Hello Sunday school teachers, preachers, and students! Welcome to SundaySchoolPreacher.com. In this week’s Sunday School Lesson 1 Peter is written to the scattered saints in Asia Minor to encourage them to live holy lives with a faith that is focused. In what is modern day Turkey these saints were being persecuted, mistreated, and misunderstood. This letter is written to encourage them, to tell them to keep the faith, and to let them know that God knows about their suffering. They are encouraged to keep on holding on because their suffering can be endured in the hope of Jesus Christ. When Jesus returns, things will be made right. Just as last week’s lesson encouraged the Thessalonians to imitate Paul, Silas, Timothy and Jesus; this week’s lesson encourages the saints to imitate God. Peter reminds them to be holy just as God is holy. It is the central point and purpose of why this letter is written. Some of the ideas surrounding this week’s text include the terms:
Holy
Truth
Background:
The author of The First Letter of Peter is credited to its namesake – the Apostle Peter. Peter was a Palestinian fisherman who was well known for being impetuous, hot headed, and passionate for what he believed. Of all of the twelve disciples of Jesus, Peter is perhaps the most well-known. Peter was also one of the first disciples, coming after John and Andrew (John 1:35-42). The New Interpreter’s Study Bible notes
“Although attributed to Peter, modern scholars debate 1 Peter’s authorship because the Greek used in this letter is among the most literary and sophisticated of the entire New Testament, an accomplishment unlikely for a 1st-century Palestinian fisherman, even if he did speak some Greek. Additionally, personal references in the letter to Peter’s own experience as a follower of Jesus are rare and oblique. It is more probable this letter was written in Peter’s name by someone influenced by his ministry. This person evokes the apostle’s authority on behalf of the letter which was not unknown in the ancient world and in the Bible itself. This was a sign of reverence for the attributed author’s authority.”
So the authorship is debated but this letter still carries the thought and intent of the Apostle Peter. Peter likely didn’t dot the I’s and cross the T’s but the thought and intent of the letter is likely his.
This first chapter of 1 Peter is a call to holy living. Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms define “holy” as that which is regarded as sacred or able to convey a sense of the divine. Also, that which is set apart for God’s will or use or that which is godlike by being spiritually whole, well, pure, or perfect. Townsend commentary defines “holy” as saint; pure; or morally blameless. The idea of holiness is that it is not what is common to humans. In other words, holiness does not come in the absence of God’s presence. 1 Peter 1:1 tells us this call to holy living is written to the exiles of the Dispersion (1 Peter 1:1). These exiles are Christians who had been scattered abroad because of persecution. Peter writes to encourage them even in the face of hardship. Some important words to consider from this text include:
Holy
Truth
Review of Last Week and How it Connects to This Week:
In Last week’s Sunday School Lesson the Apostle Paul showed us faith that set an example and the Thessalonians showed us how to be examples of the faith. Paul began his letter with thanksgiving for how the Thessalonians had kept the faith and endured despite the suffering and persecution they experienced. He complimented their faith, how they had turned from worshiping idols to the true and living God, how the whole region knew about their faith, and how they had imitated him and ultimately Jesus Christ. These Thessalonians were doing the work. Paul patted them on the back for doing the work so well, and they deserved the accolades and compliments he bestowed upon them. They were imitators of Christ.
I noted how Paul wanted them to know that he is praying for them. And if you really believe in the power of prayer, that had to be a comforting feeling. It had to be a comforting feeling to know that the person who organized their church, the one who led them to Christ, was praying for them.
I noted how Paul remembered them. He remembered their work of faith, their labor of love, and steadfast hope in Jesus Christ. And that was important because sometimes it takes work to have faith. Sometimes it takes labor to have love, and sometimes it takes patience to have hope. Paul remembers them and it’s good to remember good things. These Thessalonians were doing good things and Paul wanted them to know, that he knew.
I noted how Paul gave the Thessalonians an enormous compliment. He told them that they were an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. And if you are an example to all the believers in the place where you live, that’s high praise and that’s saying something.
I also noted how these Thessalonians deserved their pat on the back. They were being persecuted! But they didn’t give up and they didn’t give in. They persevered and kept the faith and endured the hardship of living a faithful life in Christ. They deserved Paul’s praise and it was clear that Paul was proud of how they were holding up.
Last week Paul showed us faith that set an example and the Thessalonians gave us a glowing example of the faith. Paul wrote an inspiring letter to encourage the Thessalonians. This week Peter writes to encourage the scattered Christians of Asia Minor to live holy lives with a faith that is focused. In the same way Paul told the Thessalonian’s to imitate him, Silas, Timothy and Jesus now Peter tells the saints to imitate God by living holy. Townsend and Boyd’s Commentaries title this week’s lesson “Live Holy Lives”. Standard Commentary titles this week’s lesson “Faith That Is Focused”. The scripture text comes from 1 Peter 1:13-25.
