WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.919 Good morning. Welcome to Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church. My name is Matthew Capone 00:00:08.919 --> 00:00:15.560 and I'm the pastor here and it's my joy to bring God's word to you today. If you're new or visiting 00:00:15.560 --> 00:00:21.480 with us, welcome. We're glad that you're here. And we're glad that you're here not because we 00:00:21.480 --> 00:00:26.359 are trying to fill seats, but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:26.359 --> 00:00:31.939 And as we follow Jesus together as one community, we've become convinced that there's no one so good 00:00:31.939 --> 00:00:37.579 that they don't need God's grace, his forgiveness, and no one so bad that they can't have it. And so 00:00:37.579 --> 00:00:42.259 we come to God's word over and over again and again, week after week, because we believe that 00:00:42.259 --> 00:00:47.260 God has something to say to every one of us. He has something to say to us if we have been Christians 00:00:47.260 --> 00:00:51.200 our entire lives, if we can't remember a time when we weren't Christians. He has something to say to 00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:56.060 us if we've been Christians for a very short amount of time. And he also has something to say to us if 00:00:56.060 --> 00:01:00.440 we would not consider ourselves Christians, if we're people who have questions or doubts or 00:01:00.440 --> 00:01:06.120 objections to Christianity. If you're with us, you know that over the summer, we went through a series 00:01:06.120 --> 00:01:11.359 on the Psalms, which we finished last week. And now we're starting a new series in the book of 1 Peter. 00:01:12.520 --> 00:01:19.260 And the 1 Peter is a letter, and it's a letter written by a man named Peter. And he writes this to 00:01:19.260 --> 00:01:24.880 groups of Christians in the first century who live in what is now modern-day Turkey. 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:30.480 And he writes to these Christians because they are, as they live, as they follow Jesus, 00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:34.520 the fact that they're Christians is making them feel out of place in the world. 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:40.980 And not only is it making them feel out of place in the world, they're also facing opposition from the 00:01:40.980 --> 00:01:46.080 world. Peter writes knowing that they're feeling out of place and they're facing opposition, and he does 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:50.959 this to encourage them and help them understand and know how it is they should live in the world 00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:55.959 and why they should continue living that way. In other words, the book of 1 Peter is a book about 00:01:55.959 --> 00:02:03.620 what it means to be in the world, but not of the world. And it's also a book about what it means to 00:02:03.620 --> 00:02:11.020 represent Jesus to the world. It's a book about being in the world, but not of the world, while also 00:02:11.020 --> 00:02:19.160 representing Jesus to the world. And it's a book about why Jesus is worth that. Why he's worth living 00:02:19.160 --> 00:02:26.660 and loving for. Why he's worth suffering for. And why the recipients of this letter, the people who 00:02:26.660 --> 00:02:32.740 are living in Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey, should continue loving and following Jesus. And so the 00:02:32.740 --> 00:02:39.280 question that this book answers and addresses is the question we're going to begin to talk about this 00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:43.919 morning. What do we do? How do we respond? How do we think about the reality that when we live in this 00:02:43.919 --> 00:02:50.420 world, oftentimes we feel very out of place if we're following Jesus? How should we think about 00:02:50.420 --> 00:02:55.479 that? How do we begin to address it? It's the last question that we come to this letter, and we're going 00:02:55.479 --> 00:02:59.199 to be reading just the first couple verses. You're going to find this printed in your worship guide near 00:02:59.199 --> 00:03:03.479 the end. You can also find it on your Bible or your phone. And as we come to this, remember that this is 00:03:03.479 --> 00:03:12.560 God's word. And God tells us that his word is more precious than gold, even the finest gold, and that it is 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:18.479 sweeter than honey, even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. It's for that reason that we read 00:03:18.479 --> 00:03:19.859 now, starting with verse 1, 00:03:19.860 --> 00:03:49.180 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:03:49.860 --> 00:03:58.340 Father in heaven, we thank you, as always, that you have not left us to figure out this world on our 00:03:58.340 --> 00:04:04.080 own, but that you come and you speak to us. You've given us your word and your instructions 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:11.160 that we would know what you want and what you love, and that we would want and love those things as well. 00:04:11.159 --> 00:04:18.899 We also know that we are hard of hearing, and unless you help us, we are helpless. 00:04:18.899 --> 00:04:26.259 We ask that you would send your spirit now to do that, that you would open up our eyes so that we 00:04:26.259 --> 00:04:31.859 could see, you'd unstop our ears so that we could hear, you'd soften our hearts so that we could 00:04:31.859 --> 00:04:36.899 believe, and you'd clear our minds so that we could understand everything that you've written in your 00:04:36.899 --> 00:04:41.739 word about your son. And we ask these things not because we have earned them, but because you, 00:04:41.740 --> 00:04:46.040 Jesus has earned them for us, and we ask him in his name. Amen. 00:04:49.620 --> 00:04:56.620 There was a time in my life about five years ago where I had a very challenging decision that I had to 00:04:56.620 --> 00:05:01.800 make, and as I look back now, I think it was probably one of the most challenging decisions that I've ever 00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:09.400 had to make in my life. And so knowing the gravity of that, I realized that I was in way over my head. 00:05:09.399 --> 00:05:14.399 I didn't have the wisdom to think through what I needed to think through. I knew this decision had 00:05:14.399 --> 00:05:18.500 a lot of consequences. This is not important to what I'm going to tell you, but basically I had to 00:05:18.500 --> 00:05:23.599 make a decision whether I was going to continue in a relationship or not, and I began to realize that 00:05:23.599 --> 00:05:27.739 this might not be the place for me. This might be something that I had to exit. I wasn't going to 00:05:27.739 --> 00:05:33.000 make that decision lightly, and I also knew that I needed tremendous wisdom, and I didn't necessarily 00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:38.120 believe that everyone around me had it. If you're like me, there's times where you have talked to 00:05:38.120 --> 00:05:41.680 various people. You know there's certain things you need to talk to someone who's 10 years ahead of you 00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:47.639 to get advice about. So if I need counsel about how to be a pastor, I don't call up a first-year 00:05:47.639 --> 00:05:54.040 seminary student. Instead, I call up someone who's been seasoned for decades. There's some decisions where 00:05:54.040 --> 00:05:58.300 maybe you need to talk to someone 20 years ahead of you. Maybe there's some that you need to talk to 00:05:58.300 --> 00:06:02.959 someone 30 years ahead of you. This decision that I was facing, I felt like it was the type of decision 00:06:02.959 --> 00:06:07.000 where I needed to talk to someone who was far, far ahead of me on the journey, someone who was seasoned 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:09.180 and experienced in life and as a counselor. 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:15.399 And so I knew a man that I had a relationship with for a long time who was in his 60s, and I thought, 00:06:15.560 --> 00:06:17.339 this is a 60-plus question. 