1 Peter 1 - A Study Guide by Mark A. Copeland

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                      "THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER"

                              Chapter One

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To consider terms used by Peter to describe the people of God:
   "Pilgrims of the Dispersion", "elect", "obedient children"

2) To reflect upon the salvation, inheritance, and grace to come at the
   revelation of Jesus Christ

3) To note how we have been served by prophets, apostles, angels, the
   Holy Spirit, and Christ

4) To be reminded of the need to live holy lives, conducted with
   reverence toward God and with fervent and sincere love toward
   brethren

SUMMARY

Peter begins his first epistle to Christians in Asia Minor by
acknowledging their election according to God's foreknowledge, made
possible by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, and for obedience and
sprinkling by the blood of Jesus (1-2).

He then praises God for their living hope, incorruptible inheritance,
and glorious salvation to be revealed at the coming of Christ.  Despite
grievous trials, the power of God and their genuine faith protects them
and gives them inexpressible joy.  Their salvation to come was foretold
by the prophets, and preached in the gospel by those inspired by the
Holy Spirit (3-12).

In view of this salvation, Peter prescribes conduct becoming the people
of God.  They are to focus their mind and hope on the grace that will
brought to them at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  As obedient
children, they should conduct themselves in holiness and fear, imitating
their holy Father who judges without partiality, ever mindful they have
been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ through whom their faith
and hope are in God.  They are to love one another fervently with pure
hearts, since they have purified their souls for that very purpose
through their obedience to the truth, and have been born again by the
incorruptible Word of God which lives and abides forever (13-25).

OUTLINE

I. INTRODUCTION (1-2)

   A. THE AUTHOR (1a)
      1. Peter
      2. An apostle of Jesus Christ

   B. THE RECIPIENTS (1b-2b)
      1. Pilgrims of the Dispersion
      2. In Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia
      3. Elect (chosen)...
         a. According to the foreknowledge of God the Father
         b. In sanctification of the Spirit
         c. For obedience and sprinkling of blood of Jesus Christ

   C. GREETINGS (2c)
      1. Grace and peace
      2. Be multiplied

II. OUR SALVATION IN CHRIST (3-12)

   A. BORN AGAIN TO A LIVING HOPE (3-5)
      1. Because of God's abundant mercy
      2. Because Jesus has been raised from the dead
      3. Because of our wonderful inheritance
         a. Incorruptible, undefiled, and that does not fade away
         b. Reserved in heaven
      4. Because of being safely kept
         a. By the power of God through faith
         b. For salvation ready to be revealed in the last time

   B. PRODUCING JOY IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING (6-9)
      1. Great joy, though for a little while grieved by various trials
      2. The genuineness of faith tested by fire
         a. Proving more precious than gold that perishes
         b. May be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation
            of Jesus Christ
      3. Rejoicing with joy inexpressible and full of glory
         a. For loving Him whom you have not seen
         b. For believing Him whom you have not seen
      4. Receiving the end of such faith - the salvation of your souls

   C. SERVED BY PROPHETS AND APOSTLES (10-12)
      1. Regarding our salvation the prophets inquired and searched
         diligently
         a. Wondering what and when the Spirit of Christ in them was
            indicating
         b. When He testified beforehand of the sufferings of Christ and
            the glories to follow
      2. They were ministering such things not to themselves, but to us
         a. Things now reported by those who preached the gospel by the
            Holy Spirit
         b. Things which angels desire to look into

III. OUR DUTY IN CHRIST (13-25)

   A. HOLY CONDUCT (13-21)
      1. Gird up the loins of your mind
         a. Be sober
         b. Rest your hope fully upon the grace to be brought at the
            revelation of Jesus Christ
      2. Be holy in all your conduct
         a. As obedient children
         b. Not conforming to former lusts done in ignorance
         c. As He who called you is holy, just as it is written
      3. Conduct yourselves during your stay in fear
         a. Since you call on the Father who judges each one without
            partiality
         b. Knowing that you redeemed
            1) Not with corruptible things like silver and gold
            2) From your aimless conduct received by tradition from your
               fathers
            3) With the precious blood of Christ
               a) As of a lamb without blemish and without spot
               b) Foreordained before the foundation of the world
               c) Manifest in these last times for you
               d) Through whom you believe in God
                  1] Who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory
                  2] So that your faith and hope are in God

   B. FERVENT AND PURE LOVE (22-25)
      1. Since you have purified your souls
         a. In obeying the truth through the Spirit
         b. In sincere love of the brethren
      2. Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but
         incorruptible
         a. Through the word of God which lives and abide forever
            1) All flesh is as grass, all the glory of man as the flower
               of the grass
            2) The grass withers, its flower falls away
            3) The word of the Lord endures forever
         b. The word which by the gospel was preached to you

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Introduction (1-2)
   - Our salvation in Christ (3-12)
   - Our duty in Christ (13-25)

2) To whom does Peter address this epistle? Where were they located? (1)
   - To the pilgrims of the Dispersion; Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia,
     Asia, Bithynia

3) What three things are said concerning their election? (2)
   - According to the foreknowledge of God
   - In sanctification of the Spirit
   - For obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ

4) What has God done for us according to His abundant mercy?  How was
   this done? (3)
   - Begotten us against to a living hope
   - Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

5) What kind of inheritance does the Christian have?  Where is it now?
   (4)
   - Incorruptible, undefiled, and that does not fade away; reserved in
     heaven

6) How are Christians kept (guarded) for their salvation? (5)
   - By the power of God
   - Through faith

7) In what do Christians greatly rejoice? (5-6)
   - Their salvation ready to be revealed in the last time

8) What benefits can come out of enduring grievous trials? (6-7)
   - The testing of genuine faith
   - Praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ

9) Though they had not seen Jesus, what is said about Peter's readers?
   (8)
   - They loved Jesus
   - They believed Jesus
   - They rejoiced with joy inexpressible and full of glory

10) What would they receive as the end of their faith? (9)
   - The salvation of their souls

11) What did the prophets of old testify about? (10-11)
   - Of the salvation and grace that would come
   - Of the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow

12) When these prophets wondered about they were prophesying, what were
    they told? (12)
   - They were not serving themselves, but us (Christians)
   - They were ministering things that have now been reported by those
     who preached the gospel

13) Upon what are Christians to rest their hope? (13)
   - The grace to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ

14) As obedient children, what three admonitions are given to
    Christians? ( 14-17)
   - Do not conform to the former lusts
   - Be holy in all your conduct
   - Conduct yourselves during your sojourn in fear

15) What three reasons are given to obey these admonitions (14-19)
   - God is holy
   - The Father judges each one's work without partiality
   - We were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ

16) What four things are said about Christ? (20-21)
   - He was foreordained before the foundation of the world
   - He was manifest in these last times for us
   - He was raised from the dead and given glory
   - Through Him we believe and have hope in God

17) What did God do to Jesus so that our faith and hope are in God? (21)
   - Raised Him from the dead (resurrection) and gave Him glory
     (ascension)

18) What two reasons are given for us to love one another fervently with
    a pure heart? (22-23)
   - We have purified our souls in obeying the truth
   - We have been born again of the Word of God

19) What is said of the Word of God? (23-25)
   - Incorruptible seed
   - Lives and abides forever
   - Endures forever
   - By the gospel was preached to them

20) What is said about flesh and the glory of man? (24)
   - Flesh is as grass which withers; the glory of man as the flower
     which falls away
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