Introduction to First Peter (Part C)

So let me ask you Christians when you heard Jesus first speak to you. You remember your number at any point in your life that is spoken to you.

Are you ready to give that up for anything better not be computer was not heard. The sermons he saw the miracles but it was the character of the man Jesus Christ to move Peter the most everybody else to the love. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston.

Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of first Peter, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching today.

Pastor Rick continues introducing the book of first Peter in first Peter chapter 1 Jesus named him a rock petro's immovable rock but not a small rock that's a different Greek word Peter will use the different of the other word of life, loss when he speaks about the living stones. But Jesus named him immovable rock.

In contrast to Petra the massive rock immovable rock to get these three Greek words of a rock that were working with Petrus for the movable rock this large life loss for the smaller rock like gems or stones on the ground of these rocks would cry out to me that was that word in the Greek used by Matthew. For example, and then Petra for the massive rock verse barred me.

John's Gospel there we find it. Peter's brother brought him to Jesus Christ literally brought him to Jesus Christ today when we meet some of the guys was a well he led me to Christ, but Andrew physically takes Peter to Jesus Christ John's gospel chapter 1 verse 41, he found his own brother Simon that's again the Greek for Simeon. The Hebrew name and said to him, we found the Messiah, which is translated, the Christ, the Hebrew word for Christ as Messiah. The Greek word for Messiah is Christ anointed as our English word, but he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus looked at him. He said you are Simon son of Jonah. You shall be called safest which is translated stone" what's with the safest thing that's aromatic. And so when the writers of the New Testament put their stylist to parchment date. These use the Greek language and that word for safest. They use the Greek word Petrus to interpret what Jesus meant is not a rock like Jesus but is a rock. Nonetheless, and Peter, of course, was a it is an interesting story of a man named Barack who had moments in his life where he was movable but overall it was not.

He was everything that Christ said he would be. So he wore that name. He wore it with honor.

He starts out this letter. Petrus Christ called me that and I'm not letting go and apostle.

Why is this important authority. Authority submission to it does not come easily. Many people look for an opportunity to find problems with authority just so they can rebel against it.

Make themselves feel that I did something today but can't get away from it and in Christ, especially the church was built on the testimony and the blood of the apostles and the prophets. Ephesians chapter 2 verse 19 the household of God. In verse 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, the household of God, you belong to it or are you an outsider look you church built by these men because God did it that way. Just like the Old Testament was built by the prophets and the kings and the priest and the people of God. He saw Jesus raised no less than three people from the dead and then himself.

Yeah, I know the Bible says God the father owes him with the Godhead is one you just not going to divide the many kind where you turn it, the Godhead is manifested to us to help us get an idea of what's going on and just how thorough God's knowledge of us is in his coming to earth as a babe born in a manger and then living through this life, but virtuous nonetheless. Less is educational for us, so that when we see him in the wilderness and he doesn't budge an inch to Satan. We understand no one can withstand a face-to-face assault of temptation from Satan on their own. He did because he's not like anybody else is the creator of the universe. Peter saw these people dead.

Then he saw them alive simply because of Jesus Christ. Those who scoff at these things are themselves scoffed at by God I guzzle you kidding me. I put the sun up there the moon into got the blue pant planner that does run perfectly in the universe. Nothing slams into it to kill it and you scoff at the fact that I can bring a life back in my supposed to honor that my supposed to be impressed with some credential you made up we who believe we fall. Then at the feet of the one who does these things. Like Peter did know when Peter saw Jesus do his first miracle in order Peter to be filled out a dispute should depart from me-I am not a righteous man.

I can handle this. Thank God the Lord did not listen to Peter so he saw also the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ Greek words metamorphosis we get our rings were metamorphosis metamorphosis changed the radiance splendor of Christ was upon him in the in front of the eyes of those three men there were there on the Mount of Transfiguration somewhere in the promised land is unspecified and good because somebody would've put the art of monist to prepare for something of you another opportunity to commit idolatry, but that elevated appearance of Jesus Christ never forgot it been going to talk about it in his letters, Peter never forgot these things and he didn't start around boasting about them pages laid them out as they needed when they needed to be said. He brought them forward, but he has so many other things to say because of God working in him. He saw Jesus walking on water in a storm, carrying an elephant know he did with no relevant what he could've got up I mean affected walk on water. Do you need anything else fact that it was in a storm to save and stood talking and passing them on the boat.

Peter saw that he wasn't going to give it up for themselves. So let me ask you Christians when you heard Jesus first speak to you. You remember your number at any point in your life that he has spoken to you.

Are you ready to give that up for anything you better not be. Peter was not he heard the sermons he saw the miracles but it was the character of the man Jesus Christ and move Peter the most, and everybody else to the love. That's why on that day when Malka's dad reach out to arrest Christ Peter try to cut his head off. Fortunately for Malka's Peter was a poor aim and he only got the ear as he wasn't aiming for the year is a minute cut his head open.

