God's Care For His People (1 Peter 1:1-2)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
10 September 2023
God cares for his people This is clear from 1 Peter 1:1-2.
His people are pilgrims. They are just passing through this world. Jesus was a pilgrim. His home was not in this world. Likewise his followers have their hearts set on heaven and are not anchored with things on earth.
His people are in dispersion, that is, away from their homes. They experience hardships. In the Bible, dispersion refers to the Jews but extends also to Christians today. Like the Jews, Christians are scattered all over the world, oppressed and sometimes persecuted.
Peter writes to convey to a troubled community that God cares. In the midst of their troubles God favours them with grace and peace … grace to cope; peace of mind.
God's people are elect. They are precious. They are chosen by the Father not because of any good in them but entirely out of his sovereign will. God’s favoured people will never be a forsaken people.
God's people are set apart by the Holy Spirit to be holy. They are not conformed to this world but possess an “other worldliness” put into their hearts by the Holy Spirit. What the Holy Spirit sets apart will be kept apart in the world.
God's people obey Jesus and are cleansed by his blood. Once they were disobedient; now they obey.
Once they were unclean; now they are cleansed. The sprinkled blood of Jesus satisfies justifiable wrath and cleanses justified wrong-doers.
Note the presence and activity of the triune God. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all committed to the care of God's chosen people. The church may be dispersed but it will not be destroyed. The triune God is with her.
The end of the matter is that God favours his people with grace and peace.
This grace is undeserved. It is freely given to God’s people. All praise is due to him. Grace is manifested by Jesus who came into this world to die for his people.
This peace is multiplied. It is given more and more. In the fiercest of trials God's people have peace. Jesus had peace when he was on the cross. His followers likewise have peace. The greater the oppression the greater the peace. This is the testimony of the church.
Consider Paul for example. In trials he could say he could do all things through Christ who strengthens him (Philippians 4:13).
Consider Peter. He failed Jesus but finished strongly (2 Peter 1:14). If God cared for a failed apostle he cares for a faltering believer — a follower of the apostolic gospel.
Let every Christian be assured of this care. Be strong in God's care. The world's might will not overpower you.