The Hope of His Coming

                                      Sunday School Lesson
        
                                    

Lesson: II Peter 3:3-15                                                                                                

Golden Text:   “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9).

 INTRODUCTION.  One of the biggest challenges to hope is delay.  The Christian faith is built upon the hope or assurance that Jesus will return to earth one day to right all wrongs.  But as one day slips into another and one decade passes into another and Christ does not return, our hope can take a beating.  Peter understood this phenomenon and addressed it directly in this week’s lesson.  He taught that delay should not discourage hope; in fact, it should encourage us to hope more.
II. SCOFFERS ANTICIPATED (II Peter 3:3-7) 
A. The scoffers’ belligerent skepticism (II Peter 3:3-4).  According to the verse immediately preceding our printed text, Peter wanted to remind his readers of things that “were spoken before by the holy prophets, and…the apostles of the Lord (vs. 2).”  In other words, Peter was not communicating new truth to these saints but reminding them of what had already been taught.
1. (vs. 3).  Then in this verse Peter wrote “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts.” The phrase “last days” is frequently used to refer to the end times.  However, some passages use this phrase to refer to the entire church age, the time between Jesus’ first and Second comings (see Acts 2:17; II Timothy 3:1; Hebrews 1:1-2; I John 2:18).  For example, the book of Hebrews begins by stating that God “hath in these last days spoken to us by His Son” (see Hebrews 1:2).  Peter was saying that during the church age there would be “scoffers” or mockers.  Their lives are devoted to “walking after their own lusts” meaning they were following their own evil desires.  It seems certain that the ones Peter called “scoffers” are the same ones he called “false prophets” and false teachers in II Peter 2:1.
2. (vs. 4).  Peter went on to write that these “scoffers” were saying “Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”  Since several decades had passed and Christ had not returned yet, scoffers and skeptics were asking “Where is the promise of his coming?” making fun of the very idea of Christ’s return.  Evidently the early Christians believed that Christ might return for the church at any moment and were being berated for proclaiming the Second Coming.  From the words of the angels at the ascension of Christ (see Acts 1:11), we can understand why these early Christians expected Jesus to return in their lifetimes.  However, Paul pointed out that Jesus would not return until there was a “falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed” (see II Thessalonians 2:3), who is usually identified as the beast of Revelation chapter 13.  One reason the scoffers mocked Christ’s return was that “since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”  The word “fathers” refers to their forefathers.  The scoffers argued that since the time that their forefathers died, everything in this world has continued as it always had.  Nothing had changed since the world was created.
B.  The scoffers’ perilous ignorance (II Peter 3:5-6). 
1.  (vs. 5).  Peter continued to say “For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water.”  The word “they” refers to the scoffers.  By insisting that everything has continued from the beginning with no changes, they were showing a willful ignorance of God’s past interventions in history.  Peter noted that “by the word of God the heavens were of old.”  In other words, God created the heavens and the earth by His spoken Word (see Genesis 1:3, 9-11, 14-15, 24).  The phrase “and the earth standing out of the water and in the water” probably refers to the dry land appearing out of the water during creation (see Genesis 1:9-10).
2. (vs. 6).  To further show how the scoffers had willingly forgotten that there had been changes in the world since the creation, Peter wrote “Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished.”  The word “Whereby” refers back to the water during creation.  The phrase “the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished” is a reference to the Great Flood in Noah’s day.  The earth was not actually destroyed (the meaning of “perished”) by water, but was washed clean because of the wickedness of mankind (see Genesis 6:5-7).  The point Peter was making was that the divine interventions in the past prove that things have not continued and will not always continue as they are.
