have not seen and yet believe." We have received a great blessing in Christ tonight, having not seen Him, yet we love Him. Our love is displayed in the fact that we are willing to lay down whatever we have, whatever we are, to follow after Him.

Having not seen Him, we love and follow after Him, believing and rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of our faith, which is the salvation of our souls. The end of our faith is the salvation of our souls. Now, He shifts from justification to sanctification to glorification. Salvation is a three-part work that God does in us by His Spirit through the work that Jesus did on the cross.

Jesus, there on the cross, was punished for my sin and yours. Because of that, the debt we owed because of our sin has been taken care of; we have been justified. At this moment, by His Spirit, He is using the Word of God to transform us and sanctify us. However, there is coming a day when we will be glorified. We shall be changed in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, and every single one of us looks forward to that more and more as the day approaches.

He says that the end of our faith is the salvation of our souls. At that point in time, we won't really need faith anymore because it will be by sight. Right now, we haven't seen Him, yet we love Him and follow by faith, but there is coming a day when we will see Him. Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 13 that we see now dimly, as through a glass, but then face to face. Right now, we know in part, but then we shall know even as we are known.

We all look forward to the day when we see. When the veil is opened up, we will step into eternity, and the end of our faith is the salvation of our souls. Glorification comes, and for these believers who are going through persecution, trial, and difficulty, He reminds them of their salvation. Salvation involves justification, which is a done deal; it has been taken care of. He is currently sanctifying us, and God uses the trials, difficulties, and the things we go through as tools of sanctification.

In my life and in yours, there is coming a day when all of that will be done, and we will enter into eternity and be glorified. This is a great encouragement to those going through trials and difficulties. The end of your salvation, the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls—of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently—who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you. They searched for what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ, which was in them, did signify when it testified beforehand the suffering of Christ and the glory that should follow.

It was revealed to them that not unto themselves, but unto us, they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by those who have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven. These are the things the angels desire to look into.

This is a very interesting passage and revelation from Peter. The prophets of old looked diligently into the salvation that you and I would receive in Christ. They looked forward to the resurrection with great hope and anticipated the resurrection of the coming Messiah and the resurrection that He would bring to you and me. The Lord spoke through these men, and they took great care to write these things down. We are able to read through the prophetic passages that deal with the coming of Christ and the resurrection that would follow, along with all those great things.

However, they were looking forward to those things. It was revealed to them, but they didn't receive it at that point in time. Just as we read in Hebrews chapter 11, it says that these all died in faith, having not received the promise. But today, you and I have this great promise from Christ, and we have received this resurrection from Him.

Just as the disciples, Peter included, were there in John chapter 20 when Jesus had raised from the dead, He breathed on them and said, "Receive ye the Holy Spirit." They were there at that moment, born again. We actually see that term used here in this first chapter, down in verse 23, being born again, not of corruptible seed. But we will get there in a minute.

We have been brought to newness of life. You who were once dead in trespasses and sins, He has quickened and made us alive by grace, as Paul says in Ephesians chapter 2. He has given us great new life. The prophets were looking forward to it and into these things. They didn't fully understand or comprehend it, but now it has been completely revealed and reported.

Unto us by the preaching of the gospel, but notice at the end of verse 12, there are these things that angels desire to look into. That's a very interesting concept; even the angels in heaven stand in awe of the work that God has done, which He had prophesied in the Old Testament and has now fulfilled through Christ. The angels stand in awe of it, probably because they look at us and wonder how it is possible that God could love us. Yet the Lord has loved us with such a great love, which He demonstrated when He died on the cross.

Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. He focuses our attention once again on that which is going to come: the grace that is brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. We are going to receive even more grace when Christ is revealed and when He comes.

He gives us an exhortation; not only does He provide great encouragement for those who are going through trials and difficulties, but He tells us to gird up the loins of our minds, be sober, and continue steadfast until the end. Hope until the end. These are the same sort of words that we've read from Paul in the past, as well as those we saw in Hebrews. This exhortation reminds us that we must continue, press on, and stand strong.

Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and be vigilant as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. Don't go back to the old things. Peter says to put off the old man and put on the new man, which is created in righteousness, as Paul said in Ephesians chapter 4.