What Takes Place in This Passage:
The Lesson opens at verse thirteen with Peter telling the scattered saints of Asia Minor to prepare their minds for action. The King James Version says to gird up the loins of your mind. Gird up the loins of your mind gives you the picture of someone preparing to go to work. So Peter is essentially saying discipline yourselves, prepare your minds for work, and set your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring when he returns. Peter is telling these saints to hope with expectation that when Jesus returns grace will rule. He’s essentially saying, things might be tough right now but you just hold on a little while longer – Jesus is coming back and when he gets back he’s going to make it alright. These saints are to endure their hardship and persecution with the hope of knowing that Jesus is going to set things straight when he returns.
In verse fourteen Peter mentions obedience again. He mentioned obedience upfront in this first chapter in verse 2. So while this chapter is about holy living and encourages the saints to live holy lives with a faith that is focused, we also see how important obedience is to holy living. It is an obedience to Jesus Christ not their former way of life.
In verses fifteen and sixteen Peter quotes the Old Testament law of Leviticus 11:44-45 and 19:2. He reminds them that God has already said “you shall be holy for I am holy.” Again, this chapter is about holy living and Peter is telling the saints to imitate God. He reminds them that God is holy and since God is holy they should be also. This is their call to holiness. It is the central purpose of why he writes this letter.
In verse seventeen he reminds them to essentially keep the faith during their exile. He reminds them that God as Father, judges all people impartially according to their deeds. That’s good news for those who live according to the ways of Jesus Christ. And he continues that thought by reminding them that they should have a reverent fear of God knowing that God will be their Judge when Jesus returns. You might have heard the old folk say something like “I’m just a pilgrim passing through.” That’s the idea I get when I read this verse. Peter is telling them you’re just passing though. Do what you need to do, do what you have to do to get through the other side.
In verses eighteen and nineteen he reminds them of the price that was paid by Jesus. They were ransomed from the futile ways of their ancestors. They weren’t ransomed with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ like that of a lamb without spot or blemish. Here, Peter reflects back on Old Testament practices of sacrificing animals as atonement for sins. The blood of Jesus was a one-time sacrifice and for all humanity.
In verse twenty Peter tells us that Christ was destined before the foundation of the world. That reminds us that God knows the ending before our beginning. Peter wants to reassure the saints that their suffering and persecution is not unknown to God. And just as Jesus Christ was foreordained to suffer Calvary for the redemption of all humanity their present suffering is not lost on God and would be made right in the coming return of Jesus Christ.
In verse twenty-one Peter continues the previous thought reminding the saints that through Jesus they have come to trust God because it was God that raised Jesus from the dead.
In verse twenty-two Peter brings up obedience again. He tells the saints that their souls have been purified by their obedience to the truth. It is because of this truth that Jesus Christ is coming again that they should have genuine mutual love and that they should love one another deeply from the heart. So while this chapter tells the saints to live holy lives with a faith that is focused, we also see how important obedience is to living holy.
In verse twenty-three he reminds the saints that they have been born again. In the same way he reminded them in verse eighteen that they had been bought with the imperishable blood of Jesus Christ here he reminds them now that they have been born again with the imperishable seed of the living word of God.
Verses twenty-four and twenty-five close this lesson with a quote from Isaiah 40:6-8. Here Peter reminds the saints that life is fleeting. But God is eternal. I’m reminded of the saying that “only what you do for Christ will last.” Everything we know about life is in transition. It is either growing up or growing old increasing or decreasing; life is fleeting but God is steadfast and eternal.
Context:
Something must happen for us to live holy lives or have faith that is focused. Neither can happen without the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. It is the spirit of God that makes us able to live holy. One definition of holy is being morally blameless. Our morals, ethics, beliefs, and principles are based in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Like these saints in Asia Minor, we have hope in a returning Jesus Christ who will reward the morally blameless when he returns. Like them we don’t know the day nor the hour but we do know by faith that Jesus is coming back.
Key Characters in the text:
Peter – One of Jesus’ twelve disciples. Originally named Simon, Peter was a Galilean fisherman, the son of John and brother of Andrew. (Townsend)
Key Words (not necessarily in the text, but good for discussion):
Holy – that which is regarded as sacred or able to convey a sense of the divine. Also, that which is set apart for God’s will or use or that which is godlike by being spiritually whole, well, pure, or perfect.
Truth – That which accords with reality or is genuine. The Hebrew Old Testament emphasis is on trustworthiness and reliability, supremely God’s (Deut. 32:4). In the New Testament, Jesus is truth (John 14:6). The church seeks to understand the truth of God’s revelation in Scripture.
Themes, Topics, Discussion, or Sermon Preparation Ideas:
1. Enduring the hardship for the prize.
2. Being holy in an unholy land.
Question:
1. The saints in Asia Minor fully expected the return of Jesus Christ to set right the persecution and suffering they had experienced. Is there a difference from their expectations and ours?
Concluding Thought:
How can we live holy lives? We can live holy lives with a faith that is focused on living according to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Both holy living and focused faith are the keys to every saint’s success in this life.
Preview of Next Week’s Lesson:
Next week’s lesson comes from 2 Peter first chapter. In this lesson we remain on the topic of faith and how it leads to holy living. Next week’s lesson is titled “Stick To Your Faith”.
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