Month: Aug 2021

Lesson 4

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for bringing us to the last chapter of 2 Peter. Even though this short epistle was written in antiquity, yet its message is profound, powerful, impactful, and applicable to every generation. We pray for wisdom to understanding, obey, and apply, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

2 Peter 3:1-18, the day of the Lord, the new heaven and the new earth, final encouragement, doxology

VV 1-2, 1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”

We should have a high view of the Old Testament, written by the prophets, and the New Testament written by of the apostles including Peter. In the last days, skeptics and false teachers, who walked in the flesh, will deny and scoff at Christ’s second coming.

VV 5-7, 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

These false teachers deny the creation narrative, Noah’s flood, the final destruction of the world by fire, and the day of judgment for ungodly people.

VV 8-9, 8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

The Lord’s delay in His second coming is the result of His patience because He is not willing that anyone should perish. His delay is to give time and opportunity for people to repent. God exists outside of the time and space domain. He is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. He can see everything from everywhere from the beginning to the end at any moment in time. One day to the Lord can be as long as one thousand years to us. One thousand years to the Lord can be as short as one day to us.

VV 10-14, 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

No one knows the exact date and time of Christ’s second coming. He will come as suddenly and as unexpectedly as a thief in the night. Heavens will pass away and the earth will be destroyed by fire. After this, God will recreate a new heaven and a new earth, Rev. 21:1. In view of this, we should repent, to lead godly and holy lives.

Rev. 21:1, “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea”.

VV 14-16, 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation, as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

We should be faithful to Christ, live in peace with others, be above reproach and blameless in conduct, and be patient in outlook. Peter acknowledged the writings of apostle Paul as inspired scripture.

VV 17-18, 17 You, therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

We should be steadfast in our faith and continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Peter ended his epistle with a doxology of praise to the Lord.

Application:

We should have a high view of scripture viz. the Old Testament and the New Testament as these are God’s inspired words for us.

We should be faithful to Christ, live in peace with others, be above reproach and blameless in conduct and be patient in outlook.

Since we do not know when Christ will return, we should be prepared by living holy lives.

We should continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by diligent Bible study and devotion.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Your second coming will be sudden, unexpected, and mysterious. The world will be destroyed by fire and You will recreate a new heaven and a new earth. We pray for You to mature us in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and lead holy lives in anticipation of His imminent return, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 3

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, may the words of our mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to You as we come before You today. We offer the living sacrifices of our bodies and the sacrifices of our praises to You, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

2 Peter 2:1-22, apostate prophets, apostasies, heresies

VVv1-3, 1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

There were apostate prophets among the Christians who taught false doctrines and promoted heresies. These apostate prophets denied Christ whom they once knew. They had tasted the Lord’s grace in the past but had abandoned their faith and renounced Christ. Heretic doctrines are deadly, destructive, and blasphemous to God. The apostate prophets covet, exploit, and deceive Christians with lies and deceptive words.

VV 4-8, 4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds),

Peter alluded to Genesis 6: 1-2 regarding the fallen angels who had sex with men. Peter alluded to Genesis 6-7 regarding Noah ark and the flood. Peter alluded to Genesis 19 regarding the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the saving of Lot and his two daughters.

Genesis 6:1-2, “Now it came to pass when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful, and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose”.

Genesis 7:1, The Lord then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.

Genesis 19:29, “So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived”.

VV 9-11, 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, 11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.

In the Genesis narratives, God delivered godly people and their families first, (Noah, Lot, and their families), before bringing judgment to the ungodly.

VV 12-14, 12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children.

