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1Pe1a_2012N.doc

A Living Hope

1 Peter 1:1-12

Key Verse 3-4

“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”

The Apostle Peter wrote this letter to persecuted believers in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) around AD 64-65 at Rome. At that time the persecution of believers had been increasing by the emperor Nero. The purpose of this letter is to encourage persecuted believers and to have victory in the midst of the hostility.

In this passage, we will study about salvation of God.

(1) Processes of Salvation;

Election, Sanctification, Obedience, Blood of Jesus (v2)

(2) Gifts of Salvation;

New birth, Living hope, Imperishable inheritance (v3,4)

Joy, Faith, Love (v6-9)

(3) Greatness of Salvation:

Theme of Prophets’ study, Apostles’ preaching, Angels’ interest (v10-12)

Inspiration of Holy Spirit. (v10-12)

May God richly bless us with the Holy Spirit so that we can see the greatness of Salvation and praise Him even in the middle of the suffering. Amen.

1. Read verses 1-2. How did Peter introduce himself? (1a) Who did he write his letter to? (1b) How have they been chosen? (2a) What were they chosen for? (2b)? How did he greet his recipients? (2c)

1-1) Read verses 1-2.

“1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”

1-2) How did Peter introduce himself? (1a)

“1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,”

Peter introduced himself as an apostle.

Unlike Paul, Peter’s apostolic status was never questioned.

1-3) Who did he write his letter to? (1b)

“1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,”

a) To God’s elect

i) Peter describes believers as elect.

Believers are the elect and chosen people. (Exo 19:5-6, 1Peter 1:1)

ii) Peter clearly intended to strengthen and encourage persecuted believers.

Peter reminded them that they are God’s elect and they belong to God.

In times of suffering, it is easy to think that God abandon us.

They are not the chosen of the world, but the chosen of God.

b) To strangers in the world:

i) Believers are strangers in the world.

Our primary citizenship is in heaven, not United States.

Our primary constitution is the Bible, not the U.S Constitution.

Our primary King is Jesus Christ, not US President.

Our dominant desires are not for this world but for the Kingdom of God.

ii) If we are strangers in the world,

Worldly language, values, customs, expectations feel foreign to us.

Because we are radically changed (born again)

We are continually transformed by renewing our minds. (Rom 12:1)

c) Scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia

Believers were scattered throughout the world even that time.

1-4) How have they been chosen? (2a)

“2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”

a) Chosen by God (Doctrine of Election)

(Mat 24:22, Lk 18:7, Jn 15: 16, Act 13:48, Rom8:33, Col 3:12, 2Tim 1:9, 2:10)

God chose us before the foundation of the world. (Eph 1:4)

Salvation is originated by the will of God; not by the will of man.

b) According to the foreknowledge of God the Father

God also chose us through His foreknowledge (previously determined plan)

Just like Jesus was chosen through the foreknowledge of God, (1Peter 1:20)

c) Through the sanctifying work of the Spirit.

i) Sanctify; set aside; separate, make holy

ii) God’s elect become saved through the work of the Spirit.

New birth is sanctifying work of the Spirit.

Faith is a gift of the Spirit.

Eyes of our hearts are opened by the Spirit so that you'll believe.

iii) Election (chosen) is confirmed by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Election is eternity past; sanctify work of the Spirit is recent past.

Without the work of the Holy Spirit, election is not known or valid.

1-5) What were they chosen for? (2b)?

a) The purpose of our election (salvation) is obedience to Jesus Christ

i) God saved us so that we may obey Jesus Christ.

We are chosen (to be saved) to obey Jesus.

Salvation is a life of obedience to Jesus Christ.

After salvation, we become obedient to God; submissive to the word of God.

ii) Our obedience is not perfect: We do not obey as we ought to obey fully.

When we fail to obey, there will be heart of brokenness and confession.

This is characteristic of a true believer to obey Jesus Christ.

b) Sprinkling by his blood:

i) Blood was sprinkled on people in 3 circumstances in OT.

At the establishment of Sinai or Old Covenant (Exodus 24:5-8).

At the ordination of Aaron and his sons (Exodus 29:21).

