1st Peter chapter number 1, look at verse number 1, that will be where we'll draw our thoughts again this morning. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. Last Sunday we introduced Peter, the author of this letter, and we can read about his years as a disciple, three and a half years, and his training under Jesus Christ in the Gospels, an open book for us to read about him. We can read about Peter, the apostle, in the first half of the book of Acts, from the day of Pentecost to his last public appearance in Acts, which covers a period of about 15 years. Peter was a prominent figure for over 18 years, and then what appears to be the incident in Antioch took place, when Peter caved under the pressure of Jewish leadership in the church. And instead of standing up and defending the Gentile converts, he sided with the Christian Jews, who were now willing to accept the Gentiles as equals in the early church. This incident appears to have been a watershed moment in the public ministry of Peter. And for the next 12 to 13 years, we have no record of Peter and his whereabouts, until this letter, this booklet, is written and circulated. In this letter, we find out that Peter has been quietly serving as an elder in a church located in the ancient city of Babylon. We're not given any backstory for why Peter was there, or why he wrote this letter. It's reasonable to conclude that it's his personal experiences with suffering that qualifies him to write this letter. Peter may have concluded a lengthy series of messages on the trial of faith in his church, and the saints encouraged him to compile his thoughts and share them with the suffering saints. The Holy Spirit doesn't inspire God's Word in a vacuum. Peter must take a very difficult, humbling journey to prepare him to write about suffering. And together with his apostolic appointment, he is led to write this letter to strangers scattered. From his own personal experiences with trial and suffering, this rugged fisherman has been broken and humbled and sensitized to the pain that life inflicts upon all of God's children. And he is inspired to write what God has taught him. And in a sense, he is following in the footsteps of Paul. Look at 2 Corinthians, in chapter number 1. A great statement about Paul's own experience with suffering. 2 Corinthians, chapter number 1. Follow as I read the first six verses, please. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, in Timothy, our brother, unto the church of God, which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all of Achaia. Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all of our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolations also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and your salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer, or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and your salvation. But especially, he is following in the footsteps of his own Lord. And he will have some wonderful things to say about that in his second chapter as it's broken down in this letter. The lessons for us are clear concerning the life of Peter as we gather up a few fragments from last Sunday. God never abandons his work. He may reshape us. He may pull us aside for a season. But the goal is that our faith would be purified. Christ praised through our faith, and God our Father is glorified. Our part is to keep our life under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and in the fellowship with God our Father, yielding to the spirit of truth. Even when we fail, and maybe our failures like Peter are very significant, God in his mercy proves himself to be faithful. He will cleanse. He will heal. He restores us to serve him and his church. What an example Peter is to us. Not of how great Peter is, but how great God is. But included in this recovery and restoration to service, we must acknowledge. Peter never got back to usefulness until he acknowledged his failures. Until he confessed them to God. Until he repented and obeyed. God will do the rest, but it's not without this part of Peter's life, nor will it ever be in our life. We must be willing to acknowledge, confess, repent, obey, and God will use us. Failure is not final with God's people. Peter begins his letter on these important subjects by describing who God's children are. In verse 1, as we are residents in this world, he refers to us as strangers. As this is the people that he's writing to. These are the children of God. They've been scattered throughout the entire Roman Empire. Across all these main provinces that he mentions. They're strangers. We anticipate in the coming weeks spending some time on also identifying them as the elect of God. In verse number 2, but first he calls them strangers. This description of their life is the description of our life. As long as we live in the world, we are strangers. The world is not a place that is a friend to grace. The world is not here to promote your well-being spiritually. The world will oppose you and all of your desires to serve God. And the more intent you are on serving God, it's as if the world's opposition heats up. So Peter makes this statement, strangers scattered throughout. This is not a casual statement that Peter makes. But rather a role that we must accept and embrace as long as we live in this world. The word strangers is not a reference to a particular group of people that are believers. But rather all who are true followers of Christ. Christ's followers are strangers in this world. Peter's letter, when we study his letter, very different than Paul's writings. Peter's letter is classified as a general letter. He is not writing to any particular church, but he is writing to all of God's children everywhere. The subjects in his letter are common themes. Regardless of where you live or when you live on the earth. The trial of your faith and suffering are not only connected, but common for all saints. And so when we hear this term strangers, don't disassociate yourself from that word that describes the saints. This is who we are. And it's important to Peter that we embrace this reality. If we're going to grasp and deal with the trial of our faith, we must know who we are. We are strangers. It's not unusual for us to be exposed to danger or hardship. At