The apostate prophets were corrupt, evil, hypocritical, adulterous, sinful, adulterous, cursed, and covetous, like savage beasts destined for destruction,

VV 15-17, 15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

The apostate prophets were like Balaam, the unrighteousness and greedy prophet, Numbers 22:1-24:25. The Moabite King, Balak, hired Balaam to curse the Israelites in exchange for money. Balaam initially refused but later agreed. Balak and Balaam positioned themselves on a mountain where they could see the Israelites passing through. When Balaam opened his mouth to curse Israel, God made him bless Israel instead. Balaam blessed Israel on two more occasions in front of Balak. Once, when Balaam was on his way to meet the Balak, God sent an Angel with a sword to block him. When his donkey saw the Angel and stopped, Balaam beat the donkey. God opened the donkey’s mouth and made it spoke to Balaam. God opened Balaam’s eyes and let him see the Angel with the sword.

VV 18-19, 18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.

The apostate teachers were arrogant, boastful, lustful, immoral, corrupted, and enslaved those who followed them.

VV 20-22, 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

The apostate prophets were once redeemed by Christ and but they had abandoned their faith and renounced Christ. It would have been better if they did not know the Lord in the first instance. They were like a scavenger dog eating their vomit and a swine returning to the mud after being cleaned up.

Application:

Peter’s generation is very similar to our generation. Today, there are false prophets and heretic teachers who taught false doctrines, promoted heresies, and misused the gospel for their financial gain. We should beware of cults, heresies, and apostasies and reject them outright.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help us to discern cults, apostate prophets, apostasies, and heresies. Help us to reject them outright and not be deceived by them. We pray for the word of knowledge, the spirit of wisdom and discernment, and biblical literacy, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Introduction

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for journeying with us on the epistle of 2 Peter today. We thank the Holy Spirit for inspiring Peter to write such an excellent masterpiece. Thank You for ministering to us by Your enduring Word, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Author, Date, and Recipients

Scholars believed that Peter wrote 2 Peter from prison in Rome before his execution between 64 to 67 AD. Peter was an apostle of Jesus Christ, who witnessed the transfiguration. 2 Peter was his deathbed epistle and swan song. Scholars believed that his recipients were the same as those of 1 Peter, the diasporic messianic Christian Jews in Asia Minor.

Theme

God’s inspiration of scripture. Warning on apostate prophets, apostasies and heresies. Encouragement on the Day of the Lord.

Purpose

Peter attacked, rebuked, and opposed false heretic teachers who taught a false knowledge of Christ and promoted sexual permissiveness to the churches.

Outline

2 Peter 1: 1-21, Salutation, Peter’s impending martyrdom, God’s inspiration of scripture

2 Peter 2:1-22, apostate prophets, apostasies, heresies

2 Peter 3:1-18, the day of the Lord, the new heaven and the new earth, final encouragement, doxology

Application:

Peter’s generation is very similar to ours. Today we have cults that go around houses to promote cult theology and deviant Bible study. We also have heretic preachers and teachers who peddled false theology and misused the gospel for financial gain. The only sure way to prevent deception is to know the word of God for yourself. There is no shortcut to this. A diligent study of the Bible is essential for spiritual growth and maturity. Through Bible study, you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we pray that You will open our eyes to see the truth and open our ears to hear the truth. We pray for discernment of heresy. We pray for wisdom and knowledge to rightly divide Your Word of Truth, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 6

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, You are the Shepherd and Captain of our souls. We surrender our lives to You and make You the center of our lives. We give You full control of our lives because You are omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

1 Peter 5:1-14, Shepherd the flock, Christian relationships, farewell

VV 1-4, 1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Church elders are shepherds of the flock of God. The flock belonged to God. Jesus is the chief shepherd, and elders are under-shepherds who take instructions from Him. A shepherd is a pastor. A pastor’s job is to teach, protect, feed, nurture, guide, role model, and take care of all the needs of his sheep. A pastor should do the job willingly. eagerly, honestly, and above reproach, to receive an eternal crown of glory on His second coming.

VV 5-7, 5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Younger Christians should submit to elders of the church, and submit to other Christians in humility. We should humble themselves to God and He will exalt us in due time. We should cast our cares on Christ because He cares for us.

