Study on the Books of Peter

With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. 1 Peter 5:12

Peter and Jude are writing to Christians who are oppressed, confused, and struggling, seeking to live for Christ in a world that not only does not understand but also persecutes those of the faith. In the midst of the oppressions from the world and family, come people who seek to deceive and entice them to live for sin and not for Christ. Peter and Jude encourage, challenge, and give them the hope to remain in Christ. At the same time, Peter and Jude do not hold back from telling them where they are in error and admonishing them to be aware and be on guard to live for Christ, putting on His virtues and not the worlds. Both of Peter’s epistles and Jude are as relevant today as they were nearly two thousand years ago because what they went through, we go through, too! They needed hope and encouragement just as we do—whomever, whenever, and wherever we are!

Along comes Peter—the Apostle of Hope! First Peter is a letter about the hope we have in Christ, regardless of what we experience or face. He gives us the ultimate weapon to fight discouragement—the ultimate hope that what we face and go through is temporary. Peter is telling us that Jesus offers His forgiveness and grace, then enables and empowers us. He indeed has a plan and a purpose for us!

General idea: God’s grace and abundant mercy is available to us both now and as an inheritance to come! This passage is about salutations and greetings, acknowledgments and hope. Peter writes to a group of struggling Christians, whose hope is on the verge of extinction and whose options are limited. These are mostly Jews who have been disconnected from their homeland and all that they know, but also Gentile converts who are scattered from their families, careers, and status because of their faith. They are all really aliens in a foreign land; they are all—both Jew and Gentile—scattered physically and spiritually. Now, they realize, when we are in Christ, we are all foreigners as the world is not our real or permanent home; rather, our true home is to come. We become scattered from all that we know and need so to honor and embrace our Lord Jesus Christ more firmly, more fully, and more joyfully—to enjoy Him.

Thus, Peter starts off his letter with a song of praise for what God has done, so we can express our gratitude and worship to Him (Eph. 1:2-14). Then he gives us a litany of loaded theological words filled with power and meaning, showing us who our God is and, more prevalently, what He has done for us. We have to realize—for the ability to survive and to thrive on this earth—we are precious in His sight! We have a Hope Who is real for us now and eternally. He gives us kindness, protection, and understanding beyond what we can fathom, love and forgiveness beyond comprehension, and the ultimate gift of our salvation that will never decay even when we totally do not deserve nor could ever merit it. We have a precious inheritance, expectation, privilege, and power in Jesus Christ, our loving Savior and Lord. We have HOPE!

Vs. 1-2: These early Christians were desperate and needed protection from the attacks of the world around them. Peter is reassuring them, confidently and deeply, telling them the blessing of God’s special favor is upon them. The blessings are realized when the more we stay firm in our faith, the more protection is given to us. Peter tells us we are aliens in a hostile world; yet, at the same time, we have the grace and love of our merciful God at hand. Then, he springs on us the incredible, theological wonder of what Christ did for us! This passage also references the three Persons of the Trinity!

· Peter. This is Simon, whom Jesus changed to Pete (see background material for more info). He was one of Jesus’ first disciples, and was a principal leader in the early church (Matt. 15:15; 18:21; Mark 1:26-37; 8:29; 9:5-6; Luke 12:41; John 6:68; Acts 10:18; 15:14; 2 Peter 1:1). Peter was given the special call of feeding the sheep and being the foundation of the church (Mark 1:16-18; 5:37; 9:2; 14:33; John 21:15-19). (See Peter background article for further information.)

· Apostle. The word, Apostle (Apostolos), means emissary, or sent one, as in Jesus’ personally commissioned representatives (Matt. 10:40; 15:24; Mark 6:7-13; 30; 9:37; Luke 9:1-6; 48; John 4:34; 5:24, 30, 36-38; 6:38; 1 Cor. 1:1; 9. 1-2; 2 Cor. 8:23; Gal. 1:1; Col. 1:1; Heb. 3:1). They also had to be an eye witness of the resurrection (Acts 1:22; 1 Cor. 15:8), and they governed the early church (1 Cor. 14:37; 1 Thess. 2:13; 4:8, 15; 2 Thess. 3:6, 14; 2 Pet. 3:15-16). In 2 Corinthians, the words, representatives/messengers, are also used for apostle in a broader sense (2 Cor. 1:1; 8:23; Phil. 2:25). This title does not apply today; it is reserved only for the original twelve plus Paul. Today, all Christians are emissaries (2 Cor. 5:20). Also today, this role is filled by Elders (Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 12:7, 11, 28; Eph. 4:11)! Thus, the original Apostles started the church and the Elders today continue to run the church.

· Pilgrims/ elect, strangers referred to the Jewish Christians who were on a journey, scattered from their mission, work, and family, some even fleeing from persecution. Chapter 2:10 gives us a clearer picture of their work amongst the Gentiles, too. The word “saints” is used in 2 Corinthians 1:1 as a general term, and here, referring to people who are in Christ. The word we use now is “Christians,” which comes about later (Acts 26:28; Rom. 15:25; Phil. 1:1; 1 Pet. 4:16).

· Dispersion (Greek diaspora) means “dispersed” or “isolated,” a colloquialism that referred to the Jews who had scattered, or moved away from their homeland (John 7:35; 1 Pet. 1:17; 2:11). For us, it means we are “resident aliens” living in a foreign world; our real home is in Heaven to come (1 Chron. 29:15; Psalm 39:12; Heb. 13:14). This epistle was an “encyclical” letter, meaning it was copied and sent out to many churches in Asia Minor. The sequence of the names of the readers in this epistle may reflect the courier’s route and schedule, or those who were on Peter’s heart.

· Elect here means our privilege to be eternally called in Christ, and that our salvation is secured by God’s grace alone, received by our faith alone (1 Pet. 2:9-10). Elect or election in biblical theology means “to select” or “to choose,” that God chose us by His purpose and nothing else. Because, if it was accordingly by His foreknowledge, that would mean it was by our future means, therefore the need and work of Christ would be thwarted (John 17:24; Eph. 1:3-14; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; 2 Tim. 1:9-10). Divine election is a continuous theme in Paul's Epistles (Rom. 8:29-33; 9:6-26; 11:5, 7, 28; 16:13; Col. 3:12; 1 Thess. 1:4; 2 Thess. 2:13; Titus 1:1).

We cannot fathom this true implication, meaning, or reasoning. We have to trust that God is God and we are not; thus, we have no idea of His plan or purpose. All Christian groups who use the Bible teach election; the division is in its meaning and purpose, which God has not revealed to us, and about which we can only speculate. We only know what He has revealed and that He does elect; our call is to trust and obey (1 Cor. 1:8-9; Phil.1:6; 1 Thess. 1:3-6; 5:23-24; 2 Tim. 1-12; 4:18; 2 Pet. 1:10). Our purpose is not to argue over this, but to accept His amazing grace.

· Foreknowledge refers to God as sovereign and “omniscient,” meaning He is all-knowing, crossing time and space; thus, He knows the future. This is where “predestination” comes from, (Gen. 4:1; Psalm 90; Amos 3:2; Mal. 1:2; Matt 1:25; 1 Cor. 1:9;) that God's plan is sovereign and eternal. We have a personal plan and agenda to follow, a purpose that is God's. The argument in theology is not that He elects us; rather by what means God uses His foreknowledge or His purpose. The book of Romans says it is by His purpose. Human reason says it is by God seeing ahead.

· Sanctification here means the application of our redemption, of setting us apart from sin (Gal. 6:14; 2 Thess. 2:13). This is the growth we have and do in Christ—in our trust and obedience that He provides. This is not saving action; it is a response action where we become more like Christ's character. The work of the Spirit intercedes in us; our response is our progressive growth and spiritual formation in Him (Gal. 2:20; Eph. 2:1-10; Luke 24:26; John 15; 17:2; Phil. 3:10; 1 Thess. 4:3; Heb. 2:10).

· Obedience means our continual acts of trusting in God and obeying His precepts (John 6:28-29; Eph. 1:3-4; 2 Tim. 1:9). We are chosen for obedience! This is not initiated by us, only a response by us. This is our part—our result, answer, and responsibility to His election and sanctification. This leads us to the Will of God, which is God’s sovereignty and control, and He places us where we need to be for His glory (2 Cor. 1:1-3).

· The blood of Christ refers to the O.T. rituals of sacrifice and the sprinkling of blood for redemption, which Christ now takes the place of. It was the initiation of the Covenant of God to Israel; now, it is the Covenant of God to us. It also now means we have a covenant that we are forgiven (Gen. 4:10; Ex. 24:7-8; Luke 9:23-24; 23:34; Heb. 9:11-14, 18-28; 12:24; 1 John 1:7).

· Grace…peace is a standard greeting meaning a pronouncing of a blessing or God’s special favor upon someone. These would be cool, quenching words for Christians in distress! The blessing is that we are right with God, no matter what happens, when we are in relationship with Christ our Redeemer (Isa. 44:6; Jonah 4:2; John 14:27; 20:19; Rom. 5:1-2; Gal. 1:3; Eph. 1:2)!

· Suffering, Glory. The greater our suffering, the greater we become in Him. We shine in His glory and shine His glory to others when we endure trials and learn and grow from them.

The key words of chosen, elect, foreknew, and predestined have been topics of hot debate amongst many Christian groups over the centuries. The principle theme is agreed upon, that God does choose us and makes us holy—to which this passage attests and the rest of the Bible clearly proclaims. If He did not, we could never obtain salvation on our own (Gen. 45:8; 50:20; Job 14:5; Psalm 33:13-14; 115:3; 147:5; Prov. 5:21; 15:3; 16:1, 4, 9, 33; Is. 14:26-27; Dan. 4:33-34; John. 1:13; Acts 2:23; Rom. 8:29-30; 9:9-18; 1 Pet. 1:1, 20).

The debate rages over how He chooses: by His Sovereign purpose (which the Reformers believed) or by His foreknowledge (as many Evangelicals today believe.) Such debates, although invigorating and insightful to know more and establish a position, sometime cause us to ignore the main thing—that God is God, He loves us, He chooses us, He makes us holy, and now, because of what He did for us, we are to spend our energies growing and serving Him. What we are not to do is make a nuisance of ourselves by spending all of our energies in supercilious debate, and ignoring what Jesus did, so it does not impact our lives. The key thing we forget is our obedience and faith development, which is far more important in God’s eyes than getting the particulars of theology correct. Correct theology is very important because it teaches us who God is! But, our faith development is even more important, because it is our response to what God did!

This passage is a call to continue in prayer and faithfulness. In that way, we can continue to be better used by our Lord. We are to remain firm in our stand of faith even when life is falling apart around us, and when we do not see hope or the light at the end of the tunnel. The call is to be encouraged and to stand firm. When we persevere in our faith, we allow God to use us even more where we are. Then, we learn and we grow further in Him, which helps us grow and be used more. This is circular. The more we endure, the more we grow. Then, the more we are used, the more we go through and so forth. This is the spiral of our faith-building that draws us higher in Him. When we are growing, we are ministering, too. As our faith grows, we are more likely to hear God’s call, see the needs of others, and find opportunities to serve. Our faith development is not to be selfish, although the primary benefit is for ourselves, but we also are to see how it affects others. When we grow, then we inspire, encourage, and minister to others faster and better!

