2025 Class One, Part 2 deals with a brief history of Christianity--from the Birth of Jesus through the Reformation.

The apostle Peter writes on the identity and calling of believers as a chosen race, royal priesthood, and holy nation. Key themes include:

-- Believers are born again through the living and abiding word of God, and are called to grow in holiness and offer spiritual sacrifices.

-- Christ is the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious to God, and believers are being built up as living stones into a spiritual house.

-- Believers are a royal priesthood called to proclaim the excellency of God who has called them out of darkness into his marvelous light.

This opening session introduces us to the Ephesian church, establishing its historical context. Paul likely wrote the letter around A.D. 60, 20 years after Christ's resurrection. The church was founded during Paul's third missionary journey (A.D. 52-55) and became a key Christian center under leaders like Paul, Timothy, Tychicus, and John. The book of Acts 18-20, describes specific history at the church including: Apollos' early ministry, Paul's arrival, the re-baptism of John's disciples, and Paul's impact, which led to a riot over idol worship on one occasion. Paul's farewell to the Ephesian elders highlights his dedication to the Gospel as he warns them about false teachers and calls for their vigilance. Pastor Rhode reviews Revelation 2, written around A.D. 95. It reveals Christ's message to the Ephesian church where Christ commends their perseverance and rejection of false apostles but reproves them for abandoning their first love, urging repentance. This sheds light on the Ephesian church's struggles, emphasizing the need for steadfast love, truth, and faithful obedience to Christ in all churches.

Peter begins his letter by addressing believers as elect exiles--chosen by God yet living as strangers in the world. He highlights the Trinity's role in salvation: the Father's foreknowledge, the Spirit's sanctification, and Christ's atoning sacrifice. Praising God's great mercy, Peter declares that believers have been born again into a living hope through Christ's resurrection. This new birth secures an imperishable inheritance, kept in heaven, untouched by corruption. --

Believers are safeguarded by God's power through faith as they await the full revelation of salvation at Christ's return. Though they face trials, these difficulties serve a refining purpose, much like fire purifies gold. Hope, faith, and rejoicing define the Christian life, even in suffering, as trials affirm God's work in believers' lives. ----

Salvation unfolds in past, present, and future dimensions--God's election before time, Christ's finished work on the cross, the believer's present faith, and the final fulfillment at Christ's return. Until then, faith and hope sustain believers, and rejoicing remains constant, even in hardship, as they await the fullness of God's promise. ----

Peter emphasizes that suffering is not arbitrary but necessary for refining faith, just as fire purifies gold. As gold becomes more valuable when freed from impurities, faith that endures trials is precious in God's sight. These hardships strip away earthly attachments, revealing what truly matters--faith in Christ, which endures beyond this life. ----

At Christ's return, worldly wealth and achievements will fade, but faith will result in praise, glory, and honor. Affliction is not meant to destroy faith but to purify and strengthen it, reordering believers' love so they cherish God above all else. Through suffering, they learn to place their hope not in temporary things but in God's eternal promises. ----

Thus, the Christian life is not defined by suffering alone but by a living hope--one that endures trials and emerges stronger, leading to the ultimate inheritance God has prepared for His people. ----

Pastor Rhode emphasizes that while some trials are brief, others shape believers over time, making them more resilient. What once seemed devastating may, in time, feel like a passing difficulty, revealing spiritual maturity and a deepening trust in God's faithfulness. ----

God refines people, families, and even nations according to their particular needs. Some may need to learn patience, while others must be shaken from complacency. Yet all trials ultimately serve to purify faith. ----

This perspective aligns with the rhythms of the Psalms, where seasons of joy and divine favor can suddenly shift into times of distress and testing. The key is recognizing that both come from God and serve an eternal purpose. ----

The Old Testament prophets eagerly searched for the coming Messiah, and the Spirit of Christ revealed to them both His sufferings and the glory that would follow. This establishes a divine pattern--suffering first, then glory--which applies not only to Christ but also to believers. ----

Even angels long to understand this mystery. Now that it has been revealed in Christ, both angels and believers marvel at the unfolding plan of salvation, highlighting God's wisdom and the immense privilege believers have in witnessing its fulfillment. ----

This passage ties justification (being made right with God) and sanctification (living out holiness) together. Christ's death is not merely a historical event--it actively reshapes believers' identity and mission. They are called to ongoing engagement with faith, rejecting complacency in favor of an active pursuit of holiness.

At the beginning of this epistle, Peter addresses his letter to the "elect exiles of the dispersion," referring to Christians scattered by persecution. This prompts an extended discussion on the doctrine of election. Pastor Rhode delves into the mystery and tension between election, free will, and predestination, emphasizing the importance of humility and recognizing the limits of human understanding. He warns against fully adopting either a strict Calvinist or Arminian stance. Instead, he advocates for a Lutheran perspective that embraces the mystery of God's sovereignty alongside human responsibility. This view is explored throughout the hour in connection with Christian doctrines on sin, human nature, and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life.