00:06:18.279 --> 00:06:22.819 This is a 60-plus problem. I'm not going to talk to someone in their 30s. I knew someone in their 50s, 00:06:22.819 --> 00:06:27.599 and I thought, you know, this is, I need someone who's got the four-decade advantage on me for this one. 00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:32.939 And so I spent time on the phone trying to schedule an appointment with this man. I drove 00:06:32.939 --> 00:06:39.960 several hours to meet with him. He did not live close to me. And we sat down, and I explained to 00:06:39.960 --> 00:06:43.860 him this entire situation, this decision that I had to make, all the complicating factors, 00:06:44.360 --> 00:06:49.000 what I was afraid of, and either whether I stayed or I left. And so this man, he sat down, and he 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:53.439 listened, and he gave me his counsel. He talked through all the issues with me, gave me his advice, 00:06:53.439 --> 00:06:59.079 told me what he thought about what I was facing. And he was able to do that because he was someone 00:06:59.079 --> 00:07:06.500 with credibility and experience. He knew what he was talking about. He'd been talking to people 00:07:06.500 --> 00:07:13.980 about these sorts of things, not for 10, not for 20, but 30, 40 years. As we come to the letter of 00:07:13.980 --> 00:07:21.680 1 Peter, Peter is a man in this letter with incredible credibility and seasoning. He knows what he's 00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:28.060 talking about. Peter writes this near the end of his life. And of course, he tells us, verse 1, he's an 00:07:28.060 --> 00:07:32.860 apostle. That's his credentials. And that tells us that he's someone who's a representative, a 00:07:32.860 --> 00:07:38.899 representative of Jesus who can speak authoritatively for the church about Jesus' life and Jesus' teachings. 00:07:40.120 --> 00:07:44.780 And so that's his position. That's his credential, his credibility. But Peter has even more than that. 00:07:44.780 --> 00:07:50.340 Peter has lived for decades as someone who knows Jesus and follows Jesus. And he is someone 00:07:50.339 --> 00:07:56.759 who has experienced what it means to belong to God and be chosen by God. And not only has he 00:07:56.759 --> 00:08:02.219 experienced for decades what it means to belong to God and be chosen by God, he also knows what it's 00:08:02.219 --> 00:08:10.919 like from firsthand experience to suffer for God. He has lived for years. And so he writes as someone 00:08:10.920 --> 00:08:19.300 that we should listen to. He has lived everything that he talks about. And he hasn't been perfect. We 00:08:19.300 --> 00:08:24.860 meet Peter for the first time. He grew up in a small town called Bethsaida, which is right outside the 00:08:24.860 --> 00:08:29.500 Sea of Galilee, which is a place where much of Jesus' ministry took place. It was on the north shore of the 00:08:29.500 --> 00:08:34.860 Sea of Galilee. Now, Jesus, if you're familiar, grew up in Nazareth, which was southwest of the Sea of Galilee. 00:08:34.860 --> 00:08:40.300 And I tell you that so that you know that if Jesus and Peter lived today, their high school football 00:08:40.300 --> 00:08:46.259 teams would have played each other. Now, whether Jesus' team would have won or Peter's team would 00:08:46.259 --> 00:08:52.320 have won, I'm going to leave that theological knot for you to untie at lunch today. But Peter and Jesus 00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:56.220 would have been in the same territory. Peter was a fisherman. That's how he grew up. And at some point, 00:08:56.279 --> 00:09:00.720 because of his career as a fisherman, he entered into business. He had a business partnership with his 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:05.080 brother, who is named Andrew. And there's another brother set, James and John, that they joined 00:09:05.080 --> 00:09:08.399 together with. And they were in Capernaum, which if you're familiar with Jesus' ministry, you know 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:15.440 that was a headquarters for where he had his ministry. And Andrew was an early adopter. Peter was not. 00:09:16.040 --> 00:09:20.279 So Andrew was tracking with John the Baptist, and he was the one who introduced Peter to Jesus. 00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:25.720 And Peter meets Jesus, and when he meets him, he's not interested necessarily in following Jesus, 00:09:25.820 --> 00:09:29.500 but Jesus decides that Peter's going to follow him. And so he tells him, I'm going to make you a fisher of men. 00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:35.279 Peter continues to follow after Jesus, having this relationship with Jesus, living with him for 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:42.540 multiple years, and Peter makes mistakes over and over again. If you're familiar with Peter, you know 00:09:42.540 --> 00:09:49.139 that he misunderstands Jesus and his mission. At one point, he rebukes Jesus, and Jesus refers to him 00:09:49.139 --> 00:10:00.519 as Satan. At another time later in his career, Paul has to rebuke Peter. But Peter continues following 00:10:00.519 --> 00:10:07.980 after Jesus again and again, and we see throughout his life, Peter changes and grows. Peter rebukes 00:10:07.980 --> 00:10:15.120 Jesus for wanting to suffer at the beginning of his time with Jesus. And now near the end of his time, 00:10:15.299 --> 00:10:19.679 after Jesus' death, near the end of Peter's life, he's going to write to these people about suffering. 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:26.720 And I've just firehosed you with a bunch of facts about Peter, and I do that sometimes. I don't expect you 00:10:26.720 --> 00:10:31.580 to remember all this, but the point that I want to make is this. Peter was a real man. 00:10:33.720 --> 00:10:38.200 Peter did not have a halo. Instead, he worked with his hands. 00:10:40.560 --> 00:10:47.680 Peter did not do everything perfectly. He didn't say everything perfectly. Instead, sometimes he put 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:51.919 his foot in his mouth. In fact, he put his foot in his mouth over and over again. 00:10:53.959 --> 00:11:00.899 Peter wasn't just a real man, though. Peter had a real relationship with Jesus. 00:11:03.019 --> 00:11:11.779 And because Peter had a real relationship with Jesus, he experienced a fundamental change in his identity, 00:11:11.779 --> 00:11:15.720 in his character, and his behavior. 00:11:17.459 --> 00:11:19.779 Peter had a real relationship with Jesus. 00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:25.480 Because he had a real relationship with Jesus, he experienced a fundamental change 00:11:25.480 --> 00:11:29.720 in his identity, in his character, and his behavior. 00:11:30.620 --> 00:11:33.620 Everything that he writes about in these first two verses, 00:11:33.779 --> 00:11:36.659 he writes about from what he knows in his experience. 00:11:36.659 --> 00:11:41.899 And so he knows that he's been chosen by Jesus, and so that's how he writes to the people 00:11:41.899 --> 00:11:43.199 who are receiving this letter. He says, 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:48.419 to those who are elect, exiles. Now this word elect is a technical theological term, 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:51.819 and I'm going to explain it to you, hopefully in such a way right now that you're never going to forget it. 00:11:51.980 --> 00:11:52.740 Maybe I'm optimistic. 00:11:53.699 --> 00:11:56.659 An elect is not a word that we use in English. It's not one that we're familiar with, 00:11:56.699 --> 00:11:58.000 except in one instance. 00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:02.159 Every four years, we have in this country a what? 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:04.899 We have an election. 00:12:04.899 --> 00:12:09.179 An election is when we choose someone. 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:11.860 We choose someone to represent us. 00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:14.120 So if someone is elect, 00:12:14.600 --> 00:12:15.899 the term theologically, 00:12:16.100 --> 00:12:19.279 when we talk about the elect, we're talking about those God has chosen. 00:12:22.419 --> 00:12:24.360 Jesus chose Peter. 00:12:28.279 --> 00:12:29.819 When Jesus first met Peter, 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:30.919 at least one of the first meetings, 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:32.100 he went out on a boat with him. 00:12:32.100 --> 00:12:34.379 And when Jesus, 00:12:34.580 --> 00:12:36.379 when Peter understood Jesus' power, 00:12:36.500 --> 00:12:36.879 first of all, 00:12:36.920 --> 00:12:38.360 Jesus just asked to borrow his boat, 00:12:38.680 --> 00:12:40.440 because he wanted to speak to a large crowd of people, 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:41.620 and he knew that if he went out on the water, 00:12:41.659 --> 00:12:42.960 the water would project his voice. 