the end of his letter, look at chapter 5. He makes this statement about the subject of suffering and affliction in the believer's life. And how the devil is at work constantly to oppose us. And then in verse 9, we are told to resist the devil steadfast in the faith. Knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. Suffering is not something that is unique. The word same is not a complicated word. It just means what we have in common. We have this in common. All of us together. We experience the trial of our faith. However, it doesn't mean that we all experience a trial of our faith in the same way. We all experience trials and sufferings. But they come in all shapes and sizes. They are very different in the realm that they may touch in your life. Some suffering comes physically. We're becoming more acquainted with that as we get older. It's a reality. The body will suffer. Some suffer mentally, emotionally, spiritually. There's all different realms where suffering can occur in our life. And they come with different frequency and intensity. But the goal of our wise God is always the same. And he stated that as well at the end of his letter in chapter 5 in verse 10. But the God of all grace who have called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, that he would make you perfect, establish you, strengthen you, and settle you. The goal is always the same. Though it may come in various ways and times and degrees, it is common to all of God's children and the goal in all of our life is the same. And we'll learn more about that as we keep working through this letter. It is important for us this morning, and I'm stressing this, to know who we are in the world and to embrace it. We are strangers. It's worth noting that this same word is used to describe God's people in the Old Testament as well. Wherever there have been the people of God, they have been strangers. And so whenever, wherever God's people have lived on the earth, we all have the same identity. What does it mean to call yourself a stranger? This adjective describes a person simply who doesn't belong. He doesn't belong. He doesn't fit. Doesn't fit into the world's system. You've heard some statements already. He doesn't fit into the way the world thinks. He doesn't fit into the same passions and desires that the world sets before itself. He doesn't fit. He's a stranger to the world, as well as the world is a stranger to him. This reality is mentioned numerous times in the New Testament. God's people are changed, and we are no longer fit. We no longer fit into the world's system. We are familiar with Romans 12, 1 and 2. I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God. It is your reasonable service, and be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you might prove what is that good and perfect, acceptable will of God. No, we don't fit. There is no room in God's world of developing a spiritual people where we actually fit into the world. It's not possible. We have been changed. We're not the same people. We don't have the same interests. We're different. And even in 2 Corinthians, you don't need to turn there. In chapter 6 and verses 14 through the first part of chapter 7, Paul talks about, we don't have any connection, no fellowship, no agreement. Come out from among them and be separate is his statement. You don't fit. Jesus taught his disciples that even though you live in the world, you must not be of the world or worldly followers of the world's system and way of thinking. In fact, to make matters even more difficult is that we are constantly, if we are living righteously, exposing the evil that exists in the world. Ephesians chapter 5, we labored through that some a year or two ago. We are light. And as we move through this world, we are exposing its darkness. There's a voice crying out of our life to the world, Arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee life. Wake up. That does not create a comfortable relationship to the darkness. We are told in God's word that the world generally will hate your light just as they hated Christ. The world will hate you. The Apostle John wrote that as well in his first epistle. But those who truly embrace their identity as strangers, we are not going to be surprised. Peter will say that. Don't be surprised. Count it not a strange thing. Don't allow yourself to get discouraged. When difficulties come your way, it is common to all of God's children from the beginning of time. And God has ordained it for your good. It's as if every trial before it reaches you goes through this process of being sanctified. So that when it enters your life, it already has a good purpose intended. Peter uses a couple of similar words to describe our identity as strangers. Similar words, not exactly the same, but similar. It seems to be very important to Peter in his mind, concerning this willingness to accept our identity. If we fail to grasp who we really are, we will not handle life and its trials well. He uses the word, look at chapter 1 verse 17. The context is valuable. We'll get there eventually. But look at verse 17 where we find another word here. And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons, judgeth according to every man's work. This word embodies the idea of God alone can discern through the particulars, the motives, everything about us. According to every man's work. He's writing to believers. He's not addressing the world. He's writing to the saints, the children of God, scattered strangers in the world. And for that reason, because God is going to sort through all the details of our life, he's going to expose that which is to his glory and his honor and that which will be compensated, rewarded by him. Don't fully understand how all that plays out, but it will. The rest of it somehow just disappears, gets swallowed up. It's gone. It has no value. If we call on the Father, who without respect of persons, judgeth according to every man's work, then let us pass our time of our sojourning here in fear. So we are sojourners, as Peter is describing it here. Another word, another idea. Another word used frequently in the Old Testament concerning God's children. They were sojourners. This is what a sojourner does. Sojourning. This word describes people who dwell in temporary