Metro Women s Bible Study 1 Peter 3:13-18

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1 Metro Women s Bible Study 1 Peter 3:13-18 Lesson 11 I like the way Ray Pritchard summarizes this section in five simple commands...verse 14a Cheer up! (you are blessed) verse 14b Give up! (do not fear) v15a Lift up! (set apart Christ as Lord) verse15b Speak up! (Always ready to give an answer) verse 16 Shape up! (keeping a clear conscience) DAY ONE: Read 1 Peter 3: Read through this week s verses using both your Observation Worksheet and another Bible translation or paraphrase. After reading through these verses, what would you say to someone if they asked you what they were about? 2. What subjects were covered in Verses 13-18? 3. How would you title this section? Record it on your Chart. 4. Mark the key words and symbols that were given to you from Lessons 9 & 10 to the end of Chapter Record on your worksheets Truths about God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Truths about the Believer & Instructions. DAYS TWO & THREE: Read 1 Peter 3: At the time this letter was written it was dangerous to be a believer. Christians were suffering for their faith. 1 Peter 3:13-22 was written to encourage believers to overcome their fear and maintain their witness. What do you learn about this from verses 13-14? a. In the context of these verses, how does Hebrews 13:5b-6 strengthen your faith? 2. Verse 13 says, Who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? We know that Christians throughout the ages have been persecuted, even died for their faith in Christ. What does Luke 12:4-5 say is a greater fear than physical harm or death? Luke 12:4-5 1

2 3. Verse 13 says, Be followers of what is good. The word good is used three times in 1 Peter 3: What does it mean to be followers of what is good from these verses? a. Let s look at some scriptures to help define for us, what is good. Matthew 19:17 Micah 6:8 4. Verse 14 reads, 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. Do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. What reminders are we given in Psalm 118:6 and Proverbs 29:25? Psalm 118:6 Proverbs 29:25 Peter s purpose for writing his first letter was to help Christian s live godly lives in a hostile world, and also to know how to handle persecution in a Christ-like way. In verse 13, this theme of suffering for Christ comes to the forefront. Peter reiterated his counsel for Christians facing persecution: be sure that if you suffer, it s for doing right, not for doing wrong. Continue to do what s right and entrust your ultimate vindication to God, because He will give special blessings to those who stand firm in the faith. 5. When looking at verse 14 we think of suffering, certainly blessed is not a word that comes to mind. Why should we consider ourselves blessed when we suffer for righteousness sake? Read the following passages below and share what you learn about blessings & suffering. Feel free to add any additional passages of your own. Matthew 5: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 1 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2

3 6. Verse 14 from the King James translations says, 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye. Look up the word happy in your Concordance and write out the English definition. Happy-. 7. Perhaps you have rarely considered blessings coming through hardship until now. With this thought in mind, what would you like the Lord to produce in your life through your current suffering or suffering in the future? Puritan Thomas Watson said, Afflictions work for good, as they make way for glory...not that they merit glory, but they prepare for it. As ploughing prepares the earth for a crop, so afflictions prepare and make us [ready] for glory. The painter lays his gold upon dark colours, so God first lays the dark colours of affliction, and then He lays the golden colour of glory. The vessel is first seasoned before wine is poured into it: the vessels of mercy are first seasoned with affliction, and then the wine of glory is poured in. Thus we see afflictions are not prejudicial, but beneficial, to the saints" 8. What 2 instructions does Peter give in 1 Peter 3:15? If you have the resources, look up the phrase sanctify the Lord in your hearts from other translations and write them below. a. What does the phrase sanctify the Lord in your hearts mean? b. Look up the Greek word for Lord in your Concordance and write out the English definition. Lord- 10. In what ways will you personally sanctify Christ as Lord in your heart? Peter uses this quote "sanctify the...lord" from Isaiah 8:13 KJV, which reads, Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. Instead of being stirred up with fear because of possible suffering for righteousness sake, Peter was encouraging these believers to set apart Christ as their Lord. If He is your Lord, if He is in control of your being, don't fear what man can do to you, ''Fear'' the Lord! 11. What does1 Peter 3:15b that tells us what believers should be ready to do? 3

