1st and 2nd Peter
Tested by Fire: Lesson 2
Our blood is valuable. People will even pay you to get a little of your blood. $30 per visit at one Las Vegas site. A healthy person’s blood can even save the life of a sick or injured person. Yet, our blood could not have paid for anyone’s sins. Jesus shed his blood to pay for everyone’s sins. Why is Jesus’ blood so precious?
Jesus is God and Jesus is blameless (without blemish or defect). He is our perfect Passover Lamb.
When are the “last times” according to verse 20?
The last times are the times from Christ’s birth until his second coming
Read 1:22-2:3
What is wrong with the following statements?
A. I can’t come to church until I get my life straightened out.
B. Bible class is only for people who know the Bible
How can you encourage people you know who might have these attitudes about church and God’s Word?
Peter uses some highly figurative language in verse 23. Write down one or two sentences to explain this verse to someone who is not familiar with biblical phrases like born again, perishable/imperishable seed, word of God.
Born again = become a Christian
Imperishable = never die
Word of God = the Bible
Give an example of the sins listed in 2:1.
Malice—Wishing evil on someone
Deceit—Lies and trickery
Hypocrisy—Putting on a show of goodness
Envy—Being upset that someone has what you want
Slander—Giving someone a bad reputation
Peter says to “rid yourselves of all” these things. Since Peter was writing to Christians, even Christians sin in these ways. How do we get rid of these sins?
When we
put new foods in front of children, they often turn up their noses or shove the
plate away. “What’s that? I’m not eating that!” But once they try it they find
out that it is really good (sometimes anyway).
We have discovered that the Lord is good so we will want to experience more from the Lord. Peter says to “crave pure spiritual milk.” What is pure spiritual milk? How do we drink it? How do we make sure it is pure?
Drink pure spiritual milk—God’s Word
Grow in faith
We drink God’s Word by reading and hearing it read and explained. We make sure it is pure by testing whatever someone says against what the Bible says.
Why might Peter like the description of Jesus as the “living Stone”?
Peter means ‘stone’ or ‘rock’
The walls of our new church addition are made out of concrete blocks. Each block is the same size and shape and color. They all fit together to make a wall and finally a building. Jesus is building his Church. What does he use for building materials?
Believers
How are these building materials the same or different from concrete blocks?
Believers all fit together to make Christ’s Church
Believers all have different gifts and abilities to use in Christ’s Church.
How do we know that God is talking about a person and not an actual cornerstone in the quotation from Isaiah 28:16?
You have to trust in a person, not a stone and the stone is referred to as “him.”
Jesus is a precious cornerstone and Savior to some and a stumbling block to others. List some ways that people stumble over Jesus Christ.
Going to heaven cannot be as easy as just believing.
I don’t want to give up my sins.
I don’t believe that miracles ever happen (like the resurrection)
In what way are unbelievers destined (verse 8)?
Anyone who does not believe in Jesus (disobey the message) is destined for hell. God did not destine them to unbelief. Hell is the destination for unbelievers.
Verses 9-10 are a wonderful reminder that believers are, right now, God’s holy people. We do not have to wait for heaven to be God’s people. We are forgiven and counted as righteous through faith in Jesus Christ now. These are verses to remember (maybe even to memorize). What is our response to this good news about our relationship with God?
Declare the praises of our Savior God.
2:11-3:12 Hope-produced Submission to One Another
Read 2:11-12
Peter tells us to “abstain from sinful desires.” This is easier said than done. How does Peter motivate us to do this in these verses?
We are strangers and aliens here. Heaven is our home.
What do many non-Christians watch for in Christians and joyfully point out when they find it?
Hypocrisy
What does Peter mean when he writes that the pagans will, “glorify God on the day he visits us.”?
They will either be converted before Christ comes again or they will tremble in fear of Christ when he returns.
Read 2:13-17
List some authorities that fit the phrase, “every authority instituted among men.”
We will submit to the government in all things unless the government tells us to disobey God. (Acts 5:29)
How would you “live as free men...fear God, [and] honor the king” in the following situations?
1. You are a Christian who lived in China at the beginning of communist rule. They send in the army to destroy your church, by physically destroying the building and making it unusable for worship.
We may not have a building in which to worship but we would still worship the Lord.
2. You are a Christian living in the United States in the future. It is illegal to publicly state that other religions are wrong. It is illegal to publicly speak against abortion and homosexuality.
We would not stop calling sin that which God calls sin.
Read 2:18-25
Agree or Disagree: Verse 18 shows that God condones slavery.
After reading the passages below (1 Timothy 1:9-10, 1 Corinthians 7:20-21, Philemon 15-16) explain God’s attitude towards slavery.
1 Timothy 1:9-10
9 We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine
1 Corinthians 7:20-21
20 Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. 21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so.
Philemon 15-16
15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.
The following is a note on Ephesians 6:5 in the Concordia Self Study Bible.
Both the OT and the NT included regulations for societal situations such as slavery and divorce (see Dt 24:1-4), which were the results of the hardness of hearts (Mt 19:8). Such regulations did not encourage or condone such situations but were divinely-given, practical ways of dealing with the realities of the day.
This is how Jesus responded to the accusations against him.
Matthew 27:12-14
12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
Peter encourages us to imitate Jesus’ response to suffering. How can we respond to the following?
1. “Religion is a crutch for weak-minded people.”
2. Your boss is using questionable business practices to take advantage of customers. When a customer complains, your boss tells you to lie for them so the boss will not get into trouble.
3. The government puts you in prison for holding a church meeting in your home.
After quoting Isaiah 53:9 in 2:22, Peter alludes to Isaiah 53 many times in 2:23-25. Underline the parts of Isaiah 53:4-7 below that Peter uses.
Isaiah 53:4-7
4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
Peter packs a lot into 2:24. Christ is our substitute, motivation for righteous living and our example for enduring suffering. Which of these three is most important?
Substitute—Without that we have no hope for heaven.