00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:44.560 Peter was fine with that. 00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:47.159 He was going to go out in the water with Jesus. 00:12:47.300 --> 00:12:48.120 That wasn't a big deal. 00:12:48.220 --> 00:12:48.420 Remember, 00:12:48.840 --> 00:12:50.659 his brother Andrew had been an early adopter. 00:12:50.879 --> 00:12:51.759 Andrew knew John the Baptist. 00:12:51.920 --> 00:12:52.639 He was aware of Jesus. 00:12:52.860 --> 00:12:53.060 So, 00:12:53.560 --> 00:12:54.820 Peter was connected in this way. 00:12:54.820 --> 00:12:57.820 And then Jesus performs this miracle for Peter, 00:12:57.879 --> 00:12:59.879 in which Peter had not been able to catch any fish. 00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:01.340 And suddenly, 00:13:01.480 --> 00:13:03.320 Jesus made it so that he caught so many fish, 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:04.000 his net broke. 00:13:05.680 --> 00:13:07.540 Do you remember what Peter does after that? 00:13:10.780 --> 00:13:11.840 He doesn't say, 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:12.980 wow, 00:13:13.019 --> 00:13:13.840 I really want to follow you, 00:13:13.899 --> 00:13:14.120 Jesus. 00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:16.860 Doesn't say, 00:13:17.060 --> 00:13:18.240 this man is very powerful. 00:13:18.540 --> 00:13:19.680 I want to be connected to him. 00:13:22.180 --> 00:13:23.080 Peter says, 00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:25.920 get as far away from me as you can. 00:13:27.800 --> 00:13:30.180 Because I am a sinful man. 00:13:34.220 --> 00:13:36.500 Peter did not choose Jesus. 00:13:38.180 --> 00:13:40.160 Jesus chose Peter. 00:13:41.840 --> 00:13:48.740 Peter has experienced everything that he is writing to these people about. 00:13:49.139 --> 00:13:51.860 He has experienced the fact that God chose him. 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:53.660 And so, 00:13:53.720 --> 00:13:59.200 the first thing that he reminds his readers of is that God has chosen them as well. 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:06.519 As we are looking and trying to make sense of all of this, 00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:10.080 Peter continues to tell to them the same thing that he knows. 00:14:10.139 --> 00:14:11.019 We are going to come back to exiles. 00:14:11.019 --> 00:14:11.319 In a minute, 00:14:11.379 --> 00:14:12.860 he tells them that God has chosen them. 00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:14.340 And then he tells them what that means. 00:14:15.199 --> 00:14:16.699 All these places that he mentions, 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:18.439 those are just places in Asia Minor. 00:14:19.100 --> 00:14:19.340 So, 00:14:19.399 --> 00:14:20.079 he is simply saying, 00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:20.259 hey, 00:14:20.340 --> 00:14:23.039 you all live in lots of different areas in modern day Turkey. 00:14:24.439 --> 00:14:26.279 And then he tells them about their choosing. 00:14:26.419 --> 00:14:29.019 This choosing happened according to the foreknowledge of God, 00:14:29.220 --> 00:14:30.519 in the sanctification of the Spirit, 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:31.980 for obedience to Jesus Christ, 00:14:32.059 --> 00:14:33.340 and for sprinkling with his blood. 00:14:33.340 --> 00:14:33.899 Now, 00:14:33.899 --> 00:14:36.420 for us, 00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:39.040 this might sound like a lot of technical theological language. 00:14:39.220 --> 00:14:39.740 For Peter, 00:14:39.820 --> 00:14:40.820 it was his story. 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:44.740 Peter is telling us what he experienced. 00:14:45.940 --> 00:14:46.940 Jesus chose him. 00:14:47.660 --> 00:14:48.040 Verse 2, 00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:49.820 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. 00:14:49.899 --> 00:14:50.320 In other words, 00:14:50.440 --> 00:14:54.000 Peter knows that it's not because of anything that he has done 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:56.320 that he belongs to God and has been chosen by God. 00:14:56.320 --> 00:15:00.820 He has walked with Jesus too long to think that. 00:15:03.640 --> 00:15:04.780 He is with Jesus, 00:15:04.900 --> 00:15:06.480 not because of his faithfulness, 00:15:06.560 --> 00:15:06.960 ultimately, 00:15:07.140 --> 00:15:08.620 but because of Jesus' faithfulness. 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:12.080 Not only has God chosen him, 00:15:12.160 --> 00:15:13.900 not only did Jesus choose him, 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:15.600 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, 00:15:15.680 --> 00:15:16.560 we're in verse 2 still, 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:18.820 but also in sanctification of the Spirit. 00:15:20.020 --> 00:15:22.420 Peter knows that following Jesus means 00:15:22.420 --> 00:15:25.040 that he's going to become more and more like Jesus. 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:27.000 That's what sanctification means. 00:15:27.079 --> 00:15:29.919 It's the process by which we become more and more like Jesus. 00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:34.059 Peter has become more and more like Jesus. 00:15:36.339 --> 00:15:39.699 This is someone who rebuked Jesus for talking about suffering 00:15:39.699 --> 00:15:42.519 and now is writing a letter about suffering. 00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:50.000 This is someone who didn't always know how to be diplomatic, 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:53.899 who's now a leader in God's church. 00:15:55.039 --> 00:15:59.779 Peter has experienced the process of having a real relationship with Jesus 00:15:59.779 --> 00:16:02.579 and he knows that because of his time with Jesus, 00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:04.059 Jesus has changed him. 00:16:05.339 --> 00:16:08.139 His story is what he's telling us about in verse 2 00:16:08.139 --> 00:16:10.059 and he knows that that story, 00:16:10.199 --> 00:16:10.740 that hope, 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:13.039 is the same thing that's offered to 00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:14.860 and is true of the people who are reading this. 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:17.620 They also need to know that they've been chosen by God. 00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:20.799 They need to know that if they have a relationship with Jesus, 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:22.399 a real one in the way that Peter did, 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:23.620 that God will change them. 00:16:23.939 --> 00:16:25.419 He will make them more like Jesus. 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:30.799 And then Peter also knows that his job and his story 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:32.659 is one of for obedience to Jesus Christ 00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:34.199 and for sprinkling with his blood. 00:16:36.439 --> 00:16:39.939 Peter's also famous for betraying Jesus the night that he died 00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:44.880 because he didn't want to suffer. 00:16:47.880 --> 00:16:50.860 Peter denied Jesus and claimed he didn't know him. 00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:55.740 And now he's writing this letter to people 00:16:55.740 --> 00:16:57.760 telling them to claim Jesus' name 00:16:57.760 --> 00:16:59.100 even when it leads to suffering. 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:02.060 And he has claimed Jesus' name 00:17:02.060 --> 00:17:03.200 and it's led to suffering. 00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:05.660 And so the sanctification, 00:17:05.840 --> 00:17:07.580 the change that Peter has experienced 00:17:07.580 --> 00:17:09.240 because of his relationship with Jesus 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:11.960 has led to obedience to Jesus Christ. 00:17:14.059 --> 00:17:16.140 Jesus has changed him in such a way 00:17:16.140 --> 00:17:18.660 that he obeys God more and more. 00:17:20.660 --> 00:17:22.120 In fact, Jesus commissioned him 00:17:22.120 --> 00:17:23.580 near the end of the Gospel of John 00:17:23.580 --> 00:17:24.480 and he tells Peter, 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:25.819 guess what, Peter? 