C.  Perdition of the ungodly (II Peter 3:7).  In this verse Peter said “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”  Just as sure as divine judgment came once in the form of the Great Flood, it will come again.  Peter wrote that the same word that brought the great flood upon the earth also assures the destruction of the present order of things.  However, when the world is destroyed the second time, it won’t be with water but with fire.  This is the meaning of “reserved unto fire against the Day of Judgment.”  The heavens and the earth are “reserved” or treasured up for fire.  It will be a “day of judgment” bringing the final “perdition” or eternal misery of “ungodly men.”  The “ungodly men” (and women) are those who have not trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and are destined for the second death (see Revelation 20:11-15).  Even though some may think they will escape this final judgment, they won’t (see I Thessalonians 5:2-4; Revelation 6:13-17). 
III. SALVATION OFFERED (II Peter 3:8-10)
A.  God’s Compassion (II Peter 3:8-9).
1. (vs. 8).  Here Peter says “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”  The scoffers were willingly ignorant of God’s truth, but Peter didn’t want his readers to be ignorant of anything especially that “one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”  The psalmist’s words may have been in Peter’s mind: “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night” (see Psalms 90:4).  Peter’s point was that God does not recon time the way man does.  He created time but He is not restricted by it.  Note: Though Peter was not speaking literally, the idea that one day with the Lord is like a thousand years reminds us that it is as if only two days have passed on God’s calendar since Jesus was on earth.   God is not limited by time the way we are, nor does He measure it according to man’s standards.  When we study the works of God we can see that He is never in a hurry, but He is never late.
2. (vs. 9).  Referring to God’s compassion, Peter wrote “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  The scoffers may think that the Lord is being “slack” or slow in keeping His promises, but that’s not true.  The very fact that God’s timetable differs from ours should cause us to consider other reasons for His supposed delay in keeping His word.  The delay in the Lord’s return has nothing to do with any slowness to keep His promises, but it has everything to do with His compassion for humanity.  Peter said that God “is longsuffering to us-ward” meaning that He is patient toward sinful man.  Peter identified God’s “longsuffering” or patience toward mankind as the primary reason for His decision not to bring immediate judgment upon sinners.  As the psalmist asked “If thou Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand” (see Psalms 130:3)?  Without God’s patience we would all be consumed by His wrath.  However, despite our sinfulness, Peter said that God is “not willing that any should perish.”  God said it this way in Ezekiel 18:23 “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God; and not that he should return from his wicked ways, and live?”  Since it is not God’s will for any to be lost, His desire is that “all should come to repentance.”  Literally the word translated “repentance” means “to change one’s mind” and refers to a decision to turn from sin and to God.  Note: The repentance to which men and women are called is more than just sorrow, though it includes that.  It is more than a change of mind, though it includes that.  Repentance calls for a basic change of behavior and lifestyle (see II Corinthians 5:17).  Throughout the book of Acts, it is clear that repentance was required of those who surrendered to Christ by faith (see Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20).  Though some may preach a plan of salvation that does not include repentance, it is clear that no one can receive God’s pardon without this change of heart demonstrated in a new behavior and lifestyle.
B. God’s conflagration or great fire (II Peter 3:10).  Now Peter writes “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”   The term “day of the Lord” refers to that period of time beginning just after the rapture and just before the seven-year tribulation period described in Revelation 6:1-19:21.  The “day of the Lord” will also include the one-thousand year reign of Christ (see Revelation 20:1-7), the resurrection of the dead (see Revelation 20:12-15), the various judgments (see Revelation chapters 15-16; 20:11-12) and would continue on through to the creation of the new heavens and new earth (see Revelation 21:1).  That the “day of the Lord” will come like “a thief in the night” was also promised by our Lord (see Mathew 24:43-44; Luke 12:39-40).  This proverbial expression simply means that the “day of the Lord” will come suddenly and unexpected just like a thief.  When prophesying about the “day of the Lord” Isaiah said, “Behold, the day of the Lord cometh both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof” (see Isaiah 13:9).  