What Romans is to the academic,
what Acts is to the charismatic,
1st and 2nd Peter are to the persecuted Church.
The Apostle Peter
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. – Acts 4:13 NKJV
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion – I Peter 1:1 ESV
Exiles – parepidēmos – pilgrim, stranger, foreigner – among those who are not Christians
Dispersed – diaspora – sow or scatter seeds – God has sown Christians throughout the world
3 Movements in 1st Peter:
First Movement: New Family Identity
Chosen –Isaiah 41:8 “But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend,
Like Israel was chosen, you are chosen
Exiled – Gen. 23:4 “I am a foreigner and stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.”
Like Abraham was exiled, you are exiled
Second Movement: Suffering as a witness to Jesus
For people who have this hope suffering acts as a refining fire.
Third Movement: Future Hope
We live from the reality of Heaven.
2nd Peter is Peter’s Farewell Address: Two Challenges
1. Never stop growing
2. Warns against corrupt teachers
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- Objection 1 – We didn’t make this up
- Objection 2 – There will be a final reckoning – Freedom is not license to sin
- Objection 3 – Jesus will come again
They had been with Jesus – Pilgrim & Seeds