THE BOOK OF 1 PETER
I Peter 1:1-2
Introduction:
The theme of this epistle is to teach the true disciples of Christ how to handle the suffering that comes with serving God.
It is written by Peter. Not the Peter that declared he would stand when everybody else ran away, Matt. 16:22, but from the Peter that had stood for Christ and suffered hardships because of it.
It is plain to see from this epistle that Peter was intent on doing what Christ told him to do: strengthen the brethren, Luke 22:32, and feed my sheep, John 21:15-17.
Verse 1, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
I. In I Peter, Peter describes himself as an apostle. In II Peter, he describes himself as a servant first and an apostle next.
A. The reason for this difference is because Peter wants his readers to understand his office.
1. He has suffered as an apostle, one that has been in the forefront of the battle, not as one that has been in the background.
2. His readers must know that he knows what he is talking about.
II. Peter is writing to "strangers".
A. Some ideas as to who the strangers are.
1. Some think they are native born Jews, who have been saved into Christianity.
2. Some think they are all Gentiles.
3. Some think they are Gentiles who had been saved while living in Israel, but had to leave because of persecution.
4. Some believe they were Jews who were a part of the ten lost tribes. There is no reason given for this hypothesis.
5. Some think they were saved people, and there is no reference at all to whether they are Jew or Gentile. They are simply saved people who have suffered for the cause of Christ. (This is what I believe.)
B. The word translated "stranger" is also translated "pilgrim".
1. This shows us that these strangers are actually pilgrims, just traveling through this life, looking for a holy city without foundations.
2. They are dwelling among a natural people that is not their spiritual people.
C. They were scattered throughout the following areas, which comprise modern Turkey:
1. Pontus
2. Galatia
3. Cappadocia
4. Asia
5. Bithynia
D. See my notes on Gen. 15:13 (the first time the word "stranger" is used in the Bible), and my notes in winword\otsurvey\430yrcap for a fuller explanation of what a "stranger" is.
Verse 2, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
I. The three works of the trinity are here recorded.
A. Election - The work of God the Father.
1. Election is a choosing on the part of God the Father, not on our part. Our part of the choosing is called "whosoever will", and takes place in time, not in eternity.
2. Ephesians 1:4 - The choosing or electing by God took place before the foundations of the world. This means that we had absolutely nothing to do with it.
3. Some people believe God the Father looked down through time, and "fore knew" who would believe, therefore elected them to salvation. This is not so. There is not a scripture in the whole Bible that teaches this doctrine.
a. Ps. 14:2-5 - When God the Father looked down upon the earth, He found that all had gone aside, there was none that was seeking Him.
b. This same scripture is quoted and enlarged upon in Romans 3:10-19. The law was given that every mouth would be stopped.
c. This is the Bible doctrine of "Total Depravity".
d. The true doctrine is that God the Father looked down through time, fore knew none would believe, therefore elected some to salvation.
4. Some people say they know somebody who wanted to be saved, but God wouldn't save them because they weren't one of the elect.
a. Acts 13:44-46 - Paul declared the unbelievers had turned aside from the gospel and had judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life!
b. The truth is that anybody that wants to be saved can and will be saved, just as soon as they admit to God they are a total sinner and have nothing at all but a black heart full of the blackest, vilest sin.
5. What do we do with those people who die lost?
a. One thing for sure, we cannot blame the doctrine of election or God for their lost condition.
b. "For God has so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life", John 3:16.
c. What else should God do? Force them to be saved?
d. They die lost because they are unwilling to admit their sinfulness before God and trust Him that they might be saved.
e. This question is in reality a misunderstanding of the doctrine of sin, therefore the doctrine of election cannot be understood.
B. Sanctification - True sanctification is a work of the Holy Spirit. Sanctification in this verse is not what we might call "progressive sanctification of the life", but "sanctification of the spirit" unto salvation. Sanctification does not mean "getting better and better" until "sinless perfection" sets in. It means "a setting aside", for any purpose at all.
1. A setting apart for false things.
a. Gen. 38:21,22 - The word "harlot" is from the Hebrew root word meaning "sanctify".
b. Isaiah 66:15-18 (verse 17) - false worshippers said to "sanctify themselves".
2. A setting apart of non-moral objects.
a. Ex. 19:23 - Mt. Sinai.
b. Ex. 29:43 - The tabernacle.
c. Ex. 40:10-13 - The altar and priests.
3. A setting apart for God.
a. Ezk. 38:16 - God shall be sanctified in the eyes of Gog.
b. Ezk. 36:23 - God shall sanctify His own Name.
c. Ezk. 39:27 - God shall be sanctified in the eyes of Israel.
d. Ex. 13:1,12 - God desired the firstborn of man and beast to be sanctified to Him.
e. I Peter 3:15 - We are to sanctify God in our hearts.
4. Sanctified in salvation (Positional).
a. I Cor. 1:2 - Sanctified in Christ Jesus (also called).
b. I Cor. 6:11 - Such were some of you (before sanctification) (The day of their salvation).
c. II Thess. 2:13 - Chosen to salvation through Sanctification.
d. I Peter 1:2 - Elect through sanctification of the Spirit.
e. The way we were sanctified.
1. Heb. 10:10 - sanctified by offering once for all.
2. Heb. 13:12 - sanctified with the blood of Jesus Christ.
5. Sanctified in the flesh. (Progressive sanctification of the life is not what the verse before us is speaking about. I am including this short study on progressive sanctification only for the purpose of clarification about the doctrine of Sanctification.)
a. This is not:
1. An improvement in the flesh.
2. A gradual elimination of sin from the soul.
b. This is:
1. Progressive maintenance and strengthening of the soul.
2. Practical
3. Experiential - can "feel" God moving you to pray, study, witness, etc.,
c. The way it works:
1. I Thess. 4:3 - The will of God for us is to be sanctified.
2. II Tim. 2:20-26 - If we purge ourselves, we shall be set apart. (If we don't purge ourselves, we won't be sanctified {a vessel unto honor}.)
3. II Cor. 7:1 - We need to cleanse ourselves from filthiness of the flesh and spirit.
4. True sanctification is through the Word of God.
a. John 17:17-19 - Jesus prayed that we might be sanctified through His Word.
b. Eph. 5:25-27 - The Word is what cleanses the church.
5. I Thess. 5:23 - Pray God your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless.
6. Rom. 12:1 - Present our bodies unto God.
7. I Thess 5:19 - Quench not the spirit.
C. Obedience and Sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.
1. Obedience - Jesus Christ willingly fulfilled the requirements of righteousness in our place.
2. Obedience - It is the sinners responsibility to believe what the trinity has done for him.
a. The sinner is to obey the truth given to him by God.
b. A sinner is able to obey the truth only through sanctification of the Spirit (v. 2).
3. Sprinkling of the blood - This is the responsibility of Jesus Christ.