Goals of 1 Peter

1. Answer a question. How can a free people live in the confines of an enslaved world?
2. Encourage believers: Persecution was beginning.
3. Stabilize the church structure.

Primary Points of 1 Peter

1. Saved to a Living Hope
   1. The eternal value of our hope, our witness, our faith
   2. Called to this purpose in this place and time
2. Called to Holiness
   1. Expectation to live as a free people from sin
3. Submission for Christ’s Sake
   1. Necessary for the sake of our witness to the Gospel
4. Effective Witness amidst Suffering
   1. Demonstrates the purity, sincerity, and truth of our faith

How do we maintain a living hope? How do we grow into Holiness? How can we Submit consistently? How can we persevere in our witness amidst suffering?

Peter’s Answer:

• Pride pulls us from Hope
  • We exchange our hope for future glory for immediate glory
  • If I chase glory (also happiness, satisfaction, fame, etc.) now, I dampen my hope for it in the future
  • *Hope only possesses value in the contrast of incompleteness, dissatisfaction, and pain; pride pursues to satisfy the unsatisfiable, complete the incompletable, fix injustice, or numb the pain
    • Stoning of Steven: Acts 7
• Pride pulls us from Holiness
  • Pride elevates our PERCIEVED strengths and good, Humility elevates our weakness and shortcomings
  • You can’t correct what you refuse to identify, acknowledge, or accept as deficient
  • ^“10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’¹³ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’¹⁴ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” –Luke 18:10-14
• Pride pulls us from Submission
  • Submission is accepting the reality of things outside your control and what you disagree with
  • Pride focuses us to prove we are right, Humility focuses us to prove to others they are Loved
  • It takes a lot of humility to submit to boss, spouse, government, etc.
    • COVID Example
• Pride pulls us from our witness
  • Pride aims to glorify ourselves, humility aims to glorify Jesus
  • Pride puts ourselves to the front and God second, Humility recognizes God is first in all things, and keeps Him there.
  • In suffering, pride keeps you in turmoil to SPITE of the suffering, Humility keeps you at peace DESPITE the suffering

*No matter how good you think you are, you are never of equal footing with Jesus

Humility Now, Later

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 

• Elder (Leader), Witness, Heir of glory (used throughout Letter)
  • Literally the leaders of the church, but we all act as leaders in spheres of influence in the work place and at home.
  • Church structure approached different than now. In Peter’s time, Pastors, deacons, administrators, etc. were all elders…but elders to different purposes. Example: 1 Timothy 5:17 (Pastor = teaching elder = concerned with the things of doctrine)
  • Notice the identification of focused mission:
    • To Lead people closer to Jesus (Discipleship)
    • To Be a Witness to the glory of Jesus (Evangelism)
      • …a glory we will share
• Peter, called “the rock” by Jesus does not exhort higher position, rather is a “fellow elder”…no pride at all.
• “Share in the glory”
  • Peter says, “There will be a time you have your glory, but now is not the time”

Humility in

² Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; ³ not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

• Humble leadership:
  • Be a shepherd: guard, tend, watch, take care of, love
  • Be willing: do not lead out of expectation or obligation
  • Be Honest and Sincere: do not do the “right” things expecting personal gain, but because it is best for those under your care
  • Eager to Serve: many leaders expect those under them to serve them
  • Do not Lord over: Many leaders think their position/title/rank is enough to influence, Peter says prove your worthy of the position/title/rank
  • Lead by Example: Do as I do, not as I say

Humility in

⁵ In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”^[]

• Young tend to be the most zealous and proud, but Peter emphasizes that Humility applies to “All of You”
  • Pastors should submit to the congregation with humility, and congregation should submit to the pastor with humility. There should be no contention.

Humility in

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

• If you are anxious, or worrying, it demonstrates a lack of trust, and hope in God
  • You pass the burden and “solution” to your own capacities, and you are incapable. We do that out of a lack of trust or out of pride
  • Humility recognizes our inability, and places it solely on God

⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

• How do we resist Satan? Stand firm in faith!
  • Often, we are so focused on what satan is doing and lose sight of what God is doing and what He expects us to do
• Strength in numbers. Its not just my hope, my witness, my holiness, or my humility…it is OURS!

¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

• We accomplish our calling, mission, and perserverence through the strength and and power of the Spirit in us

¹² With the help of Silas,^[] whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.

¹³ She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. ¹⁴ Greet one another with a kiss of love.

Peace to all of you who are in Christ.