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JANUARY BIBLE STUDY 2018Adult Personal Study Guide

FIRST PETERLIVING AS STRANGERS IN A SECULAR WORLD

Life By DesignWe live in a broken world, seen in suffering, violence, poverty, pain, and death around us. Brokenness leads us to search for a way to make life work.

The Bible tells us that God originally planned a world that worked perfectly—where everything and everyone fit together in harmony. God made each of us with a purpose—to worship Him and walk with Him. (See Genesis 1:31 and Psalm 19:1.)

Life doesn’t work when we ignore God and His original design for our lives. We selfishly insist on doing things our own way. The Bible calls this sin. Sin leads to a place of brokenness. The consequence of our sin is separation from God—in this life and for all of eternity. (See Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23.)

At this point we need a remedy—some good news. Because of His love, God did not leave us in our brokenness. Jesus, God in human flesh, came to us and lived perfectly according to God’s design. Jesus came to rescue us—to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. He took our sin and shame to the cross, paying the penalty of our sin by His death. Jesus was then raised from the dead—to pro-vide the only way for us to be rescued and restored to a relationship with God. (See John 3:16; Colossians 2:14; and 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.)

We don’t have the power to escape this brokenness on our own. We need to be rescued. We must ask God to forgive us—turning from sin to trust in Jesus. This is what it means to repent and believe. Believing, we receive new life through Jesus. God turns our lives in a new direction. (See Mark 1:15; Ephesians 2:8-9; and Romans 10:9.)

When God restores our relationship to Him, we begin to discover meaning and purpose in a broken world. Now we can pursue God’s design in all areas of our lives. God’s Spirit empowers us to recover His design and assures us of His pres-ence in this life and for all of eternity. (See Philippians 2:13 and Ephesians 2:10.)

Now that you have heard this good news, God wants you to respond to Him. You can talk to Him using words like these: My life is broken—I recognize it’s because of my sin. I believe Christ came to live and to die, and that He was raised from the dead to rescue me from my sin. Forgive me. I turn from my selfish ways and put my trust in You. I know that Jesus is Lord of all, and I will follow Him.

Excerpted from Life on Mission: A Simple Way to Share the Gospel

FIRST PETERLIVING AS STRANGERS IN A SECULAR WORLD

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ContentsIntroduction: Mapping Out 1 Peter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Chapter 1 Secure: When Life Hits Hard

1 Peter 1:1-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Chapter 2 Serious

1 Peter 1:13–2:12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Chapter 3 Submissive

1 Peter 2:13–3:12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Chapter 4 Source of Suffering

1 Peter 3:13–4:6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Chapter 5 Solution

1 Peter 4:7-19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Chapter 6 Strengthened

1 Peter 5:1-14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

I N T R O D U C T I O N

Mapping Out 1 Peter

As a kid growing up, my family would usually take a trip somewhere together each year. One year it might be the Grand Canyon; the next year it might be the beach. Regardless of where we went, it was always

helpful to look beforehand at where we were going and how we would get there. We would map out the towns we would drive through and talk about what we would see on the way. Talking about where we were going and what we would see on the way made the actual journey there so much better. In the same way, a general understanding of what we will see and where we are going makes the journey through a specific book of the Bible more beneficial. Let’s get started!

Date and Destination

First Peter was written by the apostle Peter sometime in the 60’s (most scholars estimate between A.D. 62-64) to churches in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).

The specific location is mentioned in 1 Peter 1:1.

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ:To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia,

Asia, and Bithynia

As you can see on the map on page 5, the regions somewhat form a circle and probably appear in the order in which the courier Silvanus (“Through Silva-nus, a faithful brother (as I consider him), I have written to you briefly in order to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!” 5:12) took the letter. These Roman provinces covered much of Asia Minor. Peter probably wrote this epistle from Rome and quoted the Old Testament fre-

4 INTRODUCTION / Mapping Out 1 Peter

ILLUSTRATOR MAP/ LINDEN ARTS/ LONDON

quently. “Babylon” in 5:13 almost surely refers to Rome. It became somewhat of a code name for Rome in some early Christian literature.

Focus

The main focus of the letter is to exhort the believers in the midst of difficult times. While many of the New Testament letters were written with persecution as a backdrop, few un-pack the specific theology that Peter gave us to hold onto when (not if) the bottom falls out.

