1 Peter Part I: The Who, the How, and the Why

1 Peter 1:1-2

Let's start this study of 1 Peter with a look at some of the background and the salutation of Peter's letter to the scattered church.

Who Wrote 1 Peter? the Apostle Peter

When was 1 Peter Written? Probably around 64 AD, right before the Neronic persecution of the Christians started.

Who was 1 Peter written to? Churches and believers in what is today Turkey

Wy was 1 Peter written? To encourage the church to stand firm in the True grace of God in the face of escalating persecution and suffering (MacArthur's commentary on 1 Peter, Page 10)

An important thing to remember is the extent of the Neronic Persecution. Nero was emperor of the Roman Empire, and the people of Rome were a bit sceptical of this new Christian faith that they knew little to nothing about. The Christians had things called "love feasts", they shared everything, and they refused to pay tribute to the Emperor as divine. When a good chunk of Rome burned and many people began to blame Nero for causing it to burn, Nero turned their anger toward the Christians. Christians were thrown to wild dogs to be eaten and were covered in wax and staked into the ground to be set on fire and used to light Nero's garden. This is what the church in the Roman Empire was getting ready to face, and Peter's letter comes just at the right time with a message that they needed ot hear.

Truth: God is always on time wiht meeting the needs of his people!

When Peter starts his letter, he packs a lot of depth into his greeting. He doesn't just say, "hey guys, it's Peter, hope ya'll are doing well." He goes deep in the first 2 verses of this book. Peter ties the Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit to Salvation, defining each of their roles, and also tells us the who, how, and why of salvation.

He first tells us that our election and salvation are according to the forknowledge of God. This means that the Father initiates salvation. We, as humans, do not first come to God, he draws us to himself.

The Father is the WHO of salvation. He is the one doing the drawing and the saving.

Peter then explains that our salvation is by the work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit produces and protects salvation (cf Ephesians 1:13; 4:30; Rev 9:3-4). The Holy Spirit leads us to holiness.

The Spirit working in us for holiness is the HOW of salvation.

Peter finally says that we are saved so that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood. This means that the Son provides salvation through His blood. Salvation is not meant to be a one time event that then makes no impact on our daily lives...there is expected obedient that comes with being chosen.

Obedience to the Son and the cleansing power of His blood is the WHY of salvation.

Why is this important enough to put at the beginning of his letter?

If we have been drawns to salvation by the Father, if we are being sanctified by the Spirit and living in obedience to the Son by the power of His blood, then we can have the grace and peace to its fullest measure.