Bible Study - Hope (1) - The Basis for Our Hope - 1 Peter 1:1-9 - June 7, 2020

Bible Study – Hope (1) – The Basis for Our Hope – June 7, 2020

This is lesson one in our series entitled, “Living with Hope in a Broken World.”

Our focus scripture is 1 Peter 1:1-9.

Only hope in CHRIST is sure and certain.

We can read and say these words “only hope in CHRIST is sure and certain.” Are these words that sound good or do these words testify and reflect a person’s true relationship with GOD through his or her faith in CHRIST? Many of us know what sounds good but do they reflect our heart?

The Christian jargon can be learned but does our jargon reflect our heart?

Do Christians get discouraged? YES! The Apostle Peter wrote his First Epistle to Christians who had scattered to various provinces in Asia Minor. We know this area identified as – Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia – to be Turkey. Christians in these areas were suffering hardships and uncertainties. They needed hope. Where could they find hope? Peter had the answer, JESUS THE CHRIST.

Why was it important that Christians know that their hope was and is in JESUS? They were physically positioned to minister to those traveling through those general trading areas. Where GOD had led them was vital to the spread of the Gospel. But if the Christians did not have hope, then where GOD had planted them was of little use to spreading the Gospel.

Why are you where you are? There are several possibilities e.g. If you are not already a Christian, it could be that you will accept JESUS as your Savior. If you are a Christian then it could be to find a Bible teaching church, group to help you to grow Spiritually. It could be to find your mate for life and the list goes on. GOD may relocate you from where you are to where HE desires for you to be. Let’s explore!

Let’s read 1 Peter 1:1-3:

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ:

To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad^[a] in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen ² according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ.

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

The Apostle Peter identified himself as an apostle of JESUS CHRIST. What did it and does it mean that Peter was an apostle? Peter being an apostle, carried the meaning and credential that he had known JESUS personally, walked with HIM, been taught by HIM, knew all about HIM and had witnessed the truth about HIM. JESUS was WHO HE said HE was. HE was truly the One and Only Son of GOD, WHO lived a 100% human life, was tempted in all ways as a human, yet without sin. JESUS gave HIS sinless life upon the cross, by shedding HIS blood, died as all humans die, was buried in a grave and on the third day, GOD raised HIM from the grave to eternal life and to have HIS Glorified Body. The Gospel gives all Christians this living hope.

Peter used the word “chosen.” When were you chosen by GOD? It is based upon the “foreknowledge” of GOD. When? What does Ephesians 1:4 reveal “⁴ For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.^[c]”

Peter used the word “sanctifying.” Sanctification means being set aside for use by GOD. It is the Holy Spirit WHO is active in the process of sanctification. It is being prepared through the study of GOD’S Word and being honest with GOD as we build the right relationship with HIM. Most, if not all of us have rough edges that need to be honed. The process of sanctification does that so we will be prepared to serve as GOD gives us opportunity according to HIS plan and purpose for our lives.

In fact, many could already be doing what GOD desires for them to do in HIS Kingdom. As Christians, we can and should ask the Holy Spirit to search our hearts to see if there is any wicked way or unconfessed sin in us. As Christians, we have a living hope through the miracle of Spiritual rebirth ---

A Living Hope

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead ---

This living hope is secure in all born-again Christians. At the instant a person places his or her faith in JESUS, he or she is Spiritually born into a living hope, which is eternally secured by an eternal covenant from GOD. This eternal is sealed by the shed blood of JESUS. Our hope is based on the death and resurrection of JESUS. Our calling, identity and hope are based upon this Gospel message.

Peter had gone through the agony of denying JESUS three times before JESUS was crucified because Peter thought JESUS was going to rule upon earth as a human king. His denial of JESUS was something Peter had to experience to be used according to GOD’S plan. Peter found forgiveness and restoration through his relationship with JESUS after the resurrection of JESUS. Peter knew that JESUS was 100% physically dead and that GOD had raised HIM from the physically dead. JESUS had walked upon earth for 40 days before ascending into Heaven. Peter had experienced the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Who confirmed the power of GOD in his life. Peter knew, the power, assurance, enlightenment, leadership, guidance, teaching, Spiritual gifts and so much more that the indwelling Holy Spirit brings to born-again Christians.

