1 Peter 1 Verses 18 to 19 Making the Trip to Heaven October 29, 2023

1 Peter 1 Verses 18 to 19 Making the Trip to Heaven October 29, 2023

Class Presentation Notes AAAAAAa

Background Scripture:

2 Corinthians 4:12-16 (NASB) 12 So death works in us, but life in you. 13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe, therefore we also speak, 14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

Main Idea:

We cannot pay our way to Heaven because the price has already been paid. It is free to us, but only because Jesus paid it all at the cost of His life.

Study Aim:

To combat the common misconception that it is possible to earn one’s way into Heaven.

Create Interest:

· Christian hope is a confident desired expectation because it is based on God and what He has promised. The basis or foundation of Christian hope is “the God of hope” (Rom. 15:13) who has acted for our salvation in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The goal of Christian hope is eternal fellowship with God and His people. We are confident that God is at work to bring in His eternal kingdom, in which we share. Earthly disappointments and difficulties do not diminish such hope but make it stronger.[1] Agree/disagree? Why?

Lesson In Historical Context:

· The author claims to be an eyewitness to Christ’s sufferings (1 Pe. 5:1). Peter was an apostle of the Lord Jesus, and he witnessed the sufferings of Christ. He is the most widely known among the apostles.

o He was a businessman, a fisherman (Mk. 1:16–20).

o He became a disciple through the witness of his own brother, Andrew (Jn. 1:40–42).

o He was given the name of Peter by the Lord Himself. Peter was originally called by the Hebrew name Simon (Simeon), hence the name Simon Peter. The Greek name Peter (or Cephas in Aramaic), which means “the rock,” was given to Simon by Jesus in recognition that the Church, like a rock, would never fail (Jn. 1:41–42; see Mt. 16:16–18).

o He was one of three men who were apparently closer to the Lord than others who followed the Lord—one of three who formed an inner circle around Christ. James and John were the other two (Mt. 17:1–2; Mk. 5:37; 9:2; 14:23).

o He was a natural born leader and became the leader of the twelve apostles (Mt. 19:27; Mk. 8:29; Jn. 6:67–68; Ac. 1:15; 2:14; 4:8–12; 15:7).

o He publicly denied Christ at the crucifixion, but he later repented rather bitterly (Mt. 26:69–75).

o He had a private interview with the risenLord which deeply affected him (1 Co. 15:5; see Jn. 21:7, 15–21).

o He was filled with God’s Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

o He was chosen by God to become the missionary apostle to the circumcision, that is, the Jews of the dispersion, those scattered all over the world (Ga. 2:7–8, 11–21). Over time, he traveled farther and farther away from his home base (Ac. 9:32–12:25).[2]

· Peter’s first epistle seems to have been written sometime between a.d. 64 and a.d. 67, between the outbreak of the Christian persecution and the outbreak of the Jewish war with Rome.

· Nero was born in A.D. 37, after the life of Christ on earth. During Nero’s rule the Great Fire broke out in Rome (a.d. 64). Much of the city was destroyed including Nero’s palace. The story, probably true in part, goes that Nero fiddled while Rome burned.

· Nero took measures to provide relief for those affected by the fire. Still, he could not dispel the rumor that he had the fire set. People knew that he planned to build a much larger palace for himself, and they reasoned that he used the fire to clear off the land.

o Nero felt the need to divert suspicion to another group. He selected the Christians as his scapegoats. He claimed that they had set the fire. A systematic persecution of the Christians followed. Because of his lifestyle and the persecution, many Christians viewed him as the antichrist.[3]

· Peter felt the peril and suffering of the times. The world was changing. Old landmarks were being removed. Christianity was in crisis.[4]

· Peter wrote the epistle from Babylon (1 Pe. 5:13). The symbolic Babylon, was Rome itself. Throughout history the name of Babylon has stood for evil; therefore, when Rome began its harassment and persecution of the church, Christians began to refer to Rome as Babylon(see Re. 17:18). Peter was probably in Rome when he wrote the epistle.

