THE AUTHOR AND AUDIENCE

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.” —1 Peter 1:1-2

The Author
Peter indentifies himself as an

New Testament apostles were personally chosen by God.

While Jesus was here on earth, He personally selected from His many followers twelve men and gave them an apostleship—special responsibility to receive and spread His message after He returned to heaven

All Apostles Had These Things In Common:
- Eyewitness of the resurrected

(Acts 1)
- Directly appointed by Jesus himself (Mark 3)
- Demonstrate

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And Wonders As Confirmation Of Apostleship (2 Corinthians 12)

“To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ.” —1 Peter 1:1-2

The Chosen
The letter is specifically addressed to those who had been chosen *“according to the foreknowledge of God” *

This is not speaking of a random or uninformed choosing but rather being chosen through the prior knowledge of God to our

to the Gospel

The chosen/elect – evidenced through
- Sanctification (by the Spirit)
- Fruit (obedience)

- Salvation (sprinkled with the blood of Jesus)

Three circumstances where blood was sprinkled on people
a. The establishment of the Old

(Exodus 24)
b. The ordination of Aaron and his sons as Priest (Exodus 29)
c. The purification ceremony of a cleansed

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(Leviticus 14)

The blood of Jesus accomplishes the same for us: New Covenant entered into, we are ordained as Priest to God, we are cleansed from corruption and sins

Exiles
Exiles means those temporary residents of a foreign

.

In a literal sense, Peter could be referring to the Jewish Christians who were driven from their homes in Jerusalem after Stephen was martyred.

But it’s broader than that.

I believe that Simon Peter is speaking here to both Jewish and Gentile Christians who here on earth, are temporary residents of a foreign land. Exiles.

“We do not have an enduring city here; instead, we seek the one to come” —Hebrews 3:14

With this change in citizenship comes a change in affections, allegiances, and how we align our lives. We are going to be

.

Living according to the standards of God’s Kingdom is going to be a problem for those who live according to the standards of the kingdom of men , and you are going to need what Simon Peter prays for you at the end of verse 2
“May grace and peace be multiplied to you”

Simon Peter begins his letter by bolstering the faith of the Exiled Elect with three truths

1. OUR HOPE IS

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” —1 Peter 1:3-4

Bible Hope is the

expectation we have of something that’s sure to happen. Something that we are looking forward with eager anticipation and joyful

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.

How can Peter be so certain that this kind of hope exists and is available?

“He has given us new birth into a living hope through the

of Jesus Christ from the dead”

2. OUR

IS COMING

“You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time” —1 Peter 1:5

Peter says here that we’re being “guarded by God’s power through faith” while here in exile. This assuring Bible doctrine is sometimes called the “perseverance of the

”

It simply means that true Christians will persevere in their faith, even through suffering, all the way to heaven.

And the reason they’ll persevere is because

will make sure they persevere.

“Those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.” —Romans 8:30

Every single person who is “justified” at

is also “glorified” in heaven.

The Exiled Elect, by Gods power will persevere by faith “for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time”

The range of meaning of salvation in the New Testament is three-fold
- A past salvation from the

of sin at conversion
- An ongoing salvation from the

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of sin throughout the Christian life
- A future salvation from the

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of sin when we enter heaven

Essentially, “salvation” here is a reference to heaven and to us being rescued from the very presence of sin when King Jesus returns and takes us home!

3. OUR PAIN HAS

“You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” —1 Peter 1:6-7

“A faith that cannot be

is a faith that cannot be

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” – Warren Weirsbe

This testing, enduring these trials, walking through this suffering while here on earth is a means to an end…the ultimate purpose…
“may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ”