Crossroads' youth group, Foundations, began a study of the book of 1 Peter last night at their biweekly Bible study ("biweekly" meaning every two weeks, somehow it means both "every two weeks" AND "twice a week" in the dictionary...go figure). Kyle Ruggles is heading up this ministry, and it's a privilege and pleasure to serve with him.
He gave us a little background of the environment in which Peter was writing this letter: Nero had burned Rome to the ground in order to make room in the city for him to build his legacy (literally, to build buildings, structures, monuments, etc. that people would "ooh" and "aah" over), and he's gone and blamed the Christians for it!! Naturally, these Christians would be encountering some significant persecution, both from Nero, and from other Romans, and Peter is writing to encourage and instruct them.
He states his purpose and theme of the book in his final greeting:
"By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him,
I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring
That this is the true grace of God.
Stand firm in it." (5:12)
Kyle then talked to us about his initial greeting in verses 1 and 2. Immediately we encounter the word "elect" which necessitates at least some discussion on predestination. Kyle was thankfully honest about the fact that we were not going to solve this centuries old debate at our hour-and-a-half Bible study, and he briefly explained the seemingly opposing ideas of predestination and free-will, and the reality that because God's ways and thoughts are so much higher than ours, that in his perfect will and plan, these things somehow work together, and better display his glory.
Verse 2 describes the process of salvation, that God foreknew those who would be his children, sprinkled them with the blood of Jesus Christ, and sanctifies them through the Spirit. He then gives his customary: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Kyle then asked the big questions: Do we have peace? Are we at peace with God?
The Roman Christians were struggling to keep their faith alive, and no doubt they went through periods where they lacked peace. Wondering why God would allow them to go through the things that were happening, wondering if he would be faithful to provide for them, to take care of them. Realize that these questions probably opened their mind to bigger issues: if God isn't saving me now from these earthly trials, how do I know he'll save me from his own infinite wrath that I deserve because of my sin??
If you want to know how Peter reinforced their weakening faith, just read the rest of 1 Peter ch. 1! He doesn't tell them any new secret, he tells them the gospel!!
How often do we wonder if God will be faithful in our lives. Probably not that many of us have experienced persecution such as the Roman Christians were experiencing, but we have our own trials and hardships, and we (I know I do) catch ourselves wondering why in the world God is letting these things happen, and if he will come through (sometimes the ways we think he should "come through" for us can be a little skewed as well).
I'd encourage you to read 1 Peter 1, and to put yourself back in Rome in 64 AD, in the shoes of a 1st century Christian, and to understand that the gospel is living and abiding within you, so that nothing in this world can shake you from the firm foundation of God's Word!
"...you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable,
through the living and abiding word of God;
for 'all flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord remains forever.'
And this word is the good news that was preached to you."
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