So what is our call in this? To be joyful, thankful, and glad! To honor and enjoy our inherence and love that we have received, so it overflows to others around us. Then, we can grow and endure through all things! Why? Because, we will face trials and sufferings, they are a part of this world and life. There is no escape from them. We can either learn to grow or withdraw and stagnate!

The Essential Inductive Questions (for more Inductive questions see Inductive Bible Study):

6. What is in the way of these precepts affecting me? What is in the way of my listening to God?

1. How scattered is your family and how often do you have reunions? Have you ever felt disconnected from your home and all that you know?

2. Why do you suppose Peter starts off his letter with a song of praise? Have you ever done that in your correspondences? Why, or why not?

3. What would a blessing or God’s special favor mean to you? What is it? How could you receive it?

4. What does it mean to you that God’s grace and abundant mercy are available to you now as well as being an inheritance to come?

5. If your hope was on the verge of extinction, your options limited, and you felt desperate, what would it take to reassure you? How have you responded to people in these circumstances?

6. Have you realized that when we are in Christ, we are all foreigners? This world is not our real or permanent home; rather, our true home is to come! What does this mean for your trust and growth in Him?

7. A lot of Christians today do not see the importance of theology. Why is that?

8. Why is correct theology very important? Why is responding to what God did even more important? How do these two go together?

9. Have you realized the incredible, theological wonder of what Christ did for you? Who He is and what He is? Well, this is all about theology; thus, to know, grow in, and worship Christ, we have to know Him, and that is to know theology. So, what do you think of this? What are you going to do about theology?

10. Some misguided Christians think they are “apostles.” Why do you suppose that a person would make that claim when Scripture tells us clearly what an apostle is?

11. How does it make you feel that the greater our suffering, the greater we become in Him? Does this scare you? What can you do to take comfort in this and not be scared?

12. How can the favor of God speak cool, quenching words to Christians in distress? So, what can you and your church do to be better at being a cool refresher to others in need or distress?

Remember, the continual acts of trusting in God and obeying His precepts are our part and responsibility. This will help us enjoy our inherence and love in Christ and receive a blessing of God’s special favor.

I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:1-2

General idea: We are chosen and given our new birth! We live in hope! As Christians, we have God’s abundant mercy, hope, and assurance so we can praise God for His grace and salvation! In our new life, we are set apart, as we have salvation and an eternal inheritance available to us! God makes us holy in His sight and relevant for life here and now as well as for the eternity to come.

This passage is about our God’s most abundant mercy, love, and grace, given to us, without merit, before the foundations of matter and time. He loves and cares for us beyond any depth or limit, beyond any human comprehension. This inheritance is given to us so we can declare it to others. We know Christ because He has made Himself known to us so we can make Him known to others.

All this is a result of His sacrifice of redemption, His permanence, and His love for us. He lived, died, and rose again for you and me! All we are to do is trust and obey Him, and as we continue in this endeavor, He gives us even more empowerment for enduring life and performing ministry along with His special favor and peace! Even if we do not see Jesus, He sees us, loves us, and helps us persevere. This may seem unattainable or even unfathomable when we are under stress or the hostile occupation of life. However, we can do this because we have access to His empowerment; we are literally kept by God through faith. As we grow in our faith, we become even more precious to God and He will preserve us through trials and life.

Vs. 3-5: Christ is our living Hope that will never fade away! We are chosen by God and by God alone! The Spirit sets us apart. We are able to hear and receive His Words of grace and life. We need to be reminded of what we have and who we are in Christ. If not, we will soon forget and replace His guidance either with our frailty or with the ways of the world.

· Praise be /Blessed be the God. This word, berakah, comes from Jewish blessings, and means the God Who blesses us. It also means rebirth—that God converts or “re-births” us. It is the theme that, as Christians, we are born again because God adopts and changes our nature as in starting again as new (Jer. 1:11-12; Ezek. 36:24-27; Mic. 1:10-15; John 3; 7:37-39). In Peter’s time, this phrase also referred to Gentiles who converted to Judaism. Now, He switches it to those who converted to Christ as their new living Hope, inheritance, security, and God.

· Abundant mercy. This phrase continues from the previous phrase of God’s blessing, and refers to how lovingly God goes out of His way to redeem us.

· Begotten us again/given us new birth. It is God who gives us new birth (John 1:12-13, 3:3-8, 16).

· Living hope is one of the main, running themes of this epistle. It does not indicate wishing or thinking positively; rather, it refers to the confidence and conviction we have that our living God keeps His promises and secures us in Him. It is the assurance—and fact—that God has redeemed us, will bless us, and will care for us (1 Peter 1:13, 21; 3:15).

· Inheritance means the “substance” of the hope we have in Christ. It refers to salvation—our deliverance from sin; we are God’s children, sealed in Him and joint-heirs with Him by His Work (Rom. 8:16-17; Heb. 1:14). For the Jews, this meant inheriting a future world such as Israel’s inheritance of the Promised Land while wandering the desert. It infers redemption and the process God used to redeem us. To the Jews, then, it meant treasures stored up in Heaven for them (4 Ezra—a Jewish apocryphal book). For us, by Jesus’ righteousness and our obedience, our treasures are also stored up, while we still have opportunities now.

· Kept/shielded/reserved means that the righteous will be saved and the deeds of the wicked will be known. Salvation produces hope and joy. He is our living Hope that will not fade away! This bond ties us to the responsibility of responding to what our God has done for us. He gives us faith; we are responsible for keeping the faith going and growing because we will be delivered from those who oppose us (Eph. 6:16; Phil. 2:12-13; 1 Pet. 5:8-9).

· Power of God, a military term to vigilantly defend a fort, means the priority, vigilance, and permanence of God’s grace and protection He gives to help us keep our faith going and growing (Rom. 8:23, 30; 13:11; 1 Cor. 1:18; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 3:5).

· Last time refers to Christ’s second coming and connects verse 7, the revelation of Jesus Christ and testing. In the End Times, there will be great testing and sufferings.

Vs. 6-9: We are to love Him, even though we cannot see Him or touch Him. This may go against common sense, but the reality of His grace and impact can sometimes be hidden by our desires, circumstances, and feelings. This is the test of faith and trust, if we see no hope, we then must look to our Lord; then the hope is given and can be seen. The reward of our faith far outweighs any endurance or struggle we face. The joy we have is real and significant (John 20:29).

· Tested…be found, refers to a “crucible” for the refining of precious metals resulting in the quality refinement brings. Testing is compared to sufferings as a “crucible” which is a container made from a refractory substance such as graphite or porcelain, used for melting and purifying precious metals (such as gold) at high temperatures to separate impurities so to produce a finer and more valuable material, such as 14 carat gold made into 24 carat gold. We are purified and refined when we go through the effects and substances of life. They have a purpose; nothing happens to us without a reason that is meant to teach and grow us (Job 23:10; Psalm 12:6; Prov. 17:3; Isa. 43:2; Jer. 11:4; 1 Cor. 4:3-5; 1 Pet. 1:5; 4:13; 5:1).

· Receiving. We have received His grace and are called to enjoy our relationship with Christ. This brings us peace, but the fruition of our faith is still to come in eternity. Our deliverance is still to come! Our testing should bring joy and comfort, even with dire stress, because God is still carrying and loving us through it and we will be better, stronger, and purer for it. We will be of better use to Him and to all those around us. The key to get through it is in seeing Christ as the goal and being more like Him in character, rather than focusing on the situations in which we find ourselves. Persecution was the main testing that Peter’s readers were facing.

· Souls. This means our self—the core of who we are as an individual person—same as the spirits in prison (1 Pet. 3:20).

Vs. 10-12: Do you realize that the prophets of old desperately desired and sought what we have—that which is free, and that we take for granted? Never take your faith or what Christ has done for you for granted. If you do, your spiritual journey will derail, your faith will stagnate, and the hopeless gloom of the world will be your only “vesper” (a bell that summons monks to pray). You will be seeking what is feeble and worthless and disavow what is real and jubilant. We are to declare our faith internally, see its veracity and application, and then declare it publicly.

· Manner of time/find out the time is a statement meaning the coming of the Messiah, which Christ fulfilled. It means the prophets foretold there would be suffering and that the Messiah would suffer as well as be exalted. Purpose and meaning in life were often considered mysterious to the Jew. However, for us, it has been fully revealed; it is to know Christ and make Him known (Isa. 7:14; 9:6; 11:1; Dan. 12:6-9).

· The Spirit of Christ. This is one of the names for the Holy Spirit, meaning Christ sent Him. It does not denote that Jesus is the Spirit; the Trinity is three Persons in one Essence—one God, with three personalities or manifestations. Here, the Spirit intercedes, breaking the sin barrier of our heart to give us redemption. In the O.T., servants of God were given glimpses and parts of the Spirit working in them, empowering them for a specified function (Gen. 41:38; Num. 27:18; Acts 2:33; 16:6-7; Rom. 8:9-10; 1 Cor. 15:45; Gal. 4:6; Phil. 1:19; 1 Pet. 4:14).

· It was revealed refers to the mysteries to which God gave the O.T. prophets a glimpse—of things to come that were to benefit and encourage future generations. We do not know what they were exactly—probably the Gospel message of Christ. However, for us, this refers to the message of the Gospel being infused by the Holy Spirit and then lived out in our lives; it is that Jesus Christ, being fully God, lived in behalf of us, took our place for God’s wrath, suffered in our place, and redeemed us. It is a call to us to be the messengers of the Gospel along with the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:25-27, 45-47).

· Holy Spirit sent from Heaven refers to the role of the Spirit to inspire and direct—from the books of the Bible to the messages of the Prophets to the hearers of God’s Word. It also means that the place of origin, the source of the Gospel message, and that is only from the Holy Spirit. Even though we evangelize, only the Holy Spirit can cause the Word to make sense and allow it to be received by the person (John 3:3-6; Acts1:8; Rom. 8:14; 1 Cor. 12:3; Gal. 4:6).

· Angels desire to look. The celestial beings may seem ominous to us, but they are created beings and have limited knowledge. They have the same emotions and will that we have—the reason 1/3 of them fell—and they are curious and interested in the things of God—the reason 2/3 remained loyal to God. God, who had not told them everything, now made His plan known (Eph. 3:10).

God does not test us to bring us harm nor does He seek to cause us to fail. Rather, He wants to see if our faith and commitment are real and brings us into situations where we can learn and grow in faith and so receive our reward. We can take comfort in trials, as God is still sovereign over them. His purpose is to refine us, form us, mold us, improve us, restore us, grow us, and strengthen us. Testing can also be used to bring us to contemplate our attitude, mindset, and deeds so we can seek repentance and so we will “wake up,” see our error, and seek Him. He does this much as a loving parent disciplines a child. Other times, God tests to bring about discipline, justice, and judgment. Jews believe that suffering brings atonement, but this is not what Peter means; rather, that faith is a precious commodity to God (Gen. 11:1-f; Deut. 8:2; 13:3; Judg. 2:22; Job. 23:10; Rom. 5:3; James 1: 2-4, 12-16; 1 Pet. 4:17; 5:1-4, 8).

