1 Peter 1:3-5 (Bible Class)

This is the second in a Bible study series on 1 Peter. The full list of classes can be found here.

God’s Abundant Mercy
1. Defining attribute: Exodus 34:5-7
2. God’s justice and mercy are combined in the crucifixion
  1. To those who are disobedient and disbelieve he is a just judge
    1. They have no hope of salvation because they have rejected the Jesus’ sacrifice and “there is none who does good, no not one”
  2. To those who seek God and hold fast to Jesus as the source of salvation he is merciful and is as a Father to them
    1. If we confess our sins he is merciful to forgive us (1 John 1:9)
3. The foundation of our salvation is God’s mercy
  1. God’s mercy is primary, our faith secondary
  2. In his mercy he foreordained Jesus to take our sins upon himself
    1. God reconciled man to himself through Jesus
    2. Faith, repentance, baptism, obedience are responses to this mercy
He Has Begotten Us Again
1. Sometimes our change of status before God is described in terms of death and resurrection, other times in terms of being born again
2. John 3:1-5
  1. We are begotten again by the power of God when we receive the Holy Spirit at baptism
    1. The Spirit acts upon our spirit as we physically submit to baptism
    2. God renews us, makes us into a new person
      1. Externally, there is no change to our person
      2. Spiritually, we are reborn as children of God, adopted into God’s family
3. This re-birth is from God and is according to his abundant mercy
To a Living Hope Through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
1. We hope in all the promises that we have received from God
  1. Forgiveness, adoption, resurrection
2. Our hope is living because:
  1. It is active and true, not vain and empty
    1. He who promises is trustworthy and able to fulfill
  2. The basis for our hope is living, and in him we have life
3. The resurrection of Jesus is the crux of Christianity
  1. If there is no resurrection Christianity is not true and we are to be pitied above all people (1 Corinthians 15:12-18)
    1. But he is risen and is the firstfruit of the resurrection (1 Cor 15:20)
  2. Jesus is declared to be the Son of God in power (Romans 1:4)
  3. The crucifixion is understood only in light of the resurrection
    1. People die, but Jesus was raised from the dead never to die again
    2. Crucifixion: dejection, confusion
    3. Resurrection: confidence, hope
  4. It vindicates Jesus’ claims
    1. Even Pharisees and priests believe after the resurrection
4. It gives us the hope of a reward of future life
  1. All those who are in Christ have the promise of eternal life (John 3:16)
    1. Though we die, we look forward to our resurrection and eternal life (John 11:25-26)
To an Inheritance Incorruptible, Undefiled, Unfading, Reserved in Heaven
1. If we are children, then heirs (Romans 8:17)
2. Because of sin things currently are: Corrupted, Defiled, and Fading
  1. Moth and rust destroy, thieves break in and steal
  2. Our bodies and minds breakdown
    1. Dust we are, and to dust we return
  3. We struggle against sin
    1. Even as Christians we continue to struggle against sin
    2. We should be becoming more sanctified, but there is still a struggle
  4. All of creation groans because of the curse
    1. But it groans in hope of being renewed (Romans 8:20-25)
3. Inheritance free from sin and its consequence: Incorruptible, Undefiled, Unfading
  1. Physical resurrection and the redemption of our bodies
  2. A new heaven and new earth
  3. A release from the curse: No more pain, disease, or death
  4. A closeness to God like that of Adam and Eve pre-fall
4. All this is currently being reserved for us in heaven
  1. Where moth and rust do not destroy and thieves do not break in and steal
  2. We have no fear of our inheritance losing value
Kept by the Power of God Through Faith For Salvation Ready to be Revealed in the Last Time
1. Not kept from suffering or persecution
  1. Peter will discuss persecution in the next paragraph
  2. Jesus tells us there will be persecution
  3. We are to pick up our cross daily
  4. Sin and its consequences are still a reality
2. Kept in the security of salvation
  1. Eternal security, but rightly understood
  2. As long as we continue in faith, nothing can separate us from the love of God or the assurance of our salvation (Romans 8:38)
  3. We can separate ourselves from God, but nothing outside of ourselves can
  4. We will never be pressed more than we can handle, God will protect us from anything more than we can persevere through (1 Corinthians 10:13)
3. We are saved, are being saved, and will be saved
  1. We will experience salvation in the fullest sense only at Jesus’ return
4. Jesus will return, there will be a physical resurrection
5. For those in Christ there is no fear of judgment
  1. We look forward to hearing “well done” and entering into the joy of our eternal inheritance, the renewal of all things, and the culmination of our salvation

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