But as He who calls you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation or conduct. Why? Because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." There are great blessings in obedience, and we've talked about those before, especially as we've gone through the book of Deuteronomy. In Deuteronomy chapter 28, he discusses the curses that come from turning away from God's law and the blessings that come from following God's law. Sometimes we look at those blessings as a reason to walk in obedience, but here he says to be holy, and the reason for being holy is that God has told us to be holy. There is no promise of blessing, even though there are great blessings. The promise of blessing is not the primary motivation for our holiness.

Is not the thing that should cause us to desire to be holy. We have been called by God to be holy. Here, he is quoting from Leviticus chapter 11. Leviticus 11, verse 44 says, "For I am the Lord your God, and you shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy, for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creeps upon the earth, for I am the Lord that brings you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. And you shall therefore be holy, for I am holy."

Notice that He had already taken them out of bondage; He had already brought them out of Egypt. Then He says, "Now that I've done this, I've called you to be holy. Be My people, completely dedicated unto Me." This word "holy" is an important word, and I think sometimes we misunderstand the concept or the idea of holiness.

The word "holy" that is used here in the New Testament is the Greek word "hagios," which is the same word that is translated as "saint." When we talk about saints, sometimes our minds have been corrupted by some within the Catholic Church or other areas of the church that venerate certain people as being saints, while the rest of us are seen as something less than saints. We need to recognize just what it means to be holy and just what it means to be a saint.

The very first time that the word "holy" is used is in Exodus chapter 3, verse 5. It is when Moses is there tending the sheep of his father-in-law, Jethro. He sees this burning bush off on the side and goes to investigate it. As he draws near, a voice comes and says, "Moses, take the sandals from your feet, because the place on which you stand is holy ground."

Now, should we go over to the Arabian Peninsula or wherever it is that Moses was and try to find that dirt? Maybe some have tried to sell it because it's holy, it's special ground. But was that dirt better than other dirt? No. What made that dirt holy was God's presence. The same thing applies to the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle or in the temple. It wasn't because of all the gold that was used and the fine linens and all the stuff that was made for that place; it was His presence that made it so holy.

Why was the place just five feet outside the veil called the holy place and not the most holy place? It was separated from the glory of God a little bit, and so it was maybe a little bit less holy.

The holy of holies was holy because God was there, and the dirt surrounding the burning bush was holy because of the presence of God. God has made us holy by the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit in our lives, but He has also called us to be holy. Holy also speaks of consecration, something set apart—completely set apart.

In the book of Daniel, chapter 5, a man by the name of Belshazzar was judged by God because he used that which was holy for his own purposes. He used the instruments that were taken from the temple by his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar for his party. Those things were holy not because they were made of gold and silver, but because they were consecrated to God. They were anointed or sprinkled with blood to make them holy and set apart. These were only to be for God's intended use and purpose, yet he used them for something earthly and temporal. He was judged that very night when he saw the handwriting on the wall: "Many, many, tekel, you farson." Daniel was brought in to interpret it, and he said, "Hey man, you've been weighed in the balances and found wanting. You're done." He was judged for using that which was holy for something that was defiled.

We have been called to be holy unto God, consecrated to Him completely, not to be defiled or used by the things of this world. It is an important calling that God has given to us. As our Father is holy, so also we should be holy in all manner of conduct, because it is written, "Be holy." God has called us to this; He has called us to set ourselves apart unto Him, not to be used or defiled by any of the things of this world. This is something that I believe we can do by the Spirit of God. He has given us His Spirit to be able to do this.

Now, sometimes we fail, and we praise God with great joy that we have a mediator and one who gives forgiveness because of the work that He did on the cross. But we are called to separate ourselves unto God. "Come out from among them" is the call that God has given to us: be holy, be set apart.

In each of our houses, we have vessels—things that have been set apart for specific uses. Because of their consecration, we use them for nothing else. For example, at our house, we have a big slobbery dog named Jackson, and he has a bowl that is only for Jackson.

I would use it for nothing else; it is holy unto Jackson, consecrated unto him and not to be used for serving salads or any such thing because it's consecrated. The same thing applies to you and me. We are to be consecrated unto God as a result of His calling. He has redeemed us from the death and bondage of this world, and as a result, we ought to be holy unto Him.

If you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear. Not only does He call us to be holy, but He also says that if you call upon God, if you are one of God's, then you should walk in reverence and fear, showing proper respect for who God is as you walk through this life. Why? Because there is coming a day of judgment. God judges without respect of persons.