00:17:25.880 --> 00:17:26.799 At the end of your life, 00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:29.360 you're going to have things happen to you 00:17:29.360 --> 00:17:30.220 that you don't want to happen 00:17:30.220 --> 00:17:32.799 and you're going to have people take you places 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:34.160 where you don't want to go. 00:17:37.420 --> 00:17:38.960 And finally, Peter knows 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:42.180 that all of this comes from sprinkling with Jesus' blood. 00:17:43.579 --> 00:17:47.660 Peter has not earned anything from God. 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:50.279 Jesus didn't choose Peter 00:17:50.279 --> 00:17:53.380 because he was the first round pick. 00:17:53.460 --> 00:17:55.039 He didn't choose him because he was the smartest. 00:17:55.600 --> 00:17:56.360 He didn't choose him 00:17:56.360 --> 00:17:58.240 because he got along better with people than others. 00:17:58.620 --> 00:17:59.720 He didn't choose Peter 00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:02.180 because of Peter's skill as a fisherman. 00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:04.120 In fact, we know that he wasn't able to catch any fish 00:18:04.120 --> 00:18:05.079 when Jesus came to him. 00:18:08.360 --> 00:18:10.519 Peter knows that it's God's grace 00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:12.839 that has made him a follower of Jesus. 00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:16.200 And he knows that this obedience is imperfect, 00:18:16.420 --> 00:18:18.779 that he has betrayed Jesus at points in his life 00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:20.259 and he hasn't always followed him perfectly, 00:18:20.539 --> 00:18:22.860 but it's Jesus' death and his resurrection 00:18:22.860 --> 00:18:25.360 that allows him to be chosen by God 00:18:25.360 --> 00:18:27.539 in the sanctification of the Spirit 00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:29.299 for obedience to Jesus Christ. 00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:34.360 Peter was the one who betrayed Jesus 00:18:34.360 --> 00:18:35.660 and claimed that he didn't know him. 00:18:36.620 --> 00:18:38.860 And after Jesus died and gave up his blood, 00:18:39.220 --> 00:18:41.220 Jesus came back and restored Peter. 00:18:43.380 --> 00:18:45.140 Peter's the one who got really ambitious 00:18:45.140 --> 00:18:47.720 and decided when Jesus was walking on the Sea of Galilee, 00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:50.539 the place where he had originally gone out with Jesus 00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:52.660 and Jesus had told him he wanted to be a fisher of men, 00:18:52.740 --> 00:18:54.819 that's the place where Jesus told Peter 00:18:54.819 --> 00:18:55.859 to come to him on the water 00:18:55.859 --> 00:18:57.659 and to walk on water with him. 00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:02.019 Peter knows that he took his eyes off Jesus 00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:03.159 and started to drown. 00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:05.799 He also knows 00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:09.819 that Jesus didn't take his eyes off him. 00:19:09.819 --> 00:19:17.500 Peter belongs to God 00:19:17.500 --> 00:19:19.299 and he's been chosen by God. 00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:22.480 And he writes to people in Asia Minor 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:23.879 who are feeling out of place in the world 00:19:23.879 --> 00:19:25.500 and facing opposition from the world 00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:27.819 to remind them that they have been chosen by God 00:19:27.819 --> 00:19:29.399 and they belong to God. 00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:33.460 And so if you are here this morning 00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:35.500 and you have faith in Christ, 00:19:35.600 --> 00:19:36.800 you're following after Jesus, 00:19:36.900 --> 00:19:38.500 you have a real relationship with Jesus 00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:40.000 in the way that Peter did, 00:19:40.560 --> 00:19:42.600 God has chosen you. 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:50.100 And God has chosen you in the way similarly, 00:19:50.360 --> 00:19:51.200 now not identical, right? 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:52.340 He's not chosen you as an apostle. 00:19:53.340 --> 00:19:54.660 I hate to break the news to you, 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:58.019 but he has chosen you similarly 00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:59.360 to the way he's called Peter. 00:20:00.360 --> 00:20:01.920 That is that he has called you 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:04.759 even though you are flawed 00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:07.500 and broken and sinful. 00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:10.040 Even though, like Peter, 00:20:10.120 --> 00:20:12.200 you can look back to places in your life 00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:13.180 where you've done things 00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:14.360 that you wish you could undo. 00:20:16.220 --> 00:20:19.240 Jesus has chosen you in that way. 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:22.920 And if he's chosen you just like Peter, 00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:24.840 you're going to become more and more like Jesus 00:20:24.840 --> 00:20:26.440 and it's going to result in obedience, 00:20:26.660 --> 00:20:27.680 but even that obedience 00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:29.560 does not take away your need 00:20:29.560 --> 00:20:32.039 for the sprinkling of Jesus' blood. 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:38.720 How do we make sense, 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:39.940 how do we think about 00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:42.380 a world in which we feel out of place? 00:20:42.380 --> 00:20:48.260 Peter doesn't begin by telling them, 00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:50.300 giving them a worldview analysis. 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:53.980 He doesn't break down what's wrong 00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:55.460 with the philosophies around them. 00:20:55.460 --> 00:21:00.799 He doesn't start with scandalous stories 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:03.039 about things that have happened to Christians. 00:21:05.140 --> 00:21:08.460 He doesn't start out with a list of do's and don'ts, 00:21:09.420 --> 00:21:11.799 reminding them of their responsibilities. 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:18.159 Instead, he starts out by reminding them, 00:21:18.399 --> 00:21:19.940 as you are living in this world, 00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:22.779 as you're seeking to be in the world 00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:23.519 but not of the world, 00:21:23.559 --> 00:21:25.339 and you want to represent Jesus to the world, 00:21:25.399 --> 00:21:26.839 the first thing you need to know 00:21:26.839 --> 00:21:28.799 is that God chose you. 00:21:30.579 --> 00:21:32.019 You're not here by accident. 00:21:33.619 --> 00:21:34.419 You are here. 00:21:34.539 --> 00:21:36.079 We are here in 2019, 00:21:36.579 --> 00:21:37.779 on September 1st, 00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:38.799 in Colorado Springs, 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:40.159 because God has chosen us 00:21:40.159 --> 00:21:41.500 and this is where he wants us to be. 00:21:45.940 --> 00:21:47.659 That's what they need to know 00:21:47.659 --> 00:21:49.799 more than anything else. 00:21:52.599 --> 00:21:53.919 That's what these people need 00:21:53.919 --> 00:21:55.559 to hear and understand. 