The Essential Inductive Questions (for more Inductive questions see Inductive Bible Study):

6. What is in the way of these precepts affecting me? What is in the way of my listening to God?

1. Have you ever inherited anything? How did you feel about it? What kind of inheritance would you like to leave your family one day?

2. Think this question through: What does it mean to you that you are personally chosen, given new birth, are able to live in hope, and are given abundant mercy and assurance by God?

4. Even if you do not see Jesus, how can you have the confidence that He sees you, loves you, and helps you persevere?

5. When you are under the stresses and hostile occupations of life, what can you do to move away from stress and seeing only your situation to seeking the improving of your faith?

6. How have you been purified and refined, as you have gone through the trials of life? What would happen to your faith, character, and spiritual formation if you never went through any trials?

7. How can knowing that trials have a purpose and reason help you focus away from anger to being willing to learn and grow from them?

8. Do you feel, deeply, that God literally keeps you through faith? If so, why? If not, why not? What can you do about it?

9. Do you realize that as you grow in your faith, you become even more precious to God and He will preserve you through trials and life? How does this make you feel? How does this strengthen you?

10. Do you realize that what we have free of charge—what Christ has done, and what we may take for granted—the Prophets of Old so desperately desired and sought? So, what can you do to prevent yourself from ever taking for granted your faith or what Christ has done for you?

11. How and why do you need to be reminded of what you have and who you are in Christ? How can this fact give you more confidence, conviction and assurance in your daily life?

12. What can you do to show your love to Christ, even though sometimes we don’t see Him or feel Him? How will this help you see Him? How can your faith in Him give you comfort that the reward of your faith far outweighs any struggles you face?

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:11-13

General idea: We are called to get our minds lined up with God—His Way, His precepts, and His plan. We still have the old sinful nature residing within us. God declares us clean, but we do not become completely clean. Perhaps, the reason for this is that if we were “scrubbed clean,” we would not face the struggles in life that produce depth and holiness. We would never struggle with thoughts, desires, sin, and life; therefore, we would not learn, grow, and respond to God within the realties of life. We would be robots, preprogrammed to respond—and such mechanisms do not produce real fruit or love.

Thus, we have to exercise self-control. In addition, as with all exercise, we gain the strength and endurance that provide the fortitude and courage to engage life. Along with faith, we have the staying power—for all we experience in life—to be His child and be a blessing to Him and others around us. God does not just command us to be self-controlled; He gives us a reason to remain in our faith development. He will give us His wondrous, special blessings for our trust and obedience. His reward is His salvation and the rewards in eternity. However, we are also given the strength to enjoy life and make the most of what we have now!

Therefore, Peter urges us not to slip back into our old ways, because they will cause us to slip away from God’s best and blessings. We are His children. Like all children, we need structure and discipline and to know we are loved. God has this for us!

Vs. 13-16: We are called to be holy! Do you have problems with containing your desires and thinking? Do you seek the distractions of the world that will cause you to stray off God’s path? Perhaps, what we need is a further realization of the boundless love Christ has for us so we will seek to please Him and not our desires. Because, His way is better than any plan we could produce on our own. Before we were Christians, we did not know better. Now, as Christians, we do know better. Therefore, we must remain self-controlled and holy!

· Gird up the loins of your mind/prepare your minds is a vivid call to action. It refers to tucking one’s robe into one’s belt to move faster. This also alludes to the Passover (Ex.12:11). It means to be prepared as in “fasten your seat belt,” not because you will crash, but in case you do. We are called to guard our mind so we can always be prepared and ready (Eph. 6:10; 1 Pet. 3:15). This also means our spiritual formation is to be continual. So, to be prepared takes action and application on our part. It is not a free ride where we just sit and wait. Our spiritual journey requires our active participation. We should be ready to follow Him because we are redeemed (verses 4 &19).

· Sober/self controlled. This is also called “sobriety.” It is not just about abstinence from alcohol, but, rather, being dignified and self-controlled—willing and able to be clear-headed. A person does not have self-control when he/she is drunk. However, this applies to anything—not just drinking and drugs.

· Obedient children means we are adopted into God's family and are made new. So, because of what Christ has done, we should be willing to be obedient (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 5:1; Col. 3:1-4, 1 Pet. 1:2-3, 22). Obedience means that, as Christians, we are to submit to what God requires of us; we are to follow His precepts regardless of the circumstances (Deut.13: 4; 1 Sam. 15:22; Prov. 19:16; Acts 5:29; John 14:14; 15:14; 2 Cor. 10:5; Heb. 13:17; 1 John 1:7).

· Called you. God effectually takes the initiative. He seeks us, He motivates us, He picks us up; but we still have to reach out and grab His Hand and respond! In this context, it is about our portrayal and obedience just as a child obeys and portrays a father.

· Be holy means to set one’s self apart, in a distinct manner, so to be identified and positioned in and with God and not in or with the world. It also means to be “set apart” from sin and its influences as “garbage-in-creates-garbage-out.” God called the Israelites to be set apart from the other nations. They were to worship God and then influence the other nations for God. At the same time, they were not to be contaminated by them. When they succeeded, they were blessed. When they failed, they were judged and taken into captivity. For us, it means we are not to be influenced by sin, so we are able to serve and please God, strive for moral purity, and benefit others (Lev. 11:44; 19:2; 20:7, 26; Hab 1:13; Matt 5:48; Eph. 5:1; 1 Pet. 2:9).

We can learn and become responsible in our faith so we can persevere and completely trust in our living, loving Lord. When this comes about, we will not lose hope but be able to stand for as long as necessary in whatever situation we face.

Vs. 17-21: We may think that God plays favorites, as some people just seem blessed while others are under constant struggle. However, we can take comfort that God does not play favorites; we all are His favorites. Blessings of the world are never a sign of God’s favor; they will fade. The faith we exercise will only build and we will come to see more bountiful blessings than we could ever have imagined. God is more concerned about what we do with what we have than with what we have! Always remember that Christ is our living Hope that will never fade away. Because He paid for us, we owe Him more than we could ever know!

· Father. This is Heavenly Father to the Jews as they called upon God in prayer.

· Without partiality. God crowns us with His gifts. Thus, we can take comfort that God loves and treats us all the same. God does not show favoritism; He calls us to be unprejudiced, too. He does not condemn us for our wrongs because we have His grace, but God does judge us for our wrongs and rewards us for our obedience. He will reward us just for being in Him and for our merits (Isa. 53:4-5; Rom. 2:11; 14:10-12; 1 Cor. 3:12-15; James 2:11; 1 Pet. 2:24).

· Your stay/strangers means un-naturalized aliens, people who are not native or are not pursuing residency. Therefore, he is saying to watch how you conduct yourself and your loyalties. This refers to the sojourn of life, that we are not here permanently but, rather, are “pilgrims” on a journey until we reach our permanent home in eternity (Acts 10:34).

· Fear is how we are to come before God, and with humbleness (1 Pet. 5:6). It is a term of endearment and respect that is supercharged with more meaning and power because it infers intense reverence and awe of God and His holiness (Job 28:28; Prov. 1:7; 3:5; 8:13; 9:10; 16:6; 31:30; Psalm 2:11; 34:11; 111:10; Isa. 12:6; Eccl. 12: 13; Mal. 1:14; Matt. 10: 27-33; Rom. 2:11; James 2:1). It does not mean being afraid of Him, rather fearful of His wrath (Romans 3).

· Redeemed is a term meaning the freeing of a slave by the paying of his/her debt. We are freed from the bondage of sin by the great cost of His sacrifice of His shed blood that gives us "justification." He frees us from the "curse of the law" and “wickedness” (Ex. 13:13; 21:30; Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45; Rom. 3:24; 8:2; Gal. 3:13; Eph. 1:7; Col 1:14; Titus 2:14; Heb. 9:15; Rev. 5:9).

· Aimless conduct/empty way of life was a retort to the pagan worship services that had no meaning and led people to sin and harm themselves and others. Such conduct is futile and empty (Rom. 1:21; Eph. 4:17). It has no purpose other than to deceive and to destroy. This conduct is not limited to pagan practices, but for anything that distracts us from loving and worshiping our Lord, such as desires and traditions (Jer. 2:5; Mark 7:8-13; Acts 14:15)!

· Like sliver and gold infers, in this context, that these metals are not valuable. As under Nero, there was mass inflation and gold was devaluing and fading away as a commodity. Do not trust in anything that fades away!

· Lamb is the picture of our Lord Jesus Christ. He represents the only effective and ultimate sacrifice; He takes away the sin of the world. The sacrificial animal of the Passover in the O.T. is the foreshadowing of what Christ will do and has done for us. The price was invaluable and could not have been paid by human measures (Ex. 12:3; Isa. 53:7; John 1:29; 1 Cor. 5:7; Heb. 9:14).

· Without blemish. The O.T. sacrificial animals had to be perfect in breed and form with no defect; if not, they were not valuable enough for a sacrifice. Those who sacrificed such blemished animals were dishonoring God. Jesus was unblemished because of the sinless life He led on our behalf. Some Jews take offence because Jesus was whipped and scarred before His sacrifice, that He was blemished and could not take away our sins. But, they misunderstand what blemished means for Jesus and us. It is not our bodies; it is our sinful nature and soul. Jesus was without sin and thus unblemished (Lev. 22:20-25; Heb. 4:15; 7:26-27).

· Foreordained/chosen means foreknew. He knows all that was, is, and will come. He is “omniscient.” Here, it is referring to the fact that Jesus has always existed and was chosen as our Redeemer before we were even created (John 17:24; Ac 2:17; Eph. 1:4; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:1; Heb. 1:1; 1 John 2:18; Rev 13:8).

· Last times does not necessarily refer to the actual final days of our existence as in the second coming is around the corner. Rather, it means the period from the resurrection to His second coming. In other words, the present time (Acts 2:17; Heb. 1:2).

· Through Him means that Jesus is the only access that humanity has to God. He is our High Priest and Mediator. We do not need to go to any person to present ourselves before God; Jesus does this for us (John 1:18; 14:6; 1 Pet. 3:18).

Most people get discouraged when they are no longer in control. But, we have to realize that God still is in control. Thus, when our eyes are fixed on God, we will never lose hope (Psalm 62:8; 2 Cor. 1:3-7)!

How is your “fertility?” That is, how is the fruit of the Spirit that should be growing in and through you and that is meant to come through you in all things? Our faith will be tested—not to attack or cause us to fail—but to teach us to be more faithful, stronger, and better so we can be better to those around us. God wants us holy and pure in Him.

To make us pure, He needs to prune and refine us. This is not drudgery but an opportunity to be more than we could ever be on our own. Our growth in Him means faith, spiritual maturity, and character development. These are things more precious than any gold, personal success, or financial portfolio. As we go through the tough stuff of life, we will grow and become stronger. We will worship Him more deeply and purely. We will honor Him more deeply, more relevantly, and touch the lives of others more deeply, too.

