This World Is Not Our Home

Today we are beginning a short series of expositions through the Book of 1 Peter.

1 Peter is a book with just five chapters, but five very encouraging and very practical chapters for growing Christians. Today’s post is largely introductory, overviewing the book and looking at the first couple verses to get us started.

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Who wrote 1 Peter? Easy: Peter! It’s the first word in the book: Peter.

I like the way folks in the Ancient Near East wrote letters to one another. It makes so much more sense than the way we write letters today. Back then if you were writing someone a letter, you put your name first. That way the guy who receives your letter doesn’t have to fiddle around with it, turning to the very end before discovering who wrote it.

Who is Peter? I mean the first time you hear “Peter” from the Bible what do you think? I think fisherman; the guy who walked on water and then began sinking, the guy who was always talking, the guy who denied Christ, a real down-to-earth, transparent kind of guy, Peter.

Now get this image in your mind: remember what happened not long after Peter denied Christ the three times? Jesus rises from the dead, appears to Peter, and then restores Peter.

You may recall in John’s Gospel that Jesus had asked Peter three times, “Do you love Me?” And Peter’s like, “You know I love You!” And Jesus says three times, “Feed My sheep,” or, “Feed My lambs.” In other words, “Feed My people; give My people the food they need to grow. Give them biblical teaching.”

Jesus had also said to Peter–during that discussion about Peter’s future denial of Christ and later restoration–Jesus had said, “I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren (Luke 22:32).”

And that is precisely what Peter does in this letter. 1 Peter is his first letter to “the brethren,” to the brothers and sisters in Christ. He wrote this letter in obedience to Christ’s commands to “Feed His sheep” and “Strengthen the brethren.”

Peter identifies himself in verse 1 as “an apostle of Jesus Christ.” Minimally, an apostle is “one who is sent.” Peter has been sent by Jesus; sent on a mission, sent to do a number of things not the least of which is to “strengthen the brethren.”

So our series of expositions is entitled “Strength Through Adversity.” Peter writes this letter to strengthen the brethren, strengthening Christians who will face adversity, adversity such as persecution and suffering.

Peter wrote this letter around AD 63. The Roman Emperor was Nero and you probably know that shortly after this letter, Nero would unleash very severe persecution among the Christians. He would order Christians to be thrown to the animals in the Roman coliseum for sport. He would burn many of them to death and he even blamed Christians for the historic fire in Rome (AD 64).

Peter is writing under the reign of that especially wicked Roman Emperor, Emperor Nero. And Peter is writing from Rome. We know that because of the way he concludes the letter in 1Peter 5:13, making reference to “Babylon,” which was a way of referring to Rome.

This is a map of modern day Turkey. As you look closely at Turkey you see these cities in red that Peter mentions by name in verse 1: the people of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. Most scholars believe that this letter was taken to these cities in a circular route, carried by the hand of Silvanus–his name is mentioned at the end of the letter–1Peter 5:12–where Peter writes, “By Silvanus…I have written to you.”

Let’s consider some of the main themes of this letter. Here’s a helpful list ¹ of eight major themes in the letter we’ll be studying in the weeks to come:

1. Those who suffer as Christians will be exalted (1Peter 1:6-9; 2:18; 3:13-22; 4:12-19).
2. The church of Jesus Christ is the new temple, the new Israel, the new people of God (1Peter 1:1-2; 2:4-10).
3. Believers should set their hope on their end-time inheritance (1Peter 1:3-9; 13-16).
4. Christ died as a substitute for sinners, and his death is the basis for their new life (1Peter 1:17-21; 2:24; 3:13-22).
5. Christ’s suffering is an example to his disciples (1Peter 2:21-23).
6. At his resurrection, Christ triumphed over his enemies (1Peter 3:18-22).
7. Christians should live righteously in their homes and in society (1Peter 2:11-3:7).
8. New life in Christ is the basis for a life of love and holiness (1Peter 1:3; 1:13-2:3).

I think it will be helpful for us to think of 1Peter as a discipleship manual for Christians. Most of us have a manual for our cars in the glovebox, but we seldom pull it out and read it. And most of us have a manual for our lives, a manual we should pull out every day and read it. Remember: Peter wrote this letter to “strengthen the brethren.”

This letter will address some things I’ve often been asked about as a minister. For example, chapter 1 will tell us about our heavenly inheritance–what awaits Christians in heaven; Peter also writes about the Bible itself–how it endures forever and how we ought to “desire it (chapter 2),” as “newborn babies.”