We have considered this before; in fact, we looked at this idea last week as we were going through the book of James. God is not a respecter of persons. He doesn't say, "Oh, I like this person better than that person," and as a result, "I'm going to be nicer to this person than to that person." No, the Lord is able to see perfectly; He is able to judge with righteous judgment. Knowing this, He says to pass the time of our pilgrimage in reverence and fear.

This is another characteristic of the church that has been lost in many ways today: the understanding that He is holy. We just considered that He says, "Be holy, for I am holy." As a result of God's holiness, we have seen judgment come upon those who have not walked near to Him or approached Him in reverence.

We think of Nadab and Abihu in the book of Numbers and also in Leviticus. These men did not approach God in the way that He had called them to approach Him, and as a result, they were judged. We also think of Uzzah, who reached forth his hand as the ark was being brought back to Jerusalem during the time of David. He approached God in a way that God had not called him to do, and it fell upon David as well because David had not brought the ark back to the city the way that he was supposed to. There was a judgment that came for not having proper respect and reverence for who God is.

For as much as you know that you are not redeemed with corruptible things, such as silver and gold, from the vain conversation received by the...

Tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. We have been bought with a price, not by gold or silver, not by any such thing, not even by all the different works that they did in the temple. We have been bought with a price by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Here again, that word "precious" comes up once more, and we will see it again when we get into chapter 2.

Back in verse 7, the trying of your faith is much more precious than gold. Our faith is precious; the blood of Christ is precious. As we get to know Him more and more, we understand this. He verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for you. He was called to this work; Jesus was set apart for this work. Revelation 13:8 says that Jesus was the lamb slain before the foundation of the world. The work to accomplish redemption was a foregone conclusion; it was finished in God's mind and respect outside of time before the foundation of the world, but it was manifested for us in these last days.

Who by Him do believe in God, who raised Him up from the dead? There again is the resurrection mentioned, and He gave Him glory that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another. This is another exhortation He gives to these Christians, these believers going through difficult times. He says you need to walk in love. Why? Well, the Lord has purified your souls, and He has called you to be obedient to the truth. He has poured out His love upon you, and so we ought to walk also in love.

Being born again, not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible, by the word of God which lives and abides forever. God's word abides forever. Now, who is the Word who has the title "the Word of God"? Jesus. John 1 states that all flesh is grass, and all the glory of man is as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower thereof falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever. This is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. This clues us into the word that he is speaking of there: it is Jesus, because He is the one who is preached in the gospel, whereas man fades away just like the grass of the field and the flower that comes up.

The word of the Lord will endure forever. Wherefore, because of all this, in chapter 2, verse 1, it says, "Laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envies and all evil speakings, as newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby."

He says that because of all this, having an understanding of these things, we should lay aside all the old things and cast off the old wicked deeds of the flesh. Instead, we should desire the pure milk of the word so that we would grow, if so be you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men but chosen of God and precious, you also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house and a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Now, this is interesting because back in Matthew chapter 16, Peter said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus responded to Peter, saying, "Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father which is in heaven." He continued, "I say unto you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church."

The Catholic Church took that completely literally and believes that Peter is that rock. You can go to St. Peter's Basilica today in Rome, where you will talk with the priests as they take you around the necropolis and show you all the graves of the popes and those who died because of their faith. They believe very clearly that they have found the tomb of Peter, and so they built St. Peter's Basilica right on top of it. They think Peter is that rock, but Peter didn't think that.

Notice what Peter says here: "Who is the chief cornerstone?" In verse 4, he states, "To whom coming as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men but chosen of God and precious." He recognizes that Jesus is that rock. The rock that Jesus was talking about in Matthew chapter 16 was that great statement, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and He is that rock upon which the whole church is built.

We all are living stones being built together as a spiritual house; we are the dwelling place of God. There is no longer a temple in Jerusalem, nor will there ever be an earthly temple that God dwells in, because we are the temple.

We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Not only are we a spiritual house for the Lord, but we also are a priesthood. God has given us a priesthood. In verse 9, we see that we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a special or peculiar people for a reason. God has called us to this; He has ordained each one of us for a specific purpose: that we should show forth the praises of Him who called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.