At the purification ceremony for a cleansed leper (Leviticus 14:6-7).

ii) Blood of Jesus on us accomplishes the same things.

New covenant is formed.

We are ordained as priests.

We are cleansed from our sin.

ii) Considering the sequence of this passage, sprinkling is related to the new covenant.

Jesus shed the blood of the covenant on the cross.

For God, covenant to forgive us because of the blood of Jesus.

For believers, covenant to obey because of the blood of Jesus.

c) God the Father, the Spirit, Jesus Christ:

i) God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit work together in our salvation.

God the Father planned salvation. (Election)

God the Son, Jesus Christ purchased salvation.

God the Holy Spirit applies salvation.

ii) The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit have existed together throughout eternity.

Each is equally God. (Doctrine of Trinity)

1-6) How did he greet his recipients? (2c)

”2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”

Peter brings a greeting that had become common among the Christians

Gift of salvation is grace; the result of salvation is peace.

2. Read verses 3-5. For what reasons does Peter praise God? (v.3,4) How are God’s elect shielded?(v.5a) When does God protect his elect until? (v.5b)

2-1) Read verses 3-5.

“3 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, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade —kept in heaven for you, 5 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.”

2-2) For what reasons does Peter praise God? (v.3,4)

a) In His great mercy

i) When Peter considered the salvation of God, all he could do is to praise Him.

Because Salvation is from God because of God’s mercy.

ii) Because of his great mercy, (not just mercy) we are saved.

All His goodness comes to us because of his great mercy.

The more we know who we are, the more we will praise God for his great mercy.

We were by nature objects of wrath. (Eph 2:3)

b) New birth

i) New birth is the work of God.

God created a new person. We did not create ourselves. (Eph 4:24, 2 Cor 5:17)

God raised us from the dead. We did not raise ourselves. (Eph 2:5)

God caused us to see Jesus is the Christ. We were blind (Mat 16:17, Act 16:14)

No one can come to Jesus unless Father draws him. (Jn 6:44)

ii) New Birth is supernatural; not mere human decision. (Jn 1: Jn 3)

God granted us repentance and lead us to knowledge of the truth. (2Tim 2:25)

We are saved by faith, which is the gift of God. (Eph 2:8)

Believers are not born of natural descent, or human decision or husband’s will.

Believers are born of God. (Jn 1:13)

c) A living hope

i) Biblical hope is full assurance; confident expectation; not an uncertain desire.

God gave us living hope through his grace (2Thess 2:16)

ii) We are born again to a living hope

We did not have hope before salvation.

iii) Living hope is to have eternal life with God.

The hope we have is living because Jesus conquered death.

Worldly Hope is deadly because it is destined for destruction.

d) An inheritance

i) We are born again to an inheritance

ii) New heavenly inheritance can never perish, spoil or fade

Previous earthly inheritances fade like withering flowers.

This inheritance is kept in heaven for us

An inheritance is God himself (Joshua 13:33) including the gifts of God

2-3) How are God’s elect shielded?(v.5a)

“5 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.”

a) By the power of God through faith:

We are now kept by the power of God.

We are chosen in the past, we will have inheritance in the future

We are protected now and this is ongoing process until the last time.

b) God’s power is protecting us from unbelief.

God sustains our faith in present time so that we can be saved completely in heaven.

We will not have salvation without faith.

Someone who look like lose salvation are not saved from the beginning. (1Jn 2:19)

Because real believers will endure through faith until the coming of Jesus.

2-4) When does God protect his elect until? (v.5b)

”5 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.”

a) God will protect his elect until the coming of the salvation

Until the last time; until Jesus’ second coming.

b) Doctrine of Perseverance

i) Those who are saved will persevere to the end. (Perseverance)

We need to continue to work out our salvation with fear and tremble.

ii) It is God who works on our salvation. (Phil 2:12-13)

God sustains our faith to the end.

Therefore, our salvation is secure. (Eternal Security)

Eternal security does not mean you can continually sin. (1Jn 3:6)

Believers obey Jesus and fight against sins.