In chapter 2 Peter addresses how we should live in this world when we don’t particularly like the politicians in charge. He also writes in chapter 2 about how to handle people who hurt you. I am frequently asked about this: “Pastor, what do I do when someone has hurt me and they’re in the wrong?” Or, “What am I to do when I am verbally abused?” We’ll be looking at a specific answer given directly from chapter 2.

In chapter 3 Peter advises the woman whose husband doesn’t share her Christian faith. I’m often asked about that: “What can I say to my husband to get him to come to church with me?” There’s another answer straight from this discipleship manual.

In chapters 3 and 4 Peter spends a great deal of time teaching us what to do when the going gets tough. He also addresses a theological question I am often asked: “After Christ’s death on the cross, Did Jesus descend into hell?” Well, I happen to think not and we’ll be looking at that in the coming weeks, as well.

Additionally, Peter addresses the matter of how the devil is at work in this world. Some people want to know whether they should be in the business of rebuking the devil and demons and so forth. So we’ll be looking at that, too, and a host of other things. It’s a very practical book–a discipleship manual–to provide strength through adversity.

As we turn back to chapter 1 and consider these opening two verses, let’s note how these introductory verses “set the table” for how to live in this world of adversity and suffering.

Peter is writing this letter to encourage Christians who are living away from home. Remember where these folks are living? Verse 1 says they are living in five different areas of modern-day Turkey: Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.

Peter addresses these Christians in verse 1 as, “Pilgrims.” Another translation has “Sojourners,” or, “Temporary residents.”

So here’s the first helpful reminder Peter provides these believers:

Remember Your Status 

That is, remember who you are. You are a pilgrim, a sojourner, a temporary resident. Look at 1 Peter 1:1 again:

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

That word pilgrim there should be understood in three different senses. These Christians are pilgrims in three different ways. They are pilgrims geographically, socially, and theologically–or if you like, they are pilgrims Spatially, Socially, and Spiritually. Let’s consider each:

Spatially

These Christians are scattered spatially, or geographically. We saw this above in the map of Asia Minor. They are spread among five different Roman provinces: Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. That’s one reason Peter uses the term “Dispersion.” It has its roots in the Old Testament, a term that describes the scattering of the Jewish people. So the Christians are pilgrims in a spatial sense. But they are also pilgrims in a social sense:

Socially

These five Roman provinces listed by Peter in verse 1 also indicate both ethnic and linguistic diversity among the people. Additionally, these five provinces were influenced by the popular Graeco-Roman culture of the day, a culture that proved difficult for Christians to “be at home.”

Because these Christians were different from those around them, they were often treated by the Romans as outcasts or social misfits, marginalized from popular society. Even today many Christians throughout Central Asia and Southeast Asia are persecuted by loss of property and loss of social privileges–healthcare, education, and even food. These brothers and sisters understand the term “pilgrim” better than many of us who live comfortably in the west.

Spiritually

Peter refers to these Christians as pilgrims in a spiritual sense, as well. That is, these Christians are living in the world now, but awaiting a heavenly home later. So this word pilgrim is a helpful metaphor for Christians. Christians are pilgrims, sojourners, temporary residents, just passing through this earthly life, headed for the eternal city of Heaven.

It is this sense of the word that informs much of our Christian hymnody. Do you know this one:

Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land ²

Or how about:

This world is not my home I’m just passing through
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue
The angels beckon me from Heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore ³

Here’s another:

O they tell me of a home far beyond the skies,
O they tell me of a home far away;
O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day. ⁴

So in an effort to strengthen his brothers and sisters, Peter says, “Remember your status.” You are a pilgrim. You are a sojourner. You’re a temporary resident. This world is not your home. You’re just passing through.

And Peter says the same thing to you and me today: Remember your status! This world is not your home!

Remembering that this world is not our real home helps keep us from falling in love with this world and frees us from the world’s grip.

Peter will use this imagery again in chapter 2 to strengthen Christians who are tempted to sin. He says in 1Peter 2:11, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,”

Think of yourself this week as a pilgrim, a temporary resident, someone who is different from those who live only for the world. Your priorities are different. Your motives are different. Your “loves” are different. This world is not your home. You’re on your way to a far better place!

That’s all for today–next time, we’ll move from status (verse 1) to salvation (verse 2).

What About You?

• Why is it easy for Christians to forget that they are merely “passing through” this temporary, fallen world?
• What can you do specifically to keep from becoming too “at home” in the world?
• Are you certain that you are, in fact, a “pilgrim,” or “sojourner?” If not, become a follower of Christ today.

1. As provided in the ESV Study Bible
2. Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah, William Williams (1745), public domain
3. I Can’t Feel At Home Anymore, Albert E. Brumley (1947), public domain
4. The Unclouded Day, Josiah K. Alwood (1885), public domain