The readers were facing suffering for their faith in Jesus Christ. Examples include:

You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven

character of your faith — more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire — may result in praise, glory, and

honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 P E T E R 1 : 6 - 7

Household slaves, submit to your masters with all reverence not only to the good and gentle ones but also to the cruel. For it brings favor if, because of a consciousness of God, someone

FIRST PETER / Living as Strangers in a Secular World 5

endures grief from suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer, if you

endure it, this brings favor with God.1 P E T E R 2 : 1 8 - 2 0

Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be intimi-

dated, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Yet do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are ac-cused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. For it

is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.1 P E T E R 3 : 1 3 - 1 7

Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you. Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is re-

vealed. If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an

evildoer, or a meddler. But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name. For the time has come for judgment to begin with God’s household, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for

those who disobey the gospel of God?And if a righteous person is saved with difficulty,what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?

So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.

1 P E T E R 4 : 1 2 - 1 9


Sea of Galilee at Nof Ginnosar.ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/ BOB SCHATZ (10/23/9)

While official state-sponsored persecution had not begun in earnest, local mistreatment of Christ followers was rising rapidly. These early Christians were facing life in a world that was hostile to their faith. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Peter counseled them on how to live for Jesus when they faced pain, insult, and ridicule for the sake of their faith.

It’s important to note that Peter rooted his encourage-ment in the gospel. He often followed the familiar “indicative/ imperative” teaching model. Remember from English class that the indicative mood expresses a statement of fact. The imperative mood is an order or command. An example would be, “But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct” (1:15). Because God is this (holy), then you do that (be holy in all your conduct). Peter actually spent the whole introduction by laying out a gospel frame-work. In 1 Peter 1:12 he said this salvation, this gospel, is so awesome, “angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.”

Author

Now, before we get started into 1 Peter directly, let’s get a “bird’s-eye view” of Peter the author as well as the book outline.

Peter (originally named Simon), was a Hebrew fisherman Jesus called to be one of His disciples. (“As he passed along-side the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea — for they were


fishermen. ‘Follow me,’ Jesus told them, ‘and I will make you fish for people.’ Im-mediately they left their nets and followed him” Mark 1:16-18.) The Peter we see in the Gospels is a mixture of courage, impulsiveness, foolishness, and faithful-ness all wrapped together. No other disciple spoke so boldly as Peter, yet failed so spectacularly. Peter was one of Jesus’ inner circle that included James and John. In almost every scene in which Peter appears in the Gospels, he is at the front and center. He was the one who would ask Jesus the questions the other apostles had, as well as the one to try and answer the questions Jesus posed.

The high point of the Gospel accounts before the resurrection of Christ prob-ably comes at Matthew 16:13-16:

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is? ”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am? ”Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Although it wasn’t but a few verses later (v. 23) that Jesus said to Peter “Get behind me, Satan!”, Peter’s low point came when he fulfilled Jesus’ prediction that he would betray Jesus. Peter denied the Lord three times in one night—a gigantic failure. Peter’s failure sent him reeling until the resurrected Christ re-stored him in John 21. The grace Peter found after his collapse encourages us that failure does not have to be final. Peter is a great example of how God pours out grace through the funnel of repentance (see also Ps. 51:1-13).

God used Peter greatly in the early church. He was the disciple most featured in the first 12 chapters of the Book of Acts before the focus transitions to the travels of the apostle Paul. Peter is not mentioned in Acts after the description of the Apostolic Council in Acts 15. Although not recorded in the Bible, church tradi-tion says that Peter was crucified upside down for his faith in Rome. (Note Jesus’ prophecy of Peter’s death in John 21:18-19.)

Organization

We will break down our study of the Book of 1 Peter into these six sections:

• 1:1-12 Being secure in Christ• 1:13–2:12 Walking with God in a difficult culture• 2:13–3:12 Submission• 3:13–4:6 Truths for tough times• 4:7-19 “Christian” trials• 5:1-14 Servants and survival


St. Peter’s tomb in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/ BRENT BRUCE (1148)

As we begin our journey through the 105 verses of 1 Peter, we will discover many principles and promises from God that touch on everyday life. We will see holiness, mar-riage, hope, God’s sovereignty, spiritual warfare, trials, fail-ure, forgiveness, pastors, and more.

Let’s begin!


C H A P T E R O N E

Secure: When Life Hits Hard

1 P E T E R 1 : 1 - 1 2

My family and I lived in Houston, Texas, close to the Gulf of Mexico coast for many years. If you live on the gulf coast, you get used to the threat of hurricanes. From around June to November, you keep your

eye on the long-term weather forecast. We lived there in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina entered into the gulf as a Cat-

egory 5 storm, moved north, and devastated New Orleans. Not many days after Katrina, Hurricane Rita came into the gulf and forecasts showed it hitting Houston directly. What followed that forecast was the largest evacuation of the area ever seen. Millions of people boarded up their houses, got in their cars, and headed north, trying to get out of harm’s way. The evacuation itself turned deadly, even before Hurricane Rita made landfall east of Houston.