· The location of the recipients of the letter is clearly indicated in 1:1: “God’s chosen ones … in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.” That is, these are Christians living in the northwest quadrant of Asia Minor bordering the Black Sea.

o What is interesting is that the provinces are named in the order in which a messenger might visit them.[5]

· There are at least two reasons for Peter’s writing this letter.

o To challenge and strengthen believers to stand against the onslaught of persecution being leveled against them. This is Peter’s primary purpose.

o To reinforce the glorious truth that the believer is only a stranger and a pilgrim upon the earth (1 Pe. 1:1–4; 2:11; see Heb. 11:13).

§ Peter sensed that the message of holiness and dedication was especially needed during this period of persecution. There was a strong temptation to return to the world to save one’s life and property.

· In summary: 1 Peter was written to Christians who were experiencing various forms of persecution, men and women whose stand for Jesus Christ made them aliens and strangers in the midst of a pagan society.

· As we approach the “Introduction for Our Bible study, I would be remiss as a teacher if I did not read the following which is referred to in Verse 1:13 by the word, “Therefore”. Our trip to Heaven begins when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior…Peter’s exhortation to us in these verses begins the trip and we will focus on how to make it as church😊

· 1 Peter 1:1-12 (NASB) The introduction to Peter’s letter. 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. 10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.

Introduction for our Bible Study. (What is this you say?)

(You have never seen this in my work as I am morphing as led by the Holy Spirit to a more interactive study to help us get to know each other better, bond as a family, and grow in Christ

· As I evaluated this study, I was led to back up to the verses preceding which prepare us like a short crescendo kettledrum roll leading up to our short two verse focus.

o Peter exhorted these Christians to steadfast endurance and exemplary behavior. Discuss each verse with the class before proceeding

§ 1 Peter 1:13 (NASB) 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

📷 How do you prepare your mind for action?

📷 How do you keep sober in the spirit?

📷 What would be your recommendation to someone on how to completely fix your hope on the grace to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ?

§ 1 Peter 1:14 (NASB) 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,

📷 What would you think are some of the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance?

📷 In your present position of knowledge and ability, how would you counsel a person not to conform to those and the countless list of others?

§ 1 Peter 1:15 (NASB) 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;

📷 Christ is the image of God and we know so much more about God because of His three short years with us. He desires us to be holy in all our behavior.

What does that look like to you?

§ 1 Peter 1:16 (NASB) 16 because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."

📷 Being Holy like Christ is unreachable this side of Heaven. Why would Peter teach, as inspired by the Holy Spirit, for us to do something we cannot do?

o I am shifting gears here to take pressure off your knogggins and suggest some thoughts to discuss😊

📷 The main idea behind holiness is not moral purity but it is the idea of “apartness.” The idea is that God is separate, different from His creation, both in His essential nature and in the perfection of His attributes. But instead of building a wall around His apartness, God calls us to come to Him and share His apartness. He says to us, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

📷 When we fail to see God’s apartness, we begin to believe that He is just a “super-man.” Then we don’t see that His love is a holylove, His justice is a holy justice, and so on with all of His attributes. Holiness is not so much something we possess as it is something that possesses us.)[6] Discuss and soak on this!

§ 1 Peter 1:17 (NASB) 17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;

📷 The focus is for godly “fear” (i.e., reverential awe), The practical meaning is that we are not to presume on God’s favor but are to shape our lives by a healthy respect of His judgment, supported by an indescribable love for Christ and desire to spend eternity with Him.

📷 Peter encouraged his readers to assume this attitude by reminding them of the character of God (as Father, v. 17a,and as Judge, v. 17b), of the nature of the Christian life (a sojourning or pilgrimage through an alien world, v. 17c; cf. 1:1.[7]

o The warmth of Peter’s expressions combined with his practical instructions make this epistle a unique source of encouragement for all believers who live in conflict with their culture.[8] (Sounds like us today).