Note: Even though there may be certain events that will alert God’s people that the end is near (see Luke 21:25-31), we must not disregard the Lord’s teaching that no one knows the day or the hour (see Mark 13:32).  Instead of engaging in speculation, our time would be better spent in faithful service and preaching the gospel to the lost (see Matthew 24:14, 42-51).  Believers are not encouraged to prepare for the events of the day of the Lord: we are encouraged to prepare for Christ’s coming in the air for us, which will happen before the day of the Lord.   Peter also said that during the day of the Lord “the heavens shall pass away with a great noise.”   While some people theorize that the universe began with a big bang, it is clear that it will certainly end that way, for the heavens will disappear “with a great noise.”  This will not be the human race blowing itself up with nuclear weapons.  This will be the final divine judgment upon the world resulting in the destruction of our planet.  Not only will the heavens disappear with a great noise, “the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”  The earth and its “elements” or everything in it will be “burned up.”  Some people think that the earth will simply be renovated, but this verse clearly states that it will be obliterated by fire.
IV. SANCTIFICATION ENCOURAGED (II Peter 3:11-15)
A. The earth’s dissolution (II Peter 3:11-12). 
1. (vs. 11).  In this verse Peter said “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.”  Peter concluded that since the world is going to be dissolved, it should affect the way we live.  The word “conversation” means far more than just our speech.  It includes a whole manner of life (see Ephesians 4:22; I Timothy 4:12; Hebrews 13:7; I Peter 1:15).  Peter said that in light of the final destruction of the earth we should live holy and godly lives for Christ now.
2. (vs. 12).  In addition to living holy, godly lives, Peter said that we should be “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?”  The Greek word translated “hasting” means to “hasten” or “speed along” thus implying that we might be able to speed up Christ’s coming by preparing ourselves and helping others get ready (see Matthew 24:14).  However, the Greek word used here can also refer to an eager, active anticipation.  The term “day of God” may be another way of describing the “day of the Lord.”  However, in view of Peter’s reference to the creation of the new heavens and the new earth in verse 13, it seems more likely that Peter had God’s final day of triumph in mind.
B. The believer’s destination (II Peter 3:13).  Peter continued to write “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”  Even though the heavens and the earth will be destroyed, Peter said that believers “according to his (God’s) promise, look for new heavens and a new earth.”  Believers in Christ are anticipating new heavens and a new earth (see Revelation 21:1).  When this happens, the final destination of all believers will be in the New Jerusalem which will come down from God out of heaven (see Revelation 21:1-2, 27). This is in keeping with “His promise” (see Isaiah 65:17; 66:22).  Unlike the present world which is filled with wickedness, the new earth will be filled with “righteousness.”   There will be no death, sorrow, nor pain (see Revelation 21:4).  The absence of Satan (see Revelation 20:10) and those who follow him (see Revelation 21:27; 22:15) will provide a temptation free and sinless environment.  Paradise will be restored in the New Jerusalem for it will be a place “wherein dwelleth righteousness.”  
C. The believer’s diligence (II Peter 3:14-15). 
1. (vs. 14).  In this verse Peter said “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”  Since believers anticipate new heavens and a new earth, we should be “diligent” meaning we should make every effort to live in a manner that reflects “peace” with God and “without spot, and blameless.”  In other words, when Christ returns we want Him to find that we have served Him well (see Matthew 25:21).
2. (vs. 15).  In our final verse Peter writes that his readers should “account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you.”  Peter reminded his readers once again that “the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation.”  In other words, the reason for the Lord’s patience in delaying the day of the Lord is so that the unsaved may have another day to repent.  When the day of the Lord arrives, the day of opportunity will be closed (see II Corinthians 6:2).  Peter concludes by reminding his readers that the apostle Paul “according to the wisdom given unto him” had also written to them regarding God’s longsuffering or patience with sinful man. 
                     