Difficult times come into your everyday life like a hurricane. When they do, we have to be able to do more than flee to higher ground or hide behind some boarded-up windows. There might come a few blue-sky seasons in life where things seem to be going well and everything is falling perfectly in place. But for most of life we will be about to go into a trial, will already be in a trial, or will have just come out of a trial. Hurricanes vary in intensity from a Category 1 (least intense) to a Category 5 (most intense). Trials and hard times also vary in intensity.

As we learned in the introduction, Peter wrote this letter to people who were starting to feel the pain of persecution. They apparently were struggling to un-derstand why they were going through these difficulties or what they should do about them. We do the same thing—”Why is this happening to me?” “When will this end?” “Am I ever going to get through this?” “What should I do?”

10 CHAPTER ONE / Secure: When Life Hits Hard

When life hits like a hurricane, we don’t need some Chris-tian cliché or bumper sticker theology. We need our roots dug down deep into the rich soil of God’s Word to gain the nutrients that we need. When the retirement account evapo-rates; when the company goes bankrupt; when the doctor says radical treatment is necessary; when the spouse says it’s over; when the bottom falls out; we need to remember 1 Peter 1:1-12.

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ:To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen according to

the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the

blood of Jesus Christ.May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Be-cause of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living

hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and un-fading, kept in heaven for you. You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the

proven character of your faith — more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire — may result in praise,

glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now,

you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glori-ous joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the

salvation of your souls.Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied about

the grace that would come to you, searched and carefully investigated. They inquired into what time or what circum-

stances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified in advance to the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been an-

nounced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven — angels long to catch a

glimpse of these things.


Remember Who You Are (1 Pet. 1:1-2)

The first two verses of Peter’s letter are full of both hope and theology. A foun-dational truth we each have to understand is that your identity and my identity changed when we came to faith in Christ. We are not what has been done to us as much as what Jesus has done for us.

Peter started off by addressing his audience as exiles or temporary residents. He repeated the idea again in 2:11. His word choice reminded them that they were not in home territory. Some translations use “aliens” or “strangers” to ren-der the Greek word. The designation recalled the Jews as they had been driven out of Israel to live in foreign lands, first in Egypt then in Babylon. Peter here used that designation for the church. It’s the idea of remembering we don’t be-long here. This is not our permanent home. The follower of Christ marches to the beat of a different drummer and must never fall into step with this world.

When you are not from a country, you can either be in that country as an immigrant or a tourist. An immigrant makes the new country his home. A large number of Christians live this way. All their focus is down here. All their resourc-es (time, influence, money, etc.) go for things that won’t last. Other Christians act like tourists. Tourists are people who don’t really get involved in the coun-try they are visiting. They enjoy the attractions but stay somewhat separated from the native population. A lot of churches/Christians act like this. Instead of living missionally and involving themselves in their communities, they go from one church event to the next and have little impact for the kingdom. God calls believers to plant their lives here, while realizing their permanent home is not here. (See Phil. 3:20; Heb. 11:10.) First Peter 2 (as well as other places such as 2 Cor. 5:20 and Eph. 6:20) encourages us to think like an ambassador.


L E A R N I N G A C T I V I T Y

From the reign of Darius I, (518–486 B.C.) a limestone relief showing a Median courtier leading two Parthian ambassadors into the royal presence. From the palace at Persepolis.ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/ G.B. HOWELL/ BOSTON MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS (64/2203)

An ambassador is someone sent from one country with a mission to another country.

The end of 1 Peter 1:1 and 2 includes a subject that we will save for “A Closer Look” at the end of this chapter. It has to do with the word chosen and the mystery of God’s sov-ereignty and human’s free will in salvation. While we won’t solve all the tension, we will address it more thoroughly there. Suffice it to say, Peter was extolling the people to re-member they had been adopted as sons and daughters of God by grace through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. They were God’s representatives to a watching world.

Who Are You?

Who does the world say you are? (Use the prompt below or write your own description.)

Based on my age, gender, ethnicity, physical appearance, personality, and socio-economic status, the world says I am …

If you are a follower of Christ, who does Peter say you are in 1 Peter 1:1-2?


Remember the Gospel (1 Pet. 1:3-5)

Peter proceeded to tell these suffering saints about the living hope believers have in the gospel. It’s vital to remember that the gospel is not simply a mor-al framework to live by or a matter of going to church. The gospel is the liv-ing hope of God’s reconciling work through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Peter let the Asia Minor Christians know that, even in their pain, there is hope. This hope is not based on the difficult circumstances changing. These might


Ruins from Caia-phas’s house next to the Church of St. Peter’s in Gallicantu in Jerusalem where Peter denied the Lord three times.ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/JUSTIN VENEMAN (35/68/32)

or might not change (example: you might not get that job, restored health, etc.).

