What a privilege it is to be with you, King's Church, and to share God's Word with you. Please turn in your Bibles to 1 Peter 1. It is my goal today to share with you some of the rich treasures that are found in this chapter. So I've entitled this, Highlights of 1 Peter 1. I do wish that we could be face to face, but I am also very thankful for the use of technology. For time's sake, because there is so much to cover and the content is so rich that we only have time to cover part of the first chapter. So let's dive in. But before we get to scripture, I would like to share a little background about Peter and the times in which he lived. Martin Luther, who loved this book, said of 1 Peter, Wow, that's a powerful statement. Another interesting statement about this book was said by a group of persecuted Jews in Iran, where the persecution is very harsh. They said this of 1 Peter, of all the books in the New Testament, 1 Peter is our favorite book. The book of Peter gives us great encouragement in our trials. Personally, this chapter helps me keep a proper focus in life. It helps me focus on Christ as I am going through trials and difficulties. As we look at these treasures found in 1 Peter, I trust it will help your focus as well. In a very basic overview of chapter 1, we see that Peter is directing them, commanding them, loving them, and comforting them by his inspired writing. I'd like to start by asking a question. If you could choose any one of the apostles to have over at your house for dinner, which one would you choose? I would like to take a survey regarding this question. Some of you might answer Paul, or John, or Peter, or another. But if I were to answer this question, if I were totally honest, I think I would choose Paul for dinner. But if I had to make only one phone call, a call to any of the apostles, it would be Peter. So Peter and Paul, to me, are in a dead heat. But I think that I can identify with Peter the most. He messed up, and I have messed up. And it is recorded in Scripture that he messed up. He messed up during the ministry of our Lord Jesus when he denied Christ three times. And after he had been filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, he messed up because he was rebuked by the Apostle Paul. This is recorded in Galatians 2, 11 through 14. Paul discovered that Peter had an erroneous view regarding circumcision and had to be rebuked. Many Christians can identify with Peter because we have all messed up, and I know I have so many times. So this is why I choose Peter. Again, Peter denied Christ three times. And there have been times in my life that I have denied him by shying away from gospel conversations. It takes only about 20 minutes to read through 1 Peter, but it's 20 minutes that can change our lives. It's a letter that we need so desperately in our time today. Our hearts can so easily be opened up to Peter and his writings. His message is so relevant to us, and I want to share why this is the case. We live in a time in America when true Christianity is somewhat collapsing before our very eyes. A few examples of this are abandoning God's definition of male and female, the breakup and dysfunction of a greater number of families, in the lessening need to attend church and follow the Lord Jesus and his ways. Peter encourages us as we live in this culture that as believers we are not in the majority anymore. This is exactly the reason why Peter wrote this letter. Christians were also not in the majority back in his day. To the lives of his readers, Peter gives them a firm foundation for their lives, and it can be for us as well. So as we look at the life of Peter, it is important to look at an episode in his life that really helped to mold him and shape him into the man he was. It is crucial to look at a conversation that Peter had with Jesus. This conversation at Caesarea Philippi with Jesus really helped Peter find out who he really was, a disciple of Christ. In fact, the other disciples as well were really wondering who Christ really was. Let me briefly take you to the account in Matthew. Matthew 16, 13 through 18 says, Now, when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, who do people say that the Son of Man is? And they said, some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. But he said to them, but who do you say that I am? Simon Peter replied, you are the Christ, the son of the living God. And Jesus answered him, blessed are you, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. About a year ago, my wife, Wendy, and I had the privilege of going to the Holy Land and standing on the very spot, or so tradition has it, that Christ told this to his disciples. So it is in this conversation that totally transformed the lives of the disciples, and especially Peter. So it is out of this experience that Peter writes to them. It is important to form a basis for his writing. The book of Peter teaches faith and obedience and patience. Peter is also telling his readers the purpose of their suffering and how to respond to suffering as they live out their lives in uncertainty. One more bit of interesting information and background. Sinclair Ferguson, a well-known Reformed pastor of our time, writes, the time that Peter is writing to his readers is a little before the great persecution of the Jews by Nero in A.D. 70, when Christians were lit aflame on the streets. This was the time when persecution was breaking out and believers were hated by the world. So God is preparing them for an even greater persecution that was coming. I would like to insert an application here. We must also prepare ourselves for persecution that is coming to the church until Christ returns. As we consider future persecution, we have a few options. We can bury our heads in the sand and deny persecution will ever come. Two, we can complain about the world we live in now and not really trust that God is sovereign over all things. And