Life is not about our wants, needs, and comfort; it is about Christ working in us more powerfully and triumphantly. The key to turn on this engine of our spiritual formation is our willingness to pursue, endure, and grow. Allow the holiness of our Lord, His grace, His patience, understanding, faith, loyalty, goodness, and love to be exhibited in you—not by imitation, but with gratitude and submission, kept by His power (1 Cor. 1:30; Col. 1:27; Gal. 5:21-23; 1 Pet. 1:5)!

The Essential Inductive Questions (for more Inductive questions see Inductive Bible Study):

6. What is in the way of these precepts affecting me? What is in the way of my listening to God?

1. Do you think that you need structure and discipline? Why, or why not? What happens to children when they are not disciplined? How does this compare to adult Christians?

2. What does it mean to you to get your mind lined up with God? What would your life look life if it were not “lined up” or self-controlled?

3. Have you ever thought that God plays favorites, that some people just seem blessed while others are in a constant struggle? How can you take comfort in knowing that God loves and treats all of us the same?

5. What if you were totally “scrubbed clean” of bad desires, temptations, and sin? Would you still be able to build a deep faith and grow closer to God? Why, or why not?

6. Do you get discouraged when you are no longer in control? How does the exercise of self-control give you staying power when you are in tough situations such as temptations or trials?

7. Do you have problems in containing your desires and thinking? How would further realization of the boundless love Christ has for you help you remain disciplined to please Him?

8. Why is your spiritual formation not a “free ride?” Why does it have to be continual? What do you need to do to be prepared for active participation, action, and application in pursuing and growing in Christ?

9. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Lamb, the only effective and ultimate sacrifice for our sins. What does this mean to you? How can you reach out, grab His hand, and respond?

10. What can you do to resist the influences of desires, bad traditions, and sin so you can become more responsible in your faith, serve and please God, strive for moral purity, and benefit others?

11. What does obedience mean to you? How have you demonstrated it? Can you recall a situation in which you were not obedient and why? How is obedience a call to action? How could your personal and spiritual life be improved with the ability to move faster in your faith?

12. How can the exercise of self-control and obedience help you submit to what God requires of you and His precepts—regardless of your circumstances? What can you do to help this better obedience come about? Can you think of a specific instance or situation?

General idea: This passage is the “therefore” of the first chapter! The word “therefore” is referring to the results, conclusions, or applications that are to be in our lives from the reasons given. This is about what we are to do with the information we have been given by our Lord. This is then combined with what Peter is saying now, such as, by being cleansed of our sins, because of our new life, and because we made our commitment in Him, we “therefore” have the call and opportunity to respond to it. We have been given the inconceivable, amazing gift of eternity and ultimate hope, contrasted to the hope we have in this world that will fade and die in meaningless and helplessness. Because we now have the Good News in us, we can get rid of all that blocks us from growing and responding to Christ as our Living Lord.

The call for us is to love, as also stated in many other parts of the Bible; we are to love authentically and sincerely. We are to love our fellow Christians and others around us without hypocrisy. This means we are not to come against others, manipulate them, or seek to control, subvert, or be jealous of them; rather, we are to encourage and spur one another on in the faith, to cooperate one with another, and by synergy, together further the Kingdom of God. We are to do this with vigor and earnestness in an active pursuit from our heart that is in Christ. This cannot be done by pretending; it has to be real, as we are called to be real in all that we do and in the stricture of love!

Vs. 22-25: We have the “right” to put our hope in whatever we feel like, such as money, career, education, position, or power; however, such hope will not last and will become meaningless. We may think these things work, but do they? Just as a cut flower will stay in a vase of water for a while but will eventually wither and die, so will our human based hopes. Our hope must rest on nothing but the real, living Hope—who is Christ the Lord! His hope will never fade because it is living and eternal. His purchase of our souls is the ultimate hope that our Living Word promises!

· Purified your souls/purified yourselves refers to the O.T. purity laws that stated that a priest must cleanse himself before entering the Lord’s Temple so he does not bring in defilement. This was both a ceremony and an actual washing to remove dirt from oneself (Isa. 1:16; Jer. 2:22; 4:14). For the Christian, it means we are called to moral and spiritual purity and holiness, to be in the world but not touched by the world (Acts 15:9; Rom. 10:16; 2 Thess. 1:8). We are purified when we obey the Truth, which enables us to grow in our spiritual formation, and show love and self-sacrificing character (Matt. 5:44; Luke 6:27, 35; 1 John 3:14-18).

· Love of the brethren simply means to love one another. This passage in 1 Peter gives us a list of reasons to do so because of what Jesus has done for us (John 13:35; 1 Cor. 13; 1 John 4:7-11).

· Born again means regeneration (John 3). The emphasis is on the past tense as it has already happened. We have been given a new nature, one that is in Christ; thus, what are we doing with it now? Being born again means we are born from above by God. It is the work of the Spirit (John 3:3-6; Rom. 8:14; 1 Cor. 12:3; Gal. 4:6; 5:22-23) while the Word of God presents the gospel as the testimony (Deut. 6:4-9; 11:17-20; 2 Tim. 3:14-17). The point here is that our new life must produce results (Titus 3:5; James 1:18)!

· Corruptible means human corruption contrasted to God’s Holiness and Word (Luke 8:11).

· Seed, meaning “divine life,” was a colloquialism for God’s Word as “seminal” (similar to “logos” of John 1), from “Plilo” which is a philosophical term meaning it is the divine influence for us (Isa. 40: 6-8; Luke 8:11; 1 John 3:9). God plants this in us, but we are required to care for and cultivate it for its continual growth in us.

· Through the living and enduring word of God. Word refers to God’s self- revelation, both spoken (by the prophets, who wrote it down for us) and written (all that we have today) (Deut. 6:4; 11:13-20; 1 Kings 12:22; Psalm 30:5; 33:9; Luke 3:2). This phrase means God’s Word is inspired, continual, real, relevant, imperishable, living, and lasting; it is the instrument through which Christ is revealed to humanity from a God who is all powerful, never failing, and who keeps His promises (Isa. 55:10-11; Heb. 4:12; James 1:18).

· All flesh is grass. This is a quote from Isaiah 40:6-8 from the “LXX” (Septuagint, a Greek version of the Hebrew Scriptures, 3rd century B.C). The phrase implies that God will redeem His people; our own efforts for redemption are in vain (Isa. 52: 7-8). Our life here is temporary and preparatory as our true home is eternity in Heaven (Matt. 19:28; Acts 3:21; 2 Cor. 4:17; Heb. 6:18-20; Rev. 21:1).

Faith produces faithfulness; this comes from believing that God will do what He says and looking to Him, not our circumstances. It is about control—if it will be God or me. It is trusting in His tug on my soul and not mine or the worlds, so I can make the best righteous decisions. It is like a switch that turns God’s power and Spirit unto us. Faith is the key to removing hypocrisy because it focuses us on Christ, whereas insincerity and pretence focus us on our personal, sinful agendas.

Vs. 2:1-3: We are called to crave the deeper things of the faith. There is a time to learn the basics and keep revisiting them so they are cemented within us. This is the babies’ milk, referring to who Jesus is and what He has done. But, a time comes when we must grow beyond milk—not beyond the veracity of it, but into greater depth, profundity, and application so we are living a life of holiness through His Word and Spirit. If we stay in the shallow end of the pool, we will never learn to swim. It is the same with our faith; we have to be willing and able to take more nourishment and fullness from our Lord so we can learn and grow more.

· Laying aside/rid yourselves is announcing what was called a “vice list” of what should be avoided for purity’s sake. This was also a common phrase in the early church, recited at baptisms as a further profession of faith (Mark 7:21-22; Rom. 1:29-31; 13:12-13; 1 Cor. 5:10; Gal. 5:19-20; Eph. 4:20-24; 2 Pet. 2:10-14). Because Christ is gracious to us, we have no need to engage in evil.

· Newborn babies refers to rebirth, to those who are new in Christ. It infers dependence on Christ to be fed. When we become Christians, it is not a done deal; our salvation is, but our faith, growth, and commitment need to be fed. We are to crave the Word so we can grow in Christ! It is having the appetite to pursue Him and the things of Him.

· Desire/crave means the passionate, eager, yearning desire for real spiritual food so we can grow.

· Pure milk means certified and unadulterated, as a document of authenticity. There is no deceit; the milk has not been diluted. Here, it refers to God’s Word as pure, nourishing, and rational. These are not the elementary instructions of 1 Cor. 3:1-3; we are to teach the elementary aspects of God’s Truth, but also go on to the deeper things (1 Cor. 3:1-4; Heb. 5:11-15; 1 Pet. 1:5, 9)!

· Tasted means tasting something for the first time and finding it so good that we desire more of it. We are exhorted to seek after more spiritual food. Our character must reflect this new nature and the leading of the Spirit, both publicly and privately. It is not because of insistence or feeling, but of gratitude and fact.

· Gracious means the kindness of God is delicious, from Psalm 34:8. We are called not be corruptible—rather, to be incorruptible!

What does this all come down to? Remaining in Christ against all that buffets us in life. Do not try to predict or dread them; rather, be prepared by your trust and obedience in Him. The Christian journey is about growing in faith and maturity—both spiritual and social—in the church, then applying it in the market place of life. When we withstand the tests and trails, we become stronger and of better use to God and others. When we remain loyal, looking to Him and not to what is happing in life, we gain His favor and blessings. This helps produce our growth now and our reward to come. He will give us the strength to bear it while we learn from it (1 Cor. 10-11-13). He will give us victory, but we must be careful that we do not become conceited. If we do, the next trial will be much smaller and we will fail it, as it will knock us down fast and hard.

The classic definitions of faith include the expression of ideals, loyalty, allegiance, adhering to principles, and belief in something, someone, or God without evidence or reason. Some secularists define faith as “an allegiance in something subjective or objective without reason or evidence, by science or observation, or in spite of which there is no proof.” However, this is blind faith without merit or reason. Christian faith is a gift from God that allows us to believe and trust in His love and providence. It is the acceptance of God's Word as true, what Jesus has done as real and true, then trusting and obeying Him. But, real Christian faith is far deeper because we have evidence and reason and God’s Word. His historicity and care through time is demonstrable. God’s trustworthiness has always been true, so we can have complete trust in and commitment to Him for all of our lives.

Both Christians and secularists agree that faith does affect the fundamental matters of life and the self. But, for the cynic, this is wrong; for the faithful, this is what is sought. Because of whom God is and what He has done, our faith becomes more real and effectual as it encompasses our identity, confidence, conviction, and purpose. Thus, our faith is a growing process that affects our life, moving us to action. It is not an intellectual concept or a mysterious guidance, nor is it based solely on experience. Rather, it is trust in His guidance obtained from His Work that we can experience more and more as we move on in life. James’ assertion that faith without actions is dead come to us from God because real and true faith affects our behaviors and actions (Matthew 8: 5- 13; Acts 11:22-24, 27:21-25; Romans 4:18-21, 1 Corinthians 12:9, Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 11; James 1:2-4; 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:7-9; 2 Peter 1:2-9; 16; 1 John 5:4).

The Essential Inductive Questions (for more Inductive questions see Inductive Bible Study):

6. What is in the way of these precepts affecting me? What is in the way of my listening to God?

1. Do you have a favorite food that you crave? What would it mean to crave God’s Word the way we crave our favorite food?