James 4:6, But He gives more grace. Therefore He says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

VV 8-11, 8 Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

We should be clear-minded and watchful because the devil is out to harm us as a roaring lion. We should resist the devil with unshakable faith in Christ, James 4:7. Christians suffering in the name of Christ is universal. God who called us into His glory in Christ will establish, strengthen, and stabilize us in due time. Verse 11 is another doxology. Glory and dominion belonged to Christ eternally.

James 4:7, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you”.

VV 12-14, 12 By Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand. 13 She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

The amanuensis or secretary who wrote on behalf of Peter was Silvanus. Peter dictated and Silvanus wrote. Babylon was the code name for Rome. Peter acknowledged John Mark, the author of Mark, his protege and spiritual god-son in the faith. Peter pronounced a blessing of peace to his audience. Hebrew for peace is “shalom”, which means tranquility.

Application:

Elders of the church teach, protect, feed, nurture, guide, role model, and take care of the sheep. They should do their job willingly. eagerly, honestly, and above reproach.

We should submit to church elders, other Christians, and God with humility. We should cast all our cares upon Christ because He cares for us. We should be vigilant, clear-minded, watchful, and resist the devil.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help us to be vigilant, clear-minded, and watchful because the devil is a roaring lion out to harm us. Help us resist the devil with unshakeable faith in Christ. We pray for Your grace to establish, strengthen, and stabilize us, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Chapter two: 2 Peter, prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit

Lesson 4

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we pray for the pure milk of Your Living Word to feed our weary souls. We pray for Bread of Life, Living Bread, Living Manna, and Living Water, Living Rock, and Living Stone, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

1 Peter 3:1-22, marital relationships, no retaliation, true beauty, apologetic, substitutionary atonement

VV 1-6, 1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, maybe won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward, arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel, 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

Wives should submit to husbands and give them good testimonies through good behavior, conduct, and lifestyle. Wives should avoid overdressing, extensive make-up, and flaunting expensive jewellery, 1 Timothy 2:9-10. True incorruptible beauty comes from a person’s character and heart attitude. People look at outward appearances but God looks at the heart, 1 Samuel 16:7. Sarah submitted to Abraham and called him Lord.

1 Samuel 16:7, But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Timothy 2:9-10, “in like manner also, that the nwomen adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and 5moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works”.

V 7, Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

Husbands should love wives with understanding, honor, and due considerations for their inherent physical weaknesses. Husbands and wives are joint heirs in the kingdom, sharing the same heavenly inheritance through grace. Husband’s love for his wife is a prerequisite to answered prayers.

VV 8-12, Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For “He who would love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. 11 Let him turn away from evil and do good, let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Christians should be unanimous in compassion, love, care, and courtesy towards each other. They should not repay evil with evil but return evil with good by turning the other cheek, Matthew 5:39, and Romans 12:21. God sees the righteous, hears their prayers. but turns His face away from the wicked. Peter quoted Psalm 34: 15-16

Matthew 5:39, “But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also”.

Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”.

Psalm 34: 15-16, The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

VV 13-17, 13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Christians should not be afraid of suffering and external threats. Suffering for the gospel and righteousness sake is a blessing. Greek for defense is “apologia”, which means a well-reasoned reply. Christian apologetic is a branch of theology in defending the Christian faith against objections by non-believers. Christians should be ready to defend their faith and give testimonies on their salvation to non-believers out of love, humility, meekness, and good conscience.

VV 18-22, 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us, baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

Through a substitutionary atonement on the cross, Christ who is righteous suffered for the sins of the unrighteousness. Jesus, the sinless One, was made into a sinner to make sinners righteous before God, 2 Corinthians 5:21. Between His death and resurrection Jesus Christ descended into hell and preached the gospel to the disobedient souls who died in the flood during the time of Noah. Not all scholars agree with this interpretation. Augustine proposed that Christ preached the gospel to the disobedient unbelievers during Noah’s time in the spirit, through Noah.

Noah’s ark and the flood are the foreshadows of Christ and water baptism. Noah and his family were saved in the ark. Christians are saved in Christ. Noah and his family emerged out of the flood with new lives. Christians entered the water of baptism in death and emerged out of the water into new lives.

