1st Peter Chapter 1 1:24

While at the Deep South Men’s Conference this weekend Jerry asked me to stand in for him because he has been called to be at work early each day this week. Having just returned from that Blessed event. I sort of wanted to carry on that theme from our teaching there. It should be no surprise, the Holy Spirit had a different agenda. This morning we are going to be in 1st Peter Chapter 1.
God willing, whenever I’m asked to fill in, we can pick up in 1st Peter where we leave off today. Standby, for change, since that is my agenda. Where the Spirit leads, we must follow:

The Apostle Peter wrote this epistle during the reign of Nero at the height of Christian persecution. Think about the sentence of death of that pastor in Iran and imagine if you can every Christian in the known world subject to that level of persecution. Peter writes to the Saints encouragement to the believers. Dictated to Silvanus ( A.K.A. Silas) about two years from being put to death on a cross upside down.
Chapter 1
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: 

Notice that Peter refers to the dispersed saints as Pilgrims, referring I believe to the short time we believers have here on earth.
Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
Note grace and peace blessing
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though 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, 8 whom having not seen[a] you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
Starting with the basics, mercy Christ’s resurrection , living hope, inheritance incorruptible and undefiled resurrection. Again Peter point out that the present trials and suffering are only temporary .Read Matthew 10: 21-23
Question: What make our faith so much more precious than gold? What is your view on the difference in happiness and joy?

10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us[b] they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.
Peter reminds the believers the testimony of the prophets speaking of Christ’s sufferings and the Glory to follow.
This last sentence is pretty profound, we get ministration s from the Holy Spirit that even angels desire to look into. What could that be?
   13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”[c]
Question: How does Peter call believers to be Holy? Why?
And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Why did it take Christ sacrifice and his resurrection to achieve all that it did? How do we know this is true?
22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit[d] in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,[e] 24 because 
      “ All flesh is as grass,
      And all the glory of man[f] as the flower of the grass.
      The grass withers,
      And its flower falls away,
       25 But the word of the LORD endures forever.”[g]
 Here Peter quotes from Isaiah 40 6—8
6The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7The grass withers, the flower fades: because the spirit of the LORD blows upon it: surely the people are like grass. 8The grass withers, the flower fades but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
 Peter’s introduction and prelude is over The Gospel and Christ the Chief Cornerstone.
Verse 24; Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

The Apostle Peter’s introduction in Chapter 1 is a prelude and out- line of outlines his message. Next in Chapter 2 he gets to the meat.
Grace and Peace. May the Lord Bless you and keep you
GC