2. What does “therefore” mean to you? What would be the result from the information our Lord has given you?

3. What does it mean to you to love? How would you define love? How would you explain it to someone?

4. What would it mean to love with vigor and earnestness? Why can’t love be done with pretense?

5. How can a Christian have love for his or her fellow Christians or neighbors and at the same time manipulate them, seek to control, subvert or be jealous? How would one rationalize that this is a good practice and is acceptable God from what this passage states?

6. Do you cry out for greater depth and implication of the Word? Do you seek greater awareness of God’s precepts so you can grow more and be used more? If not, what and why do you think you are here? Consider church, family, work, and life in general.

7. Have you realized the depths of His grace and that you have been given the incredible, wondrous gift of eternity and hope? If so, what have you done with it? If not, what would it take for you to further reason, trust, and believe in the incredible impacting grace of our Lord?

8. What do you need to do to grow in the Word? What needs to take place so you can respond to the “therefore” God gives us?

10. What happens when we put our hope in whatever we feel like, such as money, career, or power? How have you experienced that this does not last and becomes meaningless? What must our hope rest on? What are you going to do to further this idea in your life?

11. How can being purified help you obey the Truth? How would this enable you to grow? What would your life look like in this paradigm?

12. What can you do to be more “dependent,” as in being dependent on Christ to be fed? What would this mean for your personal and spiritual growth and commitment? What will you do about it?

General idea: The previous chapter gave us a litany of what Christ has passionately done for each of us as individuals. Now, Peter takes the argument of what our Lord has done for us to show how we are to be as a corporate collaboration of people in Him. The call is to come to Christ because He is the Living Stone, just as He called us to in Matthew 11:28-30. Here, we have an image of how our Lord is our cornerstone and how we as a Church should function, as we are all interlocked, plumed with purpose with our calls, gifts and abilities to one another all in Him (Eph. 4)! Christ is constructing a building of faith and eminence to be His Church made up of the stones of “us” laid upon the foundation of Him. Thus, our faith needs to grow from us personally and then move into our community, so we can interlock with one another, fastened by the mortar of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:19-22).

Peter tells of the incredible transition from the Temple and the priesthood to the Church—foretold, but still inconceivable to the Jewish mindset. Christ is our stone bridge and gives us continuity and purpose. Jesus is the Foundation, Pillar, and Purpose of the Church, and we, as His people, are the church. We are not cold stones that are stationary and which decay; rather, we are living and movable, cemented together as a corporate identity in Him.

Yet, as perfect and precious as our Living Stone is, people do not understand Him and therefore reject Him out of fear of conviction. His way gets in the way of their way (my way), because they want a warrior Messiah, not a Savior and Convictor of their souls. However, when we are in Him, we have no need to fear. He gives us the comfort, protection, and the deep love we need. We, too, are precious in God’s sight!

Our identification as a “corporate” church is not a building; rather, it is a relationship of community, where we are His priests! The entire sacrificial and priestly system, as God directed Moses to set up, is now obsolete. It has been replaced. Its purpose was to point to Christ and get people ready; now, He is here. He is the sacrifice, the Altar, and the Temple, and we are the priests (Ex. 19:1-9). The key is that we have to listen to His Word; we must relinquish our self-absorbed mindsets and focus on Christ as Lord over all.

Vs. 4-8: The Living Stone, our temple, is He who gives us grace and comfort and does not disappoint! How wonderful and comforting to be able to allow Him to be our haven of rest, our continual comfort. At the same time, a warning is given to those who reject the Living Stone. He still gives us His grace—until it is too late and we are called to account. Do not be the one who rejects the Living Stone! Allow your faith to empower your obedience because obedience is what pleases God; disobedience, from a lack of faith, is detestable to Him!

· Coming to Him. This is an image from Isaiah 28:16, as we are chosen and precious in Him. Our call here is to continue to draw near to God! The key issue here is even though we are chosen, in order to be fully accepted, we must have repented! Our repentance is a result of our salvation; it comes after His saving grace. If repentance came first, our salvation would have been earned, and we can’t earn it (Acts 13:38-39; Rom. 1:17; 3:31- 5:21; 10:14‑17; 1 Cor. 1:18‑2:16; 15:1‑8; 2 Cor. 5:13-6:2; Gal. 2:15- 5:1; Phil. 3:4-14; Eph. 1:3‑14; 2:8-9; 1 John 1:9)!

· Living stone means the foundation, the source of something, such as a building or a family (Psalm 118:22; Isa. 8:14; 28:16). This means Jesus is the Spiritual Temple. He is the place and focus of worship. It is no longer a building; it is a community in relationship to Him. Jesus was a carpenter in His human occupation and perhaps frequently worked with stonemasons or did masonry, too. Peter picks up this image from the Gospels. Christ is the Stone, our Giver of life, our Source and Foundation for all we are and do (Matt. 21:42; John 1:4; 1 Cor. 3:1-3; 15:45)!

· Living stones. The plural refers to our union in Him. This means Christian community and fellowship is a “spiritual house,” as we are all in Christ as one and we derive our life from Him. Our identity in Him must affect us personally and publicly, synergizing as a community (Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 15:45) that is formed, indwelt, and empowered by the Spirit (Acts 2:33). We are all precious, important, and have a job to do as a moving, living temple, reflecting His love and holiness (John 2:19; Ro 12:1; 1 Cor. 3:16; Eph. 2:19-22; Heb 7:26; 10:10).

· Chosen by God means people belonging to God for a purpose. Just as Israel was set apart to be priests and missionaries to the world, we too are designated to reach the world (Gen. 12:1-3; Duet 4:20; 7:6; 14:2; 28:9; Isa 43:10, 20-21; 44:1-2; 61:6; Hos 1:6-10; Mal 3:17; Acts 2:11; Rom. 9:25-26; 10:19; Eph 1:4).

· Spiritual House refers to the O.T. Temple as God’s dwelling place. Here, house is more than a building; it is also a legacy, a large family or dynasty such as the “House of Israel.” Thus, the Church is God’s dwelling place and legacy (2 Sam. 7:5-7, 12-16; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:19-22; Heb. 3:6).

· Holy priesthood refers to Exodus 19:5-6. We, as Christians, are now a part of His Kingdom, representatives of Christ, His living Body on earth. Now, as believers, we hold the role of priests too, because we all have the same access to God that, prior to the Cross, only the priests had (Ex. 23:22; Isa. 61:6; Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 5:20; Heb. 2:9; 13:15). Jesus Christ is our only Mediator; we do not need to go to another person—priest or rabbi—or object, but directly to God ourselves (John 14:6).

· Spiritual sacrifices means that Christ’s work on the Cross—which is “spiritual”—replaces the “material” sacrifices of the O.T. because His sacrifice is complete for us (Psalm 51:16-17; Heb. 8:13; 10:9-18; 13:5; Rev. 8:3). This is called “propitiation.” It means that Christ took our place in life and in death because we cannot be saved by our own actions. We cannot rely on our own efforts, skills, personal connections, family background, or our beliefs. Only Christ can wash us clean and declare us righteous, so we are saved from our sins (Eph. 2:8-9). God imputes His righteousness unto us by declaring us righteous because of what Christ has done (Rom. 3:21-26; 5:10-19; 10:3; 12:1). This declaration means we, as the elect, are free from our debt of sin. But, we as debtors are to be witnesses to the lost! We are to respond with our sacrifices of praise (Phil. 4:18; Heb 13:15-16).

· Acceptable to God. God accepts us by His sacrifice for our sins (Heb.13: 15-16)! Because of His work, we are complete in Him, we are deeply loved and accepted, and we do not need to have acceptance by any other person or means to be fulfilled (Col. 1:21-22; 2:13-15; James 1:4; 1 John 4:9-11)!

· Behold I lay in Zion is a quote from Isaiah 8:14; 28:16 and Psalm 118:22. Here, Christ is the true God and representative of us all. This is an image of how God delivered Israel from slavery to the Promised Land, and how He delivers us from sin, from darkness to Light. The same stone they worshiped is the stone they stumbled on because they refused to understand (Rom. 9:30-10:4).

· Cornerstone. This was a large stone laid at the foundation of a building to be a “footer,” and to “plum” the rest of the building so it was square and secure. This was essential to the structure of the building. These buildings were laid by cut stones, interlocked by gravity and force, and without mortar, all relying and leaning on one another. Without proper stone placement, buildings in the ancient world would not last long or would fall during construction. Here, we have an image of how our Lord is our cornerstone (Psalm 118:22; Matt. 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Eph. 2:20). Chief cornerstone means the chief, the head of the corner; for our Lord, it means He is our All in All—we can trust in Him (1 Cor. 15:20-28)!

· Living stones…spiritual house. Together, these refer to a living, sacred temple, empowered by God to worship God. Some Jewish sects saw themselves as living temples or a new temple, such as the Qumran community that produced the Dead Sea Scrolls. Our dependence must be on Christ, as He is the One who supports us, lifts us up, and houses us in His presence (Ex. 19:6; Mark 12:10-11).

· Stumble, meaning disobedient, refers to condemnation and Judgment, because a person is so “self willed” and prideful, he or she is not willing to acknowledge God as his or her Lord.

· Were appointed alludes to the total Divine Sovereignty of our Lord; He is in control. This also means we have the responsibility for our faith and actions (Rom. 9:14-24).

The rejection of the world did not diminish Christ and does not diminish those who are in Christ. Our glory and place are far greater than anyone who rejects Him could ever conceive of. Faith in Christ requires our efforts and yielding; such effort is hard for most, and impossible for the person who is self-absorbed and only sees him or her self and will stumble. We have to see Christ as our Capstone or all we see is what we want—things that fade and become meaningless.

Vs. 2:9-10: In order to do the work of God, we must be the people of God! As Christians, we are chosen by Him to be in Him as His possession in love. He called us out of our darkness into His Light by His mercy; He sets us apart to be holy participants in His Kingdom (Heb. 12:14). Thus, we are called to show this wonderful, incredible place we have in Him to others by our goodness, attitude, and deeds—and, if necessary, with words.

· But you are means we are destined, we have a purpose, and we have status before our Lord! This passage is almost a direct quotation from Exodus 19:6; referring to our sharing in God’s Covenant, both as Jews and Gentiles. Our identity in Him must affect us personally and publicly, then synergize into a community (Gen. 12:1-3; Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 20:6).

· Proclaim. Peter has already stated our election in Christ in the first verses of the first chapter. Now, he uses it to call us to service because of what Christ has done for us. Our call is to be a joyful, mature, obedient witness with love toward others.

· Out of darkness refers to God having redeemed us out of the darkness of sin into the Light of His presence (Isa. 60:21; 61:3; Jer. 13:11).

· Who once were. Peter again quotes the O.T.; here, it is Hosea 1:10, 2:23. This means how God reversed His verdict of Judgment upon Israel for their continual disobedience and gave them restoration and the promise of Christ (Isa. 19:24-25; 56:3-8; Hos. 1:6-9; Rom. 9:24-26).

