1 PETER (Letter 60, Larry Crabb’s 66 Love Letters)

Soon! In a Little While. Soon!

What we are waiting for in the next life and the maturity we long for in this life will come.

God’s grace will prove sufficient for us to wait well if we:

• Prepare our minds for action (1:13). Only in the felt and accepted tension of unmet longings will we prepare our minds, not for comfort but for action, for living as a stranger devoted to bringing His kingdom to earth. Only then will we depend enough on His Word and His Spirit.
  • Understand what God means when He says that His Son’s wounds have healed us (2:24). Despite the claims of feel good preachers, God did not promise to heal sickness, poverty, unemployment, painful emotions, or relational problems, not until heaven. We should not expect God to keep promises He did not make. He heals waywardness, not difficulties. He makes the journey possible, not easy.
    • Expect that He will restore us (5:10). We can expect to be equipped to continue telling God’s story regardless of the circumstances.

1 PETER: From Ray Stedman

Click here for entire Bible Summary from Ray Stedman

The Message of First Peter

The historians of that day seem to be almost unanimous in concluding that Nero did burn down the city of Rome.

Rumors were flying all around Rome that they were cannibals, because they talked about getting together in their houses, drinking someone’s blood and eating his body. They spoke about “love feasts,” – at which they greeted one another with a holy kiss, and shared their innermost problems with each other. This soon became enlarged into stories of sexual orgies. So they were a people already under deep suspicion. When the Emperor needed a scapegoat, therefore, he started the rumor around Rome that the Christians had burned down the city. It was during this time that Christians were dipped in tar and burned as torches to light the gardens of Nero when he threw an outdoor party. They were tied to his chariot and dragged through the streets of Rome until they were dead. They were thrown to the lions; they were tied up in leather bags and thrown into water so that when the leather bags
shrank, the Christians were squeezed to death.

Now it was during this time of the outbreak of the persecution of Christians in Rome that the Apostle Peter wrote this letter.

Christians were being hounded and persecuted all through the empire because of Nero’s proclamation, and so the apostle wrote to
encourage them in the face of their difficulties. This, then, is one of the letters of the New Testament especially helpful to anybody who is going through some difficulty.

Peter begins with the greatest fact in the life of any Christian, his relationship to Jesus Christ with the new birth.

He says that there are three things about this decision that are extremely significant, which you can get there and no place else:

• One is a living hope. What a word for this hopeless age!
• He says that we not only have a living hope, but a present power – a power that sustains us.
• And third, a rejoicing love.

Peter goes on to show us that growing out of this there have to be certain changes in our life as a result. And all the New Testament continually says to us is, be what you are. Do not be hypocrites.
There are three marks that he sets forth in this letter for these Christians and for us.

• First he says, “Be holy.” Now what do you think when you hear that word holy? Do you know how the Old Testament refers to holiness? Holiness means “wholeness.” He is a person who has his eye on a goal, on a person whom he follows, singleminded, dedicated. Any time you meet a Marine who takes pride in his outfit you can see the kind of single-mindedness. Now there is that same quality about a Christian who understands his Lord.
• Then Peter says, “Be fearful.” Conduct yourself with fear, remembering that you are dealing with One you cannot fool. Therefore, be honest, remembering that you have been bought, not with things men use in the market, but with something that no one else could have given, the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
• And third, as a result of belonging to him, he says, “be priests”. He wants you to talk about what he has done for you and tell others what he is like to you. And when you do you offer a sacrifice unto God that is like a sweet-smelling offering and a savor of worship unto him.

Return good for evil. Rejoice – because we share Christ’s sufferings.

1 PETER – David Jeremiah (Understanding the 66 Books of the Bible)

Key thought: Suffering is an opportunity to walk in our Lord’s steps and live as pilgrims in a pagan world.

Key Verse: Do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings. 1 Peter 4:12-13

Key Action: Santify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you. 1 Peter 3:15