we can also learn from 1 Peter and learn how to deal with suffering now and persecution later. So as we come to the letter, we said that he is writing to exiles in different places, Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. This is his audience. And as we look at verse 1, it is also interesting to see how Peter described himself. He is an apostle of Jesus Christ. An apostle is one who is sent. He also has the role of authority given to him by Christ himself. He came and spoke in the name of the Lord Jesus, but he described himself in other ways also. As we see in 1 Peter 5, verse 1, and you can please turn to 1 Peter 5, 1 if you have your Bibles, it reads, So I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed." So 5.1 gives us a little more insight into who Peter is. The first thing that he says is that he is a fellow elder. He had a dual role of an apostle in 1.1, and also the title of an elder in 5.1. Next, he mentions something that is very critical to our text. He mentions that he is an eyewitness to the sufferings of Christ. He watched all the sufferings of Christ during the last three years of his life, not just at the cross. He was with Jesus. He saw him firsthand go through many trials. So Peter is able to sit down and write to us about suffering, He was highly qualified, and as an eyewitness, his witness is reliable. And then he says in verse 1 of chapter 5 that he was a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed. Many times in our readings, we can so easily skim over this verse and not get the full impact of it. This sentence is powerful. Peter is giving them hope. Peter is telling them that he is going to glory. What great hope that must have been to his hearers. Have you ever experienced the company of gloom and doom Christians, where there is just no joy at all? Peter is the exact opposite here. He's saying, man, I'm going to glory. Don't you see what is happening here? The light of glory is shining into the heart of Peter. There is a little lesson in here for me and for all of us. When I complain or when we complain about difficult circumstances or suffering, that we must actually shut our mouths to complaining. I know this is hard language. But this is the message of 1 Peter. Once we get the real taste of glory and a sense of glory and that we will be partakers like Peter in glory, we must not complain about our circumstances or suffering, no matter what we face down here. You know, when we complain, and I'm right there with you, it should be an eye-opener to us because we may be complaining about the very providence of God. We must see how the gospel and the glimpse of glory grip Simon Peter's soul. Peter is really living his life backwards from the future, backwards from glory. And this is how scripture tells us how to live our lives. Set your mind on the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. In this way, we see our present sufferings in light of the eternal realities. Let's go back to the first two verses in chapter one. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who are elect exiles of the dispersion, in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ, and for sprinkling with his blood. May grace and peace be multiplied to you." Again, Peter's audience was all over a specific region. Let's look about what Peter says about these believers. They have been chosen, set apart. They have been sent down a path of new obedience. These are the beautiful things described of what it means to be a believer. Chosen, set apart in time according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, and set down a path to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. And we have been set down a path to follow the Lord Jesus Christ as well. So who is responsible for setting them on this path of obedience? The answer is our Triune God. Let's see how he mentions the Trinity. According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, set apart by the Holy Spirit, and we have been called to obedience to Jesus Christ. What a beautiful picture of the Trinity. All three persons of the Godhead are used to bring us into the kingdom of God. There is perfect unity and harmony in the work of the Trinity. Each person is working perfectly together to save all and each of the elect. This is a huge theme in 1 Peter, who we actually are in Christ, chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. Our triune God has set us apart by his sovereign work in our hearts and lives, all for obedience to the Lord Jesus. And as we go to verses 3 through 12, we see the message of our wonderful salvation. 1 Peter 1, 3 through 12 reads, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials. so that the tested genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully. inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves, but you, and the things that have now been announced to you through those who preach the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. In this section of scripture, I want to focus on persecution and suffering, both of the believers in the time of Peter and to us today as well. Have you ever been told by one of your former teachers that you will find your answer in the back of the book? This is somewhat true of 1 Peter. Peter is toward the back of the Bible, and it is here that we understand the purpose of suffering. It is very important that as we go through trials and suffering that we don't just live by our emotions, such as, boy, I'm just so tired of feeling this way, I'll never, I'll just never get any better. There's no hope. Our emotions can drag us down. Our emotions can roll over us in a negative way. We must see with our eyes. and hear with our ears the truth of the Word of God and meditate on what it really is saying, not just reading quickly over certain verses. We must see the truth of Scripture to interpret everything in life through the lens of