Bible Study:

1 Peter 1:18-19 (NASB) 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

· Psalm 49:7–8 says, “No man can by any means redeem his brother or give to God a ransom for him—for the redemption of his soul is costly, and he should cease trying forever.” Indeed, the price “for the redemption of [a] soul is costly”….and not humanly possible!

· Peter appealed to his readers’ basic knowledge that there was nothing available to mankind that could meet that price.

o Knowing emphasizes that believers know that they were not redeemed with perishable things.

o Redemption’s price was not some valuable earthly commodity—like silver or gold.[9]

· If the deliverance at the Exodus was great, the one that Peter’s readers had experienced was greater. The blood of Christ is infinitely more valuable than the silver and gold ‘ransom’ of the exodus (Ps. 105:37; Exod. 12:35–36), and it was the purity of Jesus’ life that made his sacrifice effectual in a way that the Passover lamb could only foreshadow.

· Such a sacrifice! Offered to what end? To ransom us from our ‘futile ways’.

o In other words, the ultimate purpose of Christ’s sufferings was not simply to secure forgiveness, but to ensure that our lives would change. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB) 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

o The ‘futile [or vain] ways inherited from your forefathers’ is almost certainly a reference to the idolatry of Egypt and, before that, Ur of the Chaldees. That was all part of their ‘former ignorance’ (v. 14). A price had been paid so that things would now be different.[10]

Thoughts to Soak on and discuss from Verse 18

· The key word in this passage is ‘ransomed’. It means that we have been ‘bought back’, like a dirty object in a junk shop. We had, all of us, been used for all kinds of purposes other than those for which we were made. ‘Futile practices’, says Peter. God had come into the junk shop, and had paid the ultimate price for us: the precious blood of the Messiah, God’s own son. Peter is thinking here, as he makes clear, of the sacrificial lamb in the Bible, particularly perhaps of the lamb that was sacrificedat the Jewish festival of Passover, marking the moment when God ‘bought back’ his people Israel from their abusive slavery in Egypt. Now, declares Peter, the sacrificial death of Jesus has ‘ransomed’ us, too. That is why Jesus was sent in the first place. That was God’s intention from the very beginning.[11] The shackles of long-established religious traditions lie shattered, not because Christianity is a rival competitor but as a direct result of the liberation brought about by Jesus. Men and women can rejoice in a totally new life in Christ.[12]

· The fear of God, referred to in verse 17, is a means for our own pursuit of holiness, our sanctification. Discuss what fear means to you.

o 1 Peter 1:17 (NASB) 17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;

· When our faith is weak and our hope is fading, when we’re tempted to:

o indulge in the passions of our former ignorance (v 14)

o and imbibe “the futile ways inherited from [our] forefathers” (v 18)—

o to live as though we were not Christians, not called to be different;

o to allow our conduct to be shaped by what is easy, not what is holy—

§ that’s when we must remind ourselves of God’s coming judgment.

📷 If you continue conducting yourself according to your former passions, you have no future inheritance:

o “Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9–10).

o If you continue conducting yourself according to your former passions, it suggests that your hope is not really in God. It suggests that your hope is really in something else.[13]

Let’s pause here and consider the implications of what we have just learned.

· What did Peter call perishable?

o Earthly things like silver and gold

· What did Peter mean by being redeemed?

o The sacrificial system followed by their forefathers required the price of blood of a lamb/sacrifice of some creature or money to pay the price required to pay for their failures in their relationship with God.

· How is being bought with a price similar to being redeemed?

o When Christ who was sinless, paid the price for our sins, He offered us eternal life with Him; He paid a price we could not pay…a debt He did not owe to redeem us to God if we will acknowledge and accept Him. The way to Heaven acknowledges his resurrection to new life demonstrated for us.

· How did Peter describe our way of life in one word?

o Futile/empty.

