Praise God!

We are studying 1 Peter. I do believe that this letter from Peter was written to give the recipients encouragement for how to live in this world. How the Gospel is for REAL life. God does not intend our Christianity, our relationship with Him to be disassociated from REAL life and irrelevant outside of the walls of the church. It is one thing to live as a Christian when 'life is good', and another to live as a Christian in the face of REAL life struggles. And I know that members of our church family have very real struggles.

I believe this letter is just as relevant to us today, and I hope we will find the Gospel for REAL life ourselves as we study it together.

My secondary goal is for us to learn how to study God's Word as we work through this.

Let's pray and ask God to speak to us today.

How to Study

Last week, I began by encouraging you to study God's word. I truly believe God wants each of us to be in the word, and studying it well because in it we find all we need for life and Godliness.

Peter says in his second letter,

2 Peter 1:3–4 NIV84

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Since it has what we need,

2 Timothy 2:15 NIV84

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

Truth is what we all need. The Bible is the word of truth. How can we correctly handle this word of truth?

Well, last week, the first thing we need to do is:

1. Read through the book

Last week I said that to study the Bible, the place to start is to read the whole book through. This allows us to get the feel for the whole book before digging in. Context is everything when doing Bible study and interpretation.

It is good to read through a couple times if you can.

2. Consider Historical Background/Setting

Next, we need to keep in mind the historical background. What was going on? Who wrote this? To whom did they write? What was their cultural setting? How would they have received this message?

3. Make a brief outline.

What is the main flow of the book? What are the major sections? What are the main topics?

Context is everything. So, having a good overview of the book is essential before diving in and examining the parts.

4. Note Key Words for the Book / Repeated Words

What are the major themes of the book? Well, if we see certain words emphasized or repeated, it gives us a clue as to what the themes of the book are. Then when studying the book, we can see how the author develops the themes.

Today, I want to add a couple steps to our study process.

5. Read it again, one section at a time

Ask the key questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

How do the themes get fleshed out in this section?

Add more detail to your outline

Pay Attention to Connectors

Define important words and concepts?

How to define the words and concepts? Well, look at how that word is used in other contexts as well as specifically in the current context.

Then you can check what you see in a lexicon or dictionary if you have one.

Are there cross-references? Related passages?

Always be looking for application.

When doing this study, the best tool is a bible with some good cross-references, and a concordance.

Now, let's apply some of this in our study of 1 Peter.

I read through 1 Peter.

I checked the background information. For most of Paul's letters, the book of Acts is great for background.

I made my outline for the book to see the flow of thought.

1. Introduction / Salutation - 1 Peter 1:1-2

2. Foundation: the Gospel for REAL life - 1 Peter 1:3-12

3. Call to Obey as Children - 1 Peter 1:13-2:3

4. Call to Grow in Community - 1 Peter 2:4-10

5. Call to Act Properly in the World - 1 Peter 2:11-5:11

1. Holy Submission - 1 Peter 2:11-3:22

2. Holy Living - 1 Peter 4:1-5:11

6. Closing - 1 Peter 5:12-14

I read the book again, and found the key words.

God, Jesus, Lord, Suffering, Glory, Grace.

Now we are going to go back and READ it again, one section at a time, asking our questions and adding detail to our outline.

I. Introduction: 1 Peter 1:1-2

A. From: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ

B. To:

1. Chosen

a. According to Foreknowledge of God the Father

b. Through sanctifying work of the Spirit

c. For

1) Obedience to Jesus Christ

2) Sprinkling by His Blood

2. Strangers

a. In the World

b. Scattered

These people were in the world, just like we are.

They were not strangers in that they were unknown. The were strangers in that they were like foreigners who did not belong.

Like Abraham and the others who were described with this same word in Hebrews 11:13.

Hebrews 11:13 NIV84

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

C. Salutation: Grace and peace be yours in abundance

Grace and peace! Grace from God and peace with God.

Peace, that inner serenity in the midst of the conflict of this world. Only possible because of the Grace of God.

Well, Peter fleshes that out in the next section, which is our main focus today: a Section I am titling Praise God! for the first words in the section.

1 Peter 1:3–9 NIV84

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

II. Foundation: Gospel for REAL Life - New Birth!

The new birth? Remember our questions.

