1 Peter: Living Hope in a Hopeless Land

This Sunday, we will begin a new sermon series on the book of 1 Peter entitled Living Hope in a Hopeless Land. As the title indicates, the Apostle Peter, one of the Twelve, wrote this letter around AD 64, just before the persecution of Christians under Nero intensified. He addressed it to Christians, both Jews and Gentiles residing in Asia Minor (modern Turkey), to encourage them to stand firm in grace (5:12), empowered by the living hope within them (1:3; 3:15) amid much suffering (1:6-7; 2:12, 18, 20-21; 3:9, 14-15; 4:1, 12, 14-16, 5:8).

As Peter writes to encourage these saints, I hope that our study of this letter will also encourage our church. In particular, we want to understand three key relationships that will enable us to live with hope in this hopeless land. First, Peter reminds his readers of their relationship with the Triune God and roots their identity in Christ. We have been chosen by God and washed by the blood of Christ. Christians possess an everlasting inheritance, and although they may suffer much in this life, God will ultimately “perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish” them (5:10). Since we know God and He knows us, all believers are called to a life of holiness. As we will learn from this letter, holiness is not about following rules but understanding who we belong to. Since we belong to God, our lives should reflect Him—His values, His thoughts, and His mission for us in the world.

Second, Peter counsels us on our relationship with this world. He begins the letter by addressing his readers as “aliens” or exiles. They were once at home in this land, but God intervened and called them to belong to Him. Those who belong to the world, however, are not silent about their hatred toward Christ and His church, so they inflict great pain on God’s beloved. Peter tells us that we should expect such treatment; Jesus did. Our suffering, like Christ’s, is not pointless. Through suffering, God proves and purifies our faith (1:7) and allows us to bear witness to the hopeless world (2:12). Peter goes on to explain that in our relationships with governing authorities (2:13-17), in the marketplace (2:18-21; 3:13-17), and in marriage (3:1-7), “chosen exiles” should evangelize and testify to the glories of Christ.

Third, Peter instructs us on our relationship with fellow exiles. We do not travel this world alone. The hopelessness of this land is too much for any one exile to bear. Therefore, Christians are united as living stones in a spiritual house (2:5), who love (1:22; 3:8; 4:8) and serve one another as Christ (4:10-11).

We pray that as we spend the next few months in this letter, we will grow in love for our merciful God, who gave us a new identity, grow in obedience to Christ by following His example, and persevere by living in hope, trusting that no matter what we go through, He will bring us safely home.