V. Conclusion.  We can be certain Jesus is coming as He promised.  Any apparent delay is only further opportunity for sinners to repent.  Our God loves us and is exceedingly patient with us despite our evil ways.  We have no excuse not to respond favorably to such awesome, patient love from our holy  God.                             

Serving One Another

                            
                                                           Sunday School Lesson                                      

Lesson Scripture: I Peter 4:1-11;
                                                                                         
Golden Text:   “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (I Peter 4:10).

INTRODUCTION.  It’s always fascinating to see what different people do well.  Some are good at arithmetic, calculating numbers in their heads.  Others are very good with their hands and know how to fix things.  Yet others are good at public speaking and are good teachers of the Word.  We all are good at some things and yet very different from one another.  As Christians, we all have been given various spiritual gifts.  This week we focus on how we can use our gifts to effectively serve one another.

II. PAST PERMISSIVENESS (I Peter 4:1-4)

A. Suffering Saviour (I Peter 4:1-2). 
1. (vs. 1).  Peter was writing to Christian Jews scattered over the known world who were suffering persecution for their faith.  He ended chapter 3 speaking about how Christ suffered for them (and us) and continues in our first verse writing “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin.”  Since Peter’s readers were suffering for their faith, he used Jesus’ suffering to encourage them to persevere in the midst of persecution.  Peter called on them to “arm yourselves likewise with the same mind” meaning they were to “arm” or prepare themselves for battle with the devil who was trying to devour them (see I Peter 5:8-9).  These believers were to arm themselves with the “same mind” or attitude that Jesus had toward suffering.  Jesus’ attitude toward suffering was one of perseverance and that should be our attitude as well.  The phrase “for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin” seems to refer to Christ, but when we get to the next verse we see that Peter was talking about the believer showing the difference between their present Christian lives and their past pagan lives.  The point Peter is trying to make seems to be that when a Christian suffers for doing God’s will, he or she demonstrates that they are done with living a sinful life even if it means suffering. 
2. (vs. 2).  As already mentioned this verse continues the previous verse regarding the lifestyle of Christians.  Peter writes “That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.”  The word “he” refers to the believer who should not live the rest of his or her life “in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.”  In other words, since we have taken on the mind of Christ, we won’t live out the rest of our life for evil desires, but instead for the will of God.  Note: Most often when people want to know the will of God they either want to know what God’s will is regarding some big decision (like marriage, or a career) or they want to know if God was behind some tragedy.  However, in many places in Scripture, including this verse, God’s will has to do with how we are to live (see I Peter 2:15; 3:17; 4:19) and may even include suffering. 
B.  Strange supposition (I Peter 4:3-4). 
1. (vs. 3).  Still speaking about our past lives Peter said “For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banqueting, and abominable idolatries.”  Instead of following the will of God in their lifestyle, most of Peter’s readers had been following the “will of the Gentiles” or pagans.  Peter listed some of the sins his readers had “walked in” or learned from Gentiles.  “Lasciviousness” and “lusts” refer to sexual sins.  “Excess of wine, revellings,” and “banqueting” all refer to the wild parties and orgies associated with pagan worship and the lifestyle of many Gentiles.  “Abominable idolatries” is how Peter described the worship of pagan gods who according to Greek mythology behaved worse than humans.
2.  (vs. 4).  Peter went on to say “Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you.”  The word “they” refers to these believers’ old friends who thought that it was strange that these Christians no longer joined them in riotous living.  Depending on how a person lived before being converted modern reactions can be similar to the one Peter mentioned here with unbelievers “speaking evil of you” which literally means “blaspheming you.”  Very often those who stop keeping company with their former friends in their indulgences and idolatry will find that these same people will unjustly say malicious and slanderous things about them.  But if a person is truly born again, he will have new affections and new attachments (see II Corinthians 5:17).
III. PROPHETIC PROMISES (I Peter 4:5-7)
  A.  Reckoning (I Peter 4:5).  Here Peter says “Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.”  The term “who” refers back to the unsaved former friends mentioned in the previous verse.  Those who think Christians are strange because they don’t live as they once did “shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.”  Whether living or dead, both believers and unbelievers will have to stand before God in judgment (see II Corinthians 5:10).  However, the purpose of the judgment for believers will be for rewards, but for the unbeliever it will confirm their condemnation (see Matthew 10:42; Luke 19:17; I Corinthians 3:13-16; 9:24-25; II Timothy 4:7-8; Revelation 22:12).
B. Redemption (I Peter 4:6).  In this verse Peter writes “For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.”   What Peter was saying here is that the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead so that they also might be judged along with other men according to what they’ve done in their bodies, but they will live in the spirit according to God’s will.  Note: There are those who claim and teach that this verse as well as I Peter 3:19 indicate that there will be another chance for salvation after one dies.  This is called universalism.  It teaches that all people will ultimately be saved.  The problem with this idea is that it is taught nowhere in the Scriptures.  If everyone is going to be saved anyway, why would we need to repent and believe?  Remember, if a Bible passage appears to be obscure or hard to understand, it should always be interpreted with other plainly understood passages.  If an interpretation does not harmonize or line up with the rest of the Bible, it must be rejected no matter how popular it might be.
C. Pray for one another (I Peter 4:7).  Here Peter writes “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.”  When the apostle said that “the end of all things is at hand” he was referring to the return of Christ.  Since no one knows when Jesus will return (see Matthew 24:36), God’s people should live as if the end of the age was at hand.  Note: Even though Christians still believe that Jesus could return for His church at any time, this does not mean that we should waste time trying to determine when that time will be.  Jesus’ words that no one knows the time of His return should be enough to keep us from speculation (see Mark 13:32).  Anyone who claims to know what the angels don’t even know must be rejected!  Considering both the brevity of life and the fact that Christ could return at any time for His church, Christians should also be “sober, and watch unto prayer.”  This simply means that we should stay in a heightened state of alert, being sober minded and devoting ourselves to prayer staying prepared for Jesus’ imminent return (see Mark 13:35-37).  If we can’t think straight, we can’t pray effectively.  Prayer is vital to our spiritual growth.  It is also the means by which God acts in the lives of others.  We are to pray for our enemies (see Matthew 5:44), the lost (see Romans 10:1), political leaders (see I Timothy 2:1-2), and the sick (see James 5:13-16).  Indeed, we should pray for everything (see Philippians 4:6).

