Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves with fear during the time of your temporary residence, because you know that you were redeemed from your futile way of life inherited from your ancestors not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb who was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has been revealed in these last times for you who through him are believing in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for sincere brotherly love, love one another fervently from the heart, because you have been born again, not from perishable seed but imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Peter 1:17-23)

This is Peter’s first letter. It was written in Rome when Nero was emperor, probably around 62-63 AD. James was the leader of the Jerusalem church. Peter was the main preacher. His letters reached out to all the Jews and converts that he didn’t see face to face. There was severe backlash against believers in Jesus and Peter was writing to them to give them comfort and hope. The hope in Jesus that is the strength of a believer. Jesus is THE role model for all who are suffering and needing to endure. Holiness and righteousness is the goal of all believers and when the path to being like Jesus gets difficult, we are not to depart from it. This is the theme throughout scripture – and Peter quotes the Old Covenant in his letter to show it. He has a focus on the daily grace that is available to us all. The origins of suffering in the world is sin. God’s grace sees us through that even as His mercy and sacrifice cleansed us from it. We’re not OF the world, but we are still IN the world and we have to endure until the world itself is renewed like we were. The world is like a toddler being sent unwillingly to bed. It’s kicking and screaming and we need to endure until Jesus returns and renews all things.

Chapter one is Peter’s greetings to his audience and his reminder that Jesus is our living hope. Jesus saved us, redeemed us, and made us new in Himself. Because of that, we have a calling to live holy lives. Not in our own strength, but by resting in Jesus. By walking away from all the immorality and ungodly things of life and trusting in Jesus with our thoughts, actions, and words. We need to guard our minds and keep our focus on Jesus.

Chapter two explains why. Jesus is the cornerstone of our trust. The cornerstone of our lives. He is holding up the Kingdom and all things. He is the rock on which we can build our lives. Jesus took our sin into His body, bore it to the execution tree, and died there with it inside Himself so that we could be free of it. So that we could be healed – body, soul, and spirit. We were lost and fending for ourselves, but now we have a Shepherd to guide us. Jesus didn’t overthrow governments by force and fire. He submitted to them. We have processes in place to change what we don’t like (voting, for example). If the order of the government is not ungodly, there is no reason not to submit to human authority (obeying the laws like paying taxes, not speeding, or stealing, etc).

Chapter three is the example of submission (not control or domination) in a marriage. Husbands to wives and wives to husbands. Outer things are not supposed to give us our worth, but inner things. It isn’t that outer things (clothing, jewellery, hairstyles, makeup, etc) are bad in and of themselves, but they aren’t what give you your WORTH. We need to invest in Jesus in our marriages and treat each other like Him, submitting to God’s chain of command even as we seek to help each other, support each other, and work together as equals to build something holy and that gives glory to God. We do this by following God’s example to LOVE EACH OTHER. Doing good to one another, not evil. Not lying or being deceitful – in life, not just in our marriages. Doing that is good and right at all times to all people. This is how Jesus lived and we see it throughout the gospel books.

Chapter four points out that we shouldn’t be surprised when ordeals come against us. The devil and the world are always testing us hoping to see us fail so that they can scream from the hilltops about how it doesn’t work in order to salve their own guilty consciences. When we are attacked for believing in Jesus, we should rejoice that we are being such a good example of Jesus’ love and life. It does NOT make the experience pleasant, but it helps us endure the mocking and persecution. We are to be good stewards of God’s grace. The world will always be surprised we are choosing not to live like them and on their level. We’re to ignore their shock and outrage, entrust ourselves to God, and live as godly examples by DEED.

Chapter five is an exhortation to comfort each other in times of persecution. For the elders to be good examples and leaders. For the younger not to mock the elders, but to both receive their comfort and honour them. Peter warns that the devil walks around roaring to see who he can separate from the flock and devour. But we can support each other, keep panic at bay by securing ourselves in Jesus, and ignore the roars for what they are. Peter closes with his final greetings and a blessing.

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Peter

Key Verse(s): 1 Peter 1:2-12; 2:11-17; 3:8-22; 4:7-11; 5:5