00:21:57.319 --> 00:21:58.899 They need to know, like Peter, 00:21:59.319 --> 00:22:00.579 God's chosen them. 00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:03.299 And they need to know that, like Peter, 00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:04.879 when they take their eyes off Jesus, 00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:06.460 as one man has put it, 00:22:06.659 --> 00:22:08.759 Jesus doesn't take his eyes off them. 00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:15.159 If we're living in this world 00:22:15.159 --> 00:22:16.339 and we're facing opposition, 00:22:17.159 --> 00:22:19.139 if we have not decided 00:22:19.139 --> 00:22:20.779 and figured out that God has chosen us 00:22:20.779 --> 00:22:21.680 and we belong to him, 00:22:21.819 --> 00:22:22.839 nothing else matters. 00:22:25.180 --> 00:22:26.720 Our resolve doesn't matter. 00:22:28.919 --> 00:22:30.720 Our understanding of the flaws 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:32.079 of the world around us doesn't matter. 00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:33.779 Our ability to know and understand 00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:34.779 things that are happening 00:22:34.779 --> 00:22:35.960 in political systems 00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:37.919 and the ways that people might be working 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:39.460 to create opposition against Christians 00:22:39.460 --> 00:22:40.820 and the things that we need to think about 00:22:40.820 --> 00:22:41.200 and know, 00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:42.560 none of that matters 00:22:42.560 --> 00:22:44.900 unless we know that God has chosen us 00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:45.860 and we belong to him. 00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:49.680 Most letters in the New Testament 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:50.660 start out by saying, 00:22:50.840 --> 00:22:51.920 dear church or dear saints. 00:22:53.560 --> 00:22:54.480 Peter doesn't say, 00:22:54.620 --> 00:22:55.880 dear church or dear saints, 00:22:55.880 --> 00:22:57.080 because he knows these people 00:22:57.080 --> 00:22:58.160 need to hear something 00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:59.740 even more than that. 00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:05.500 Why is it that these people 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.740 need to know so desperately 00:23:06.740 --> 00:23:07.920 in ways that recipients 00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:08.660 of other letters 00:23:08.660 --> 00:23:09.420 in the New Testament 00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:10.240 don't need to know? 00:23:10.320 --> 00:23:11.519 Why do these people need to know 00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:12.200 so clearly 00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:13.480 at the very beginning 00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:14.620 that they are elect, 00:23:14.680 --> 00:23:15.820 that they belong to God? 00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:21.560 The reason that they need to know 00:23:21.560 --> 00:23:22.500 that they are elect 00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:23.980 is because they are also, 00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:25.040 verse one, 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:26.079 exiles. 00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:30.599 They need to know 00:23:30.599 --> 00:23:31.240 that they are elect 00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:33.119 because they are also exiles. 00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:34.519 Now we have to clear up this term exile 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:35.680 as we jump into it. 00:23:36.359 --> 00:23:37.859 This has a lot of confusion 00:23:37.859 --> 00:23:39.379 sometimes among Christians 00:23:39.379 --> 00:23:40.579 what it means to be an exile. 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:41.460 We don't just get to put 00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:42.599 all the meaning we want to 00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:43.180 onto this word. 00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:44.039 This word is talking about 00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:45.839 someone who does not have citizenship 00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:47.379 in the country that they live in. 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:49.200 Potentially someone 00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:50.480 who is of a different culture. 00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:51.259 Now some people 00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:52.159 will take this word exile 00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:54.040 and they'll apply it to 00:23:54.040 --> 00:23:55.600 the physical world, 00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:56.180 the creation. 00:23:57.600 --> 00:23:58.900 Peter here is talking about 00:23:58.900 --> 00:24:00.700 a social political exile. 00:24:01.380 --> 00:24:02.180 In other words, 00:24:03.400 --> 00:24:05.580 I'm not going to go on a hike 00:24:05.580 --> 00:24:07.180 up North Cheyenne Canyon 00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:08.000 and look out 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:09.320 on the beauty of the mountains 00:24:09.320 --> 00:24:10.880 and the glory of this city 00:24:10.880 --> 00:24:11.440 and say, 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:13.360 man, that is a great view. 00:24:15.100 --> 00:24:16.259 And it is so beautiful 00:24:16.259 --> 00:24:16.980 and God's the creator 00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:17.880 of the heaven and the earth. 00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:19.060 But you know what? 00:24:19.080 --> 00:24:19.580 I'm in exile 00:24:19.580 --> 00:24:20.400 and it's all going to burn. 00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:24.700 It is not that type of exile 00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:25.560 that he's talking about. 00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:26.480 He is talking about 00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:28.620 a social political exile. 00:24:29.580 --> 00:24:30.480 These people are living 00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:31.440 in a country, 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.340 in a world where 00:24:32.340 --> 00:24:34.019 those around them socially 00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:35.400 don't value the same things 00:24:35.400 --> 00:24:35.940 that they value 00:24:35.940 --> 00:24:36.900 and so this leads to them 00:24:36.900 --> 00:24:37.820 being ridiculed 00:24:37.820 --> 00:24:39.420 at the very least. 00:24:39.900 --> 00:24:40.880 Sometimes maybe they've lost 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:42.140 opportunities for jobs 00:24:42.140 --> 00:24:42.700 and employment. 00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:45.040 It's a political exile. 00:24:45.160 --> 00:24:46.360 The things that they value 00:24:46.360 --> 00:24:47.580 are different than the things 00:24:47.580 --> 00:24:48.060 that the government 00:24:48.060 --> 00:24:48.980 they're with values. 00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:50.160 And so there might be times 00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:50.920 where their values 00:24:50.920 --> 00:24:51.720 and the government's values 00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:52.740 come into conflict. 00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:55.700 So he wants them to know 00:24:55.700 --> 00:24:57.740 that they are also exiles. 00:24:57.839 --> 00:24:58.740 They should think of themselves 00:24:58.740 --> 00:24:59.240 that way. 00:24:59.319 --> 00:25:00.660 They should not be surprised 00:25:00.660 --> 00:25:02.220 when following Jesus 00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:03.259 results in opposition 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:03.920 in the world 00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:04.640 and from the world. 00:25:06.920 --> 00:25:07.960 They live in a world 00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:08.940 where they're not citizens. 