IV. PRESENT PRIORITIES (I Peter 4:8-11)
 A. Love one another (I Peter 4:8).  In addition to being alert and prayerful Peter also said “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”  The most important thing we can do as we await the Lord’s return is to “have fervent charity among yourselves.”  The word “charity” in Greek is “agape” and is usually translated as “love.”  According to I Corinthians 13, “charity” or love is seen as the premiere Christian virtue.  It is the single trait that identifies us as disciples of Christ (see John 13:35).  Peter said the reason love is so important is because “charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”  No doubt he was thinking about Proverbs 10:12, “hatred stirreth up strifes; but love covereth all sins.”  With this statement Peter probably meant that Christian love was so powerful that it could overlook faults, whether committed by believers or those who were persecuting believers.  Note: Love is always ready to forgive again and again.  It finds a way to keep the wrongdoer from being condemned.  This is how God has treated us and certainly how we are to treat each other.
B. Welcome one another (I Peter 4:9).  One way love can be shown to others is through hospitality.  Therefore Peter said here “Use hospitality one to another without grudging.”  The word “hospitality” literally means “love for strangers.”   It means more than just inviting friends and family over for a holiday meal.  Many Christians are hospitable toward people they know and love, so they assume that they have fulfilled the spirit of this command.  However, true hospitality is sometimes opening our homes to people we don’t know.  This does not mean that we should open up our homes to just anyone in need because that could prove to be very foolish.  In the first century early church “hospitality” meant a couple of things:
1. First, Christians in the early church had no public meeting places as we have today.  Allowing believers to gather in one’s home would have been a way to show “hospitality.”  Today, opening our home for a Bible class meeting, youth activity or Bible study would be the equivalent to what the early church did and should be done without grumbling.
2. Second, early Christians opened their homes to travelers.  This would have included those fleeing from persecution as well as travelling ministers and missionaries.  Public accommodations, like inns in ancient times were usually places where sinful activities took place like those mentioned in verse 3.  Today, Christians should be willing to open their homes to visiting speakers or even to those who have temporarily fallen on bad times.  However, be careful not to do this blindly.  Hopefully we will know something about the people we are hospitable to.
C. Serve one another (I Peter 4:10-11).
1. (vs. 10).  In this verse the apostle wrote “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”  Peter appears to be saying that every Christian has received some spiritual “gift” from God.  The Greek word for “gift” is charisma and refers to a spiritual gift of some kind.  Since all of us have received some spiritual gift we have the obligation to “minister the same one to another.”  In other words we are to use our gift in service to others.  Note: Peter did not detail here the various spiritual gifts, but other passages indicate that there are a number of them (see Romans 12:3-8; I Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30; Ephesians 4:1-12).  Some of these gifts were unique to the apostolic age (during the time of the apostles) but many of them have continued to be operative throughout the church age.  While some of the gifts might be seen as supernatural abilities, others might be viewed as simply the exercising of God-given natural abilities.  Either way, our gifts originate with God and should be used for His glory (see Matthew 5:16).  Recognizing that our gifts are from God should cause us to be “good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”  Christians often use the term “stewardship” in reference to giving in the church, but it means much more than that.  A “steward” is one who manages something for another person.  He or she has great authority, but also has great responsibility and must give account of his stewardship.  Therefore we are to be faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms, which is the meaning of the phrase “manifold grace of God.”  Gifts should not be used for self-glorification but should be used to serve one another in love (see I Corinthians 13:1-3).
2. (vs. 11).  In our final verse Peter writes “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”  Peter mentioned two general areas of Christian service: speaking and ministering, or serving.  Ministering through speaking can include teaching and preaching.  Those who “speak” should “speak as the oracles of God.  This means that when one uses his or her gift to speak they should do so as one giving the very words of God, remembering that God is speaking through them as they sing, teach, encourage, counsel, or preach.  Those who “minister” should serve with the strength and ability God gives.  The word for “minister” here speaks of a general kind of service and could be applied to various ministries and different forms of Christian service.  However, the purpose of all speaking and serving is so that “God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ (or in the name of Jesus).”  Christian service should not focus on the one serving: it should point to God (see I Corinthians 9:16) who will receive “praise and dominion (supreme power) for ever and ever.”
                     
