Welcome to South! We're glad you joined us today! Below you will find some sermon notes and Bible passages, to help you follow along with Pastor Scott's message in his series entitled "1 Peter: Hope in Suffering". We hope you will be encouraged by what is taught today.

Paul referred to the believers as living stones.

Christ is the stone on which the church would be founded upon and rest. And the reason he could serve as this foundation is because Jesus sacrificially died for the sins of mankind, but he did not remain dead. Three days later, he conquered death, allowing him to give spiritual life to all who trust in him. Peter called them living stones to encourage and give them hope by reminding them of the eternal life awaiting for them in heaven with the original living stone himself - Christ. Peter informs them that they are one of the supplies being used to build a spiritual house, and Christ is the cornerstone.

Paul referred to the people as a royal priesthood.

Until Christ’s work on the cross, the people of God did not approach God directly. They couldn’t because of their spiritual condition. This is why there was the position of priests. An office that was…
-> Designed by God – knowing that sinful mankind could not approach him on their own and have fellowship with him, God designed the office of priests in order to make such a thing possible, even on a small level.
-> Chosen by God – the office of priest was held by the tribe of Levi, which God himself chose out of all the tribes of Israel.
-> Anointed by God – In Leviticus chapter 8, we have described for us the anointing process of the priests - which was done in order to identify God’s power and presence as resting upon these individuals in order that they might serve as an intermediary between God and sinful human beings. In other words, they were the ones who made it possible for sinful individuals to have fellowship with a holy God and they did this through a very elaborate sacrificial system.

Holy and Royal?

A HOLY priesthood. This was meant to add to the encouragement by reminding them of how they have been sanctified by the blood of Christ, forgiven of all their sins - past, present, and future. As a result, they never have to fear going into the presence of God, or fear not being able to go into his presence. Looking back to the text, we see in verse 9 how Peter calls them a ROYAL priesthood.The word “royal” emphasizes the fact that believers have been made part of God's kingdom.

Peter calls them a holy nation.

Those whom God chooses, he also sets apart from this world and to Himself. God has chosen us and set us apart from the rest of the world for the purpose of glorifying Him in everything that we do.

If you are a believer, then

You have unlimited access to God - anytime, anywhere you can enter into his most holy presence.
You can confidently enter into his most holy presence - not fearing God’s rejection or his judgment.
You can live with the authority of God’s reign and rule in this sin curse world.

Peter calls them a chosen race.

Peter calls these believers a chosen generation - specifically chosen by God. And the encouraging and hope-filled message of this name is that this choice by God is NOT one based on our MERIT, but upon God’s LOVE and GRACE. Out of the goodness and grace of his own heart, God declares, “I want you to be mine.”

Paul referred to them as God's possession.

There is encouragement and hope given that they were an extremely valuable item, because of who owned them. God paid a very high price to purchase them.