Sometimes, we get the concept or mindset that it's only the vocational leadership of the church—those who are paid or have gone to school for ministry—who are the priesthood. However, the fact is that every single one of us, having been transformed by God, has been called to be priests unto the Lord. We are to declare His praises and show forth the praises of Him who called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light. How many of you were once in darkness? You all should be raising your hands! Now that He has called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light, we should be jumping, leaping, and praising God, declaring His praises to everyone we meet because we are a priesthood.

Moreover, we are a priesthood that has been called to offer spiritual sacrifices. We do not have earthly sacrifices in the sense that we take rams, goats, and bulls and slaughter them unto the Lord. Instead, we have spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ when offered by Him. Many of these sacrifices are described in the New Testament. We looked at some of them at the end of Hebrews chapter 13, where we find that our spiritual sacrifice includes the sacrifice of praise, the fruit of our lips unto the Lord, as well as our giving unto the Lord and the body of Christ. These are sacrifices that are acceptable to God, and He has called us to do these things.

Furthermore, it is contained in the Scriptures: "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect and precious, and he that believes on Him shall not be confounded." Here, we see who that chief cornerstone is—it's Jesus. Peter recognized and understood that he was not the rock upon which the church would be built; he knew that Jesus was that rock. Again, we see the word "precious" used for the third time: "Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious." Jesus is precious; He is preciousness itself.

We can't even begin to declare how great, awesome, and precious He is. We can try, but His preciousness and greatness, as Charles Spurgeon said, break the backs of words. I love that expression; our words are not enough. They are not sufficient to declare His greatness. Now, that doesn't mean that we don't try, but words alone will never suffice in declaring how precious He is.

For those who believe, He is precious because you recognize that He is the one who has saved you. However, to those who are disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed or rejected has become the head of the corner. Even though people may not believe or may reject how precious He is, it does not diminish His preciousness. It only removes them from the blessing they could receive if they recognized His preciousness. He is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to those who are disobedient, to those who stumble at the word, whereunto they were also appointed.

Here is another very interesting concept of election, which goes back to the whole idea of "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated." Sometimes, it is very difficult for us to grapple with these sorts of things. What is said here is that those who are disobedient and stumble at the rock of offense were appointed to this because of the hardness of their hearts and their refusal to turn to God, just as Pharaoh did in the book of Exodus.

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light. In times past, you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. You had not obtained mercy, but now you have obtained mercy.

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims. As a result of all of this, I beg you to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. Depart from all these wicked things that would hinder you and hold you back from glorifying Him in the way you have been called to do. I urge you to have your conduct honest among the Gentiles, so that whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. May it be so.

Your conduct is so glorious that people would see and know that you are a Christian, and as a result, their lives would be transformed. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew chapter 5, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." The ultimate result would be that they would glorify Him. Here, Peter says the same thing: that they would glorify God in the visitation.

Submit yourselves, and now over the next several verses and chapters, he is going to focus on this whole idea of submission. As those who have been transformed by God, as those who are built up as a spiritual house and a holy priesthood unto the Lord, our lives ought to be different. Peter explains this in several different ways. First, he talks about submission to government.

When we say that, sometimes we think, "Well, Peter didn't understand how difficult that is." However, we must remember that the governing authority when Peter wrote this was Nero. He says, "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake." For God's sake, submit yourselves unto them, whether it be to kings supreme or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by Him for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise of those who do well.

This is the will of God, that with well-doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. As free, do not use your liberty as a cloak for maliciousness, but as servants of God. Honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, and honor the king or honor the emperor. At that time, the emperor was Nero.

This had to have been a difficult thing for people to understand as Peter says this. He reminds them that as God has called them and set them apart as His priests in this world, this is what the Lord has called them to, even though it may be difficult. This was the same emperor who was about to blame the burning of Rome on the Christians. Peter encourages them to let their good conduct be such that even if Nero claims they are the ones who burned down Rome, it just doesn't seem to fit. It doesn't make sense; these aren't the kind of people who would do that because of the way they live and their conduct.

So, he says to submit yourselves to government in verses 13 through 17. Then, he talks about a different kind of submission in verse 18: "Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear."

The discussion revolves around the employer-employee situation, particularly in the context of servants or slaves. We recognize that in the Roman Empire during the first century, about 60 percent of the population were slaves. Many people were under slavery at that time. The instruction given is for servants to be in subjection or submission to those who are over them.