What is it? Who in involved? Any cross-references we can look at about new birth?

John 1:12–13 NIV84

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

God has done this! God gives us a new birth. Not one of flesh and blood, but a spiritual rebirth. Jesus talked about this spiritual rebirth in John 3.

Peter begins by saying, Praise God who caused us to be born again. No matter what you are going through, you have been born again. You have spiritual life within you! Praise the Lord, though the outer man is wasting away, the inner man is being renewed!! 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. Read 2 Corinthians 4 this week.

How did we get this new birth? And what is it like? Back to 1 Peter to see how he develops this concept.

A. According to His Great Mercy

Like we saw last week, God chose us before the Creation of the world. He chose those of us who have received Christ, not because we were so good. But in spite of how sinful we were. He knew all about us, but chose us anyway! That is Mercy! That reminds me of Titus 3:5.

Titus 3:5 NIV84

he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

How did He accomplish our salvation? By the death and burial of Jesus!

B. Into Living Hope

Living? Something that is alive is growing, vibrant, productive, fresh. Our hope in Christ is living. It is growing. It brings freshness. It produces confidence in the midst of uncertainty. It produces boldness in times when we are afraid. It gives us great expectation in spite of all else. That's what this hope is. It is confident expectation.

Why such living hope? Because Jesus rose from the dead! He rose, and showed us that He will do the same for us. He rose, and it is as if we already rose with him, into a new way of living! Living hope! Paul speaks of this resurrection in Romans 6:1-14.

C. Into an Inheritance

1. Never Perish

2. Never Spoil

3. Never Fade

This so reminds me of Matthew! For those who were not here in 2014-15, we spent a lot of time in Matthew. I wonder if Peter wasn't thinking of Jesus' teaching which Matthew recorded for us in Matthew 6:19-34?

Matthew 6:19–34 NIV84

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

When we pursue things in this world and life, it ultimately is for naught. It will not last. It will perish. It will spoil. It will fade. It will go to someone else who didn't earn it.

But when we live for Him, and His kingdom, we earn a greater inheritance! One which will never perish, spoil or fade!

4. Kept in heaven for you who are being shielded

a. By God's power

b. Through Faith

c. Until the coming of the salvation which is ready to be revealed in the last time

D. In this you greatly rejoice...

though now you suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

Rejoice: "deep spiritual joy", Mary in Luke 1:46-47 ; believers who suffered, 1 Peter 4:13; Phil. Jailer, Acts 16:34

Rejoicing is based upon what God has, is doing rather than worldly circumstances

1. Trials come to prove FAITH

Testing is not so you will fail. Testing is so you will shine!!

2. Result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus is revealed.

Praise - applause, commendation. Like Stephen for whom Jesus stood to receive into His presence!

And who is this Jesus? Peter knew him. Peter lived, walked, talked, ate with Him. But, Peter commends these believers, and us today...

1 Peter 1:8–9 NIV84

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

No matter what suffering we are facing. This is the foundation. This is the anchor for our souls.

We have been caused by God to have New Birth! Praise the Lord that no matter how wrong life is, you are right within. No matter how beat down, wore out, broken you are on the outside, within you are filled with living hope!!

You have life, which can never be taken from you.

You have hope which is growing and alive!

You have confidence in the Lord!

And, yes you may be a foreigner now, but you are going home to that city who architect and builder is God!

You have a home there. You have an inheritance there which will never perish, never spoil, never fade. It is reserved for you!! No one will take it away, or steal it from you.

Your salvation is coming, and you will be with the one you love. You will finally see him. You will be with Him and like Him!

Praise God! No matter what is going on in your life, you have new birth, new living hope, new inheritance!

Praise God!

Homework

1. Read the book of 1 Peter in one sitting if possible.

2. Reread 1 Peter 1:1-12 a couple times this week. Add details to your outline, paying attention to how the connectors (in, to, for, through, because, …) show the flow and relationships of the concepts.

3. List cross references you find for these verses. Look them up, and write down how they help you understand this passage.

4. What are the Key Words or Concepts in these verses? What words are significant, in that if you do not have them, you lose the message Peter was conveying? How does understanding those words or concepts help you understanding of the passage?

5. How does this relate to your life? How can you apply this to your life this week? Write out how you would explain what you are studying to a friend.

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