00:25:09.860 --> 00:25:10.599 This might actually be 00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:11.220 literally true 00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:12.099 of some of the recipients, 00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:13.720 but Peter here is making 00:25:13.720 --> 00:25:14.779 a spiritual point for them 00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:15.660 that when they value 00:25:15.660 --> 00:25:16.759 the things that God values 00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:17.599 and they love the things 00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:18.259 that God loves, 00:25:18.339 --> 00:25:18.899 there are going to be 00:25:18.899 --> 00:25:20.119 many times and many places 00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:21.019 where they will feel 00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:22.799 out of place in this world 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.779 and it will lead 00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:25.159 to opposition and suffering. 00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:30.119 And just like Peter 00:25:30.119 --> 00:25:31.139 is telling his story 00:25:31.139 --> 00:25:31.959 with everything else, 00:25:32.059 --> 00:25:33.519 Peter is also knowing 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:34.299 his story here 00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:35.359 because Peter is someone 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:36.119 who has decided 00:25:36.119 --> 00:25:37.079 to suffer for 00:25:37.079 --> 00:25:38.179 and face opposition 00:25:38.179 --> 00:25:38.959 for Jesus 00:25:38.959 --> 00:25:40.079 because he loves him. 00:25:40.419 --> 00:25:41.459 He believes that everything 00:25:41.459 --> 00:25:42.379 that he's done is true. 00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:43.599 He's experienced the reality 00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:44.639 of Jesus' resurrection. 00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:47.400 And so he's willing, 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:48.860 even though he's someone 00:25:48.860 --> 00:25:49.720 who early in his life 00:25:49.720 --> 00:25:50.560 hated suffering 00:25:50.560 --> 00:25:51.420 and thought it had nothing 00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:52.280 to do with Christianity, 00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:53.500 he's willing to suffer 00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:55.060 for Jesus as an exile. 00:25:55.540 --> 00:25:56.340 And he writes as someone 00:25:56.340 --> 00:25:57.100 who's experienced 00:25:57.100 --> 00:25:57.880 four decades 00:25:57.880 --> 00:25:59.220 and has tremendous credibility. 00:25:59.460 --> 00:26:01.460 Peter has been in prison. 00:26:04.980 --> 00:26:06.200 Peter was in prison 00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:06.960 because of Jesus. 00:26:07.160 --> 00:26:08.440 Peter knows what it's like 00:26:08.440 --> 00:26:09.400 to be in exile. 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:13.320 Jesus told him, 00:26:13.380 --> 00:26:14.380 remember in the end of John, 00:26:14.380 --> 00:26:15.580 he was going to go places 00:26:15.580 --> 00:26:16.580 he did not want to go. 00:26:17.820 --> 00:26:18.480 And guess what? 00:26:19.840 --> 00:26:21.140 Peter went places 00:26:21.140 --> 00:26:22.340 he didn't want to go. 00:26:25.420 --> 00:26:26.580 And Peter did it 00:26:26.580 --> 00:26:27.660 because he knew 00:26:27.660 --> 00:26:29.560 that he was chosen by God 00:26:29.560 --> 00:26:31.600 and God loved him. 00:26:32.820 --> 00:26:34.160 God had changed him 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:36.540 and he also knew 00:26:36.540 --> 00:26:38.580 the future that awaited for him. 00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:44.259 We, like Peter, 00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:45.839 are chosen by God. 00:26:45.919 --> 00:26:46.720 We belong to God 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.720 if we have faith in Christ. 00:26:49.619 --> 00:26:50.779 We, like Peter, 00:26:50.859 --> 00:26:52.299 are also exiles 00:26:52.299 --> 00:26:53.919 if we have faith in Christ. 00:26:55.419 --> 00:26:56.399 There will be times 00:26:56.399 --> 00:26:57.259 when our values 00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:57.759 and the values 00:26:57.759 --> 00:26:58.539 of the world around us 00:26:58.539 --> 00:27:00.139 come into direct conflict. 00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:01.000 There will be times 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:01.740 when there are people 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:03.000 who misunderstand us 00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:04.519 and speak poorly about us 00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:05.319 because of the things 00:27:05.319 --> 00:27:06.519 that we believe and do. 00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:10.039 And so what's true 00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:10.700 of the recipients 00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:11.420 of this letter 00:27:11.420 --> 00:27:12.980 is true of us as well. 00:27:14.339 --> 00:27:15.299 It's true for us 00:27:15.299 --> 00:27:16.259 when we come up 00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:18.059 against materialism 00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:18.660 in this world 00:27:18.660 --> 00:27:21.519 and we know 00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:23.500 that God's plan for us 00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:24.359 is that we value 00:27:24.359 --> 00:27:26.319 people and communities 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:27.500 and trust in him 00:27:27.500 --> 00:27:28.160 over things. 00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:30.480 We're going to feel like 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.920 exiles in the world 00:27:31.920 --> 00:27:32.660 of consumerism. 00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:33.379 We're going to feel like 00:27:33.379 --> 00:27:34.279 exiles in the world 00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:35.160 of individualism. 00:27:37.379 --> 00:27:38.460 And we're also going 00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:39.680 to feel like exiles 00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:40.359 in a world 00:27:40.359 --> 00:27:41.500 of sexual anarchy. 00:27:46.379 --> 00:27:48.339 Peter's readers 00:27:48.339 --> 00:27:50.099 are going to hear 00:27:50.099 --> 00:27:50.960 about some of the things 00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:51.899 that they've had to give up 00:27:51.899 --> 00:27:52.960 and they're being slandered for. 00:27:55.899 --> 00:27:57.220 Now there's many things 00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:58.059 in this world 00:27:58.059 --> 00:28:00.039 that we feel like exiles for 00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:01.259 as we walk as Christians. 00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:04.440 And I don't want to elevate 00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:05.619 this above everything else 00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:06.400 but I do want to say 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:07.660 I know for many of you 00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:08.480 because I've talked with you 00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:09.460 many of you are facing 00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:11.379 the point of being in exile 00:28:11.379 --> 00:28:12.640 as you walk through this world 00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:13.640 and more and more 00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:15.420 what God has told us 00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:16.400 about how he's created us 00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:17.140 as men and women 00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:19.000 is less and less 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.720 honored and true 00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.259 in this world 00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:20.839 in this culture. 