V. Conclusion.  When we serve others, God is to receive all the glory.  It’s not for our own praise but for His honor.  God will receive all the glory and honor that is due Him when Christians choose to use their gifts to serve others selflessly in the name of Jesus Christ.  Christians, in fact, can be identified by their Christ-like service to others through the use of their God-given gifts.                                                                                                              
    

Equipped With Hope

                                                             Sunday School Lesson
Lesson Scripture: 2Peter 1:3-14
Lesson Focus:Continue to Grow in Your Faith


Introduction: This second letter from the apostle Peter to the churches (see 3:1) was probably written around AD 67, not long before his death. Some consider it his “last will and testament.” Knowing what awaited him (John 21:18, 19), he was more concerned about the needs of other Christians than his own. False teachers were afoot seeking to mislead the believers. They needed a sure hope, one found only in Christ.
Hope’s Resources2 Peter 1:2-4Only knowledge of Jesus provides grace and peace in abundance. In fact, everything we need for a godly life is available through him. If God grants everything, that doesn’t leave much else! No one can say, “I’m going to Heaven because of all the good I’ve done.” If God had not permitted us to learn of Christ and follow him, our future would be hopeless. But he has! Paul also emphasized the completeness of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).
William Barclay wrote, “Christ-ianity realistically faces man’s actuality, but at the same time sees no limit to man’s potentiality (see John 10:10). As one of the great early fathers said, ‘He became what we are to make us what he is.’”
Hope’s Character2 Peter 1:5-9Peter next lists seven qualities to be developed in every believer’s life. All are necessary. It is not a matter of working on the first three till you get them down, then starting on the fourth. These virtues overlap and all are important all the time. We begin by trusting and obeying Jesus, as explained in Scripture. True faith requires change, what has been described as “steady advance.” Moffatt quotes a saying that, “The Christian life must not be an initial spasm followed by a chronic inertia.” Growing in goodness is also essential.
Knowledge shows that simply affirming the facts is not enough. God’s children must grow. Later Peter explains the need to avoid myths and accept truth (2 Peter 1:6-10). Self-control calls on us to keep our impulses in check. Years ago a teacher in my home church explained temperance (King James Version) by saying, “Temperance is abstinence from that which is bad, and a moderate use of that which is good.”
This requires perseverance. Peter knew his readers would need to endure times of hardship. James wrote, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12, NIV 1984). Such patience is what lets us hold fast to Christian hope when it is contradicted (2 Peter 3:3) and sustain Christian truth when it is denied (v. 16).
The godliness Peter describes points the reader to live in harmony with the true and living God. His love then compels us to love others with mutual affection. The final attribute listed here is love. John describes real love as being evident in tangible deeds (John 13:34, 35; 1 John 3:17-20).
Hope’s Persistence2 Peter 1:10-15If you are God’s child, doing what he says is essential. Without Jesus, we have no hope. We will undoubtedly stumble and fall many times along the way, but we must always return to him (Hebrews 6:11; 10:35-37). Peter agrees with James. It is not the hearers of the law, but the doers who are justified (James 1:22). God’s truth leads to freedom and salvation (John 8:32). Peter knew his life would end soon, and he wanted to leave these words of encouragement for all who came behind him. He had only a short time left to live in the tent of this body. He knew he would soon put it aside. This beautiful picture of “folding up my tent” says it well. Paul used the same illustration (2 Corinthians 5:1-4). Peter wrote so that after his departure they would remember these things.
Hope’s Foundation2 Peter 1:20, 21Verses 16-19 are not in the printed text, but they serve as a reminder that Peter was an eyewitness of Jesus Christ. Peter affirmed all that the Old Testament Scriptures prophesied about him because he had seen it all firsthand. The prophets of old had all been inspired by God. They were not left to their own devices; instead the Lord guided them in what to say. So complete was their inspiration that, though human, they spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

A Living Hope

                                                              Sunday School Lesson                        


Lesson: I Peter 1:3-12;                                                                    
Golden Text: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (I Peter 1:3).