Scripture. We must interpret our sufferings through the Word of God. This passage in 1 Peter helps us to do just that. It is very helpful to us in how we view our suffering. It is very interesting that Peter never uses language that we so often hear and use ourselves when talking to a sufferer. He never says, I'm so sorry to hear, or it makes me so sad, or it pains me to hear what you're going through. We don't know what they truly are going through. and we only know what we are going through. So Peter Nez never says these things. All he ever says is, isn't the gospel glorious? If we only sympathize with someone else's pain, in reality, let's be honest, it may help them for a little while. There may be some temporary comfort to their souls, but in the long-term comfort of them, it may not accomplish too much at all. Here's what I truly believe. Yes, if we should give some earthly comfort of understanding to them, but then quickly point them to glory. What Peter is saying in scripture is this. Is it not great to know that you are a child of God, a disciple of Jesus Christ, that you know him, that you understand his sovereignty over all things, that he helps us in our weakness, that he comforts us by his spirit, and that we are headed for glory? This is what long-term helps the sufferer. So to relieve one in suffering, it is not just to relieve their emotions. I'm sorry, because let me say that again. So to relieve one in suffering, it is not just to relieve their emotions. Because once your conversation has ended with them, they may go right back to living by their emotions. They must understand that the Word of God says about their suffering. All this will spiritually nourish and encourage them in the faith. In this section of Scripture, Peter is pointing them to an inheritance that lasts for eternity. The first thing that Peter says to a sufferer is found in verse 3. Is this the very first thing that you would say to a sufferer? Why does he say this? Because the main thing that they need to know is God's mercy. According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Christ has risen, and those who are in Christ at death will rise spiritually. And someday at His return, they will also rise physically. This is the great focus that we must look at, that we will rise again. And the surety of this lies not only in the resurrection of Jesus, but also in the fact that Jesus has caused us to be born again by his powerful regeneration. Eternal life has already begun in us. We don't have to wait till heaven. We already have it. no matter what we are going through. And then he added this, Peter says in verse four, that we have an inheritance that will permanently last. This inheritance is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. There are two problems with an earthly inheritance. The first is that an earthly inheritance might not last due to a financial collapse of the economy. And secondly, if you inherited a house, the house may become worthless for all kinds of reasons. Fire, flood, no homeowner's insurance, the inheritance given to someone else at the last minute. The inheritance may change. An earthly inheritance is not absolute. It may be in danger. and we may not last to inherit it. Peter is saying that our heavenly inheritance is of such a different reality. First of all, our inheritance is guarded by God himself. It is stored up for us in heaven. It cannot change or decay. Moth and rust cannot get to it in any way, so our inheritance is secure. And Peter is saying that not only our inheritance is secure, but that we are secure. We are being kept by the power of God for this inheritance. Peter also says that it is ready. Did we catch that? It's ready. It's ready to be revealed in the last time. And as we look at Peter in his writing of this letter, surely he must have felt secure. He must have said, well, I'm the most secure of all. But you know that pride comes before a fall. In his later conversation with Jesus, we read in Matthew 26, 33 through 35, Peter answered him, Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away. Jesus said to him, truly, I tell you, this very night before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times. Peter said to him, even if I must die with you, I will not deny you. And all the disciples said the same. But the beautiful picture of grace is that Jesus said to Peter that Peter would not completely fall away because he told Peter, I will pray for you. By this intercession of the Lord Jesus, Peter is kept. And we know that the intercession of our Lord Jesus in John chapter 17, for all of us, for all would come to believe. for he will lose none. This is the glorious, amazing truth that lifts up our depressed spirits. This is the truth that puts pain and suffering in its right place. This is the truth that shines brightness and the glory of God into our hearts. This is what makes our lives so different, so peaceful, that we can endure anything. This sustains us in real times of suffering and hurt. And in verses six and seven we read, in this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in the praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." Peter tells us to rejoice, even though we are given various kinds of trials. He adds, if necessary, and only for a little while, only for a short time, Peter is saying that the trials may come in all shapes and sizes, all kinds of trials, and they may keep coming. This is the truth of the word of God, dear church. Don't ever believe the health and wealth gospel. It is truly a lie. Trials may never end. They never ended for Paul. They are for a short time compared to eternity. And they may be necessary, referring to God's providence and purpose in each trial. All for the glory of God and to conform us to the image of His Son. Peter is telling us to set trials in the proper place. We must see them in their proper context. And we are to rejoice and to see God's love and purpose behind them all. Rejoicing is God's way of getting us out from underneath the weight of our trials. God is saying, rejoice, my child. I have it all in my hands, and you are suffering according to my purposes. And whatever happens to us, it is part of God's perfect providence. It is not without a purpose. There's no such thing as purposeless suffering. This is something we need to grasp. There is a purpose in your suffering. No matter what your present suffering is, it is not without purpose. Let me repeat that. No matter what your present suffering is, it is not without purpose. And we see this in his plan being worked out in our lives for his glory. Peter now says that his glory is now being worked into our lives. 