1 Peter 1:20–25 - The Enduring Word

1 Peter 2:1-3 - Living Like Newborns

We are back to our study in 1 Peter. We left off in Chapter 1 where Peter has reminded us that believers have been born again through the living and enduring Word of God, and obedience to the truth found in God’s word, cleanses us from our sins. Because we have been born again, God's Word gave us new life, now the Bible must shape the way we live every day and that’s where we pick up as we begin chapter 2. 2:1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. NIV "Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind." This verse is going to be a word study, because this one little verse is packed with practical information. Notice how Peter begins this next thought, he uses the word, "Therefore." Peter is connecting everything he has just taught with everything he is about to command. Since we have been born again through the living Word of God, since we have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, and since we have been called into a new family, our lives should begin to look different. Christianity is believing truth that causes us to live a new and different life.  Peter then uses a phrase that when taken literally means to take your clothes off, but he uses it figuratively to "rid yourself of something, to put off or away, to give something up, or renounce". Peter is saying that I want you to renounce, give up, cast away.. all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander (of every kind).

1 Peter 1:20–25 - The Enduring Word

We live according to the standards of God as aliens in a strange world of shifting ideals.  We don’t study God’s Word so we can know more—we study it so that we will live differently. Biblical knowledge is valuable, but it only has value when it  transforms our life. It’s not merely about what we know; it’s about how our lives reflect Christ. In the previous passage, Peter reminded us that our salvation did not come through perishable things like silver or gold, but through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Now he explains what that redemption produces. Christ was God’s eternal plan, our faith rests securely in the risen Savior, our new birth comes through God’s living and enduring Word, and the evidence of that new life is sincere love for one another. 1 Peter 1:20–25 (NLT) “God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake. Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. As the Scriptures say, ‘People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever.’ And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.”

1 Peter 1:17–19 - Redeemed at Great Cost: Living as God’s Obedient Children

(17) Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. (18) for you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, (19) but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.   Intro: There are some things in life that become more valuable when we learn what they cost. I think about 40 years ago I heard a story about Moravian Christians who due to religious persecution left what would be modern day Czech Republic to go underground in East Germany, modern day Saxony. By the early 1700’s this group of Christians experienced an incredible revival. History tells that it was like what the first believers experienced at Pentecost. Based on the power of the Holy Spirit on these believers' lives they had an overwhelming desire to live holy, set apart for God. This was not based on strict rule following which was a traditional approach but on their relationship with a gracious and loving Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  This relationship motivated them to devote their lives to the Lord. This devotion led one of the most influential missionary movements in Church history. These Moravian christians had one driving force. “We must win for the Lamb, a reward for His suffering”. This rally cry led them all over the world. One in 12 of them entered the mission field. And great numbers of them died. Yet there was always someone to replace the ones that gave their lives.  Why? Every motivation to reach a lost and dying world had everything to do with their own experience of God’s grace. They understood the cost of their own salvation, and they wanted to see Jesus receive as much fruit as possible for His suffering which satisfied the wrath of God and His judgment of sin.

1 Peter 1:10–16 - The Wonder of Our Salvation

There are few things more beautiful than standing on a mountain ridge at sunrise. The valleys are still dark, the air is crisp, and as the first light begins to crest the horizon, the exhilaration of the first glimpse of the sun and its warmth soothes every cell of your being.  Peter is taking us to a high place spiritually. He wants to lift our eyes above our daily concerns in the dark valleys below, the everyday trials, concerns and stress, and he wants with our eyes on Jesus to take us to higher ground in our minds. He wants us to gaze and show us the breathtaking panorama of God’s plan of salvation. Many of us spend our days focused on practical matters. We think about work, family, unpaid bills, health concerns, livestock, relationship issues, weather, repairs, and responsibilities. Peter does not dismiss those concerns. In fact, he writes to believers who are suffering and facing a lot of difficulties.  Yet before he speaks further about their hardships, he wants them to consider the Old Testament prophets and the age of grace that they foretold was coming.   Let us read 1 Peter 1:10–20 nkjv. (10) Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, (11) searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. (12) To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into. (13) Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (14) as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; (15) but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, (16) because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

1 Peter 1:6-9 - Why do Christians suffer?

We are in a series called: When Life Gets Hard and we are learning from the Apostle Peter, who was one of Jesus' closest disciples and he was one who knew suffering and experienced great persecution. He is writing to believers who had never seen Jesus, yet had a deep faith in Him, and He is encouraging them as they too were suffering and enduring trials. He is also including us here.  When I was a kid, my dad and I loved to go back packing, and sometimes we’d see amazing wildlife. And while hiking along he’d exclaim out of the blue, there they are. What? Big Horned Sheep! And I would be looking in the wrong direction. So he would take his huge hand and physically turn my head so that I would see what he was referring to.  Peter is taking our collective heads and is turning our gaze away from our present circumstances to an unimaginable future reality that God has prepared for us who love Him and are called according to His purpose, and that is our eternal inheritance. Last week, in vs 3-5,  we learned three great truths: • 1st: We have been born again with changed minds that desire to know and do the will of God, because we have a living hope based on the truth of Jesus' resurrection from the dead.  • 2nd: We have received an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade, reserved for us in heaven. • 3rd: We are being guarded by God's power through faith until the day our salvation is fully revealed. And because of that we can rest and be at peace when it seems like our lives are falling apart.  Peter wanted suffering believers to know that their future was secure because of what God has done for them. But that naturally raises an important question. If we have a living hope... If we have an eternal inheritance... If we are being guarded by God's power... Then why is life still so hard? So difficult?  Why do Christians suffer? Why does God allow grief, loss, disappointment, sickness, persecution, and hardship? Why do I have so many BIG emotions & triggers? The Christian life is lived between two realities: presently, we live in a fallen world with everyday struggles, and at the same time we long for our future home without the effects of sin in the glorious Kingdom of God.  REALITY! And while we wait for that glorious day, God is at work—preparing us for His eternal Kingdom and the vehicle for this includes various trials, not fun. Let’s read the passage. NLT this week 1 Peter 1:6-9 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. NLT