00:28:22.440 --> 00:28:23.700 And we have to navigate 00:28:23.700 --> 00:28:24.940 how it is that we're going 00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:25.680 to remain faithful 00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:26.579 to what we believe 00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:27.559 and also interact 00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:28.119 with those in the world 00:28:28.119 --> 00:28:28.660 around us. 00:28:28.660 --> 00:28:30.380 And it's something 00:28:30.380 --> 00:28:30.900 that we face 00:28:30.900 --> 00:28:31.960 where we have to think about 00:28:31.960 --> 00:28:32.820 and work through 00:28:32.820 --> 00:28:34.080 how are we going to engage 00:28:34.080 --> 00:28:35.060 that in our workplaces. 00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:37.220 Some of you actively 00:28:37.220 --> 00:28:37.700 right now 00:28:37.700 --> 00:28:38.519 more than a few of you 00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:39.279 are working through 00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:40.040 and thinking about 00:28:40.040 --> 00:28:41.220 what are you going to do 00:28:41.220 --> 00:28:41.860 with pronouns. 00:28:45.060 --> 00:28:45.820 And I'm not here 00:28:45.820 --> 00:28:46.900 to preach a political sermon 00:28:46.900 --> 00:28:47.180 to you. 00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:47.920 There's many ways 00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:49.040 in which we feel like exiles 00:28:49.040 --> 00:28:49.900 but I would be remiss 00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:50.759 to not say that 00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:52.519 that we as a Christian church 00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:53.200 right now 00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:54.720 are facing the reality 00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:55.840 of feeling like exiles 00:28:55.840 --> 00:28:56.440 in this world 00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:57.300 for many reasons 00:28:57.300 --> 00:28:58.279 and that is one of them. 00:28:58.660 --> 00:29:03.180 We're not the first Christians 00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:04.140 in the history of the world 00:29:04.140 --> 00:29:04.779 to feel that way. 00:29:07.620 --> 00:29:08.960 And we're not the first Christians 00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:09.840 in the history of the world 00:29:09.840 --> 00:29:11.019 to face those choices 00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:11.680 and those challenges. 00:29:11.860 --> 00:29:12.540 God knows. 00:29:12.900 --> 00:29:13.400 Peter knows. 00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:14.440 Peter's experienced it. 00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:15.800 His readers are experiencing it. 00:29:15.840 --> 00:29:16.740 And he's writing to them 00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:17.900 to encourage them 00:29:17.900 --> 00:29:18.560 and instruct them 00:29:18.560 --> 00:29:19.259 to give them hope. 00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:22.240 For many of you 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:23.120 becoming a Christian 00:29:23.120 --> 00:29:23.820 made your life 00:29:23.820 --> 00:29:24.620 not easier 00:29:24.620 --> 00:29:25.120 but harder. 00:29:25.119 --> 00:29:28.279 And for many of you 00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:29.019 if you're going to continue 00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:29.639 as a Christian 00:29:29.639 --> 00:29:30.759 it's going to make your life 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:31.439 not easier 00:29:31.439 --> 00:29:31.979 but harder. 00:29:34.639 --> 00:29:36.279 Peter begins this letter 00:29:36.279 --> 00:29:37.099 by reminding us 00:29:37.099 --> 00:29:37.879 of that fact 00:29:37.879 --> 00:29:40.479 that because we've been 00:29:40.479 --> 00:29:41.679 chosen by God 00:29:41.679 --> 00:29:43.939 we are exiles 00:29:43.939 --> 00:29:44.439 in the world. 00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.699 And we're exiles 00:29:47.699 --> 00:29:48.500 in this world 00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:49.199 because we've been 00:29:49.199 --> 00:29:50.099 chosen by God. 00:29:50.099 --> 00:29:52.319 And the only way 00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:53.240 that we're going to make it 00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:53.859 and survive 00:29:53.859 --> 00:29:54.839 as exiles 00:29:54.839 --> 00:29:55.319 the only way 00:29:55.319 --> 00:29:56.379 we're going to hold true 00:29:56.379 --> 00:29:58.740 is by knowing 00:29:58.740 --> 00:30:00.719 that God has chosen us 00:30:00.719 --> 00:30:01.899 and that he's our father. 00:30:05.439 --> 00:30:06.399 That's the hope 00:30:06.399 --> 00:30:07.879 that Peter holds out 00:30:07.879 --> 00:30:08.899 to his readers. 00:30:09.679 --> 00:30:10.419 He wants grace 00:30:10.419 --> 00:30:11.059 and peace 00:30:11.059 --> 00:30:12.319 to be multiplied to them. 00:30:13.099 --> 00:30:14.119 The same grace 00:30:14.119 --> 00:30:14.839 and peace 00:30:14.839 --> 00:30:16.000 that he has experienced. 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:20.940 It's when they know 00:30:20.940 --> 00:30:22.079 that they are elect 00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:24.480 that they can survive 00:30:24.480 --> 00:30:25.720 and live as exiles. 00:30:25.859 --> 00:30:26.920 And so this is an introduction 00:30:26.920 --> 00:30:28.960 to the entire book. 00:30:30.880 --> 00:30:31.539 Peter's going to end 00:30:31.539 --> 00:30:32.119 this book 00:30:32.119 --> 00:30:34.359 with a final command 00:30:34.359 --> 00:30:35.200 and a final word. 00:30:36.119 --> 00:30:36.839 You know how I feel 00:30:36.839 --> 00:30:37.339 about beginnings 00:30:37.339 --> 00:30:38.079 and endings of books. 00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:38.839 This is the beginning. 00:30:39.339 --> 00:30:39.779 I'm going to give you 00:30:39.779 --> 00:30:41.259 a spoiler alert. 00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:42.359 Peter's going to end 00:30:42.359 --> 00:30:43.259 with one final command. 00:30:43.380 --> 00:30:43.859 He's going to say 00:30:43.859 --> 00:30:44.819 I've written all these things 00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:45.220 to you 00:30:45.220 --> 00:30:47.100 and I've exhorted you 00:30:47.100 --> 00:30:47.920 and I've declared to you 00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:48.980 that this is the true grace 00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:49.440 of God. 00:30:50.680 --> 00:30:52.019 So stand firm in it. 00:30:54.819 --> 00:30:55.980 Peter now is telling us 00:30:55.980 --> 00:30:56.839 those same two things 00:30:56.839 --> 00:30:57.319 at the beginning. 00:30:57.460 --> 00:30:58.600 This is the true grace of God. 00:30:58.700 --> 00:30:59.480 God has chosen you. 00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:01.120 He's chosen you 00:31:01.120 --> 00:31:02.100 in the foreknowledge 00:31:02.100 --> 00:31:02.720 of God the Father 00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:03.380 and the sanctification 00:31:03.380 --> 00:31:03.980 of the Spirit 00:31:03.980 --> 00:31:04.559 for obedience 00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:05.319 to Jesus Christ 00:31:05.319 --> 00:31:06.039 and for sprinkling 00:31:06.039 --> 00:31:06.660 with his blood. 00:31:07.620 --> 00:31:08.640 But you're in exile 00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:10.839 so stand firm. 00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:19.240 about 10 years ago 00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:19.559 I think it was 00:31:19.559 --> 00:31:22.259 the summer of 2010 00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:25.640 I was at a church picnic 00:31:25.640 --> 00:31:27.460 a different church 00:31:27.460 --> 00:31:27.900 in a different part 00:31:27.900 --> 00:31:28.299 of the country 00:31:28.299 --> 00:31:30.779 and I didn't go 00:31:30.779 --> 00:31:31.380 into this picnic 00:31:31.380 --> 00:31:31.980 thinking that there 00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:32.480 would be a moment 00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:33.019 that I'd remember 00:31:33.019 --> 00:31:33.779 forever from it. 00:31:34.220 --> 00:31:35.140 Just a pool party. 00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:36.640 This is at a neighborhood pool 00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:37.660 and we would do this 00:31:37.660 --> 00:31:38.160 several times 00:31:38.160 --> 00:31:38.680 throughout the summer 00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:39.259 as a church. 