Pastor Jim’s Personal Notes

A Bible Study Ministry of Net153 http://www.net153.com and Pastor JIM

I Peter   Lesson Two

Lesson One Review

The author of First Peter is?

The time period is?

The general theme is?

Review Key Verses 1:10-12 and 4:12-13

Chapter One Outline

I.                   The Chosen Addresses the Chosen v 1 - 2

II.                The Christian and His Circumstances v 3 -12

III.             The Charge and Commands v 13 - 21

IV.            The Conclusion and Confidence v 22 – 25

We strong suggest that the student read the questions before reading the text. This will help the student to discover truths and comprehend what she or he has read.

This Week’s Questions

We are born again to what?

How important is hope to the suffering believer?

What part does the resurrection play in the “living hope”?

What part if any does hope play in the troubles of life?

Suggested Daily Reading (Five Day Plan)

Monday –    1 Peter 1:1-4

Tuesday –   Romans 8:28-39

Wednesday –        James 1:2-3

Thursday – Heb 11:1-16

Friday –       Matthew 28

V. 2

Job was a man that faced great trouble in his life. Confused for he had lead a good life, Job seeks justice from the court of a Just God. While God remains silent for a time, the Almighty eventually replies to Job but not with an answer to his question of why this is happening to him but rather with questions of His own.  Those questions are: “Where were you when I set everything in motion and who are to give counsel or question my ways?” (A little personal paraphrase Job 38-41) Peter reminds the readers that according to God’s foreknowledge you are exactly where you should be! Lord help us understand your wisdom and not question your working in our life.

The sanctifying work of the Spirit is an on going process that is setting us apart from the world. We have been chosen – set apart from the world and are continually being set apart, made holy by the Spirit. God’s Holy Spirit works through the word and often works through everyday circumstances and troubles.  The fire makes us pure. (Job 23:10)

God’s goal for our life is obedience. The tests of life are not so we should failure but rather that we should succeed.

God always want to bring us to the blood where forgiveness is granted and refreshed hope can be found. The blood of Jesus and the grace of God go hand-in-hand.

As is often the case with the men that God used to inspire the New Testament, Peter breaks into pray, “May the grace and Peace be yours n fullest measure” (NASB).  Perhaps the early believers understood the command to pray without ceasing. Perhaps every time they wrote or recalled the majesty of God or the wonder of his grace, they immediately broke into prayer. Peter does not pray for himself. He does not even pray that the troubles of his fellow Christian be removed; but he prays that they be flooded with grace and peace.  It could well be that we spend too much time praying that the troubles be removed when we should be asking God to flood the troubles with grace and peace. All could enjoy Christianity more if we were surrounded by grace and comforted by peace in every difficulty.

This verse shows the work of the divine Trinity -- The wisdom of the Father, the work of the Spirit, and the salvation of the Son. This is just one of several places where we see the unity of the Trinity. 

V. 3

Every prayer should contain elements of praise. Come into the presences of the Almighty will cause anyone one, both saint and sinner, to praise his awesomeness.

Mercy is receiving a pass from that which we are guilty. Indeed his mercy is great and it does grant us a “born again’ living hope! Without mercy is to be without hope. The hope we have is alive – it is not dead. It is hope that causes us to endure, to carry on, and to hang in until the end.

When writing to Titus, Paul minded Titus that “He [God] saved us, not on the basis of our deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy” (Titus 3:5 NASB).

If asked why we have such hope, it is because of the resurrection. The resurrection is at the center of Christianity. It is why we hope.  Since our Lord rose from the dead, we too look to the hope of the resurrection.

V. 4

Not only does the believer have the hope of the resurrection but we have the promise of an inheritance. The same inheritance that is the Lord’s is also ours. This inheritance cannot rot, it cannot fade, it cannot perish and it is reserved for us.