2 Corinthians 5:21, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”.

Application

Wives should submit to their husbands just as husbands submit to Christ. Husbands should love their wives just as Christ loved His bride, the church, and give His life for her. Christians should be unanimous in compassion, love, care, and courtesy towards each other. Christians who suffered for the gospel will be blessed by God.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help us apply Peter’s encouragements, instructions, warnings, and admonishments to his audience into our lives according to our unique life situations. Help us to submit to one another, to government authorities, to kings, and You. Thank You for the inerrant, infallible, and inspired Word of eternal life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 3

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we pray that You will speak to each one of us individually according to our unique situation and circumstances. Thank You for the ministry of Your word. We give You the permission to teach, convict, correct, train, and transform us into Your image, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

1 Peter 2: 1-25, pure milk, cornerstone, living stones, from darkness to light,

VV 1-2, 1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Paul encouraged his audience to set aside malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and evil speech. Having tasted the grace of God, they should crave, desire, and feed on the pure milk of God’s word for spiritual maturity, growth, and nourishment. God’s word is pure milk for the soul.

VV 4-6, 4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion, a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

Jesus Christ is the chosen and precious chief cornerstone of God’s spiritual temple that is unbelievers rejected. Believers are the living stones and priests of God’s spiritual temple who offer living sacrifices of their lives to God, Romans 12:1. Peter quoted Isaiah 28:16.

Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service”.

Isaiah 28:16, Therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed”.

VV 7-8, 7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected, has become the chief cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

Christ is a precious stone to believers but a stumbling and offensive stone to non-believers. The word of God is offensive to non-believers and they stumble over Christ in disobedience. Peter quoted psalm 118:22.

Psalm 118:22, “The stone which the builders rejected, had become the chief cornerstone”.

VV 9-10, 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Christians are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a Holy nation, God’s special people, whom He called out of darkness into light. Peter quoted Hosea 2:23. In the past, they were not God’s chosen people but now they were God’s people. In the past, they did not receive God’s mercy but now, they had received God’s mercy.

Hosea 2: 23, Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth, And I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy. Then I will say to those who were not My people, ‘’You are My people!’’ And they shall say, ‘’You are my God!’’

VV 11-12, 11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Peter addressed his audience as his beloved. As temporary residents and pilgrims, they should abstain from lusts and dishonorable conduct to be a good testimony to unbelievers.

VV 13-17, 13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

They submit to government authorities and kings for the Lord’s sake. They should fear God, honor people, and honor the King. God’s will was for them to do good works, honor people, love Christians, honor God, and King.

VV 18-21, 18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle but also to the harsh. 19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps

Today we do not have slaves and masters but we have employees and employers. Employees should submit to their employers with respect even when their employers treated them harshly. They should endure suffering as this was commendable to God. They should follow Christ as an example and share in His suffering.

VV 22-25, 22 “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness, by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Christ did not retaliate against the Jewish leaders who put Him to death but prayed for their forgiveness on the cross. He committed Himself to God, the ultimate righteous judge. He died to sins on the cross for us to make us righteous before God, 2 Corinthians 5:21. We were like sheep who had gone astray and returned to Christ the Shepherd and Captain of our souls. Peter quoted Isaiah 53: 5-6.

2 Corinthians 5:21, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”.

Isaiah 53:5-6, “But He was wounded for our transgressions He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, everyone, to his own way;

And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all”.

Application:

We should crave, desire, and feed on the pure milk of God’s word to grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord and Saviour. God’s word is pure milk, Living bread, living manna, and living water. Without God’s word, our souls will be weak, stunted, unhealthy, and die.

We are the living stones and priests in God’s spiritual temple. We are God’s chosen generation, God’s royal priesthood, holy and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. We offer our bodies as living sacrifices to serve God. We offer our sacrifices of praise and spiritual gifts in kingdom service.

We should not hold too tightly to the things of this world because our real home is in heaven.

We should submit to government authorities and kings.