lodging. We are travelers who live among the true residents of the world, but we are here temporarily. Israel made its way. Nations of the world were all around them all the time. They were never free from the pressure of the world around them. They were journeying through. They were sojourners. Look at Hebrews chapter 11, verse 9. Very important passage here. We'll come back to it a couple of times. Hebrews chapter 11, verse 9. By faith, Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. Notice what enables us to be a stranger and a sojourner and still do well. Faith. Faith. To take this journey and accept who we are in this world, it must be by faith. And our faith must be tried and purified according to Peter and Paul and all the rest of the apostles, as well as the teachings of the Old Testament. There's another word found in chapter 2, going back to 1 Peter. We'll come back to chapter 11 in Hebrews in just a moment. But look at 1 Peter chapter 2. You've heard this word this morning as well. Verse number 11. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims. Similar, but not exactly the same. Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. A pilgrim, this refers to someone whose citizenship is not the country that he's presently in. His citizenship is somewhere else. He's visiting. Even though they live among the people of that country, he's still visiting. A pilgrim knows that he's not of this world. He's a visitor. God has given him certain liberties to live in this world, to utilize it. But we are not to be controlled by it. We're not to be swallowed up into its system and its way of thinking, its vanity, its greed. So we are pilgrims. When we accept this identity, we will move through the world cautiously. And we will be guarded. Notice what he says here in verse 11. I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims. Abstain. Abstain. Peter's appeal. Put everything at arm's length. Don't let it get its tentacles into your life. Abstain from fleshly lusts, which will only war against your soul. We need to have the proper attitude. He will open that up in verse 12. Having your conversation, your whole manner of living honest before the world around you. So as we learn to embrace our identity, we will live by faith, looking beyond this world as a sojourner. We will learn how to keep our life untangled from the things of this world. Things that the world lusts after. The things that control the world. You're around the world. You work in the world. You live in the world. You know they have a different passion for different things than you do. Very different. And it's easy for us to accept that as normal because we're strangers. We're just sojourners. We're pilgrims. It's okay. I don't have to feel awkward. I don't have to resent them. Nor do I have to be drawn into it. Because I know that I'm just a pilgrim. I'm a stranger, a sojourner. And this world is not our home. We're just visiting. The willingness to accept our identity, what we have just stated, what Peter has put before us, right up front in his letter. Not only does he state who's writing the letter, but to whom he's writing the letter. Strangers. Could have called them anything. There are a lot of good names. He chooses a particular name that's very suitable for his theme. Suffering. Trials. This is a foundational principle to our ability to endure and profit from trials. Our identity shapes our response to the many tests that we will encounter. Those who haven't yield to who they are by God's design will struggle with constant disappointment and discontentment. Because they've imposed expectations on God. And God hasn't delivered. And they often push blame either on God or others for their discontent. The problem is they refuse to identify who they are. You are strangers in this world. You're a sojourner. You're a pilgrim. You will be tested. Your faith must go through the fire. He's going to tell us glorious things about a purified faith in a few verses. And so we are called to suffer so that our faith will grow and be purified. Okay. So that our eyes as we look beyond this world and we see more clearly the life to come. That faith has to be purified and tested. And we are called to abstain as we move through this world so that we keep things at arm's length so we can remain devoted to God. That we can remain holy in our life and service to him. And so this description that Peter gives must be clearly understood this morning. And it must be embraced. Go back to Hebrews 11. You see the same was true in the Old Testament as well. Look at Hebrews 11 beginning in verse number 13. Abraham and Sarah are in view here particularly. Beginning in verse 13. These all died in faith. Not having received the promise or the promises that had been given but having seen them afar off. Only faith can do that. Right? But when faith does that notice what happens here. They were persuaded. They were persuaded of those promises. And they embraced them. And confessed openly that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. What we read here is what is required of every one of us this morning. Faith convinces us of the promises that God has made concerning our life and our future. But notice here and they confessed openly acknowledged that they were strangers and they were pilgrims on the earth. When you're not willing to do that then your faith is not strong. That happens as a result of strong faith. When your faith is set on God you are willing to accept the fact of who you are. But if your faith is weak you're not so inclined to accept who you are. You end up getting just entangled with the things of this world. And so Peter knew this is where he needed to start his letter on suffering. Know who you are. Don't run from these things. Embrace them. Confess them openly like Abraham did. A strong faith is able to do that. But if faith is weak then it's more inclined to allow itself to become confused and entangled in the system of this world the way it thinks. And so therefore we must learn to accept our identity and the applications that come with this lifestyle. And Peter is going to open that up at great length for us in the coming weeks. Keep in mind like Abraham remember suffering is only for this present world. Just now. Right now as long as we