00:31:40.900 --> 00:31:41.360 And of course 00:31:41.360 --> 00:31:42.279 I would be remiss 00:31:42.279 --> 00:31:42.980 not to go in the pool 00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:43.600 but I don't really know 00:31:43.599 --> 00:31:44.079 what I'm doing 00:31:44.079 --> 00:31:45.799 so if you're on the diving board 00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:46.639 and you're not experienced 00:31:46.639 --> 00:31:47.959 or skilled like me 00:31:47.959 --> 00:31:49.219 you've got one 00:31:49.219 --> 00:31:50.399 or two classic plays. 00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:51.259 You've got the cannonball. 00:31:52.799 --> 00:31:53.899 It's tried and true. 00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:54.519 Very faithful. 00:31:55.679 --> 00:31:56.179 You do kind of 00:31:56.179 --> 00:31:56.939 a scissors thing 00:31:56.939 --> 00:31:57.779 where you drop in 00:31:57.779 --> 00:31:59.019 and you just go down. 00:31:59.699 --> 00:32:00.619 That was all I had 00:32:00.619 --> 00:32:01.079 in my repertoire. 00:32:02.539 --> 00:32:03.419 But there was one point 00:32:03.419 --> 00:32:03.839 where I decided 00:32:03.839 --> 00:32:05.000 okay this is my time. 00:32:05.179 --> 00:32:05.819 I need to get up. 00:32:05.899 --> 00:32:07.399 I need to go do this. 00:32:07.459 --> 00:32:08.419 I need to hit the diving board 00:32:08.419 --> 00:32:09.179 at some point. 00:32:10.399 --> 00:32:11.119 And so I came through 00:32:11.119 --> 00:32:11.759 a few times 00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:13.660 and I noticed 00:32:13.660 --> 00:32:14.539 as I was going through 00:32:14.539 --> 00:32:15.279 that there was this girl 00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:16.420 standing by the fence 00:32:16.420 --> 00:32:16.960 by the pool 00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:18.400 behind the diving boards 00:32:18.400 --> 00:32:19.180 and she was in line 00:32:19.180 --> 00:32:21.019 and these boys 00:32:21.019 --> 00:32:21.879 kept skipping her. 00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:23.680 So they would jump 00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:24.180 in front of her. 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:24.700 They didn't care 00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:25.599 that she was in line. 00:32:26.240 --> 00:32:27.059 They'd just run on. 00:32:27.119 --> 00:32:27.599 They'd go on 00:32:27.599 --> 00:32:28.440 and they'd probably do 00:32:28.440 --> 00:32:29.359 something fancier 00:32:29.359 --> 00:32:30.059 than a cannonball. 00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:33.019 And she was just 00:32:33.019 --> 00:32:33.500 sitting there. 00:32:34.339 --> 00:32:35.420 She wasn't doing anything. 00:32:35.700 --> 00:32:36.980 She wasn't interfering. 00:32:37.180 --> 00:32:37.559 She wasn't saying 00:32:37.559 --> 00:32:38.619 hey this really isn't fair. 00:32:38.680 --> 00:32:39.000 You shouldn't be 00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:39.740 skipping me like that. 00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:42.359 She was also the daughter 00:32:42.359 --> 00:32:43.740 of the pastor of the church 00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:45.759 and so I went up to her 00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:46.680 and I was just messing with her. 00:32:47.319 --> 00:32:47.700 I said 00:32:47.700 --> 00:32:49.180 she was probably six or seven. 00:32:49.539 --> 00:32:50.140 I said Caroline 00:32:50.140 --> 00:32:51.799 you can't let them 00:32:51.799 --> 00:32:52.720 treat you like this. 00:32:52.859 --> 00:32:53.460 I mean they're jumping 00:32:53.460 --> 00:32:54.200 ahead of you. 00:32:54.599 --> 00:32:55.880 They're butting you in line. 00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:56.539 You've been waiting 00:32:56.539 --> 00:32:57.339 here patiently. 00:32:57.920 --> 00:32:58.500 Here you are 00:32:58.500 --> 00:32:59.079 you're just letting them 00:32:59.079 --> 00:32:59.599 do their thing. 00:32:59.680 --> 00:33:00.940 You can't do that. 00:33:02.539 --> 00:33:03.039 And then I said 00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:04.700 your dad 00:33:04.700 --> 00:33:06.759 your dad is the pastor. 00:33:06.759 --> 00:33:10.940 Now I'm not saying 00:33:10.940 --> 00:33:11.619 that pastor's kids 00:33:11.619 --> 00:33:12.160 should be able to do 00:33:12.160 --> 00:33:12.799 whatever they want. 00:33:13.599 --> 00:33:14.500 I could say that 00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:15.220 since I don't have kids. 00:33:17.079 --> 00:33:18.339 And she surprised me. 00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:19.400 She just looked at me 00:33:19.400 --> 00:33:21.440 and she smiled 00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:24.119 and she said 00:33:24.119 --> 00:33:26.779 I know. 00:33:28.099 --> 00:33:28.799 I know. 00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:34.159 Brothers and sisters 00:33:34.159 --> 00:33:36.960 when we know 00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:37.779 that God 00:33:37.779 --> 00:33:39.579 is our father 00:33:39.579 --> 00:33:45.440 and that he has chosen us 00:33:45.440 --> 00:33:47.659 and that we belong to him 00:33:47.659 --> 00:33:50.839 we can walk in obedience 00:33:50.839 --> 00:33:51.779 in this world 00:33:51.779 --> 00:33:52.680 even when it's hard. 00:33:54.319 --> 00:33:55.599 And when we know 00:33:55.599 --> 00:33:57.099 that God is our father 00:33:57.099 --> 00:33:58.379 and we belong to him 00:33:58.380 --> 00:34:00.180 when we face 00:34:00.180 --> 00:34:01.340 suffering and opposition 00:34:01.340 --> 00:34:03.060 when we face 00:34:03.060 --> 00:34:04.060 those who treat us 00:34:04.060 --> 00:34:05.240 in ways that they shouldn't 00:34:05.240 --> 00:34:07.740 we're able to smile 00:34:07.740 --> 00:34:09.180 and have hope and joy 00:34:09.180 --> 00:34:11.440 because we know 00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:12.860 who our father is. 00:34:13.900 --> 00:34:15.260 We can live 00:34:15.260 --> 00:34:16.340 as exiles 00:34:16.340 --> 00:34:17.900 because we are elect 00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:19.180 because we're chosen. 00:34:21.140 --> 00:34:22.420 Please pray with me. 00:34:25.460 --> 00:34:26.820 Dear father in heaven 00:34:26.820 --> 00:34:28.140 we thank you 00:34:28.140 --> 00:34:28.920 for the joy 00:34:28.920 --> 00:34:30.160 and the privilege 00:34:30.160 --> 00:34:31.440 of belonging to you. 00:34:32.620 --> 00:34:33.280 We confess 00:34:33.280 --> 00:34:34.240 that we haven't earned it 00:34:34.240 --> 00:34:35.120 we don't deserve it 00:34:35.120 --> 00:34:36.240 but it's something 00:34:36.240 --> 00:34:36.940 that you've done 00:34:36.940 --> 00:34:37.820 for us. 00:34:38.860 --> 00:34:39.400 And so we ask 00:34:39.400 --> 00:34:40.039 that you'd remind us 00:34:40.039 --> 00:34:40.300 of that. 00:34:40.400 --> 00:34:40.940 You'd remind us 00:34:40.940 --> 00:34:41.559 of your choice 00:34:41.559 --> 00:34:42.600 that you delight in us 00:34:42.600 --> 00:34:43.360 that you've chosen us 00:34:43.360 --> 00:34:44.080 that you love us. 00:34:45.120 --> 00:34:45.780 And we ask 00:34:45.780 --> 00:34:46.480 that you would use 00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:47.539 that to help us 00:34:47.539 --> 00:34:48.340 that like Peter 00:34:48.340 --> 00:34:49.000 we would keep 00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:50.140 following after you 00:34:50.140 --> 00:34:51.420 even when we fail 00:34:51.420 --> 00:34:52.220 and make mistakes 00:34:52.220 --> 00:34:53.480 knowing that your blood 00:34:53.480 --> 00:34:54.539 that sprinkles us 00:34:54.539 --> 00:34:55.099 through Jesus 00:34:55.099 --> 00:34:55.779 is enough. 00:34:56.860 --> 00:34:57.639 And that you'd give us 00:34:57.639 --> 00:34:58.659 everything we need 00:34:58.659 --> 00:34:59.139 to know 00:34:59.139 --> 00:35:00.679 to walk as exiles 00:35:00.679 --> 00:35:01.239 in this world 00:35:01.239 --> 00:35:02.059 faithful to you 00:35:02.059 --> 00:35:02.739 and loving you. 00:35:03.759 --> 00:35:04.519 We thank you 00:35:04.519 --> 00:35:05.099 that like Peter 00:35:05.099 --> 00:35:06.420 we don't have to earn this 00:35:06.420 --> 00:35:07.059 or deserve this 00:35:07.059 --> 00:35:08.039 but Jesus has done it 00:35:08.039 --> 00:35:08.420 for us 00:35:08.420 --> 00:35:09.480 and so we ask it 00:35:09.480 --> 00:35:10.079 in his name. 00:35:10.739 --> 00:35:10.980 Amen. 00:35:10.980 --> 00:35:11.059 Amen.