Employees should submit to employers with respect and employers should treat employees with fairness and respect.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for the epistle of apostle 1 Peter that transcended time, culture, geography, and history. Even though Peter wrote this epistle 2000 years ago, it is still very relevant and fresh to us in the 21st century. We pray for obedience, submission, and wisdom, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 2

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we pray for Your presence in our journey into the general epistle of 1 Peter. We pray for the presence and anointing of the Holy Spirit to help us rightly divide the truth of Your Word, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

1 Peter 1: 1-25, salutation, living hope, the heavenly inheritance, be holy, enduring Word

VV 1-2, 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Peter spelled out his credential as an apostle of Jesus Christ. Peter was initially a disciple of John the Baptist. Jesus called him out from a Galilean fisherman into a fisher of the souls of men. The recipients of his epistle were the diasporic Jewish Christians dispersed from Jerusalem to the Romans provinces of Asia Minor, Pontius, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, due to Romans persecutions. God, the Father elected them according to divine predestination and foreknowledge. The Holy Spirit sanctified them. Christ redeemed them by His blood. All three persons of the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, played a role in divine election. Peter pronounced a blessing of grace and peace to his audience. The result of salvation and justification by grace through faith in Jesus Christ is peace and reconciliation with God.

VV 3-5, 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Greek for blessed is “eulogos”, which means to speak well of someone. Greek for begotten is “annagennao”, which means born again. Christians are born again into a living hope to receive an eternal inheritance through Christ’s resurrection from the dead, John 3:3 and 3:5. . Our heavenly inheritance is incorruptible, undefiled, divinely reserved, and preserved for us until Christ’s second coming.

John 3:3, Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:5, Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

VV 6-9, 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Peter encouraged his audience to rejoice in the face of trials because these are the tests of faith. Faith tested by fire is more precious than gold. If they persevere, they will receive salvation, praise, honour, glory, and the inexpressible joy of seeing Christ at His second coming.

VV 10-12, 10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things which angels desire to look into.

the Holy Spirit revealed Christ’s first and second coming to the Old Testament prophets. Christ’s first coming was fulfilled but His second coming is still a future event. Even angels desire to know these events.

VV 13-15, 13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy”, Leviticus 19:2.

Peter encouraged his audience to be mentally prepared, clear-minded, and rest in the living hope of Christ’s second coming. They should behave like obedient children free from lust and ignorance. They should be holy because God is holy, quoting Leviticus 19:2.

Leviticus 19:2, “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy”.

VV 17-21, 17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Peter reminded his audience that they were redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus, Lamb of God, pre-existent, self-existent, eternal, and foreordained before time. Christ manifested in human flesh through the incarnation, rose from the dead through resurrection, ascended, glorified, and exalted to heaven by God for those who believe in Him by faith.

VV 22-25, 22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24 because “All flesh is as grass and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers and its flower falls away, 25 But the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now, this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

Peter reminded his audience that they were sanctified by the Holy Spirit to obey the truth. They should love one another with a sincere motive. They were born again by the Holy Spirit through the incorruptible seed, the eternal Word of God. Peter quoted Isaiah 40:7-8. People are nothing more than perishable grass and flowers but the Word of God is eternal and remains forever.

Isaiah 40:7-8, “The grass withers, the flower fades because the breath of the Lord blows upon it. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”

Application:

We are born again by the Holy Spirit through the incorruptible seed of God’s Word into a living hope to receive an eternal inheritance through Christ’s resurrection from the dead.

We rejoice in the face of sufferings, tribulations, afflictions, and trials because these are these tests of faith are more precious than gold.

Sufferings produce perseverance, perseverance produces character and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint. We should be mentally prepared, clear-minded, and rest in the living hope of Christ. Our lives should be holy because God is holy. We are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ.

Romans 5:3-5, “And not only that but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us”.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for regenerating us by the Holy Spirit through the incorruptible seed of Your living Word. We are like grass and flowers which are transient and perishable, but Your Word is eternal and remains forever, in Jesus’ name, Amen.