Hope is the confidence that something better is coming. Hope is what gives the Christian the motivation to live the Christian life. It’s what you look forward to on the other side of your pain. Christian hope can’t be based on your health (“Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer per-son is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day,” 2 Cor. 4:16); on possessions (“He then told them, ‘Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions,’” Luke 12:15); or circumstances (“Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you,” Ps. 39:7). First Peter 1:3-4 says our hope is grounded in something that is fixed, perfect, and won’t fade away. Peter was able to see this hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

While this application is true for all followers of Christ, it was incredibly poignant for Peter. Peter’s world had fallen apart when Jesus had died. Peter had spent three years fol-lowing Jesus and had believed that He was the long-awaited Messiah. But Peter had denied Jesus as predicted and was deeply ashamed. Jesus’ crucifixion and death soon fol-lowed. Can you imagine how painful that Friday and Sat-urday were for Peter? But when Peter saw the tomb empty then later Jesus appeared to him, everything changed!

He realized that God is in control after all, that the joy of Sunday far outweighed the pain of Friday and Saturday! Pe-ter knew what he was speaking of while telling his readers that as “aliens” they are living in “Saturday.”

Peter was exhorting the recipients to think long term. Look at his words in verse 4 about the Christian’s inheritance (your rewards, your mansion, your responsi-bilities, etc.).

• imperishable – that is, unable to be cor-rupted or defiled

• undefiled – unpolluted, unstained, un-spoiled, pure

• unfading – something that never wears out but retains its luster

• kept – the idea of being guarded and pro-tected by God


Any financial/investment counselor will tell you about an investment strategy that you need to think long term. What they mean by that is that the financial markets can fluctuate up and down in the near term. If you focus on the volatility of the short term, you have only a small, near-sighted perspective. If you look long term, you get a better perspective of what’s really going on. The Bible does not sugar-coat the fact that this life can be very difficult, but it has many prom-ises to hold on to—many of which point to the fact that this life is a short time compared to eternity.

Remember God Is Changing You (1 Pet. 1:6-12)

Peter encouraged believers to rejoice in the promise of salvation. The idea of re-joice in verse 6 is one of continual, exceeding joy. It’s that unmistakable quality of Christian delight based on the hope of the gospel. Surprisingly though, he used a seemingly opposite word in the same sentence when he said though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials. “Suffer grief” means to struggle, be sorrowful, be in anguish. He actually was saying that a Christian can be filled with joy and grief at the same time. The word is the same word Jesus used while in the garden of Gethsemane before going to the cross (Matt. 26:37). In this instance we can almost think of faith like a thermostat that kicks on the air conditioning when it gets too hot. It was getting hot for Peter’s readers and the air conditioning of their faith needed to kick in.

Trials vary in size and duration—they are various trials—but we can authen-tically rejoice because of what God has told us already. Every trial we face will eventually come down to the question of whether you or I will trust God or not. The proven character of your faith speaks of the genuineness of your faith. It is the idea that the trial will reveal how much you really believe God’s prom-ises. The trial is not for God to find out how much you believe but for you to find out how much you believe. Take the toughest trial going on right now in your life—physical, relational, financial, or whatever—and ask yourself, Am I going to trust God in this or not? Biblical faith could be defined as believing the Word of God and acting on it. So, Am I acting on God’s Word as it relates to my physi-cal, relational, financial, or other trial as I trust Him for a better tomorrow? God is honored when His people handle adversity differently than the guy down the street who doesn’t know God. James 1:2-4 expresses a similar thought: “Con-sider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lack-ing nothing.”


L E A R N I N G A C T I V I T Y

Will You or Won’t You?

“Take the toughest trial going on right now in your life—physical, relational, financial or whatever—and ask yourself, Am I going to trust God in this or not?”

Identify a trial you’re havingPhysically

Relationally

Financially

Spiritually

Identify attitudes and actions that will be evident in your life if you don’t trust God in this matter.

Identify attitudes and actions that will be evident if you choose to trust God with this matter.


St Peter’s Church at Antakya, Turkey (ancient Antioch). The church was built into the side of a cliff by late first-century Christians and named after Peter from its begin-ning. Shown in the inset photo is the escape tunnel from the church in case of threat of persecu-tion.ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/ BOB SCHATZ (25/3/17 AND 25/3/8)

Can God get glory from our lives when times are good? Absolutely! But God definitely receives honor when His chil-dren go through difficult times and trials with joy and hope. We rest in the fact that He loves us and we love Him.