4 12. Look up the words always & ready in your Concordance and write out the English definition. Always- Ready- a. What does Proverbs 15:28 add to this idea of being ready? 13. Look up the word defense in your Concordance and write out the English definition. The word in your Concordance is answer. Defense-(Answer) The English word apologetics comes from the Greek word here translated defense. Peter is using the word in an informal sense (Philippians 1:16-17) and is insisting that the believer must understand what he believes and why one is a Christian, and then be able to articulate one s beliefs humbly, thoughtfully, reasonably, and biblically. 14. If someone were to ask you today, why you were a Christian and what you believed as a Christian, would you be able to give them an answer? Explain A Ready Witness - Whenever I read the book of Acts, I'm struck by the spontaneity of the witness of the first Christians. Everywhere they went, in every circumstance, they boldly proclaimed Jesus as the true Messiah and the Savior of mankind--and many people believed. After Peter and John were arrested for proclaiming the good news, Peter told the council, "We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20). Many of you attend church week in and week out. With all the great teaching you receive and the encouraging fellowship of believers, how can you not want to share what s burning in your heart from what you have learned and received from the Lord! The good news of the gospel is too good to keep to ourselves sisters! 15. Verse 15 says, be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you. Look up the word hope in your Concordance and write out the English definition. Hope- 4

5 16. What is that hope that lies in you spoken of in verse 15? Let s look at the following passages to learn about that hope. Underline or highlight what stands out to you! 1 Peter 1:3, 13 & 21, 1 Timothy 1:1 & Titus 2:13. 1 Peter 1:3-4 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you. 1 Peter 1:13 13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:21 21 Who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 1 Timothy 1:1 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope, Titus 2:13 13 Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. A living hope should motivate a "looking" hope, so that we are waiting anxiously for Christ's return at any time, this event providing great incentive to...have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 1Timothy 4:7; 4:8 17. What should be the believer s attitude when giving a defense to everyone who asks the reason for the hope that is in you? See verse 15c a. Why would these two characteristics be important when sharing your faith? Ray Pritchard writes that with gentleness and reverence...means to be winsome, kind and gracious in your dealings with the lost. You can t argue people into the Kingdom of God. And you can t swear at them and then say, Don t you want to accept Jesus? It doesn t work that way. We must be winsome if we would win some. And we must treat people with respect. Don t ever confuse arguing with answering. If we don t show respect for them, how will they ever show respect for us or for our message? People know when we are talking down to them or making fun of them or taking them lightly. Treat people with gentleness and respect, and they are likely to listen to what we have to say. 5

6 DAY FOUR: Read Verses Read 1 Peter 3: Write what you learn about a Christian s witness from verse 16a. 2. What does it mean, having a good conscience? Look up the word conscience in your Concordance and write out the English definition. Conscience- Conscience may be compared to a window that lets in the light of God s truth. If we persist in disobeying, the window gets dirtier and dirtier, until the light cannot enter. This leads to a defiled conscience Conscience depends on knowledge, the light coming through the window. As a believer studies the Word, she better understands the will of God, and her conscience becomes more sensitive to right and wrong. A good conscience is one that accuses us when we think wrong or do wrong and approves when we do right. It takes constant & consistent exercise to keep the conscience strong and pure! 3. What do you learn from the following passages about the conscience? Titus 1: To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. 1 Timothy 4: Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron. A seared conscience is where sin has been the habitual practice of ones life that the conscience is no longer sensitive to what is right and wrong. 4. What do you learn from Acts 24:16 about Peter s conscience? A strong, clear conscience is the result of the believers obedience based on the knowledge of God s Word, and a strong conscience makes for a strong Christian witness to the lost. It also gives us strength in times of persecution and difficulty. 6