The Apostle Peter had witnessed and experienced the life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of JESUS. Peter knew that was proof to him and gave hope to all Christians that they too would live eternally with JESUS. The things of this earth would pass but faith in JESUS was eternal and that was every Christian’s hope which is guaranteed by GOD and sealed by the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit Who convicts a person of his or her need for salvation. We can be an instrument to witness to a person but it is the Holy Spirit Who convicts.

What is hope? It is something we long for. We can long for pipe dreams that never come true but the hope of born-again Christians is a living hope that comes from GOD through faith in JESUS and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

JESUS is the ultimate love gift from GOD to every human. Why? Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead ---

BY HIS GREAT MERCY AND GRACE, GOD MAKES EVERY SPIRITUALLY BORN-AGAIN BELIEVER HIS SON OR DAUGHTER, WHICH WILL NEVER CHANGE. ONCE YOU ARE GOD’S CHILD, YOU ARE ALWAYS GOD’S CHILD! How can that be? Once you were born physically, is there anything you can do to ever become unborn? NO! The same is true when you are Spiritually born, you are conceived by the Holy Spirit and sanctified by the Holy Spirit and kept by GOD ----

Let’s read 1 Peter 1:4-5:

⁴ and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. ⁵ You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 

This physical life upon earth will soon pass, then what? Those who have placed their faith in JESUS, the very best is yet to come. For every born-again Christian they will receive an inheritance “that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. ⁵ You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”

When is the last time? When Christians receive their Glorified bodies, which will be like CHRIST’S Body.

How do you know this is true? It is GOD’S redemptive plan for mankind and it is being guarded by GOD’S Power through faith that is ready to be revealed. How do you know it is true? GOD gives every true Christian the Holy Spirit as a “security deposit,” “seal,” “guarantee.” When can this happen? In a nano second! Either when you die or JESUS returns to earth for the second time. Are you ready?

The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:14 and 18-19:

¹⁴ The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.

God’s Power in Christ

²⁰ He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens— 

How much power? The power that raised JESUS from the physically dead. That power dwells in every born-again Christian.

Romans 8:23: ²³ Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 

Philippians 3:20-21:

²⁰ Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. ²¹ He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.

Romans 8:31-32:

³¹ What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? ³² He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?

2 Peter 1:3:

³ His^[b] divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by^[c] his own glory and goodness. 

Nothing can take our inheritance away for those Spiritually born of GOD through faith in JESUS – NOTHING!!!

Let’s read 1 John 1:6-9:

⁶ You rejoice in this,^[b] even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials ⁷ so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

This is something to get excited about. Compared to eternity, life upon earth is but a vapor that appears and then vanishes. Life upon earth is hard but it I designed for each of us, first of all, to ask JESUS to forgive us for or sins and to come into our hearts and then live as HE leads and directs our lives. We will encounter tough issues upon earth but GOD will be with us every step. Life is designed to help us to grow Spiritually as we grow physically. When we encounter tough issues in our lives, they are to draw us closer to JESUS and learn to trust GOD in all matters.

Peter was writing to the Christians who were experiencing trying times. Just because we are Christians, we are not exempt from troubling issues life brings our way. In Job 23:10 – Yet, he knows the way I have taken;^[e] when he has tested me, I will emerge as pure gold.

In James 1:12-13 - ¹² Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God^[d] has promised to those who love him.

¹³ No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone.

The more we get to know JESUS, the sweeter HE grows. HIS desire is for every Christian to build a loving, intimate, personal relationship with HIM. The result will be complete confidence and trust in GOD such that if we tell the mountain to move it moves. Of course, when we are in right relationship with GOD, we do not test GOD by asking foolish things. But we will have the faith to respond when GOD prompts us to step out in faith regardless of the issue.

Rejoice for this is a new day. The end is closer with each passing day and it is time for all Born-again Christians to be bold and step out of their comfort zones and allow GOD to manifest HIS power through them!

Our home is Heaven and sin kicked us out. GOD suspended time in Heaven for our redemption. When we return it will be like we never left, because there is no time in Heaven. HIS redemptive plan is for those HE foreknew to have the freewill to be justified, sanctified and glorified through faith in JESUS. Now, that is somethings to shout about.

Blessings!!!