We tend to think the world is impressed when Christians are blessed. That can be true somewhat, especially if we are generous and use those blessings toward building God’s kingdom. But more impressive than handling blessings properly is handling difficulties joyfully. Verse 8 clarifies the questions that believers face in every difficulty: “Am I going to trust God in this? Do I believe God is who He says He is and that He will do exactly what He says He will do? Am I going to hang tight to His promises until I see the comple-tion of what He has promised?” When God’s people walk through a difficult season but do so filled with faith and joy, it is a powerful witness to the gospel.

A young man in our church named Madison was a com-mitted high school student who had life by the horns. He was popular, an excellent athlete, and a well-respected stu-dent in his senior year of high school. One night while out of town, he and his best friend were involved in a car accident. His best friend was only slightly hurt but Madison was hurt seriously. He has undergone countless surgeries to restore his ability to walk, but he is still in a wheelchair as of this writing. Yet, during this incredibly difficult time, Madison has shown tremendous joy and faith.

Faith that lead to joy says “I’m going to trust God even though I’m not seeing Him right now. I’m here to display the superiority of life lived in God.” Where does that kind of faith come from? How do we get it? How can we grow it? I love the way Tim Keller talks about verses 10-12.

One of the most startling passages in the Bible connects the magnificence of angels with the mystery of the gospel. Angels are incredibly majestic and powerful beings, living in God’s eternal presence. Yet there is something that has happened on the earth that is so stupendous that even these immortal beings experience the per-sistent longing “to look into these things” (1 Pet. 1:12, NIV). What are “these things” that could


possibly and consistently consume the attention of God-fixated crea-tures? The answer is—the gospel.

“Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care…. It was revealed to them that they were not serving them-selves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.” (1 Pet. 1:10,12, NIV)1

As is not uncommon with many Bible writers, Peter closed this section writing about the cross (vv. 10-12).

Personal Reflection1. What values and decisions would change if you saw yourself as an ambassador on earth instead of an immigrant or tourist? In what ways can you live on mission with God? How does your church reach out as a representative of God to the community? (See 1 Pet. 1:1-5; Phil. 3:20; Heb. 11:10; 2 Cor. 5:20.)

2. What happens when people lose hope? Have you ever seen a person give up? Get bitter? What are some fragile things we put our hope in? Read 1 Peter 1:13: Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. How does this change your life during the various trials you face?


3. What evidences do you see when someone is trusting God in tough times? How might trusting God play itself out in a difficult marriage? A tough financial situation? Forgiving someone who injured you?

4. What’s the biggest adversity you are walking through now? What are some resources God gives His people for times of adversity? What difference is there between how you and your unbelieving neighbor handle trials?

A CLOSER LOOK

God’s SovereigntyPeter, an apostle of Jesus Christ:

To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen according to

the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the

blood of Jesus Christ.May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

1 P E T E R 1 : 1 - 2

T he first couple of verses of 1 Peter reference an area of theology that has caused a lot of

disagreement among Christians over the years.


It’s the tension between the sovereignty of God and human free will when it comes to the salvation experience. While not completely accurate, the two ranges of thought are often referred to as Calvinism (named after French theologian John Calvin who ministered in the 1500s), which em-phasizes the total sovereignty of God in salvation. The other camp is often referred to as Arminianism (named after Dutch theologian Jacob Arminius who ministered slightly later than Calvin). Arminianism sees people having a free will to exercise in choosing to receive God’s offer of salvation. While many, many books and articles have been written to support each side, we should be humble enough to realize we are not going to relieve the tension between the sovereignty of God and human free will in our short study! We need to realize there are verses in the Bible that seem to teach both sides of this issue. Joshua 24:15 says, “choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship?”. God desires every person to believe in Him (John 12:32; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). But then there are other passages such as Ephesians 1:5,11, that say: “He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, … In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out ev-erything in agreement with the purpose of his will.” What unfortu-nately often happens is that in trying to relieve the tension between the sovereignty of God and human free will, people collect a set of verses they constantly repeat and another set of verses they ignore. It is important to remember that there are some truths in the Bible that are difficult for us to reconcile together. The Bible definitely teach-es us that God is completely sovereign, but it also teaches us that we each have a choice to make. This side of glory we will never re-solve the issue of the tension between God’s sovereignty and the free will He has given to humanity. But we must remember and be satis-fied with the word He has given us: “The hidden things belong to the Lord our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law” (Deut. 29:29).

1. Timothy Keller in J. D. Greear, Gospel (Nashville: B&H, 2011), xiii.


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