BBCC Bible Study Notes

WHAT TO PACK FOR A HARD JOURNEY – 1Peter 1:3-12

September 22^nd, 2024

Review: Christians as Refugees (1 Peter 1:1-2)

·       Pain and discomfort remind us we don't belong in this world

·       Christians are like refugees, foreigners, aliens, exiles -->  We belong powerfully to Jesus, but not to this world

Living Hope: Our Eternal Inheritance (1 Peter 1:3-5)

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given usnew birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from thedead, 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'spower until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in thelast time." (1 Peter 1:3-5, NIV)

·       New birth through Jesus' resurrection is what brings us living hope

Rejoicing in Trials (1 Peter 1:6-9)

"In all thisyou greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffergrief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness ofyour faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—mayresult in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though youhave not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, youbelieve in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for youare receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls."(1 Peter 1:6-9, NIV)

·       Rejoice despite temporary trials because joy transcends suffering

·       Genuine faith is tested and refined through trials

·       Loving and believing in Jesus brings inexpressible joy and salvation

The Privilege of Living Hope (1 Peter 1:10-12)

"Concerningthis 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 andcircumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when hepredicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. Itwas revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when theyspoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached thegospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to lookinto these things." (1 Peter 1:10-12, NIV)

·       The gospel reveals the fulfillment of prophecies and the privilege ofsalvation. Faith is believing that God has a bigger, longer, more comprehensiveplan for goodness than we can see in this difficult moment.

Application: Bringing Hope

·       As refugees, the one thing Christians should bring is hope

·       Living hope changes our perspective on trials and our love for Jesus

·       People should see the hope we have and be drawn to it

BBCC Verse of the Week: 1Peter 1:8 (NIV) Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though youdo not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible andglorious joy.

1 Peter 1:3-12 Study/Discussion Guide

We have some great devotionals in thelobby -- pick one up and read devotionally each day.  This is a different tool to encourage yourgrowth in scripture. 1) Some notes that go a little deeper than what I can talkabout on a Sunday morning. 2) Some questions to go a little wider as you talkto people and think about how the Spirit may be making you more holy throughhis word. Use the first section as a springboard to learning more about theBible, use the second section to talk to others about what you’re learning.Talk in the car on the way home, chat with folks during the week – some of ourBible studies will be using these to discuss together.

Study Notes:

“True virtuenever appears so lovely as when it is most oppressed; and the divine excellencyof real Christianity is never exhibited with such advantage as when under thegreatest trials; then it is that true faith appears much more precious thangold, and upon this account is "found to praise and honour andglory.”  ― Jonathan Edwards, The Religious Affections

Election, obedience, sprinkling with blood, sanctification bythe Spirit, the abiding word of God, a living temple, a new priesthood, a holynation, the people of God, the very mention of Christians being dispersed asforeigners—all these and other themes recall many elements of the covenanttheology . . . of the Old Testament. LaVerdiere (1969: 2910)

Peter encourages his readers to praise God, a helpful remedyfor hearts weighed down with discouragement because of suffering. He then liststhe reason for praise: By his greatmercy we have been born anew. Theword for ‘born anew’ (anagennaō) has a moreactive sense than our translation (RSV) indicates,for the root word (gennaō) often refers toa father’s role in the birth of a child (AV, ‘hathbegotten us again’), either literally (Matt. 1:2–20) or figuratively, ofspiritual birth (1 Cor. 4:15). ‘Begot’ is archaic, however, and he ‘has causedus to be born again’ (NASB) is probably best. Inblessing God, Peter thinks first of the new spiritual life that God has givento his people. (Grudem)

To a living hope. That we continue to live on earth is mainly to this end, thatwe should be of service to others. Otherwise, it were better that God shouldhave taken away our breath and let us die as soon as we were baptized and hadbegun to believe. But He suffers us to live here in order that we may bringothers also to believe, doing to them as He has done toward us. But while weremain on earth, we must live in hope; for although we are assured that throughfaith we have all the good things of God, (for faith brings along with itassuredly the new birth, the adoption, the inheritance, and makes them yours,)still you do not as yet behold them; but the matter exists in hope, while it isof but small importance that we may not see it with our eyes.  (MartinLuther) (vs. “no hope” - Eph 2.12 or 1 Thes 4:13)

Discussion Questions:

1.   Read 1 Peter 1:1-9. What are the various ways Peter says believershave a special identity in Christ?

2.   Think through what this means. What can be the effects in ourlives of embracing or failing to embrace these truths about who we are?

3.   Peter says in 1:6-7 that suffering and trials benefit our faith.How does and doesn't this make sense to you?

4.    How canthe world still squash us into the shape of the passions we had before we knewChrist (1:14)?

5.   What does Peter say are Christians' reasonsfor joy?
(questions adapted from N.T.Wright)

Pastor Samuel Sutter //  sam@BBCCOnline.org

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