Bible Study - Hope (2) - The Expression of Hope - 1 Peter1:13-25 - June 14, 2020

Bible Study – Hope (2) – The Expression of Hope – June 14, 2020

This is lesson two (2) in our series entitled “Living with Hope in a Broken World.”

Our focus scripture is 1 Peter 1:13-25.

Our hope in CHRIST changes how we view the world and live in it.

In Whom is our hope? JESUS! Why? JESUS is GOD in the flesh. HE chose to come to earth to live as 100% human to be the perfect sacrifice for sin. HE chose to be human with the freewill to sin, yet HE knew that HE had to not sin. HE did this to be the perfect sacrifice for all who will place their faith in HIM to be the propitiation for their sin. HE had to be tempted, as all humans are tempted, yet to be without sin.

How do we know that HE passed the test of sinless perfection? GOD raised JESUS from the physically dead to eternal life. Why? JESUS is the living example and hope for all who place their faith in HIM. When a person places his or her faith in JESUS the sin barrier has been removed. The person of faith in JESUS is Spiritually born into the Family of GOD and has eternal life. That miracle gives all born-again persons hope and changes their minds from hopelessness to hope.

It is not an empty hope but a hope based upon fact as we read in Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the reality^[a] of what is hoped for, the proof^[b] of what is not seen.

First Peter 1:3-5:

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 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.

First John 3:2-3:

² Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he appears,^[b] we will be like him because we will see him as he is. ³ And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure.

What does all this mean to us, as Christians? Let’s explore!

Let’s read 1 Timothy 2:5-6:

⁵ For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.

Let’s read Colossians 1:21-22:

²¹ Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. ²² But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him 

Where is the battlefield? Let’s read on -----

Let’s read 1 Peter 1:13-16:

A Call to Holy Living

¹³ Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. ¹⁵ But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; ¹⁶ for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.^[d] 

The battlefield is the mind of every person, Christian or non-Christian. Satan works through the mind of every person. He does all he can to prevent a person from be coming a born-again Christian. Once a person becomes a Spiritually born-again Christian, Satan does all he can to defeat that person by working through his or her mind. That is why as we read in Romans 12:2 - ² Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Who renews a Christian’s mind? It is the indwelling Holy Spirit!

It is written, “Be holy, because I am holy.” Only being Spiritually born-again results in a person being made Holy.”

Once a person has been Spiritually born, he or she is to live by faith believing and putting into action as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit. That requires a different mindset. When the Holy Spirit prompts, respond.

Let’s read 1 Peter 1:17-21:

¹⁷ If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers. ¹⁸ For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. ²⁰ He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you. ²¹ Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Earth is not the home of Spiritually born Christians. They are strangers in a foreign land. Their home is Heaven but once a person is Spiritually born, GOD leaves him or her upon earth to witness to those needing salvation and helping fellow Christians to grow Spiritually. All born-again Christians are GOD’S Ambassadors. (2 Cor. 5:20). They are examples and expressions of GOD and HIS love.

Every Spiritually born Christian has been redeemed from eternal death and Hell to eternal life as a Child of GOD to live eternally with GOD. All Spiritually born Christians have been redeemed by “not with perishable things like silver or gold, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. ²⁰ He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you. ²¹ Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

Peter, the Apostle of JESUS, did not claim that his association with JESUS was enough to get him to Heaven. NO! It was through his “faith and hope” in JESUS and HIS passion.

That is the way for all of us to be Spiritually born Christians.

First Corinthians 6:19-20: ¹⁹ Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, ²⁰ for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.^[e]

Let’s read 1 Peter 1:22-25:

²² Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth,^[e] so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure^[f] heart love one another constantly,^[g] 23 because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. ²⁴ For

All flesh is like grass,
and all its glory like a flower of the grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
²⁵ but the word of the Lord endures forever.^[h]

And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.

As Christians read, study and apply GOD’S Word to their lives, it has a regenerating, cleansing effect on their lives. That is why GOD desires for all Christians to study HIS Word.

In Ephesians 5:25-27:

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, ²⁶ that He might ^[g]sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

I want us to see the power of GOD’S Word. The shed blood of JESUS washes all Christians clean at the instant they ask JESUS to forgive them for their sins. This begins the cleansing and washing process referred to as sanctification. As Christians read and study GOD’S Word it is powerful and washes the dirt and stains from our lives for us to be able to see clearly what needs to be changed in our lives and what GOD is changing in our lives.

How can GOD’S Word do that? Hebrews 4:12-13 - ¹² For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.

So, what was the Apostle Peter communicating to the Christian community “²² Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth,^[e] so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure^[f] heart love one another constantly,^[g] 23 because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.”

Where do we find truth? We find truth in GOD’S Word. JESUS was praying as recorded in John 17:12-19, ¹² While I was with them, I was protecting them by your name that you have given me. I guarded them and not one of them is lost, except the son of destruction,^[d] so that the Scripture may be fulfilled. ¹³ Now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy completed in them. ¹⁴ I have given them your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I am not praying that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ I sanctify myself for them, so that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

GOD’S Word has a sanctifying – cleansing, purifying, probing – effect on those who read, study it and put it into practice. (page28, Advanced Bible Study, summer 2020, LifeWay, Nashville, TN.” As we read, study and put into practice GOD’S Word it has a profound impact upon us, as Christians. As we read in 2 Timothy 318-17: ¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for ^[c]instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

JESUS is truth and all born-again Christians have JESUS. Having truth in the lives of Christians gives them the opportunity to be changed. However, we can block truth from changing our lives. We can block truth as it is revealed to us as we study GOD’S Word. Christians must embrace truth and allow truth to work in their lives. What do I mean?

When truth is revealed, do we embrace it? Do we believe it? Do we have the faith to apply it when GOD gives us opportunity? It is all about growing faith.

In verse 23, Peter wrote “because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.

As Christians have been born-again with an imperishable seed, which is the Spirit of GOD. Christians are conceived by the union of GOD’S divine sperm/Spirit and the human spirit which results in a new Spiritual you. Seeds have the power to reproduce. How do Christians reproduce? It is when GOD leads them to invest their time and Christian experience into those who are seeking truth and a new life in JESUS. Christianity is all about reproducing and growing in faith and trust in GOD.

In verse 24, we read:

²⁴ For All flesh is like grass,
and all its glory like a flower of the grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
²⁵ but the word of the Lord endures forever.^[h]

And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.

All human life upon earth will eventually die “but the word of the Lord endures forever.” GOD’S Word is a forever investment and is more powerful than a two-edged sword.

-         GOD’S Word has a sanctifying effect on those who put it into practice.

-         The presence of GOD’S love in our hearts is confirmation of our experience of the new birth in JESUS.

-         The seed of GOD’S Word produces life and fruit in our lives for all to see.

-         Unlike man’s words, GOD’S Word has dynamic power to change our lives. (Page31, Advanced Bible Study, summer 2020)

GOD’S Word changes lives. Embrace it and apply it.

Blessings!!!