· The people of God refers to Israel. Now, it refers to all those in Christ, no matter what their heritage is (Hos. 1:6-10; 2:1, 22-23; Rom. 9:25-26). It shows how God elected the Israelites, they rejected Him, God judged them, and then He restored them. It is all about God’s gracious mercy that we do not deserve.

The Living Stone is defined as a dwelling! Dwellings need to be cared for, maintained, preserved, and, of course, used. His dwelling is where we can take rest and comfort out of the “weather” of life, and then regroup, recharge, and go out into the world with His Word. The incredible news of this is we still remain in His dwelling. When we go out, we are still inside His presence and care! His Living Stone is also the mobile Stone; thus, wherever we go, we are still under His shelter and care, no matter where we are or what we face.

The context of this passage is also that of 1 Peter 1:1-12. The theme is that Omniscience and free will go together—beyond our comprehension. Spurgeon said it best: “they’re friends” (Psalm 139)! Here are some thoughts to consider: God knows all things and His understanding is totally comprehensive. All that is in the past, all in the present, and all to come in the future are complete in His knowledge. In addition, His foreknowledge is contingent and interconnected but not moved by all the freely done choices and actions of humanity. Thus, our actions cannot change or move God, and all that we think and do are in His providence. At the same time, His providence does not necessarily cause us to act or respond. We still do so out of our free will. Our free will is in conjunction and in the boundaries of God’s perfect, sovereign will and foreknowledge. Yes, this is a mind blower, but we are not God, nor do we have His omniscience and omnipotent thinking power!

The Essential Inductive Questions (for more Inductive questions see Inductive Bible Study):

6. What is in the way of these precepts affecting me? What is in the way of my listening to God?

1. If you had to build your own house, what materials would you use and what would you hope it would look like? What if you could “rebuild” your church (building and/or people); what would it look like?

2. Have you ever thought of the church as a corporate collaboration of people in Him? How so? Why not?

3. The Church is made up of stones of “us” laid upon the Foundation of Him. So, how is your church a reflection of this passage? How is your church a building of faith? How could your church be a better building of faith? What could your role be?

4. How is the faith of some Christians like “cold stones” that are stationary and that decay? What causes this? How can you guard yourself from this mindset?

5. How can the precepts of this passage help you become a more joyful, mature, obedient witness with love to others?

6. Why does your faith need to grow in you personally before it can move into your community? What would it mean for you to have a faith that is a “living stone?”

7. Why did people back then reject Jesus? What are the reasons today that people reject Him? How do we reject Him with our behaviors, attitudes, feelings…?

8. What does it mean to you that you are acceptable to God, deeply loved, and complete in Him? How can this mindset enhance who and how you are?

9. How do you feel that you are a priest, a representative of Christ? What can you do more with this call?

10. How can your faith and conviction be strengthen by knowing deeply that wherever you go, you are still under His shelter and care—no matter where you are or what you face?

11. How is Christ the Foundation of your church? What needs to take place so that people will fully realize this? What would your church look like if people did?

12. What can your church do to be more like this passage? For example, how can each person interlock with one another, fastened by the mortar of the Holy Spirit in a healthier way? What would your church look like if this were so? What needs to be done to make this so?

General idea: This passage is about living honorably, even in the face of oppression and enticement. This is a call and challenge for us to see the world differently so we can respond in kindness and virtue. The world, with all of its lusts and evils, is not to be the place of our identity or the place in which we want to be enveloped; rather, it is to be the place we are to influence.

We can be influencers even if we are being influenced from the wrong areas and guidelines. Our guidelines come from the character and teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. If they come from any place else, our thinking is influenced, and thus, all we think and do becomes inclined toward the negative. Then, we become the carnal Christian who repels people from the Lord, giving the message that Christ is not sufficient or adequate.

We are on a journey in life. Basically, we are not made for this world; we are made for eternity. We are here on this earth to live and learn, to experience and grow so we can personally and passionately know Christ and make Him known to others. We do this best with our good character and virtue, seeking Him, so all that we are (as in our will, thinking, heart, and direction) is permeated by His care and call. This all comes down to how we are in this world and that all we do is to be glorifying to God. When we are lined up to this, then our conduct is honoring to God and others.

Vs. 11: We are called to stay away from evil desires because they will entice us and lead us away from His loving and best plan for us. When we are thinking in a wrong or dysfunctional way, it affects all we are and all we do because our lusts fight against our very soul! Our relationships, how we treat others, and how we proclaim God’s Word through our attitude and lifestyle all stem from how and what we are thinking. Our thinking must come from the precepts of His Word. Our opinions, judgments, outlook, and approach to life and people need to come from the heart of a will that is bought by Jesus Christ.

· Beloved/Dear friends. Our position in Christ is as His friend; we are dear, cherished, and fully, deeply loved by Him! As Christians, we are all bound together in and by love (John 14)! We are loved not because we are lovable or there is something within us He sees as good; rather, we are loved in spite of our sinful rebellion. This is a much greater love, which is what Grace is all about.

· Sojourners/aliens here refers to being “resident aliens” (see 1 Peter 1: 1-2). We are not native to the world. We Christians are on a journey, separated from the home for which we are made—eternity. Our citizenship is in heaven. We are only on this earth temporarily. This is about how we view our place in this world, how we conduct ourselves, and where we place our loyalties (Gen. 23:4; 47:9; Lev. 25:23; 1 Chron. 29:15; Psalm 39:12; 69:8; 119:19; Acts 10:34; Heb 13:14; 1 Pet. 1:1, 17). The saying that “Christianity is not just a destination; it is a journey,” applies here. We are made for heaven and destined to be there in time; meanwhile, we are to live, learn, grow, and show His love and holiness to all those with whom we come in contact.

· Pilgrims/strangers conveys a similar thought as above, with the point that we are “God’s people (1 Pet. 2:4-10).” We are not here permanently; rather, we are “pilgrims” on a journey until we reach our permanent home in eternity. Philo of Alexandria, a Jewish philosopher born in 25 B.C., viewed the soul as on a journey and us as strangers in our bodies and in the world. His point, as well as Peter’s, is that we are not made for this world, so let’s make the best of it while we are here for God’s glory. Our “homecoming” will come soon enough.

· Abstain means to control sinful desires toward immorality in a pagan culture, and to live as God’s people in a hostile world. The argument is that because we are aliens here on earth, we are called to be separated from the corruption of the world so we should not let it influence us. When we refuse to yield, we will avoid its destructive consequences.

· Lusts refers to “fleshy passions” or sexual desires,” things that lure us away from God’s path, holiness, and the character to which He calls us. The call? Stay away from lust! This lust here can refer to anything that distracts us from God! Some of the lusts are not wrong. For example, sex is not wrong, but becomes so when our sinful nature gets involved and we pervert or seek to use it against that for which it was designed. Sex is meant for intimacy only between a man and woman who are married to each other (Rom. 1:18-32; Gal. 5:19-21).

· War. We are at war with God’s desires versus ours. Thus, we must know what a mortal threat there is to us! Since our soul is not made for this world but for eternity in heaven, it is in foreign occupied territory. Thus, our soul is at war between the ways of God versus the ways of the world. The question is, which side are your heart and mind on (James 4:1-17)?

· Soul. We will never truly be able to free our soul from earthly temptations and distractions. We have to learn self-control and to keep our focus on Christ rather than the lure of lust! The philosophers sought to free the soul from earthly passions, producing Gnosticism. The call of God is to be on guard so we can still live in a proper, pleasing way to glorify our Lord and people will see Christ exhibited in us!

The Church has taught for centuries that sex is for procreation only and there are still Christian groups proclaiming this. However, this is not what the Bible teaches. Sex was created by God to populate (Genesis 1:28), to express unity (Genesis 2:24), to know your mate (Genesis 4:1), to express love (Genesis 24:67), to meet each other’s needs (Genesis 24:67; Deuteronomy 24:5; 1 Peter 3:7), to play (Proverbs 5:19; Song of Songs 2:8-17; 4:1-16; Ecclesiastes 9:9), and to prevent sin (1 Corinthians 7:2-5). Intimacy also includes our being available to our spouse (1 Corinthians 7:3-5), and showing him or her our undivided interest as an expression of love (Song of Songs 4:16; 5:2).

Sex causes a bond and is meant for a sacred occasion. When it is misused, it is devastating to all involved. This is also the reason sexual abuse is so devastating for people! The victim is bonded to his or her attacker in a perverse way, so the act stays in the mind as he or she keeps living it out. So, in the case of abuse or mistakes, we have to be diligent to seek professional counseling to overcome the experience through God’s grace, love, and forgiveness. In a marriage, where one or both of the spouses were not previously faithful, extra work and care needs to go into the relationship to seek the healing and forgiveness of that broken bond (Gen. 2:24-25; 34:1-3, 8; Prov. 5:15 -22; Rom. 8:12-17; 1 Cor. 6: 12-20; 7:3-5; 2 Cor. 10:5-6; Eph. 1:3; 2:4-10; 5:21-32; Col. 3:1-4; Heb. 13:4).

Vs. 12: We are called to be careful how we live. People will be watching us wherever we go; how we are, and what we are will be scrutinized. Therefore, we must strive to do our best, so our Lord is represented with excellence through us. Even if we never do wrong, we may be accused of wrong. However, character always triumphs because it convicts those who do not have it. They will see Christ through us, but we have to remain firm in our trust and obedience in Him. Others have the option to believe in Christ, but the key may be in how you remain faithful to Him as His witness!

· Conduct. A modern reflection in this context is “traditional family values.” We are to act nobly to others in spite of how they may treat us. We must work out a biblical character balance between exhibiting holiness and setting boundaries from potential harm. In Peter’s time, Christians were accused of being cannibals because of the Lord’s Supper, of being disloyal and atheists because they did not worship Caesar (John 19:12), of causing civil unrest (Acts 16:16-24), of being hateful because they did not participate in pagan practices (Col. 2:16), of teaching that slaves are free (1 Cor. 13:13; Gal. 3:30), and of being antisocial (Acts 15:29).

· Gentiles normally refers to anyone who is not born in or converted to Judaism. Here, it is referring to those who are anti-Jewish or anti-Christian who use their agenda to slander and manipulate those who are in God. It means when we make a commitment to Christ, people will come against us either because they do not understand or they refuse to know or be convicted, and we become a threat to their complacency and smugness.

· They observe/see your good deeds refers to people who are “carefully watching” what we do over a period of time to determine whether it is good (Matt. 5:16). This is about our influence on the unbeliever!

· Day of visitation/the day He visits us refers to God’s coming in judgment (Isa. 10:3; 60:3). This phrase can also mean when God “visits” someone and gives him or her salvation. Here, it means that when the end times occur, the Gentiles will finally recognize God’s sovereignty. Some commentators have stated that this means the return of Christ. Perhaps so, but this is problematic because of context and the quotes from Isaiah.

We are called to have lifestyle, character, outlook on life, and behavior that is about living honorably! Who and how we are make up the things we bring with us into eternity that will echo and resound, so let our actions be worthy of His praise. In this way, we can be the windows through which people can see Christ.