3. Read verses 6-9. How can God’s elect rejoice despite suffering grief in trials?(v.6) Why do God’s elect go through all kinds of trials? (v.7) How do they love Jesus and believe in him? (v.8a) What are they filled with? (v.8b) Why are they filled with such a joy? (v.9)

3-1) Read verses 6-9.

”6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 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. 8 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, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

3-2) How can God’s elect rejoice despite suffering grief in trials?(v.6)

“6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”

We greatly rejoice

Because God caused us to be born again in the past.

Because God gives us a living hope in the present.

Because God is keeping us with His power in the present.

Because God will give us an inheritance in the future.

3-3) Why do God’s elect go through all kinds of trials? (v.7)

“7 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.”

a) To prove that our faith is genuine.

i) Test is not for God, but for us so that we know the quality of our faith.

ii) Faith refined by suffering is greater worthy than gold refined by fire

Even gold perishes but real, genuine, sincere, true faith will not perish.

Genuine faith is stronger than fire; purer than pure gold.

b) To give praise, glory and honor to Jesus.

Our genuine faith will overcome the animosity and bring glory to God.

Because only real faith will shine in times of suffering.

3-4) How do they love Jesus and believe in him? (v.8a)

“8 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,”

a) Believers love Jesus: his characters, virtues,

b) Believers believe in Jesus: because he will keep his promises; his ability

c) Although they have not seen him

They did not see Jesus with their physical eyes but with the eyes of their hearts.

Through hearing the gospel, they were able to see the glory of Jesus.

When they saw the glory of Jesus; they loved Jesus and believed in Him.

3-5) What are they filled with? (v.8b)

“8 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,”

Believers are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.

The glory of Jesus Christ is inexpressible and glorious.

Therefore, our joy in Jesus is inexpressible and glorious.

3-6) Why are they filled with such a joy? (v.9)

”9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

Because believers receive the goal of their faith, the salvation of their souls.

Because they have Jesus’ joy in their hearts.

4. Read verses 10-12. How did the prophets search concerning this salvation? (v.10) What did they try to find out? (v.11) For whom was the salvation revealed to the prophets? (v.12a) How have God’s elect been told of the gospel? (v.12b) In what sense are the God’s elect more blessed than even angels? (v.12c)

4-1) Read verses 10-12.

“10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 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”

4-2) How did the prophets search concerning this salvation? (v.10)

“10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care,”

a) The OT prophets searched intently and with the greatest care.

They received revelation from the Holy Spirit regarding Messiah.

The OT prophets could not fully understand salvation.

The OT prophets studied their own prophecy to know more about salvation;

Regarding the life and death of Jesus Christ.

Salvation of God is worthy of intent research; how much do you search for it?

b) They spoke of the grace; the motive of salvation.

They were eager to speak of the grace of God;

Forgiving goodness toward undeserving sinners.

4-3) What did they try to find out? (v.11)

“11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.”

a) Who would be the person? When would he come?

The OT prophets searched to know these questions.

b) Suffering of Christ (Suffering; Death on the Cross)

Psalm 22, Psalm 69:1-21, Isaiah 53:10, Daniel 9:24-26, Zech12:10, 13:7

c) Glory to follow (The resurrection, the ascension, the enthronement of Christ)

Isaiah 9, Daniel 2, 7; Zech 2,14;

The sufferings and the glories of Christ are the major themes of OT prophecy.

4-4) For whom was the salvation revealed to the prophets? (v.12a)

“12 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”

The prophets understood that they were ministering to people beyond them;

More then themselves and people in their own day.

4-5) How have God’s elect been told of the gospel? (v.12b)

By the Holy Spirit

All revelation was divinely revealed by the Holy Spirit.

Every single word in the original scripture is the word of God.

4-6) In what sense are the God’s elect more blessed than even angels? (v.12c)

”12 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”

Even angels long to look into these things.

Angels have strong desire to see God’s great salvation work in the lives of believers.

They never experience the salvation of God.

Angels did not sin and do not know what is like to be saved and be with God.

In Conclusion

Praise God for our salvation; new birth, living hope and imperishable inheritance. When we value this gracious salvation work of God, we can overcome the trials with rejoice. May God open eyes of our hearts to see the greatness of salvation and praise Him even in the midst of suffering. Amen.

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