The conversation then shifts to submission in marriage, as addressed in chapter three. Wives are instructed to be in subjection to their own husbands. This may be as challenging as being in subjection to Nero at times, but the Lord has called wives to this role. Paul tells us in Ephesians that we are to submit ourselves one to another in the fear of God. However, there is a proper hierarchy that the Lord has ordained within marriage. Our nation has largely drifted away from this structure and has defiantly pushed against it, viewing it as an authoritarian imposition. This perspective is not what Jesus described, nor is it what Paul or Peter conveyed in their letters.

Wives are encouraged to be subject to their husbands so that if they do not obey the word, they may be won over without the word by the conduct of their wives. Notice that the instruction to be in subjection to governments is intended to show a difference in behavior that could change opinions and perhaps lead them to the Lord. The same principle applies to servants being in subjection to their masters, and now it extends to wives being in subjection to their husbands. The intended purpose is that they would come to the knowledge of the truth while observing the chaste conduct of their wives, accompanied by fear.

The focus should not be solely on outward adornment, such as the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold, or the putting on of apparel. Instead, it should be on the hidden person of the heart, which is incorruptible. This includes the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is of great value in the sight of God. When the Lord sees this quality in an individual, especially in a woman, it holds great worth.

In the past, holy women also trusted in God and adorned themselves by being in subjection to their own husbands, just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord, as noted in Genesis 18:12. Women are considered daughters of Sarah as long as they do well and are not afraid with any amazement.

Now, addressing the husbands, they are instructed to dwell with their wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the wife as the weaker vessel and recognizing that they are heirs together of the grace of life.

The grace of life that your prayers be not hindered is often a difficult thing for a husband to dwell with his wife according to knowledge. How many of you here understand your wives completely? For the record, I see no hands.

Notice this: giving honor unto the wife is crucial. This is where the women's liberation movement in America never finished the passage. They focused solely on the part that says, "Wives, be in subjection or submission to your husbands," and said absolutely not; they were not going to do this. However, they never looked at what God said: "Hey, husbands, give honor unto the wife." In the culture that Peter was writing to, that was not the way things were handled. A wife was often seen as property.

God's view is not that way. He says that the husband is to give honor unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel, recognizing that you are both heirs together of the grace of life. You are both joint heirs. In Roman culture, as well as in Hebrew culture, women did not have the same rights to inheritance. But in God's community, in God's economy, the inheritance is the same.

Moreover, your prayers, men, may be hindered if you do not honor your wife in this way and seek to dwell with her in understanding. Finally, be all of one mind, having compassion one for another. Love as brethren; be pitiful and courteous. Do not render evil for evil or railing for railing, but counterwise, bless, knowing that you are thereunto called, that you should inherit a blessing.

For he that will love life and see good days—how many of you would love life and see good days? If you desire to have a good, long life, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile. Let him eschew evil and do good; let him seek peace and ensue it.

He gives us an equation for blessing here: if you want a good life and a wonderful life, and you want to see good days, then here are the things you ought to do, and you will see great blessing. He speaks of submission in all aspects of life: submission to government, submission to employers, submission of wives to husbands, and husbands honoring their wives. This submission extends to all manners of life, especially as he speaks to those who may be going through great difficulties. This is the way you ought to live, so that you may be a good witness in the midst of everything.

You may go through and then he begins to talk about how we ought to conduct ourselves as we go through suffering in the latter portions of this passage. However, I want to skip ahead to the end of First Peter, as we are running out of time here tonight.

As he talks about submission once again within the body of Christ, he says in First Peter, chapter 5, verse 1, "The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed." There again is a focal point, fixing our focus on the glory that shall be revealed. He says to those that are over the body of Christ, given a position as an overseer and elder, "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly, not for filthy lucre or not for selfish gain or greedy gain, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock."

These are the very same things that Jesus had told His disciples, and Peter had heard this teaching from Jesus Himself. He was saying that the leaders among the Gentiles are looking for a position of leadership so that they can lord it over you, but not in God's economy and not in God's kingdom. Those that are in a position of oversight as an elder are to tend the flock of God and feed the flock of God.

Remember, Jesus had told Peter this exact thing in John, chapter 21, where He said, "Peter, do you love me?" Peter replied, "Yes, Lord, I love you." Jesus then said, "Feed my flock, feed my sheep." So now He says, "Feed the flock of God, be an overseer of them willingly, not to try and get something from them, but be an example to them."

