Introduction
Lesson 1: ‘A Living Hope’
‘Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. 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. This inheritance is 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 all 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 the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—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 end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.’ 1 Peter 1:1-12
Discussion questions
What is it like to be away from home and in trouble?
A Chosen People
1. What do the words ‘to God’s elect’ mean?
‘Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace’ Ephesians 1:3-8
‘But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
2. What is the work of each individual member of the Godhead in salvation?
3. How would Peter’s opening words bring comfort and encouragement to persecuted Christians?
An Imperishable Inheritance
1. What does Peter mean by ‘a living hope’? What is the basis for this hope?
2. How is the Christian’s inheritance described in 1 Peter 1:4?
3. How important is our faith in receiving this inheritance?
‘For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.’ 1 John 5:4
4. These Christians were suffering persecution for their faith. What was to be their attitude toward these trials?
5. What part does faith play in ‘seeing’ Christ?
‘For we live by faith, not by sight.’ 2 Corinthians 5:7
6. What is the Christian’s ultimate goal?
A Diligent Search
1. For what were the prophets searching as they made their prophecies?
2. Who was the fulfilment of these prophecies designed to benefit?
3. What do 1 Peter 1:10-12 teach concerning the inspiration of the Scriptures?
How grateful are you for the living hope you have in Christ?
Lesson 2: ‘Be Holy Because I Am Holy’
‘Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, ‘All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’ And this is the word that was preached to you.’ 1 Peter 1:13-25
Discussion questions
Think of the person that you most wish to be like. What qualities does this person have that make you want to imitate them?
A Disciplined Life
1. What preparations are necessary to live a disciplined life? 1 Peter 1:13.
2. What two imperatives does Peter give in 1 Peter 1:14-15?
3. What is involved in being ‘holy’?
‘And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.’ Colossians 3:17
‘Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.’ Matthew 5:48
‘All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.’ 1 John 3:3
‘Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children.’ Ephesians 5:1
An Unequalled Redemption
1. How will God ‘judge each man’s work’ and how do we live in anticipation of the judgment?
2. With what was sinful mankind redeemed?
3. When had God planned for the incarnation of Jesus?
‘His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ Ephesians 3:10-11
The Power of God’s Word
1. How is a person ‘purified’ and in what does this purification result?
‘Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.’ John 17:17
2. What is the relation of God’s word to being ‘born again’?
‘He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.’ James 1:18
‘Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.’ 1 Corinthians 4:15
3. How durable is man compared to the word of God? 1 Peter 1:24-25.
Are you living a holy life for God? Are you grateful for your redemption? Do you meditate daily on His word?
