Epistles of Peter. Questions to Discuss: Zion Assembly Church of God Writer: Byron Harris. Peter s First Epistle October 1, 2017

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1 Peter s First Epistle October 1, 2017 Lesson Heavenly Hope Scriptures 1 Peter 1:1-5 Hope is the desire for a certain thing to happen. Most people hope for money, expensive cars, big houses, fame, and a long life, but none of these are certain. All around us, people are dying without hope. What is your hope? We are surrounded by people who are miserable, because they are hoping for the things of this world. Worldly treasures are temporary and only bring short periods of joy. This is not what God has in store for mankind. Our hope is to be in Christ Jesus. Through HIM, we have a spiritual life, peace with God, and comfort in the Holy Ghost in this present world. Furthermore, we have a blessed heavenly hope in the world to come. Key Verse: To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you (1 Peter 1:4). What is hope? What do you hope for? How do we receive this heavenly hope? (v. 3) Think about it: Peter explained in verse 3, according to Gods great mercy, he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We have a lively or living hope. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus, we can have a life full of hope. Those that have experienced the new birth have a new and spiritual life, and are born into a new and spiritual hope. Through Christ, we are victorious over sin, death, and the suffering of this present world. Our living hope, gives us the hope of something better beyond this world heaven. Peter goes on to say in verse 4, that we have an inheritance beyond this world and beyond the reach of change and decay. This inheritance is perfect. Sin and misery have no place there. It fades not away, but always retains its beauty. As a child of God, this world is not our home, but we are just strangers here. Being strangers, we do not belong to this world. We have something better that is awaiting us. The power of God will protect and keep us through faith in Jesus. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we will one day attain our heavenly hope at the end of the way.

2 Peter s First Epistle October 8, 2017 Lesson Trials of Faith Scriptures 1 Peter 1:6-7; 2 Timothy 2:3 A trial is a test. All of our life is one big trial or test of faith. Peter explains that our faith is more precious than gold. Our faith is precious. Gold must be refined or put through the fire to get to its purest form. Gold is heated up and separated from all other metals. Gold is tried (tested) and found pure by enduring the fire without losing any of its nature, weight, color, and other properties. Likewise, our faith in Christ is tested and proven by adversities. We must be tried to see if we are going to remain faithful. Job 23:10 says, But he knows the way that I take: when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. The trials we face today are nothing more than a test to see how we will react. As we live our life, we are establishing where we will spend eternity. The decisions we make today will affect our future outcome. Our goal, as a child of God, is to make heaven our home. We are to anticipate the Lord s coming and prepare ourselves spiritually to reach our heavenly goal. Key Verse: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:7). What are trials? What are some trials that Christians will face? How do trials affect our walk? Think about it: As Christians, why do we have to suffer? The apostle gave attention to our suffering and trials of faith. We are being tested to see if we are the real thing. In 2 Timothy 2:3, Paul explained that we would have to endure hardness or hardship. Christ suffered for us; why would we think that we would not suffer for him? Gold is tested, a soldier is tested, and every Christian will be tested. As Christians, we are exposed to hardship and difficulties in this life. Our faith in Jesus is presently being tried and proven until we obtain our final salvation. Therefore, Jesus taught us perseverance, saying, But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved (Mt. 24:13). At the end of the way, we will receive our full salvation bringing praise, honor, and glory to God at Christ s appearing.

3 Peter s First Epistle October 15, 2017 Lesson Holiness Scriptures 1 Peter 1:13-16, 22; John 13:35 In order to prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ, Peter advised us to gird up the lions of our mind, be sober, hope to the end, and be obedient. Peter taught us what it will take to reach heaven. First, we must have a made up mind to serve the Lord. A double-minded man cannot please the Lord. The mind is a spiritual battlefield. We must pull our thoughts together in Christ taking control of our thinking. This requires both self-control and a determination. The devil wants you to give up. To remain faithful, we must take control of our minds, be alert, never give up, and obey the Lord. Obedience is yielding or offering ourselves to God. Peter said, as obedient children (v. 14). As a child of God, we are called to be like him. Jesus is holy; therefore we are to be holy. This expectation for us is established: Peter has given us our pattern of holiness in Christ. Key Verse: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (1 Peter 1:15). What is God s expectation for us? (v. 15) What is holiness? Can we obtain holiness? Think about it: Jesus Christ is our pattern for living; we should strive to be like him. What is Christ like? He is holy. So we are called to be holy because Christ is holy. Our lifestyle should be completely different from our past. In other words, the Christian s lifestyle is entirely different than a sinner s. Many people think of holiness only in terms of certain external behaviors pertaining to things like clothing, adornment, entertainment, and so on. But outward holiness alone falls short of true holiness in Christ. True holiness in Christ is expressed in our genuine and fervent love one to another (v. 22). Jesus said that the world would know we are his disciples by our love one to another. Christ loved us when we were sinners. His love is true love. His love is holy. We may convince people that we are holy by the cloths we wear, attending church, carrying a Bible, and listening to Christian music, but God looks on the heart. When we love God and love people, then the world will really see what we are all about. To be like Christ to be holy is to love as he loved. God loves us, and he proved that by his son Jesus Christ. Jesus loves us so much he gave his life for our salvation. When we show Christ s fervent love for others, we are showing God s holiness.