When the Chief Shepherd shall appear, we recognize that there is coming a day when He is returning. You shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away. Likewise, you younger ones, now speaking to those that are under the oversight, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yes, may all of you be in subject one to another and be clothed with humility.

Why? Well, James talked about this too: God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all of your care upon Him, because He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walks.

About seeking whom he may devour, resist him steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in all the world. But the God of all grace, who has called us unto His eternal glory, focuses us on eternal glory by Christ Jesus. After you have suffered a little while, He will make you perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

He calls us to submit ourselves one to another, being subject to one another, to humble ourselves before God. As we come before God in humility, the Lord will be the one who exalts us. James talked quite a bit about this as well. We have a great example of this in Philippians chapter 2, verse 5, where Paul said, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."

Who, being in the form of God, did not think it robbery to be equal with God. Instead, He made Himself of no reputation, taking upon Himself the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of a man. Being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient even to the point of death, the death of the cross. Therefore, because of this, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, of things in earth, and of things under the earth. Every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Paul gives us great insight into the humility of Jesus and the fulfillment of this principle that we see in James and in Peter as well. In 1 Peter chapter 5, we learn that the one who humbles themselves before God, the Lord will exalt them.

The Lord will lift them up. It's the same sort of thing that Jesus taught in the parables when He spoke of being invited to a banquet. He advised not to sit at the head of the table, lest the governor of the feast comes in and says, "That's not your seat." Instead, go and sit at the end; take the least position. Humble yourself so that when the governor of the feast comes in, he may say, "That's not where you're supposed to be sitting. Come up with me; come sit here at the head table."

It is in this place of humility that Jesus was the supreme example, and we are called in Christ to also submit.

Ourselves in this fashion, we should be those who are humble in character. He has shown you, O man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you: to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. God does not resist the proud; He resists the proud but draws near to the humble. He gives grace to the humble and desires that you and I come to Him in this way.

Whatever we are going through, the people at this point in time were facing or about to face great difficulty. There is a very good possibility that at some point in our nation, we may be faced with trial, tribulation, persecution, and difficulty. It may come, and when it does, this is a great book to return to and to spend some time studying through and memorizing some of the passages. We recognize that this is not all there is. Even though we are going through difficulty, it does not give us the ability to kick back and say, "Oh, forget it. I'm not going to even try." We are to stand strong in Christ and be witnesses unto the Lord until the very end, knowing that He will perfect that in us because it is Him who works in us to will and to do His good pleasure.

I believe there is an aspect of our yielding that is very important. We have an opportunity when we go through trial and difficulty to either roll over and cry, being all pitiful in the midst of it, or we can recognize that the Lord is able to use this for His greater good and glory as we draw near to Him. If ever there comes a day when we are faced with such persecution, may we turn to the Lord's word and stand strong upon His promises. This is not all there is; the sufferings of this present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. Amen.

Let's stand and pray. Lord, I thank You. As we saw in the letter from James last week, as we submit ourselves to You and draw near to You, You will draw near to us. As we humble ourselves before You, You will exalt us. Your word says that You give more grace; You resist the proud but give grace to the humble. We thank You that You have given us an abundance of grace. I know that apart from that grace You have poured out upon us, there is no possible way that any of us would ever have been able to stand.

Approach You, but Lord, also apart from Your grace, there's no possible way that any of us would be able to glorify You in the day of trouble. I pray, Lord, that You would pour out upon us Your grace by Your Spirit tonight to stand in whatever it would be that You would call us to go through, knowing that we may suffer for Your namesake.

Anyone who desires to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. While we're seeing little hints of persecution here and there in our own nation, it is only verbal at this point. If it ever gets more heavy and burdensome, Lord, if it ever turns from verbal persecution into physical, I pray that You would give this body, this group here, the ability by Your Spirit to stand strong and glorify You.

I pray that those in this world would think it strange that we run not with them, that they would look at us and be blown away because they see Your glory in our lives. Until the day that You come, Lord, we have this absolute expectation; we have this promise that You will.

But, Lord, I pray that You'd help us to be sober and vigilant, knowing that we do have an adversary that's seeking to take us out. All we have to do is resist him steadfast in faith, recognizing that You are the one who fights on our behalf. We praise You and thank You in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank You.