The attitude in this passage is like that of a missionary who studies a culture and then lives among those people. His or her job is to learn and to model Christ, but he or she is never an active part of or consumed by the culture. He or she is to be active in representing Christ and the virtues He proclaims as ambassadors of Christ (2 Cor. 5:20). The call is to remain in Christ and in His percepts and virtue, and not become contaminated by what the world offers us. What may seem good may be misleading and will cause us to rot physically by disdain and disease, erode our mind with dysfunction and false thinking, and then eat away our soul spiritually.

As we are the mirrors of Christ, He is seen by who we are. When we stand up for the faith and act in good character, people will come against us with gossip and slander because their plans become disrupted and their desires are found guilty. But, when we remain faithful, regardless of the circumstances, they will see virtue and honor in action and, thus, have a glimpse in God’s character and call even if they reject Him and seek to kill us. There will be times when it seems our efforts are weighted because people do not listen or do not repent. But, they are not. Each action we share is looked upon by others. We are watched! So, when we live to honor God, people will have the example they need to accept His grace or reject Him. We may never see the fruits, but they are there. We have a God who will judge and return, so let us get busy and make sure all those who come across our path see Him in us!

The Essential Inductive Questions (for more Inductive questions see Inductive Bible Study):

6. What is in the way of these precepts affecting me? What is in the way of my listening to God?

1. Have you ever backslidden or turned your back on God? How so, and why? What made you return to Him?

2. What are some of the things that distract you from loving and worshiping our Lord? What are some of the things that cause you or others oppression or enticement?

3. What does it mean to you to live honorably? How have you succeeded? How have you failed? Remember, we all succeed and fail at times!

4. What happens when we are the ones being influenced from the ways and evils of the world? How do they entice you and lead you away from His loving and best plan for you?

5. Does knowing that we are not made for this world, but made for eternity give you hope and confidence? How can this eternal thinking help you stick it out in life and do all that you are called to do with excellence?

6. What does it mean that we are here on this earth to live and learn, to experience and grow? How can this mindset help us personally and passionately to know Christ more so others can see Christ exhibited in us?

7. What do you need to do to stay away from evil desires? What can be a mortal threat to you? Which side is your heart and mind on (James 4:1-17)?

9. What does it mean to act nobly to others? How can we do this in spite of how they may treat us?

10. What can you do to work out a biblical character balance between exhibiting holiness and setting boundaries from potential harm?

11. What does it mean to your self-esteem that Christ says you are His friend, that you are dear, cherished, and fully and deeply loved by Him? How can this help your outlook to the church, community, and people who are close to you?

12. What is a place or situation that may need your positive, godly influence? What will you do about it? When will you do it?

General idea: This passage is all about respect. How do you show respect? Do your words line up with your beliefs? Do your actions show that Christ is living within you?

This passage adheres to “household instruction codes,” rules of etiquette and behavior needed to run a household effectively with as few conflicts and problems as possible. This also falls under philosophical ethical codes that the various schools of philosophy had as obligatory for their students. Such rules were for servants, guests, and children and included what was expected and how others were to be treated. Ancient aristocrats ran their estates like mini governments, and this new sect of Christianity needed some boundaries and behavior examples.

This tells us how we are to behave, the management and tempering of our personal freedoms and liberties for the greater good of civil peace and prosperity. God is calling us to be good citizens no matter what government controls us. In this passage, Peter uses some of the same exaltations as did Jeremiah to the captives being taken to Babylon (Jer. 29).This passage calls the early Christians, who were living under a hostile, oppressive government, and who were facing persecution, to still respect and obey the laws and exhibit good character. This call is even for when the government is evil.

The second point in this passage is about our liberty, our freedom in Christ. Christ’s work has freed us, but that does not mean we can do whatever we please. The laws of physics are still in place; thus, if we pray in the street while a truck is coming, it will hit us. If we use an unkind word to someone, we will hurt him or her, and so forth. We are called to use wisdom and restraint, to be discerning, and not overpowering or condescending.

Vs. 13: Why must we submit to a government (legitimate authorities), even an evil one? God set the governments up and placed people in places of authority. He expects them to be responsible (Prov. 8:15; Dan. 2:21). We are called to obey the will of God; this, as hard as it is to take, is the will of God, no matter what the qualifications or spirituality of the leadership.

· Be submissive is a call to voluntarily submit, even though you are not required to do so. Submission is respect, and thus is not to exceed the parameters of the will of God or of love and righteousness. Submit translates from a military term (Ephesians 5:22 Greek: hupotasso), which means "to place under" or "to subordinate" as a line relationship (1 Peter 3:1). This is not because of weakness or inferiority, or, that one is better than the other is. This introduces the theme of submission and obedience for the rest of the chapter (Eph. 5:21; 1 Peter 5:5).

· For the Lord’s sake is about authority. God establishes and is the authority. For this reason, Christ is extolled; His name and reputation remain good and shown in good light because we are His windows to the world! When we are submitting to others, we are submitting and serving Christ as Lord (Col. 3:23-24)! When we disobey the government, we are disobeying God who set up those people in their leadership positions (Prov. 16:10; 21:1; Rom. 13:1-7).

· The king is supreme. We are to show respect. Keep this in mind: when Peter wrote this Epistle, Nero was the evil, godless, and vicious emperor (A.D. 54 to 68). We Christians are to obey as long as our obedience to the government does not contradict our obedience to the Lord and His precepts. We are never to violate the law of God (Matt. 22:21; Acts 4:19; 5:29). (Incidentally, Peter was martyred by Nero in a heinous way. See background article.)

· Praise/ commend possibly refers to legal acquittal or thanking people who provide service for municipalities, such as the garbage man.

· Will of God refers to God’s sovereignty. He is in control and He places us where we need to be for His glory.

· King possibly referred directly to Nero, whereas Governors were identified as local authorities. The emperor sent vassal kings, legates, proconsuls, and governors to rule most of the Roman Empire. They then ruled on Rome’s behalf. All of the early Christians were under such authority.

· Free/free men means we have freedom from the world’s ways but we still are not permitted to do as we please. We can be slaves to sin or slaves to God; it is our freedom to choose. God treats us with respect, while sin destroys! We are to be wise with how we use our freedom and liberty, and pursue virtue and excellence. A balance must arise, through biblical understanding, between boundaries to protect us from tyranny, and character, which upholds the laws in order to show Christ to others. Our true freedom is how God has freed us from the bondage of sin and how we choose to show our gratitude to Him for who He is and what He has done (Rom. 2:23; 6:23). The stoic philosophers at the time advocated obedience to the state.

· Cloak/cover-up means to say one thing and do another, to hide your true identity as a Christian, or to act outside of God’s call and virtue. It also includes the erroneous idea that because we have grace, we have a license to sin. The historical context cautions Christians not to use the excuse of liberty to violently rebel against Rome (1 Cor. 7:20-24; Gal. 5:13; 2 Pet. 2:19-20).

· Bondservants /servants. We are called not to abandon our responsibilities and duties, because Christ, as our ultimate Master, is the one we obey, respect, and worship (Rom. 1:1; 6:22; 9:3; 1 Cor. 15:3-8; James 1:1). A bondservant was the lowest form of a slave in Greek times, totally at the master’s disposal, and even expendable. He, along with others like him, rowed the boats of war with a whip at his back. For us, it means total, surrendered devotion to the Lord; our will has been sacrificed to God's will and thus we are totally at the disposal of our Lord(Acts 6:1-6; Rom. 12:7; Gal. 1:15; 2:20; Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 2:8-3:13; 4:6)!

· Silence the ignorance/ ignorant talk. Christianity was getting a bad reputation from rumors and false allegations, and was being expounded by the bad actions of some Christians. When we are good citizens, and when we are behaving with good character, we prove false allegations wrong. When we act foolish, we prove our accusers right. This is an important call and is instrumental in countering false accusations and persecution; it also shows a better picture of the Gospel to unbelievers!

· Honor all peoples/ Show proper respect. We are called to recognize and respect those in authority (Ex. 22:28; 1 Kings 21:10; Prov. 24:21). We are also called to recognize, respect the significance, and value the personhood of all people—regardless of race, color, or creed (Prov. 1:7; 8:13; 16:6; Rom. 2:11; James 2:1.)! As human beings, we are all the same, and we bear the image of God (Gen. 1:27; 6:9; 1 Pet. 1:17)!

· Fear God means to reverence God as Lord, not as an afterthought or when it is convenient. We are to come before God in this way, along with humbleness (1 Pet. 5:6). It is a term of endearment and respect that is supercharged with more meaning and power because it infers intense reverence and awe of God and His holiness (Job 28:28; Prov. 1:7; 3:5; 8:13; 9:10; 16:6; 31:30; Psalm 2:11; 34:11; 111:10; Isa. 12:6; Eccl. 12: 13; Mal. 1:14; Matt. 10: 27-33; Rom. 2:11; James 2:1). It does not mean we are afraid of Him; rather, we are fearful of His wrath (Romans 3).

Why? It is about respecting the order of society and the structure for the greater good of all people. Otherwise, things would be worse and anarchy would result. If we model goodness, it is convicting. The misdirected leaders may get the message that their ways are not so good. They need examples of character and virtue, especially when they do not have it or have never experienced it. God is the One who appoints leaders. He is still sovereign, even when a Nero or a Hitler is running things, because God is still ultimately in charge. The leaders will be held accountable for their ways, whether good or evil; we are to remain faithful to God and show our love for Him by being respectful to others around us. They will see His love in us; love does drive out fear (1 John 4:18). Foolishness and the misdirection of government authorities will be more thwarted by good examples than by terrorist hostilities (Rom. 13:1-7). By being the good example, and by ethics, the Christians can prove that they are not the evil government- haters for which they were being accused. By remaining good examples, they showed support for the Roman government; thus, persecution was frustrated as such threats and gossip fell on deaf ears!

Imagine if the people in Palestine stopped their violence against the Jewish government, and begin a campaign to show the Fruit of the Spirit? The Jewish officials would have no reason to retaliate, no reason to build a wall, no reason to oppress them. The Palestinians would be in a position to negotiate for freedoms and privileges that the Jewish citizens get—a higher standard of living, an end to Fourth World living conditions, an end to preventable disease and hunger, and clean, nice, affordable housing. However, the problem of the violence continues; thus, the problems do not go away, but, rather, escalate.

Yes, there are times to fight back, and we should never do what is contrary to the will of God just to obey a government. If the government wants us to kill babies or those who are invalids, we should fight back with force, but as much as possible in the parameters of His Fruit.

Our Founding Fathers in the U.S. struggled over this issue to remain loyal to England or proclaim liberty and freedom. England was oppressing and robbing us, and many early Americans, especially Christians, sought to continue to allow it. Other Christians sought to fight. Our country was divided then over this issue as we are divided today over recent national elections.

We must strive to remain loyal and model good character in all we do, especially to our government, even at the DMV, trying to get a driver’s license after several weeks of run-around and, while waiting in line, discover we are in the wrong line, were given the wrong forms and instructions, so we have to start over. The more important issue is not how they treat us, but as Christians, how we respond and treat them!

The Essential Inductive Questions (for more Inductive questions see Inductive Bible Study):

6. What is in the way of these precepts affecting me? What is in the way of my listening to God?

1. What kind of household instructions did you have growing up? What about now? Were such rules needed? How so?

2. Have you ever had problems respecting authority? What about a Governor or President you just cannot stand? How should you see them?

