The Living Hope Among the many things for which believers are grateful, they should always bless God for their living hope (1 Peter 1:3). 1. The nature of the hope. a. The word translated hope implies confident expectation of future good. b. The believer s hope is living rather than dying (1 Peter 1:3); good rather than evil (2 Thessalonians 2:16). It is a blessed hope (Titus 2:13). 2. The basis of the hope. a. Scripture is the basis of hope (Romans 15:4; Colossians 1:5,23) and speaks of God, the Author of hope (Romans 15:13). b. Hope is not on the basis of merit, but of grace (2 Thessalonians 2:16); not works, but faith (Romans 5:1,2). 3. The object of the hope. a. For those who die in Christ there is confident expectation of resurrection (Acts 23:6; 24:15). b. For those living in Christ at the Second Coming there is confident expectation of translation (Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13 18). 4. The effect of the hope. a. The believer s hope results in patience or endurance even in difficult times (Romans 8:25). b. The believer s hope results in purity of living even in a corrupt environment (1 John 3:3). As believers abound in hope (Romans 15:13), they live lives of rejoicing (Romans 5:2) rather than defeat.
Ready Through the Word As people of the East would gird up their long garments for action, believers are urged to prepare their minds with God s Word in anticipation of Christ s return (1 Peter 1:13 16). 1. The approach in Bible study. a. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable (2 Timothy 3:16). For this reason believers should study all Scripture. b. Scripture should be studied daily (Acts 17:11) and meditation therein should be day and night (Psalms 1:2; 119:147,148). c. Scripture should be studied with enthusiasm because of a delight in and love for the Word (Psalm1:2; 119:97). 2. The assistance in Bible study. a. The Holy Spirit, who inspired the Word of God, helps readers understand it (John16:12,13; 1 Corinthians 2:9 11). b. Teachers have been placed in the body of Christ to give instruction in the Word (Ephesians 4:11). c. Believers who are witnesses for Christ can provide instruction as Philip did for the Ethiopian (Acts 8:30 35) and as Aquila and Priscilla did for Apollos (Acts 18:26). 3. The blessings of Bible study. a. Faith, the all-important factor in the believer s life, is produced by study of God s Word (Romans 10:17). b. The believer s sanctification and cleansing are through constant exposure to Scripture (John 17:17; Ephesians 5:26). c. An awareness of God s prophetic program results from study of the Scriptures (Daniel 9:2). As the believer waits for the return of Christ, he finds that living according to God s Word is the secret of victorious living (Matthew 4:1 10; Ephesians 6:11,17).
The Believer and Submission The nature of man is to exalt himself, while the will of God is submission (1 Peter 2:13 15). 1. The meaning of submission. a. The word translated submission is subjection, a military term meaning to arrange under, to place in a lower rank. b. The nature of submission is seen in esteeming others better (Philippians 2:3) and in honor preferring one another (Romans 12:10). 2. The areas for submission. a. In the home there is mutual submission of husband and wife (Ephesians 6:1,4; 1 Timothy 5:8). b. Outside the home submission should be manifested in relation to ordinances and rulers (1 Peter 2:13,14) and in employer-employee relationships (Ephesians 6:5; 1 Peter 2:18). 3. The spirit of submission. a. Submission is to be practiced in various relationships for the Lord s sake (1 Peter 2:13), as service to the Lord (Ephesians 6:6,7) and in the fear of the Lord (Colossians 3:22). b. Submission is a manifestation of the Spirit. It is an indication of the Spirit-filled life (Ephesians 5:18,21). 4. The record of submission. a. The Lord rewards those who practice submission (Ephesians 6:8, see verses 5 7; Colossians 3:24, see verses 18 23). b. The reward of submission includes exaltation (Luke 14:7 11; 18:14) and the winning of loved ones (1 Peter 3:1). Christ provided the greatest examples in submission (1 Peter 2:21 23). The desire to be like the Lord includes submission.
