Have you ever been in a situation that seemed hopeless? What did you do? Who did you turn to?
It’s easy to lose hope in America today. Why? Raising godly families is not easy,
Increasingly secular society, Societal institutions do not support Christian values, etc.
Q: Christians can lose their sense of hope, too. Why?
A: Suffering, Pain, People, Painful Trials, Adversary, etc.
Peter wrote this letter of hope to Christians when all seemed hopeless. He reminded them they were only pilgrims in this world. This world is not our home (Philippians 3:20).
Background: 30 years prior, Peter preached the first Christian sermon @Pentecost. Three thousand were saved. Now, he is writing as the elder (1 Peter 5:1). Storms of persecution were gathering against Christians.
A.D. 64 – Fire broke out in Rome that destroyed much of the city. Nero was responsible, but he blamed Christians for the fire. Christians falsely accused, arrested, martyred, etc.
Peter was writing these Christians to encourage them to stand firm in their faith. Peter taught these believers not only how to survive but also how to thrive – how to demonstrate their faith in a pagan culture.
Peter writes so that believers will experience the full benefit of their relationship with God and their relationship with one another. Most of all, "he wants them to see that no matter what happens, God loves them, protects them, and has promised that when the End comes, they will be vindicated and glorified." (NIV Application Commentary, 1 Peter, Scott McKnight, p. 36)
Life Question: Who doesn’t want to live with hope, but how can I do so?
Dr. Charles Stanley’s Life Principles relating to this study:
26. Adversity is a bridge to a deeper relationship with God. (1:6)
7. The dark moments of our life will last only so long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in us. (1:8)
1. Hope: Recognize Its Basis (1 Peter 1:1-5)
1:1 – “Peter” – Cephas, “rock” (John 1:42). Greek = Petros, which means a rock or stone.
Peter and his brother, Andrew, were the first of 12 apostles Jesus chose to be with Him during His earthly ministry (Mk. 1:16).
“an apostle of Jesus Christ” – What is an apostle? God gave him divine authority to declare that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God. Apostle was “sent forth with a message.”
Peter was the first to recognize Jesus as Messiah, and Jesus gave him a special place of leadership (Matthew 16:16-19, John 21:15-19)
Was Peter called because he was perfect? Far from it! Remember, he denied knowing Jesus. Jesus restored him and asked three times, “Do you love me more than these?”
Once Peter decided to follow Jesus, he was a brand new man. Fishing to fisher of men!
“strangers” scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. Today, this is northern Turkey
God’s people are only temporarily passing through. This is not out ultimate home.
Problem: Getting all caught up in this world. See 1 John 2:17
We must not become so attached to this world that we are unprepared for the return of Christ.
We must not become so preoccupied with the world that we neglect service for Christ. (Life Application Bible Commentary, 1 Peter)
1:2 – “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father…”
“By the sanctifying work of the Spirit”
“to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood.”
The Trinity @work to bring about our salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ! What a reason to live in confident hope!
God the Father chose us in Him before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4)
Jesus Christ, the Son, died for us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8)
The Holy Spirit bring us all the benefits of salvation and set us apart (holy, sanctified, unto God’s service).
“sprinkled with His blood” (see Exodus 24:3-8). God chose believers to have a covenant relationship with Him that is characterized by obedience. Christ’s blood makes that relationship possible.
KEY DOCTIRNE: God’s purpose of grace. Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and...is the glorious display of God's sovereign goodness. (See also Gen. 12:1-3; John 1:12-14; Rom. 8:28-30; Eph. 1:3-6.) Explore the Bible, Fall 2012
“Grace,” “Peace,” “fullest measure” – Grace is free, undeserved favor. Peace is wholeness or soundness under God’s rule.
Q: In the midst of fears and uncertainty, what hope did Peter offer?
A: The merciful Christ, through His death on the cross, had given them hope here and for eternity.
Remember the basis of our hope as Christians.
The Mercy of God (3a)
We are born again (3b) – John 3, Nicodemus
Living hope
Resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
The power that raised Christ from death is the basis and guarantee of Christian’s victory over death.
ETB: What do most people ordinarily mean when they use the word “hope?” How is the living hope Peter described different?