· Why do you think he used that word?

o There is nothing we can do that would do what Christ did…thus all efforts, money, things, and sacrifice are as filthy rags and cannot do what He did.

§ Isaiah 64:6 (NASB) 6 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

· When the thief on the cross by Jesus acknowledged Jesus’ innocence and Jesus told Him he would be with Him, “that day” in Paradise, how did that make you feel? Read the Luke 23:39-43 and then answer.

o Luke 23:39-43 (NASB) 39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!" 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 "And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." 42 And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" 43 And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."

1 Peter 1:18-19 (NASB) 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

· The precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, alone could fully pay the ransom price. The figure of the lamb may well look back to the Paschal lamb when the unsheltered firstborn of Egypt died and the sheltered firstborn of Israel lived. Little wonder that the blood of Christ is here called “precious”, or “costly”.

· Precious it is to the Father for it is the blood of His dear Son; precious to the Savior Himself, for it represented His life poured out and offered up through the eternal Spirit.

· It is precious to the saints for it is the price of their redemption and will be the theme of heavenly song; precious because it is the only acceptable ransom price.

· It is precious because it is alone able to cleanse the sinner of his/her sins; precious because its mighty power and infinite value are undiminished by the passing of centuries and its efficacy is still available for sinners.[14]

Let’s collect our thoughts for a moment and read the following

· The price paid is not always in view when the Old Testament speaks of redemption. God’s redeeming of Israel from Egypt refers to the bondage from which they were delivered and the liberty into which they were brought, rather than to the payment of a price.

o Yet the need for a ransom, a price to be paid, is not forgotten. God asserts his power to ransom when he declares,

§ Isaiah 52:3 (NASB) 3 For thus says the LORD, "You were sold for nothing and you will be redeemed without money.".

📷 No-one can pay the price to redeem his soul from death; only God can redeem his people.8

· Peter stresses the costliness of the ransom that is paid; he also makes it clear that it is God who pays it. Psalm 34 was much in Peter’s thoughts as this letter was written; the Psalm closes with the exultant affirmation:

o Psalm 34:22 (NASB) 22 The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.

§ Peter makes it plain that we cannot redeem ourselves. At best, we could offer only corruptible silver or gold. Not money, but a life must be given to ransom our lives.

§ God has paid that price in the life of Christ offered up for us. He is God’s lamb of sacrifice; the chosen Servant of the Lord, who bore our sins on the tree (2:24).[15]

o Mark 10:45 (NASB) 45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Let make a run at these questions with our reinforced information just shared

In verse 19, what did Peter call Jesus? An unblemished lamb, spotless

· Having addressed the questions we just did, put into your own words your understanding now of what Christ did for you by dying on the cross and rising to new life. (be succinct and clear as this is your personal testimony of what you would share in a few seconds with a non-Christian searching for new life and how to get to Heaven.)

· How do people in general believe they can get to Heaven? Doing good deeds more than bad, tithing, attending church, working for religious causes, etc.

· Based on this passage what would you tell a person who thinks they can work their way to Heaven?

o Only through acceptance of Christ as their Lord and Savior, acknowledging His death and resurrection for them. The debt they owe to God to be redeemed is one they could never make right on their own.

To wrap up this lesson, a few comments from Warren Wiersbe are helpful

· To help us identify with Christ is the highest motive for holy living, Peter reminded his readers of their salvation experience, a reminder that all of us regularly need.

o This is one reason our Lord established the Lord’s Supper, so that regularly His people would remember that He died for them. Note the reminders that Peter gave.

· He reminded them of what they were. To begin with, they were slaves who needed to be set free. Redemption was a precious thing in that day.

o Not only did we have a life of slavery, but it was also a life of emptiness. Peter called it “the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers” (1 Peter 1:18, niv), and he described it more specifically in 1 Peter 4:1–4. At the time, these people thought their lives were “full” and “happy,” when they were really empty and miserable. Unsaved people today are blindly living on substitutes.