live we will suffer. But it's not forever. It's temporary. And besides that it is God's means for the refinement of your own faith. So don't look at suffering as a bad thing. Suffering is a good thing. Necessary thing. However God chooses to bring it into your life. Whatever realm he brings it upon you understand its purpose. Be able like James says count it all joy when you fall into diverse testings and trials. Because you know that the trial of your faith as Peter would go on to say being much more precious than gold that perisheth. That your faith will be to the praise of your Lord when he returns. So suffering is only for this life. Let me close with a statement by Paul on this subject in 2 Corinthians chapter 4. If you would look at that with me. 2 Corinthians in chapter number 4. So my challenge to you this morning is the challenge of Peter to you. Know who you are. Embrace it. Confess it. Acknowledge it. Don't be afraid of it. You are a stranger, a pilgrim, a sojourner. And your life by God's design is going to be filled with trials. But that's okay. It's not forever. And it's going to be used to make you a better person. It's going to be used to purify your faith. So that you will actually be to a greater degree to the praise of the glory of Christ when he returns. He's doing this for your benefit. Let us not resent him for what he's doing. But understand it. Paul says this. He has spent a lot of time talking about his own suffering in this second letter. As we read out of chapter 1 just a moment ago. Here he makes another remarkable statement or two that needs to be noted. Beginning in verse 17 of chapter 4, he says, For our light affliction. In his mind, what he endures is affliction. But compared to what he deserves, it's very light. Compared to what it's going to produce in him, it's still a very light affliction. Notice how he works this out. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment in time, right? It's brief. Worketh for us. It worketh for us. God has employed affliction to work for our best interest. It worketh for us. It produces good things in us. Purges out bad things from us. It worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. How can you despise something that does that? Makes you a better man and woman today. And actually prepares you for the day of your accounting before God. But he also, notice here, he also brings faith into the picture when he says, While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. Faith plays a part here, doesn't it? It's a very important part in Peter's letter. Faith and suffering go hand in hand in this letter. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. Have you thought about that? You look at things that are not seen. What's he talking about? Obviously, he's not talking about material things, physical things. He's talking about spiritual things that the human eye cannot see apart from a spiritual sight that comes to those who've been raised from the dead. While we look not at the things which are seen, the visible material things of this world, this doesn't consume our interest, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are but temporal, right? Temporal. They have a very brief lifespan, the things that you see. But the things which are not seen, those things are eternal. So, Paul's reasoning is okay. I'm okay. Let it happen. Because it works for us. Don't be afraid. And this is the whole emphasis of Peter. Don't be afraid of the tests and the trials of your life. Count it a good thing. God is at work in you to purge you, to make you stronger and cleaner in terms of your purity of life before God as... Isn't it interesting? We're already made righteous before God. We've already been purified. We're already holy. But we talked about this in Sunday school. That positional purity that we have before God, we rejoice in what Christ achieved on our behalf. But if that is real, it works itself out experientially in time. Because you are holy, you will want to be holy. People who have no desire to be holy in their daily living is because they are not holy in their stand before God. But if you are holy before God, you desire to be holy. And when you hear God cry out to you as in Leviticus or Peter says it, quoting Leviticus, be ye holy because I am holy. He quotes the very statement of God and applies it to the believer at that moment. That doesn't intimidate a true saint. That's glorious. If he's called us to that end, he's going to support us and provide the means to help us achieve it, which he has fully done. And so we are grateful to God that we have information given to us from his word that describes the kind of way we ought to think. How should you think about yourself today when you leave here? I pray that you leave here remembering who you are. You are stranger in this world. You do not fit here. God is preparing you for the world to come. Oh, and by the way, the world that you now walk on like Abraham did in his days of his time on the earth, God has told us that we are going to be given this whole earth all remade and refashioned. It's going to be given to us as a part of a shared inheritance with Christ. So everything we're willing to give up today is so, it's fool's gold compared to what God is going to give us in that day. And may we, by faith, I pray, keep our eyes focused on the life to come. Makes it easy to say, hey, I'm just a pilgrim. I'm a visitor here. I can walk through this world. I can keep everything at arm's length. I don't need this. I can function and use it and travel through this world and have a good life. Yes, we can do all of that, but we keep it at arm's length. We don't let it entangle us to the damaging of our own soul. That's who we are. That's how we ought to behave as we live out our life. Father, thank you for your word. Thank you for its truth that reminds us of such important things, so simple that we would identify who we truly are. I pray that this would be established in our mind and as Peter works out this letter before us, as we contemplate its content, break it down, these truths are going to become more real and firmly established in our mind. I pray this for your glory, Father, and the exaltation of your own son in our midst. Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.