Written by David Self Monday, 29 August :00 - Last Updated Sunday, 04 September :23

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1 Explore the Bible Lesson Preview September 4, 2016 A Living Hope Background: 1 Peter 1: 1-12 Lesson: 1 Peter 1: 3-9 Motivation: William Barclay calls I Peter the best known and loved, and the most read of all the General Epistles. Izzak Walton describes it as affectionate, loving, lowly and humble. Examination: I. Introduction (1-2) A. Author: Peter, the brother of Andrew and son of Jonah. The amenuensis (secretary) who copied Peter s words was Silvanus (5:12). B. Date: AD under the reign of Nero who eventually imprisoned Peter and executed him in fulfillment of Jesus prophecy (John 21:18-19). C. Recipients: I Peter is called a general epistle because it was to be circulated among a wide audience. Several eastern Roman provinces are mentioned in verse 1. D. Theme: Goodspeed writes First Peter is one of the most moving pieces of persecution literature. Although widespread persecution had not yet begun, Peter warned of various trials (1:6), suffering for righteousness sake (3:14), accusations as 1 / 9

2 evildoers (3:16), the fiery trial (4:12), suffering according to the will of God (4:19), and sufferings (5:9). Written from a pastor s heart, the epistle explains salvation, exhorts to faith and comforts the flock. Should you be accosted by Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, or others who deny the Trinity, point them to verse 2 chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, and set apart by the Spirit, for obedience and for sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ. (Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14) HCSB, p. 2149: 1:1-2 Peter identified himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ. The apostles were Christ s divinely ordained, directly commissioned, authoritative representatives in the early church. The recipients to whom Peter wrote were the temporary residents dispersed. The term temporary residents (Gk. parepideyemois; v. 1; 2:11) refers to people living in a region that is not their permanent place of residence in this case, the five Roman provinces located in what is now modern Turkey. Heaven is the true home of believers. The Dispersion means a scattering and usually refers to God s people scattered outside of their homeland. Divine foreknowledge is the basis on which a believer is chosen (i.e., elect ). It is more than just God s prior knowledge of everything; it also includes His predetermination. Set apart by the Spirit is the means by which being chosen is made a reality. The phrase for obedience and for sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ describes the aim and purpose of election (Ex. 24:3-8). Christians were chosen by God to have a covenant relationship with Him that is characterized by obedience; Christ s blood brings believers into this relationship. II. Hope Discovered Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. 2 / 9

3 (3-4) A. Praise Praise the God Often translated as blessed. (3) This is a different Greek word from that used in the Beatitudes; here the word is the root of our word eulogy and is used exclusively in the New Testament as a praise to God. B. Parent a. Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (3) In the Trinity, Father and Son are God, equal, but with differing positions. b. According to His great mercy He has given us a new birth (3) We address God as our Father because we have been born from above (John 3). Salvation is an act initiated and completed by God apart from any good works we may try to contribute (Eph. 2:8-9). 2 Cor. 4:18; Heb. 11:1; 1 Pet. 1:8 C. Power a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (3) Ours is not a dead religion but a living relationship. The mighty power of God that raised Jesus from the dead now gives life to His children everyday. (Eph. 1:19-20; 2:1-7) D. Promise into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted and unfading (4) (Rom. 8:14-18) a. imperishable (aphthartos) Our bodies grow old, die and decay. God gives us eternal life which will be just as fresh in 100 million years as it is today (even better!). b. uncorrupted (amiantos) Our faith is unpolluted by false idols or by the world s system. (James 3:13-18; John 17:2-3, 23) 3 / 9

4 c. does not fade (amarantos) The word picture is of a flower that loses its color and wilts. Our relationship with Jesus is new every morning. (Lamentations 3:23) (Gal. 2:20) E. Preserved kept in heaven for you (5) Our inheritance is not kept on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. (Mt. 6:19) III. Hope Assured You are being protected by God s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (1:5) Here is a strong endorsement of security of the Believer. The Word prote cted is often used in a military context of guarding. You are kept saved not by your power but by the power of God. (Rom. 10:13) The new birth has several dimensions: in the past, you were saved at a specific point in time, your salvation. In the present you are constantly being renewed by God s power, your sanctification. And in the future, in the last time there will be the ultimate sense of salvation, your glorification. IV. Hope Celebrated You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to struggle in various trials 7 so that the genuineness of your faith more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (6-9) 4 / 9

