Faith in Christ and His Word gives us hope to persevere.

Today’s lesson is focused on the assurance of our salvation in Jesus Christ. Peter, writing to the persecuted believers who were spread among the religion of modern day Turkey, was reminding them of the present hope and future inheritance that awaits them in Christ. Likewise, he was calling them to remain aware of the holy calling that was on their lives to live separate from the world. During times of persecution there is the temptation to give up on faith instead of pressing forward through perseverance into the promised future which has been sealed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus Christ requires both present faith and hope for the future.

SURE SALVATION

A. A Living Hope

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

1Pe 1:2  Elect (chosen, favorite) according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification (purification, concretely, holiness) of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

…….The Apostle Peter here is speaking to all that have answered the call to follow the Lord. When we answer the call to live under the umbrella of salvation, it is accompanied by sanctification which can only be accomplished by the Spirit which directs us into obedience. We need the sanctification through the Spirit.

1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1Pe 1:4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

…….Just think that the God of everything already has an amazing spot in His eternity just for you. It’s not going anywhere and cannot be compromised! No matter what plans we’ve made that have shattered into pieces, His plan is perfection!

1Pe 1:5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

…….Those who fall away have not come to the realization that our faith in Christ’s saving power is what keeps us within salvation. If the enemy can convince you that you are not saved, he is possibly right. It is the work of God but we must believe.

B. Genuine Faith

1Pe 1:6  Wherein (in this condition) ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

…….Because the audience Peter was writing to was facing hard times, though they come in seasons, make your praise be that of expectation that this trial is taking me somewhere.

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

…….Enduring the trial itself is a type of praise given to the Lord. Sometimes all we have to do is simply hang on! When the trial is over what is left is a more pure child of God.

1Pe 1:8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

…….Because of the outcome of the trials, our faith is built to trust the Lord even more by seeing everything he’s brought us through and it causes joy unspeakable.

1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

1Pe 1:10  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

1Pe 1:11  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

…….What a thought, the salvation that the prophets (who had the Spirit of Christ dwelling in them) sought after and prophesied would come is now covering us freely. Even the holy angels looked with great anticipation for salvation by Christ to be given to humans. May we never take for granted this great salvation and the attributes that come with it.

HOLY CALLING

A. Alertness to Holiness

1Pe 1:13  Wherefore (consequently, because of this [the opportunity of salvation]) gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

…….Though the Spirit is now present and so influential, it is still up to the saved to take action against the influence of the opposites of holiness. This world is combatting holiness more than ever before. The worse it gets, the better we must be!

1Pe 1:14  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

…….There is never an excuse to go back to the things you were delivered from. A great part of conviction is the “know better”. Whereas we were once ignorant to what brought forth sin, our great companion now warns us of the mistakes before they surface.

1Pe 1:15  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

…….That word conversation literally means behavior. You can tell much of a persons lifestyle simply by the way they talk and use their words. Our conversations must be holy.

1Pe 1:16  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

B. Living in Reverence

1Pe 1:17  And if ye call on the Father, who without respect (partiality) of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

…….The disciplinary actions of God are not withheld from certain Christians. He is not partial to any one person above the other. I would dare to say that the closer you are to God the quicker you will be corrected, and thank Him for this, but it doesn’t mean He loves them more or less. For many people this is good, for others it is scary. The child that is never corrected wallows in their foolishness.

1Pe 1:18  (This is why the Lord takes our correction seriously) Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

1Pe 1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1Pe 1:20  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

1Pe 1:21  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

…….Because of the blood of Christ we can have the greatest belief in God! We have the proof, through His Spirit, that salvation is real and is for us! No more is it a remedy of routines by imperfect men to represent the sins of all people, but by the absolute perfect blood of the unblemished and unspotted Lamb Jesus Christ! And the Amazing part is this, God planned it this way for this timing and you were a part of the plan!

INCORRUPTIBLE SEED

A. Expressions of Love

1Pe 1:22  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned (undissembled [not disguised], that is, sincere: not hidden) love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

…….If we repetitively hear one topic in Sunday school it is this, Unity! Love unites us all and keeps everything together.

1Pe 1:23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

1Pe 1:24  For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

1Pe 1:25  But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

…….Every mans glory, no matter the height, depth or impact always fades away. The history books can be written and displayed in every memorial imaginable, but the glory eventually moves to another. But, the Glory of God and His Word will forever endure!

B. Hunger for Righteousness

This very important step is too often missed or simply detoured.

1Pe 2:1  Wherefore laying aside all malice (evil, naughtiness), and all guile (trickery, deceit), and hypocrisies (deceit, condemnation), and envies (ill will, jealousy), and all evil speakings,

…….Why is condemnation hypocrisy? Because when we condemn others we place ourselves in a category of people who never fail, which is impossible. Only hypocrites will look at others imperfections with judgement.

1Pe 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

1Pe 2:3  If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

…….As babies thirst for the milk of the mother, not of choice but by mandatory needs, we should supply ourselves with the Word of God and understanding. There is no excuse of not understanding the elementary foundational truths of scripture. There are resources too many to count and men of God waiting to teach. Find something and someone who can feed you in the times of biblical hunger.

We are people of Hope. God has placed everything in order to know Him and find comfort through His Spirit. When we search the word out and find His promises, know the His prophesies are true, it is much easier to walk in holiness. Our Love for the father produces love for His Word which causes love for one another.