Suffering for Righteousness Sake In the world believers can expect to suffer tribulation (Luke 21:12; John 15:20; 16:33; 2 Timothy 3:12). If they suffer, it is important that it be for well-doing rather than evil-doing (1 Peter 3:17). 1. The fact of suffering. a. Some like Joseph suffer because of jealousy of others (Genesis 39:20 23). b. Some like Moses suffer because of a positive stand for right (Hebrews 11:25). c. Some like the apostles suffer because of a witness for Jesus Christ (Acts 4:3; 5:17 42; 20:22 24; 1 Corinthians 4:9 13). 2. The attitude in suffering a. Believers should feel highly privileged when they suffer for righteousness sake (1 Peter 3:14; Matthew 5:10 12; Acts 5:41). b. Believers should recognize that suffering for well-doing can be in the will of God (1 Peter 3:17) and become an occasion for witnessing (1 Peter 3:15; Acts 16:25 30). c. Believers should manifest patience in suffering (1 Corinthians 4:12), pray for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:44), and return good for evil (Romans 12:14). 3. The encouragement in suffering. a. When believers suffer for righteousness; sake, they are not forsaken by God (2 Corinthians 4:9; Daniel 3:24,25; 6:22). b. The confident expectation of future reward sustains believers in their suffering (1 Corinthians 15:19; 2 Timothy 2:12; Hebrews 10:34,35). c. There is no suffering or outside force that can separate the believer from Christ (Romans 8:35). Only the individual can cause his own separation. With the testimony of a cloud of witnesses and the example of Christ as encouragement, believers are urged to give themselves without reservation to running the race set before them (Hebrews 12:1,2).
Faithful Servants of Christ People often think only of temporal rewards. Faithful servants of Christ can look forward to unfading, eternal rewards for loyal service (1 Peter 5:4). 1. Service and salvation. a. Salvation is not on the basis of works (Ephesians 2:8,9), but on the basis of accepting Christ as Savior (John 1:12; Romans 6:23). b. After conversion, however, a believer demonstrates his salvation by a changed life and faithful service (James 2:14 22). Like Paul, true believers delight in being known as servants (Romans 1:1). 2. Service and attitudes. a. Believers should be zealous of good works (Titus 2:14) and seek to abound in service (2 Corinthians 9:8; 1 Timothy 6:18). b. In addition to their own efforts, believers should encourage others to be active in service to God (Hebrews 10:24). 3. Service and God. a. God is glorified when believers bear much fruit (John 15:8) and He purges lives that they might be more fruitful (John 15:2). b. When believers let their light shine, the people of the world who see their good works will glorify God (Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 2:12). 4. Service and rewards. a. While believers may forget their deeds of service, God does not forget (Hebrews 6:9,10; Revelation 14:13; Matthew 25:34 46). b. At the judgment seat of Christ the believer s service will be evaluated. Some will receive rewards (1 Corinthians 3:14), but some will suffer loss of reward because of wrong motives (1 Corinthians 3:15). Service is one indication of maturity. The Prodigal Son in early days said, Give me. In more mature days he said, Make me as one of thy hired servants (see Luke 15:11 19).
The Call of God Text: 2 Peter 1:1 3 There are many calls in the world for man s attention. God s call is to a meaningful life for time and eternity. 1. The nature of the call. a. God s call is to eternal life (1 Timothy 6:12), to peace (Colossians 3:15), and to fellowship with Christ (1 Corinthians 1:9). b. God s call is also to holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:7) and virtue (2 Peter 1:3). 2. The method of the call. a. The call of God comes through the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:13,14) and through the Holy Spirit (Revelation 22:17; John 16:7 11). b. The call of God comes to man through believers (2 Corinthians 5:20) as illustrated in the ministry of Philip (Acts 8:26 38) and Peter (Acts 10:1 6). 3. The purpose of the call. a. When people respond to the call, they enjoy justification (Romans 8:30) and all it implies (Romans 5:1 11). b. When people respond to God s call, they discover they shall also enjoy the eternal, indescribable glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:14; 1 Peter 5:10; compare with Mark 9:1 8, and Revelation 1:9 18). 4. The obligation of the call. a. Believers are to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith they are called (Ephesians 4:1) with lowliness, meekness, long-suffering, and unity (Ephesians 4:2,3). b. Believers are to walk in such a way as to show forth the excellency of the One who calls people from darkness to light (1 Peter 2:9). That partakers of the heavenly calling be all God expects of them, they must continually keep looking to Jesus Christ (Hebrews 3:1,2).