7 5. From 1 Peter 2:11-3:7 list 5 commands/instructions that Peter gives to the believer to have a good conscience. a. b. c. d. e. 6. Peter tells his readers in verse 16, 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. KJV. Let s do a study on the following words. Look these up in your concordance and write out the English definitions. Speak evil- Falsely Accuse- 7. How do you respond to those who: speak evil of you, falsely accuse you, or challenge your Christian beliefs? 8. What does verse 17 say is better when suffering? 9. If God knows it is necessary for your good that you should suffer, it is better that you should suffer for doing good! The truth is sisters that there are wonderful benefits to be accomplished by affliction which can t be accomplished in any other way; and some of the most wonderful benefits on the soul of a Christian are the afflictions of trials. Share how suffering and trials have benefited your soul. MacArthur sums this up by saying, A believer has two options. The first is to do right, even if it results in suffering. A believer is to accept suffering as a part of God's wise and sovereign plan for his or her life. The second option is to choose to do wrong, which will result in suffering. Both options are according to God's will. God wills a believer to suffer for doing right so that he receives spiritual strength and glorifies God, and God wills that a believer suffer divine chastisement for doing wrong. So do good and avoid bringing suffering upon yourself from doing wrong. 7

8 DAY FIVE: Read 1 Peter 3: Peter 3:18-22 is all about our Lord Jesus Christ. The main focus of the previous verses have been about the Christian and the suffering that can accompany our witness. In 1 Peter 3:18 we find the greatest example of suffering for righteousness sake. Gratefully consider Christ s suffering as you write verse 18 here phrase by phrase. a. Jesus Christ suffered and died once for our sins the just for the unjust. Look up the following words in your Concordance and write out the English definitions. Just- Unjust- b. Why did He do this, die for the unjust? Print your answer from verse 18b. 2. Let s look at the phrase, that He might bring us to God. (verse 18) Look up this phrase in your Concordance and write out the English definition. He might bring- 3. In ancient courts certain officials controlled access to the king. They verified someone s right to see him and then introduced that person to the monarch. Christ now performs that function for believers. He opened the way of access to God. This technical term means gain audience with the King. As a result of His death in our place, believers have been "brought to God" and have continual access to the Throne room of God. With this in mind, read the following passages and share how these verses speak to you. Ephesians 2:18 Through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Ephesians 3:12 12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. Romans 5:2 2 Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Hebrews 4:16 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 8

9 4. Verse 18b says, Being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit. Being put to death in the flesh is speaking of a literal death. What does made alive by the Spirit mean? Look up the word made alive (quickened) in your Concordance and write the English definition. Quickened- 5. The believers Peter was writing to needed to know that there was hope in the midst of persecution and possible death. What hope do we see in the following passage? Romans 8:11 Explanation of made alive in the spirit John MacArthur writes that... The phrase made alive in the spirit refers to the life of Jesus' spirit--not to the Holy Spirit. There is nothing in the Greek text indicates that Peter was referring to the Holy Spirit. Rather, he seems to be contrasting what happened to the flesh (or body) of Jesus with what happened to His spirit. His spirit was alive but His flesh was dead. Though in spirit Christ was alive, He did experience spiritual death--not cessation of existence but separation from God. On the cross He said - My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? (Mt 27:46) That shows the separation He temporarily experienced from the Father when He was made sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21). Similarly, unbelievers experience spiritual death (separation from God) in this life and eternal death in the next, but they never cease to exist. The separation between Christ and the Father was over quickly, for shortly after our Lord's lament He said, Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit (Luke 23:46) That shows His spirit was alive again--no longer separated from God--and could be committed to the Father. 9

10 DAY SIX: Review 1 Peter 3: How would applying 1 Peter 3:8-12 contribute to a blessed life? 2. What opportunities did you have this week to do good? 3. What have you learned from this lesson that has inspired you to be ready to give an answer for your faith? 4. Did you have any opportunities this week to share your faith? 5. How has Jesus example of suffering encouraged or inspired you? 6. What Truths did you learn about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Truths About the Believer & Instructions this week? looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. - Hebrews 12:2 10