5 A. Pleasure You rejoice in this (6) This probably refers back to the fact of our salvation (Luke 10:20). However it could look ahead, paralleling James 1:2 count it all joy when you fall into various trials. We think that rejoicing should take place when we are built up in a physical sense: good health, positive cash flow, restful vacation. God says that we can take pleasure in being built up spiritually. (Col. 2:6-7) B. Perspective for a short time (6) The trials for the Christian church have continued for centuries. For individual Christians, a particular testing may go on for years. Yet, Peter writes that these should all be compared to eternity. Our eyes should not be downcast by trials but rather lifted up to see the praise, glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (7) C. Persecution you have had to struggle in various trials (6) Trials may be defined as anything that brings genuine distress or sorrow into the Christian s life. Some trials were brought on by enemies of the church; some trials happened as a part of being human. The point is that as residents of this world, we can expect such trials. D. Process that the genuineness of your faith more valuable than gold which perishes though refined by fire (7) Just as gold is melted at a high temperature to burn up the impurities, so earthly trials are a part of the process to purify our faith. (Jude 24-25) E. Personal Relationship You love Him, though you have not seen Him (8) Coming from Peter, who was asked of the Lord three times Do you love me? (John 21:17, cf. 20:29; 2 Cor. 4:16-18, 5:7), these become some of the more poignant words in the New Testament. Peter, who had seen Jesus, denied Him. Now he is calling on people who had never seen Him to affirm Him even in persecution, even to the point of death. (1 John 4:20; Heb. 11:1; Prov. 23:4-5) F. Prize receiving the goal of your faith - the salvation of your souls (9) Peter encourages us, like a coach to his runners, to keep our eyes on the prize (Philippians 3:14). With eyes of faith, we concentrate not on present circumstances but rather on Jesus (Hebrews 5 / 9

6 12:2). (1 Ths. 1:3) V. Hope: Recall God s Grace (1:10-12) A. Prophecy Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that would come to you searched and carefully investigated. (10) According to one source, there are 333 OT prophecies concerning Jesus Christ (DJK, Evangelism Explosion, p. 152 ). B. Persecution They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when He testified in advance to the messianic suffering and the glories that would follow. (11) The Messiah (Christ) was prophesied to be a suffering servant (Isa. 53). Sufferings by believers should come as no surprise. C. Perspective It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Angels desire to look into these things. (12) HCSB, p. 2149: 1:10-12 The OT people of God did not specifically know Christ or the gospel, but they did believe the promises of God that pointed to Christ (Heb. 11:13). Peter conveyed to his readers that the good news of salvation that the prophets sought and looked forward to had now been revealed. Salvation in Christ is so great and the blessings so tremendous that angels desire to look into these things. The gospel excites their interest so much that they want to study it intently. Application: 1. Salvation enables us to praise God and rejoice even when times are difficult. 6 / 9

7 2. Salvation is given to us by God through Christ s atoning work. 3. Salvation is secured for us throughout eternity. Explore the Bible Leader Pack Item 1: Map: Pentecost and the Jewish Diaspora, Item 2: Outline of 1, 2 Peter; Jude, Item 3 : Poster Fall 2016, Item 4 : Time Line: 1, 2 Peter; Jude, Item 5 : Bookmark Memory Verse, Item 6 : Poster Christ in 1 and 2 Peter. Biblical Illustrator p. 67 Peter s Epistles: An Overview Notes: **You may access David s Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: g ; Dates: /9-11 SPF Family Stoney Creek Ranch; 9/11 Fall LBS Luncheon; 9/12-14 ION Conference; 9/17 Men:Serve; 9/ th gr. Event & Parent Hang out; 9/18 Make It Your Church Orientation; 9/25 SPF Birthday Bash; 9/25 MS Family Park Day; 10/1 7 / 9

8 Men s Ministry Wild Game Dinner; 10/7-8 Women s Omni; 10/9 Parent Commitment; 10/13 Lifeway/UBA Pastors Dinner; 10/14 KSBJ Concert w/ Lauren Daigle; 10/15 Celebration Tickets go on sale; 10/16 Lord s Supper; 10/16 SPF B-day Bash; 10/21 MS the Farm; 10/31 First Fest; 11/5 - Men: Serve; 11/7-8 Grow Team Retreat; 11/11-12 HUB As We Go Wknd; 11/13 SPF B-day Bash; 11/13 DTW Appreciation Luncheon; 11/20 Make It Your Church Orientation; 11/24-25 Thanksgiving Holidays; 12/4 HUB Christmas Palooza; 12/7-11 Celebration; 12/18 SPF Birthday Bash; 12/23 & 26 Christmas Holiday offices closed; 12/25 NO LBS 5:00pm Service only; 12/31 Summit NYE Party; 1/1/17 8 / 9

9 No LBS 10:00 am Service only. 9 / 9