· Peter reminded them of what Christ did.

o He shed His precious blood to purchase us out of the slavery of sin and set us free forever. To redeem means “to set free by paying a price.” A slave could be freed with the payment of money, but no amount of money can set a lost sinner free.

o Only the blood of Jesus Christ can redeem us.

· Peter was a witness of Christ’s sufferings (1 Peter 5:1) and mentioned His sacrificial death often in this letter (1 Peter 2:21ff; 3:18; 4:1, 13; 5:1). In calling Christ “a Lamb,” Peter was reminding his readers of an Old Testament teaching that was important in the early church, and that ought to be important to us today. It is the doctrine of substitution: an innocent victim giving his life for the guilty.

· Messiah was presented as an innocent Lamb in Isaiah 53. Isaac asked the question, “Where is the lamb?” (Gen. 22:7) and John the Baptist answered it when he pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

o In Heaven, the redeemed and the angels sing, “Worthy is the Lamb!” (Rev. 5:11–14)

· Peter made it clear that Christ’s death was an appointment, not an accident; for it was ordained by God before the foundation of the world (Acts 2:23).

o From the human perspective, our Lord was cruelly murdered;

§ From the divine perspective, He laid down His life for sinners (John 10:17–18).

§ But He was raised from the dead!

📷 Now, anyone who trusts Him will be saved for eternity.

Closing note for you

· When you and I meditate on the sacrifice of Christ for us, certainly we should want to obey God and live holy lives for His glory.

· When only a young lady, Frances Ridley Havergal saw a picture of the crucified Christ with this caption under it: “I did this for thee. What hast thou done for Me?” Quickly, she wrote a poem, but was dissatisfied with it and threw it into the fireplace. The paper came out unharmed! Later, at her father’s suggestion, she published the poem, and today we sing it.

o I gave My life for thee,

My precious blood I shed;

That thou might ransomed be,

And quickened from the dead.

I gave, I gave, My life for thee,

What hast thou given for Me?

v A good question, indeed! I trust we can give a good answer to the Lord.[16]

I pray that you now have a better grip on how you get to Heaven and can share that clearly with others.

Grace and peace

[1]Robert J. Dean, Bible Studies for Life, Winter 2006-07, Herschel Hobbs Commentary (LifeWay Christian Resources, n.d.), 18. [2]Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1 Peter–Jude, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996), 3. [3]Gary Poulton, “Nero,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary(Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 1187. [4]John Phillips, Exploring the Epistles of Peter: An Expository Commentary, The John Phillips Commentary Series (Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp., 2009). [5]Peter H. Davids, The First Epistle of Peter, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1990), 7–8. [6]David Guzik, 1 Peter, David Guzik’s Commentaries on the Bible (Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik, 2013), 1 Pe 1:13–17. [7]Curtis Vaughan, “1 Peter,” in The Teacher’s Bible Commentary, ed. H. Franklin Paschall and Herschel H. Hobbs (Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1972), 786. [8]Roger M. Raymer, “1 Peter,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 837. [9]John F. MacArthur Jr., 1 Peter, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2004), 76. [10]Andrew Thomson, Opening Up 1 Peter, Opening Up Commentary (Leominster, England: Day One, 2016), 40. [11]Tom Wright, Early Christian Letters for Everyone: James, Peter, John and Judah, For Everyone Bible Study Guides (London; Louisville, KY: SPCK; Westminster John Knox Press, 2011), 53. [12]Norman Hillyer, 1 and 2 Peter, Jude, Understanding the Bible Commentary Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2011), 49. [13]Juan R. Sanchez, 1 Peter for You, ed. Carl Laferton, God’s Word for You (The Good Book Company, 2016), 52. [14]J. Boyd Nicholson, “1 Peter,” in 1 Peter to Jude, What the Bible Teaches (John Ritchie, 2000), 62. [15]Edmund P. Clowney, The Message of 1 Peter: The Way of the Cross, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 70–71. [16]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 398–399.