That was brave love, but it was foolish love, because Christ already laid out to them what was going to happen and what was supposed to happen this man personally knew Christ in human form and he was handpicked and set out with authority.

So he says Peter and apostle of Jesus Christ, I was there I was chosen. I'm here now and I am working half of the kingdom. For these pilgrims at his next word here in verse one strangers you could translate that way to those traveling through not going to be here long as passing through have a destination to go to first Peter chapter 2 verse 11 beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lust with war against the soul. What is that mean war against the soul wants to take you to hell, that's what it means everything that God is working in you, the flesh will try to work against us. That's the curse that is upon us. But the blessing is the filling of the spirit he speaks of the dispersion by the Diaspora in the Greek and mostly Francis and James chapter 1 it is used speaks of the Jews that were scattered about the Roman Empire. Many of the Jews after the Babylonian captivity had no interest in going back to the promised land. They learn to be merchants and and and they were referring that lifestyle over the lifestyle and the promised land and they went around and found a bunch of Gentiles sell things too and they live pretty well nothing necessarily wrong with any of that but they were known as those of the dispersion the Diaspora well by the time the church at this time in history 64 A.D. the Gentiles are just flooding into the church. Now the coming down a pagan is made when they heard the gospel so many ups and you want done with that stuff. I want I want Christ and this large area Pontus glacier K Asia Bithynia. This huge deficit.

It's about 1/3 of modern-day Turkey. Peter is using it more than likely to believers throughout the Roman Empire because of you and you look at the letter at mama Miyazaki's writing to Jews in the next year and trying to Gentiles is writing both and is using a language that they both understand because it's attached to the Old Testament and by then, and that the description of the New Testament Scripture was still being formed at this time. So the Old Testament was the dominant document until the letters of Paul Sutter circulating in James these and the Christians would read these things in the spirit would let them know this is Scripture. This is something to preserve. These are words to follow because they come from those whom I have sent my apostles and or/those under the authority of the apostles such as Jude and Luke.

For example, in so. Pontus glacier could go Q, Asia, and Bithynia. As I mentioned a very large area in the ancient world in the book of acts at the day of Pentecost when the church was born.

The Holy Spirit was given to the believers.

We read in acts chapter 2 that there were those the airport.

Finian's Medes LMI rights, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Q Pontus and Asia, sub Q punches and Q can be pronounced Ago. She but I'm going with Q Pontus, another place mentioned on the Black Sea. So as Q goes that far to the north.

Also, Pontus goes there acquittal.

I remember Cuyler and Priscilla those who are Bible students that dear couple that even saved Paul's neck at one point very loyal couple to Paul and he never forgot them. He ended up calling Priscilla called his wife. You know Prisco sort of a distal term of affection, of honest love. Well, her husband acquittal he was from Pontus. Acts chapter 18 verse two and he found a certain Jew named Cuyler born in Pontus, then Q that is a region arose very beautiful and the Christians so much rock there. The Christians hewed out of the stone, all sorts of places to live in hideout, especially in the seventh through the 13th centuries during the Muslim aggression invasion against them is that's where they would go read in acts chapter 16 verse seven. After they had come to my seer. They tried to go to Bithynia, but the spirit did not permit them. So when God Paul and Barnabas wanted to go to Bithynia.

They realize that God didn't want them to go so they didn't go unlike so many today I'm going anyway.

Aside from this is where I feel like you need to go and they don't have the leading of the Spirit compartment.

I'm glad you can see that slow motion. Well anyway, Bithynia is another area that wasn't for Paul but it was for other men. And now here's Peter ministering there in verse two.

Now he says elect according to the foreknowledge of God the father and sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of blood of the blood of Jesus Christ and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace be multiplied as one ticket word for knowledge just for a moment and then I'll come back to it. Everything with God's foreknowledge may not with us, but when they know that all is not only does he know really know what to do with it all even has a place to put it so many Christians get so tangled up by words that they end up abusing them and departing from the simplicity of their meaning.

So let's try to open us up the elect. Anyone who turns to Christ for salvation according to the plan of the gospel is elected to salvation. Elections are based on decisions and decisions. Ideally, based on information gospel is preached, you make a decision I elect to follow Christ, then Christ will elect to let you be saved is not complicated. Earlier in Scripture, it was your turn used almost always for the Jews. The elect people of God. But once the Christians came along it was expanded and nano also restricted in many areas.

You don't just go to heaven because you're born Jewish anymore than you go to heaven just because you're born in a Christian all you have to come personally, God is elected to salvation. Those who accept his plan.

That's what it means salvation is impossible for any who resist or insist on resisting God's invitation those rebelling are not elected those who decline the invitation they are not elected, they are not part of the elect and those of the theory of hole. They confuse the meaning of such a simple word so it's not who so ever wills to come to Christ. But whoever whosoever wills the come to Christ and stay with Christ and I love that about the gospel, because it is real. It is God treats us with an element of respect I'm going to respect your decision.