3. This passage is all about respect. How do you show respect? Do your words line up to your beliefs? Do your actions show Christ is living within you?

4. Why are proper etiquette and behavior needed to run a household or a government effectively? Why would people be opposed to this? How can we thwart the misdirection of government authorities more by good examples than by terrorist hostilities?

5. How do rules counter conflicts and prevent problems? Why is it important to manage our personal freedoms and liberties? What happens when it goes unchecked? How does our personal behavior help promote a greater good of civil rest and prosperity?

6. During this Epistle’s writing, a hostile, oppressive government was persecuting the early Christians. How would you feel if you were told to temper yourself and respect those who were doing these things to you and your family? Why would heeding such advice be beneficial to you? What would be the consequences?

7. Why is it a bad idea to think that because we are made free by Christ’s work, we can do whatever we please? What would happen if Christians did this?

8. God is the One who set up the governments and He holds them responsible: How can this point help you respect and obey the laws of the land?

9. How would you define submission? Why would you submit, even though you do not have to? Can you give an example? How is submitting to those in authority serving Christ as Lord?

10. The important issue is not how the government treats us, but how Christians respond and treat it! So, what can you and your church do to be better examples of this?

11. How can you make sure that your obedience to the government does not contradict your obedience to the Lord and His precepts, knowing that we are never to violate the law of God?

12. How can you come up with a balance, through biblical understanding, between boundaries to protect you from tyranny and still model character by upholding the laws, and showing Christ to others? How would you react to an unjust law? Can you give an example?

As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

General idea: Peter is calling upon servants to obey their masters. This not only applies to slaves but also to us today! We may not be slaves, but we are called to accept the authority of those who are in authority over us, even when they are harsh and cruel. This is hard for most Christians to understand because it is a call that goes against our nature and even our culture. This passage is not saying we are to be mistreated, taken advantage of, or abused; it is a firm call to be a good employee, student, and to strive to be a model Christian by sowing kindness, respect, and following through with good work ethics.

We are not to give up or skip out on opportunities or duty because they get difficult. We also are not to seek revenge or conspire to hurt others because we have been hurt. This is about being a good worker so we reflect Christ and give Him glory. It is also about being a good witness by showing that extra-ordinary virtue. The backside of this is there is no glory or honor in enduring rebuke and punishment that we deserve!

This passage was originally directed to servants who worked as household slaves to look at their situation as a privilege rather than despair over it. They were, as a whole, treated much better than the field slaves or war slaves. Peter knew there was nothing he could do to free them, so he gave them pastoral advice to work within the system and do their best for a greater purpose. It is far better to deal with your situation constructively then to cause more unrest.

Vs. 18-20: This passage is a tough one as it asks us to do what we naturally do not want to do and for which we can easily rationalize our disobedience. However, to God, a greater theme is presented, one we usually do not see in our horizon, of putting Him first so our character and virtue are the display case for His work and person.

· Servants referred to slaves or hired workers. They were much like the butlers and maids we have today, except they were usually owned by another person. Some could save their money and buy their freedom, but most did not as their lifestyle was better than it would be if they were on their own. However, even the best-treated servants were subjugated to extreme prejudice. Others were in a hopeless situation. They were being encouraged to obey and allow their virtue to win others over. The stoic philosophers also taught this. The flipside is salves and servants were to be treated with respect and dignity, never mistreated, and as spiritually equal before God (1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:28; Eph. 6:9; Col. 3:11; 4:1). Peter is not condemning or condoning slavery, just stating it as a matter of fact; thus, he urges them to learn to live with it and reform it by good character and the Gospel (Deut 24:1-4; Matt. 19:8; Eph. 6:5; Philemon). Slaves were also encouraged to seek their freedom by all legal means (1 Cor. 7:21-24; Philemon). (I firmly believe if we had done that in the U.S., we would not have the ongoing racial bigotry that we have in the U.S. I write this as a man who is descended from African and European ancestry!)

· Conscious of God means submission; we should focus on our duty and respect authority because it is for God. This is about being a good worker as our work reflects God (Eph. 6:5-8; Col. 3:22-25; 1Tim. 6:1-2; Titus 2:9-10).

In the ancient world, such people were treated as property and had little to no rights. There were many slave uprisings, but they only accomplished the killing of the slaves and made matters worse for future slaves. Peter wanted to fix the problem, but he could not. So, he called slaves and everyone else to a higher standard.

Slaves, in the early slavery period of Europe and America, were the vital forces that kept the economy going. Peter is not condoning slavery, but calls us to work within it for reform. If slavery had suddenly been eliminated, the society and economy would have broken down and anarchy would have replaced it. This would have made life worse for everyone, just as it did in 1860s America. It was the American and English Christians in the 1750s and onward who led the end of slavery by understating and applying this passage. If slavery here had been eliminated gradually, as it was in England, we might never have had the Civil War or the racial problems that have followed for decades! Ironically, such problems are not as apparent in England as they are in America—the “land of the free.”

Vs. 21-25: Jesus faced all of the temptations we face, yet remained true to and never disobeyed God. He cut no corners and took no shortcuts; therefore, we can have eternal life by receiving and enduring His extreme suffering that He did not deserve! This section gives us the picture of the sinless nature of Jesus (Luke 14:25-33; Heb. 12:3-13; 1 Pet. 1:19). This is important because if Jesus were not sinless, He could not have been God nor paid the debt for our Redemption (Acts 3:14; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; 7:26; 1 Pet. 1:19; 3:10; 1 John 3:5)!

· You were called. The call is the patient endurance of injustice and suffering, a call that seems no sane person should desire, yet it is our call. The Christian life is not about health and wealth but just the opposite—suffering and growth (John 15:18-20; 2 Tim. 3:12). Christ suffered for us and we are to understand the significance, power, and impact of this (Isa. 52:13-53:12; 2 Cor. 1:5; 4:10; Phil. 3:1-14; 1 Pet. 5:12). Thus, do not be harsh; endure harshness. Our conscience toward God may bring about suffering!

· An example. Philosophers were obsessed with the idea that we must have good and perfect “forms” of templates and examples from which to learn and follow. Jesus is our perfect example! Many people today are fixated on justice and proper treatment. This is important; however, who we are in our situation is more important!

· Who… is a quote from Isaiah 53:9. The rest of this passage has the entire chapter in mind, the model of the suffering servant and a prophecy about Jesus, which He fulfills.

· Committed no sin. Jesus was perfect and totally sinless (John 8:46; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; 7:26; 1 Pet. 2:22; 1 John 3:5). This was necessary to please God, so He took our place by living a perfect life in our behalf; this is called “propitiation.” All have sinned, and we are separated from God because of sin (Rom. 3:23; 8:7). Only Christ, who pleased God for us, was sinless.

· His mouth meant Jesus had the right and power to defend Himself in a society that valued and respected authority. He chose to submit and take the abuse. Not responding is the greatest defense, as God is one’s defense (Matt. 27:12-14, 34-44)! This would have been astonishing yet of incredible encouragement to a slave. Hence, many slaves became Christians, as they could identify with Christ.

· Bore our sins refers to Jesus, who not only set the example, but more importantly, also redeemed us (Isa 53:12). This also refers to the “substitutionary atonement.” Christ was the innocent, sacrificial lamb who died for the guilty—for our sins!

· Tree. This is metaphorical reference to the cross (Isa 53:5; Acts 5:30; 10:39; 13:29; Rom. 6:3-14; Gal 3:13).

· His stripes/wounds refer to what Christ endured for us. He suffered for us and gave us an example of suffering (Isa 6:10; 53:4-5; Jer. 6:14; 8:11). The wounds were not from the literal, physical torture; rather, they were from sin—our sin that He bore for us! Jesus is also our example of submission!

· Have been healed normally refers to a physical healing. However, here it means something a whole lot more—our atonement (Matt. 8:16-17). This is about how Christ's work on the cross brings salvation to those who put their faith in Him.

· Sheep is a metaphor for people who follow God (Psalm 23; Isa 40:11; John 10:1-18). Sheep going astray refers to the nation Israel, how they tended to stray far from God’s path, and how He kept disciplining and rescuing them (Psalm 119:176; Hosea—whole book, Isa. 40:11; 53:6; Jer. 50:6; Ezek 34:6). This is a call to us to heed their history lest we too go astray!

· Shepherd provides for us an image of leading and protecting. Jesus comes as the Good Shepherd to rescue His lost sheep. We have gone astray and have given in to sin; He brings us back to His fold (Psalm 23:1; Isa. 53:6; Jer. 50:6; Ezek. 34:5; Matt. 14: 13-21; John 10:11; Acts 20:28; Heb. 13:20; James 5: 19-20). This is also a name for Jesus (Psalm 23, 79:13, 95:7, 80:1, 100:3; Gen. 49:24; Isa. 40:11).

· Overseer/Guardian refers to being a guardian and protector—like a sentinel. This was someone who protected an estate or farm, and served its owners. Our Overseer is Christ (John 10:1-18)! Elders now fill this role, as Christ’s workmen, as both shepherds and overseers; they are to look out for the welfare of the flock—the church—by training, caring for, and administering His love and precepts (Acts 14:23; 20:17, 28; 1 Tim. 3:2-7; 5:15; Titus 1:5-16; 1 Pet. 5:1-4).

We glorify God when we endure with our faith and character—no matter what we might face or experience. The chief purpose for Christians, above all else, is to glorify God (Luke 22:42; John 17:22; Eph. 4:1-16). Christ is our great example for respect and endurance; He endured and suffered for you, He took your place in God’s wrath, and as a sinless, innocent person, went to the cross for us all. We then follow in His steps—not for our salvation, as it has already been given to the Christian—but to show another picture to those who are watching us. We exemplify Him by being a good example! Why? He has healed and saved us, so we need to trust Him out of our gratitude, and allow Him to be our Shepherd, Guardian, and Lord over all.

The key to this passage is possessing the attitude that Christ is our employer so we do our work for Him. We should view our job as a mission field and keep coworkers and bosses in constant prayer. If you feel stress, hatred, lack of accomplishment, or if you are unhappy and in the wrong place, then pray more! We are to be our best for His glory, regardless of our circumstances (Rom. 8:17; Eph. 6:5-8;Phil. 2:1-11). We may have a paycheck from McDonald’s and a boss who may need some acne treatments, but our ultimate authority and manager is Christ Himself! We show our value—that Christ paid a price for us—so we in turn can respond with a good work ethic (1 Cor. 7:23). We must adjust our mindset to see work as an opportunity to please Him, and in so doing, be a blessing to those around us with our practical obedience and diligence! This allows us to do our best for Christ’s highest with excitement and passion in order to complete our work and call from the Lord. He asks us to love our call and pursue our work so we are doing our best for His glory. (Prov. 10:4; Rom. 12:11; Col. 3:23).

Here are some more Scriptures about being an employee: Exodus 23:12; 35:2; Proverbs 10:26; 25:13; Ecclesiastes 2:4; 5:12; Colossians 3:17, 22-25; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Timothy 6:2; Titus 2:9,10; 1 Pet