False Teachers Satan is the great counterfeiter. Just as God has provided for teachers of the Word, Satan has had his false teachers and prophets in every generation (2 Peter 2:1). 1. The fact of false teachers. a. While Satan deceives some, believers are not ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:11). God s Word provides information concerning Satan s efforts and tactics. b. In Eden Satan approached Eve through the serpent (Genesis 3:1 7). Israel and the Church have been confronted with false prophets (Jeremiah 23:17,18,31) and teachers (2 Peter 2:1). During the Tribulation Satan will deceive many through the Antichrist (Revelation 13:11 18). 2. The characteristics of false teachers. a. In their efforts to deceive (Matthew 24:4,5,24; Luke 21:8), false teachers will be wolves in sheep s clothing (Matthew 7:15,22,23); they will appear as angels of light (2 Corinthians 11:3,4, 13 15) and even perform signs and wonders (Mark 13:21,22). b. False teachers teach men to break God s commandments (Matthew 5:19) and teach for doctrine the commandments of men (Matthew 15:9,13,14; Luke 6:39). 3. The recognition of false teachers. a. Since false teachers and prophets teach contrary to the words of Christ (1 Timothy 6:3 5,20,21) the best way to recognize error is to be thoroughly acquainted with God s Word (2 Timothy 2:14 18). b. To recognize false teachers, believers must also rely on the Holy Spirit who leads into all truth (John 16:13) and helps in discerning that which is false (1 Corinthians 12:10; Acts 13:6 11). 4. The attitude toward false teachers. a. Believers must become so mature that they will not let false teachers confuse them with false doctrine (Ephesians 4:14). b. Believers must learn to identify, avoid, and reject false teachers (Romans 16:17,18; Titus 3:10,11). Jesus, who is the truth (John 14:6), will triumph. The defeat of Satan, the father of lies, is seen in the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:11 20; see verse 13) and his ultimate confinement in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).
The Second Coming of Christ Even though the return of Christ is one of the prominent teachings of Scripture, there are those who scoff at this truth (2 Peter 3:1 4). In spite of the attitude of unbelievers, Christians continually need to remind themselves of this glorious event. 1. The fact of Christ s coming a. Inspired servants of God have prophesied Christ s return (Jude 14; Daniel 7:13; Acts 3:20; 1 Timothy 6:14). b. Angels at the time of Christ s ascension assured the disciples of Christ s return (Acts 1:10,11). c. Christ himself told His troubled disciples that He would return for His own (John 14:1 3). 2. The purpose of Christ s coming. a. In the first phase of Christ s return, He is coming for the saints (1 Thessalonians 4:13 18). They will be delivered from the wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10) that will come after the wicked one is revealed (2 Thessalonians 2:3 10). b. In the second phase of Christ s return, He is coming with the saints for the battle of Armageddon (Jude 14,15; Revelation 19:11 to 20:3) after which He will establish His thousand-year reign of peace (Revelation 20:4 6; Isaiah 65:18 25). 3. The time of Christ s coming. a. Jesus taught emphatically that no mans knows the day of the hour of Christ s return (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32). b. Although man does not know the precise time of Christ s return, Christ responded to the disciples request for information concerning signs of His coming (Matthew 24:3). Some of the signs are listed in 2 Timothy 3:1 5. c. Scripture teaches we should regard Christ s coming as imminent (Romans 13:11; Philippians 4:5; 1 Peter 4:7) and live in a state of readiness (Matthew 25:1 13). Some will always scoff at the promise of Christ s return (2 Peter 3:3) and some may believe Christ is slack concerning His promises (2 Peter 3:9); but unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation (Hebrews 9:28).