I.  INTRODUCTION.  This week we begin some important lessons from Peter’s letters.  In this week’s lesson, we learn from Peter about relying on our living hope in Jesus during difficult times.  The Christians during this time lived in constant fear that their day of suffering at the hands of Rome was coming soon.  It was under such circumstances that Peter encouraged the Christians to look to Jesus and the eternal hope He has already provided.

II. FAITH’S BLESSING (I Peter 1:3-6).   In his first letter Peter addressed the Jewish tribes scattered throughout the Mediterranean Basin.  He called them “strangers” or aliens (see I Peter1:1) because they were part of the Diaspora or Dispersion.  Peter also referred to these Jewish believers as elect, sanctified, and obedient (see I Peter 1:2) which aptly describes all of God’s people.

A. Regeneration (I Peter 1:3).  Peter begins our printed text with “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”  The Greek word translated “blessed” is where we get our English word “eulogy.”  It literally means “good word” and can also be translated as “praise” just as a eulogy shares praiseworthy comments about the deceased.  However, in this verse, the praise is directed toward “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  The phrase “hath begotten us again” refers to the second birth often referred to as being born again.  This new birth is not optional but essential (see John 3:1-8).  If a notable religious leader like Nicodemus needed to be born again, then so must we and everyone else (see I Corinthians 5:17).  This new birth or regeneration is only made possible “according to his (God’s) abundant mercy.” Regeneration or the new birth is only possible because of the grace and mercy of God.  It’s true that grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve namely salvation; and mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve namely condemnation.  Since we have been born again we have a “lively (or living) hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”  The resurrection of Jesus Christ is at the center of the gospel message.  His resurrection proved that He was and is the Son of God and gives us a hope (a sure expectation) of a future resurrection.  Jesus confirmed this hope when He said, “Because I live, ye shall live also” (see John 14:19).
B. Revelation (I Peter 1:4-5).  
1. (vs. 4).  Not only has God begotten us to a living hope in Jesus Christ, He also has provided “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.”  Unlike an earthly inheritance that can be taken away or stolen, the believer’s “inheritance” is “incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away.”  In other words it will never decay or fade away, and it won’t be stained by sin.  Peter stated that this “inheritance” is “reserved in heaven for you.”  The place of our inheritance is “heaven” and it is “reserved” for us.  At the moment we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, a reservation for our inheritance is made in heaven.
2.  (vs. 5).  Peter confirms that our inheritance is secure when he said that we are also “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”  The word “kept” was a military term and means “guarded” or “shielded.”  No matter what trials we may face, we are “guarded” or “shielded” by the “power of God through faith” so that we may safely reach the goal of complete “salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”  The fact that Peter says our salvation will be revealed in the last time means that it will be completed.  The phrase “the last time” refers to the rapture when we will be removed from this sinful world and our salvation will then be complete.  As the Apostle Paul said in Romans 13:11, “For now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”  
III. FAITH’S TRIALS (I Peter 1:6-7)
A.  Joy in tribulations (I Peter 1:6).  In this verse, Peter said “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations.” Peter’s readers were experiencing “heaviness through manifold temptations” or many trials because of their faith in Christ.  The word “heaviness” can also mean “grief.”  However, the phrase “though now for a season” indicates that their trials and grief caused by their trials would only last for a little while.  Peter’s point was that even though these believers were experiencing many trials they could “greatly rejoice” in the things he mentioned in verses 3-5, God’s mercy, the new birth, the resurrection hope, their eternal inheritance, and God’s power that guaranteed them a safe arrival in heaven.
B. Faith tested (I Peter 1:7).  Peter continues to say “ That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”  Peter exhorted his readers that the “trial (or testing) of your faith” even though it might be tested as gold is purified by fire, “might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”  In other words, as our faith is tested, the trials we face refine our faith in Christ and should result in “praise and honour and glory” to God.  However, the fullness of “praise and honour and glory” may not be realized until the “appearing (or return) of Jesus Christ.”  Note: When Peter speaks of trials, he is not talking about natural disasters or the daily troubles that come our way.  Instead he is referring to the opposition believers receive from an unbelieving world.  All believers face such trials when they let their light shine into darkness.  Trials teach us patience (see Romans 5:3-4; James 1:2-3) and help us grow to be the kind of people God wants.  However, in today’s world many believers face other trials that can test our faith. Let us not forget that an untested faith may be an unknown faith.  We may think we have faith but let it be tested to the limits and we will find whether our faith is real or not.  While many Christians may not deal with the kinds of trials Peter was referring to, suffering for our faith in Christ, many have found that when their health or finances fail, their faith fails also.  No doubt Peter understood this as well (see Luke 22:31-34).