What's it going to be, will it remain that way when tested and persecution again. Peter at one point he cracked but he didn't do it a second time loving Jesus is a choice. It's up to you like it or not. Revelation chapter 22 verse 17 in the Spirit and the bride say, come let him who hears say, come let him who thirst come whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely and you got the parcels masterminds a come along today doesn't mean that that is no such thing as free will and come salvation, but you have it everywhere else in Gloria's when Iris got a steak you want, but I want to come to salvage his madness already spent too much time on that and she should see what I could on my notes and Calvinists on this and I just come on, you've grown now, your mature well the lodge is irritating because so many people mess up the simple things in Scripture to the foreknowledge of God the father again. God is always had a plan is not learning of figuring out as he goes along, he just nothing knows it is done for him. Airlines they don't have any say so, who wants to fly on their planes. They do have a say so who is allowed to find another word you can say what I want to fly all airlines. I know out extinct PTP TWA Pan Am Eastern it gone so I don't know big well airlines you might want to fly an airplane. All right, well that's you go get a ticket.

They know you will fly it in force you to fly to get the ticket if you are or if you are a hostile individual, they can prohibit you from flying. We understand the simple law of life, and it applies to the gospel. If you don't want to fly, then don't. You won't but if you do it's there for you. Revelation 3 verse five he who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the book of life, but I will confess his name before my father before his angels were flying to heaven. You better go with Christ airlines and if you go with Christ airlines behave yourself. According to the plan of salvation you're is that not fair. Why would anybody object to that God the father and sanctification of the Spirit, he says, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ for the Godhead is in this one sentence God the father sanctification of the Spirit blood of Jesus Christ is such an important event that all of God is into this and no part of God is disinterested in our salvation.

No angels are in this list are no human beings know of no created being is in that list. Mary's not in that list just the father son and the Holy Spirit. They make up what we know to be the Godhead also called the Trinity the will of the father. The process of the spirit. The cross of Christ justification the salvation that that word you find it enroll in your Bibles in the Roman letter it salvation is an interesting word from second Samuel, concerning God's behavior towards those who are problematic, he devises means so that he is banished ones are not expelled from him.

Second Samuel chapter 14 verse 14. This the woman of two: she's laying out a story with the Holy Spirit takes a snapshot of that statement and says that's what God does, he devises means so that his banished ones are not expelled from him. He makes a way for the lost soul. The center of the disobedient one to be rescued.

Once want to say. Sanctification takes hold their Savior set aside.

It is a lifelong process of development to be like Christ and then glorification is the final destination.

That's heaven first Peter chapter 1 verse four to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled. It does not fade away, reserved for you in heaven. We are almost done. He says for obedience. Why do so many Christians find that world obedience so distasteful and want to hear it preached and wanted to be held accountable for what you got upset for disobedience were safer disobedient were safe so that you can rent the place, not at all. Obedience is something we all want first Peter chapter 2 verse 16 as free as what we are yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bond servants of God upon serve as a willing servant. I am his servant.

I am his slave because I want to be and he allows me to be the sprinkling of the blood of Christ that came through the death of Christ as a Judaic picture goes back to the book of numbers. Peter's audience would grab this right away, they would see that the wood was written in the law of Moses was a and anticipated the coming of Jesus Christ. Exodus 24 and Moses took the blood sprinkled on the people and said this is the blood of the covenant of Yahweh she made with you, according to all these words.

Jeremiah then makes commentary on that many centuries later, he says behold is coming, says Yahweh when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel with the house of Judah. So the longer the sprinkling of the blood as a symbol of the fact to come, but the actual fact the cross of Christ.

The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. This is grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Peter knew grace in the midst of persecution. Acts chapter 12 is when they kill James with the sword. James was Peter's friend. The first apostle to be killed to be murdered and monitored read in verse three about Herod's action because he saw that it please the Jews. He proceeded further to seize. Peter also Peter knew he was going to died in the winter, maybe thought when I was my time then verse six and when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers and the guards before the door were keeping the prison for four. The two men estimate other guards outside and he's fast asleep.

He wasn't bothered is persecuted in know what was going to have meeting care so any rights to these Christians I know what you going through a been there myself. You're facing death, defacing beatings, your bank books are being attacked, being fired.

I know what's happening your families being messed with. I understand at the end of this letter and the software with close the end of this letter.

Peter writes I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God with you in which you stand your stand in this what I've been writing to you about facing persecution, you remain faithful to Jesus Christ. This life is not all that righteous would say amen we are so glad you tuned in today to study the book of first Peter on cross reference radio cross reference radio is the daily radio ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia, and we are blessed to bring you God's word with each broadcast. If you'd like more information about this program or want to listen to additional teachings from Pastor Rick please visit our website cross reference radio.com.

We also encourage you to subscribe to our podcast so you'll never have to miss a program. Just search for cross reference radio iTunes Google play music or your favorite podcast.

We hope you tuned in again next time to join us as we continue our study through the Scriptures right here on cross reference radio