1-7 again says, it may be found to result in the praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. So our trials ultimately result in praise to our Lord. Concerning trials, it also reminds us of the life of Job. Job was tested and tried, and he came forth as gold. Sometimes God does drastic things in our lives for His glory, just like He did Job. The whole time, God is holding on to us, and He will always hold on to us, for we are kept by His power. That's the truth of God's Word. And God knows that He will complete the good work in us that He started. So that way, He knows He can test us to bolster and increase our faith and trust. Our greatest example is our Lord Jesus himself in the wilderness. He was greatly tested. He recited the Word of God back to Satan. He taught us that we should live by every word that comes from the mouth of God. But in our humanness, we say, Lord, why are you doing this to me? Of course, he has many reasons in his perfect providence, but he allows us to be tested. but what God gives us is hope in Romans 8 28. Romans 8 28 gives us a sense of stability and confidence and strength. We know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. He is preparing us for glory. As we come to verses 8 and 9, we see that we have a joy that is inexpressible. Scripture says, though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Peter says, We have a deep joy, even though in deep pain. You have probably met people who have suffered greatly, and you may be one yourself, who are believers, and there is something about them, even a deep smile amid the pain. There is an inner peace in them that cannot be logically understood. Even in pain, they radiate Christ. Two examples, the first, Johnny Erickson Tada, who had the diving accident decades ago that left her body paralyzed. And secondly, my brother Tom. who has suffered with rheumatoid arthritis for 50 years. He has told me many times, John, God never makes mistakes, and there is a reason for my pain. They both radiate Christ, and many times God will never reveal to us the why of the pain, We are just to trust. We just are left to trust him. And we know it is God's will that we will have pain because it was his perfect will for his son. a lamb slain before the foundation of the world. Through Christ's suffering, he entered into glory. This is the beauty of it all. Through Christ's suffering, he entered into glory. And lastly, we see in 1 Peter 1, 10 through 12, that the gospel is an object of angel inquiry. 1, 10 through 12 reads, Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you in the things they have now been announced to you. through those who preach the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. Peter is telling his readers, do you realize that there was a gospel that was promised through the prophets? As we see clearly in Isaiah 53 of our suffering servant, Even in Genesis 3.15, from the very first promise of salvation, the promise comes through the seed of a woman that a Savior would come and suffer. God says to the serpent, I will put enmity between you and the woman. the woman referring to the seed of the woman, Jesus, and between your offspring and her offspring. He shall crush your head, referring to the total defeat of Satan by Christ's victory at the cross, and you shall bruise his heel. You will bruise him by his suffering at Calvary. The glory of the Gospel was proclaimed by God's message in the Old Testament. It was revealed to them by the Spirit of Christ. The Holy Spirit revealed these truths to the prophets. Verse 12 also says, In the things that have not been announced to you, The things announced were the sufferings and glories of Christ. This is the content of the gospel. The events predicted by the prophets are the events fulfilled in Christ and told to the church by the gospel messengers. At the end of verse 12, we read, things into which angels long to look. The ESV study Bible says of this verse, celestial beings are intensely interested in redemption. but their knowledge and experience of it is limited. Ephesians 3.10's help explains this. Ephesians 3.10 says that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. Angels have never been redeemed. They were created as holy angels, and God's plan is now made known to them through the church. What an amazing thought, the church teaches angels. I have much more to share with you from the book of 1 Peter, and I would love to share more precious truth from this book at a later date. But let me now summarize what we've seen so far today. You are chosen, set apart, and set down a path of obedience. Two, there is great purpose in your suffering. Three, we have an inheritance that is absolutely secure, and we are secure. Four, you are kept by the power of God. And five, your sufferings result in the praise, glory, and honor of Jesus Christ. Let's pray. Father, thank you for the life of Peter. Thank you for his writing and example that he is for all of us. He served you even till death. Thank you for the truth of this book. Help us rejoice in our sufferings. Bless your precious people now this day. In Christ's name, amen. God bless you and have a blessed day.