IV. Faith’s Goal (I Peter 1:8-9)
A. Believing without seeing (I Peter 1:8).  Referring back to Christ in the previous verse, Peter continued to say “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”  Unlike Peter, the vast majority of his readers hadn’t heard Jesus teach, nor had they seen His miracles since the church was founded about thirty-five years earlier.  Even though they hadn’t seen Jesus they still loved Him and believed in Him.  Note:   After Jesus arose from the dead, Thomas wanted physical evidence of the resurrection.  It was only after he saw and handled the risen Lord that he convinced declaring Jesus to be Lord and God (see John 20:28).  Jesus responded to Thomas by saying “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen and yet believe.”  Both Peter’s readers and we fall into the category of those blessed because we believe and have not seen Christ.  Peter’s readers and we all came to believe in Christ because we heard (see John 20:30-31; Romans 10:17).  These Christians loved Christ, and also believed in Him causing them to “rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”  Because of blessings they received in Christ as well as the faith-building benefits of various trials, these Christians could live in the present with indescribable joy.
B. Faith’s results (I Peter 1:9).  In this verse Peter went on to say “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”  Of course one of the goals of faith is unspeakable joy, but the ultimate goal or “the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”  In other words, our faith in Christ will finally end with the completion of our salvation---living with Him forever.
V. FAITH’S FULFILLMENT (I Peter 1:10-12)
A. Prophecy (I Peter 1:10-11).
1. (vs. 10).  Peter continued to speak of our salvation as he wrote “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you.”  God had planned salvation from eternity past (see I Peter 1:20) and it had been revealed to Hebrew prophets centuries before the church was founded.  Regarding salvation, Peter said the Old Testament “prophets have enquired and searched diligently” meaning that the prophets persevered trying to understand the message that God gave them which was later recorded in the Scriptures.  Peter referred to this message of salvation that was prophesied as “the grace that should come unto you.”  Of course, this “grace” was God’s plan of salvation that comes to everyone (see Ephesians 2:8-10).
2. (vs. 11).  Still referring to the prophets, Peter said that they were “Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.”  In other words, those prophets tried to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ (or the Holy Spirit) which was in them, was pointing to when He predicted through them the “sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.”  The Spirit of Christ was speaking to and through the prophets pointing them ahead to the “sufferings of Christ” (the crucifixion) and the “glory that should follow” (the resurrection).  Note:  The Old Testament prophets writing under the Holy Spirit’s inspiration (see II Peter 1:20-21) described the coming of the Messiah.  The New Testament apostles, through the inspiration of the same Holy Spirit, preached the crucified and risen Christ.  Zechriah speaks of the Messiah’s entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey (see Zechariah 9:9) and also tells us that the purchase price for betraying the Messiah would be thirty pieces of silver (see Zechariah 11:12).  Isaiah tells of Messiah’s torture (see Isaiah 50:6) and His death for us (see Isaiah 53:9).  Psalms 22:12-18 gives the exact details of Messiah’s horrible death on the cross, and Psalms 16:8-11declared that death could not hold Him. Christ’s resurrection is prophesied in Psalms 16:9-11.
B. Preaching (I Peter 1:12).  Our final verse says “Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.”  The phrase,  “Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things” means that the Old Testament prophets prophesied what was revealed through them but not to them.  The things that they prophesied were for future generations, which is the meaning of “us.”  The prophets realized that their prophecies didn’t pertain to them at that time, but it would pertain to others who would follow.  The phrase “which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven” means that the things that the prophets prophesied about the Messiah were now being preached to these believers through the gospel by the same Holy Spirit from heaven who inspired the prophets.  These things about salvation are so intriguing that Peter said that “the angels desire to look into.”  Since the angels understand the value of a lost soul that is found, they rejoice when a sinner repents and turns to Christ (see Luke 15:10).  Since angels never experience redemption, they are fascinated by a love that seeks to rescue a sinful world.

 
VI. Conclusion.  Because we have a living Saviour, we have a living hope that will enable us to endure our trials.  The Christian’s hope is a living hope because of the Trinity: the Father is perfecting or completing our salvation, the Son enables us to face difficulties of the present, and the Spirit carries our salvation from the past to the present to the future.