4 Peter s First Epistle October 22, 2017 Lesson Redeemed Scriptures 1 Peter 1:18-19; Leviticus 25:39-55 How do sinners become acceptable and holy to God? Peter wrote to explain how holiness is made possible for sinners. The basis and foundation of holiness is rooted in Christ s redemptive work (1 Pe. 1:18-19). We must be redeemed (set free) from the bondage and corruption of sin. What does it mean to be redeemed? Briefly, under the Old Testament law, if one was so poor that he could not pay his debts, he could be sold as a hired servant. However, his freedom could be purchased by a relative: a redeemer (Le. 25:39-55). Therefore, in redemption, someone else pays the price for you. He pays your debt a debt you cannot pay. As sinners, we could never save ourselves. So God had to provide the way of salvation for us. He had to redeem us. The price for our freedom from sin (our ransom) was paid by Jesus Christ when he went to the cross. Key Verse: But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (1 Pe. 1:19). How do sinners become acceptable and holy to God? What does it mean to be redeemed? Can we pay our own debt to God? Who paid the price for you? Think about it: Jesus death on the cross and his shed blood provided the only source for our redemption. He alone came into the world to be the sacrificial Lamb of God. Without blemish and without spot, Jesus came to be the holy sacrifice to purchase a holy people. His work at Calvary was all-sufficient. Peter s point is very clear: Christ redeemed us to be holy and pleasing to God. God convicts us because he wants to save us. He saves us because he wants to sanctify us. He sanctifies us in order to baptize us with the Holy Ghost. He baptizes us with the Holy Ghost so that we can live holy and acceptable unto him. Jesus provided the way for sinners to be made acceptable to God. He purchased our freedom from sin. Through his death and by his blood, we are redeemed from the bondage and corruption of sin in order to live holy lives pleasing to God.

5 Peter s First Epistle October 29, 2017 Lesson The Word Scriptures 1 Peter 1:23-25; Psalms 119:105; Romans 5:10 How important is the Word of God to us? As children of God, our sins have been forgiven. Peter taught that we have been redeemed to be holy and to walk in the Spirit according to the Word of God. David said, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105). The Word of God is our guide to eternal life. Just as a treasure map shows you where the treasure is buried, the Word of God (the Bible; the Scripture) reveals to us the plan and the will of God. The more we know the Word of God, the more we know God. The Holy Scriptures reveal to us who God is and His plan of salvation in Christ. To know more about God and to walk according to his will, we must read the Word of God daily. How important is the Word of God in your life? Key Verse: But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you (1 Peter 1:25). How can we be born of the Word of God? (v. 23) What does the term revelation mean? How do we learn more about God? Think about it: God s plan of salvation has always been Jesus Christ from the very beginning. God s eternal plan was and is Christ. Being God s eternal plan of salvation, Jesus is our only access to God. He is the only way to the Father (1 Pe. 1:21; Jn. 14:6). By his death and resurrection, we come to God (Ro. 5:10). We do not come to God on the basis of a dead prophet, but rather by a risen Savior. We presently await the coming of the Lord. Our hope is above; our faith is directed toward heaven; and Christ is our access. We thus live with a heavenly hope. Our eager expectation is Christ s soon coming. So we are not living for this world, but for the world to come. We know these truths, and more, by the Word of God. In fact, knowing God actually depends on the revelation of the Holy Scriptures. The more we know God s Word, the more we know the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. So take time to study God s Word. God loves you, and he wants you to know more about Him.