Peter s Portrait of God s People 1 What

Peter’s Portrait of God’s People 1

What we want to learn from this lesson: 2 • God’s people are a special people with special blessings and privileges • (Text for this lesson – 1 Pet. 1: 32: 12)

3 • Christians are God’s chosen people today

4 • I. God’s people are persecuted

1: 6 -7 • 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though • 5 now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

6 • Gold refined in fire is purer – so Christian’s faith refined in persecution becomes more precious

Christ our example – 2: 21 -23 • [21] For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: [22] Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 7

8 • [23] Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

We are to rejoice in persecution – 4: 12 -14 • [12] Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: [13] But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 9

10 • [14] If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

11 • II. God’s people are a purchased people

1: 18 -19 12 • [18] Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

13 • The precious blood of Christ bought us back from slavery to sin

The church is purchased with the blood of Christ – Acts 20: 28 • [28] Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 14

15 • III. God’s people are a purified people

1: 22 -23 16 • [22] Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: [23] Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

17 • Purify = to cleanse • The blood of Christ washes away our sins

Rev. 1: 5 18 • [5] And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

We must obey the truth – be born again – born of water and Spirit - Jn. 3: 5 19 • [5] Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Born of water and Word Eph. 5: 25 -26 • [25] Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; [26] That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 20

21 • “When the Spirit through his Word begets (to cause, produce or create L. B. ) faith in our hearts and we are baptized, we have purified our souls. ” (Rod Rutherford)

22 • IV. God’s people are a priesthood

2: 5 23 • [5] Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

24 • Israel was a nation of priests (Ex. 19: 6) • Aaron’s sons were a special priesthood (Ex. 28)

Christians are priests – Rev. 1: 6 25 • [6] And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Christ is our High Priest 26 • Heb. 4: 14 • [14] Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

We present our bodies as living sacrifices – Rom. 12: 1 27 • [1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

We offer sacrifices of praise – Heb. 13: 15 28 • [15] By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

29 • V. God’s people are a peculiar people

2: 9 30 • [9] But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

31 • Not peculiar physically like the Amish are • Saints = set apart • Church = called out • We are peculiar in life-style, goals, purposes and attitudes

32 • VI. God’s people are pilgrims

2: 11 -12 33 • [11] Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; [12] Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

34 • We are tent dwellers here – our true house is in heaven

2 Cor. 5: 1 • [1] For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 35

We should build for eternity – Mt. 16: 24 -25 36 • [24] Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. • [25] For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Conclusion 37 • God’s people in any age are different from the world • You can purify your soul by obeying the truth – you will then be a part of God’s chosen people today