LAB: Our hope is not only for the future; eternal life begins when we trust Christ and join God’s family. No matter what pain or trial we face in this life, we know that it is not our final experience. Eventually we will live with Christ forever!!
1:4 – “inheritance,” is our eternal life! “imperishable,” – not subject to decay; “undefiled,” – pure; “Will not fade away,” – lasting and beautiful; “reserved in heaven for you.”
1:5 - A Christian may lose their job, their money, their liberty & even their life, but they can never lose eternal life. @NickyGumbel
Summary of 1:1-5
Suffering Christians need to be encouraged by their eternal hope in Christ
Temporary suffering will one day replaced with eternal joy
We have a living hope by placing our faith in Jesus Christ
Look beyond the difficulties of today to the glorious blessings of heaven provide perspective and strength as we face our current struggles with faith and Gods’ help.
2. Hope: Rejoice in Response (1 Pet. 1:6-9)
Read 1 Peter 1:6-9 & James 1:2-8
Rejoice in trials? Why?
1. We can rejoice in trials bc they can develop a Biblical perspective in us (Paul’s cancer)
2. We can rejoice in trials bc they develop the genuineness of our faith.
3. We can rejoice in trials bc they assist us in growing in spiritual maturity.
The judgment we face as believers will have nothing to do with our salvation, but rather one of stewardship of life in service to God (2 Cor. 5:10).
Good Questions: Why is faith more valuable than gold?
A: It lasts longer and reaches beyond this temporal order. Now, men desire gold, but God will set His stamp of approval on faith that has been tested.
As gold is heated to the melting point, impurities float to the top and are skimmed off, leaving only the extremely valuable, pure gold.
Trials are God’s refining fire. He sets the temp. as needed to soften, temper, and to make impurities come to the surface. (Anger, filthy language, bitterness, pride, sinful desires).
God uses trials to help us see what we are like on the inside.
Could God be allowing a trial in your life (Finance, health, job, family) so your lives will result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed?
1 Peter 1:8-9
We haven’t seen Jesus with our physical sight, but we love and trust Him by faith.
We can rejoice in our response because we have a living hope even when we face difficulties.
Our joy comes from God’s presence with us and His care for us.
Satan wanted to sift Peter (Luke 22:32).
WE can easily fail in the trials of life. We may have times when we fail the Lord as Peter did.
Yet, the Lord can restore us and use us to strengthen others!
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen, yet believe!”
3. Hope: Recall God’s Grace (1 Pet. 1:10-12)
10 – “prophets who prophesied” – OT prophets. They understood some of the revelation they received about the future Savior and salvation He would bring, but their knowledge was limited.
Jesus said, “For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” Mt. 13:17
Believers of Peter’s day had the privilege of understanding the prophet’s writings better than the prophets themselves had understood them. All of the prophets’ predictions regarding the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ had been completely fulfilled. Other prophecies concerning the end times are being or are yet to be fulfilled. (ETB, 1 Peter, Fall 2012)
The Greek work translated angels means “messengers.” The writer of Hebrews described them as ministering spirits. They are a created order of heavenly beings who serve God. In their privileged state, they do not experience salvation as humans do. However, they intensely look into the salvation God has provided. (ETB, Fall 2012).
“Look into” – bending down and stretching the neck to peer at something marvelous. Angels are amazed spectators of believers’ salvation.
Compare Luke 15:10 with Matthew 13:41-42
Do you think angels rejoice over having to cast a sinner into hell?
Do you think angels and all of heaven is rejoicing when one sinner repents and trusts Jesus?
Non-believers do not have what you have in Christ today. Wow. Eph. 2:12
Think about that. Shouldn't that move us to offer them our living hope in Christ?
May have all the riches of this world, but without Christ they are without hope.
Believers have a living hope regardless of the trials we face based on the fulfillment of God’s promises that will never be disappointed.
Note: These are my Sunday school lesson notes in teaching the Explore the Bible lessons from Lifeway. I rely heavily on the Bible and the ETB commentary for my notes. Also, I like to use Josh Hunt's Good Questions Have Groups Talking and you'll see some of his questions throughout my notes. May the Lord bless you and your congregation as you teach His Word.
