Caleb Walker

Teaching manuscript; Pre-taught Lesson; Free downloadable PowerPoint; & Devotional

Download PowerPoint Here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qp8rvvs7ceh4qi022zav6/Our-Mandate.pptx?rlkey=j8hftj1yucyhpd33v3n5iw8qv&st=tipd5kgr&dl=0

Review: Last week we looked at how believers have a living hope that strengthens our faith and brings glory to Christ. This hopes sees us through times of suffering and even persecution in the path of obedience.

Title: Our Mandate

Text: I Peter 1:13-25

Memory Verse: I Peter 1:15-16

Theme: Believers are called to pursue holiness.

Introduction: In this week’s lesson we see that God enacted his plan for our salvation from even before the world began and that holiness is both our calling and something we struggle forward in in the midst of suffering.

Opening Discussion Question (s): People pursue what’s important be it a physical exercise goal or a family or workplace, vocational goal.

What are you pursuing in life? Where would holiness rank in a list if your life’s pursuits?

Context:

Peter encouraged in his greeting to the churches in Asia Minor that they view suffering in light of eternity. They and we can trust in these assurances because of fulfilled Messianic prophecies made by prophets who wouldn’t enjoy the fulfillment in their lifetimes, and the wonder of salvation angels can’t even experience but long to look into; that gives some perspective on how wondrous it is.  It’s imperative that we saturate our lives in the gospel, Jesus’ finished work. Don’t use suffering as an excuse or as a setback for selfishness, but rather fight for holiness at all times. Fear God. He’s always Judge and Father. These yield the spiritual benefits of strengthened faith and hope in suffering. God’s word will never fail us.

Main Points:

1. Holy (I Peter 1:13-17)

“13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,”

• “Minds ready for action” carries the idea of tucking in one’s robes in preparation for a race to have swift and careful motion. Sober minded means avoiding being intoxicated literally and means laying aside distractions.
• We have an assured hope that’s expectation is in Jesus’ return.
• The word “conformed” is only used here and in Romans 12:2, meaning to be more like Jesus.
• To backslide into their former desires and lusts would have been a temptation.
• God called believers to Himself in salvation.

Doctrine: God

“God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections” (Leader Guide, p. 28).

I Samuel 2:2, ““There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you;
    there is no rock like our God.”

Isaiah 6:1-5, “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train[a] of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

Discussion: “What obstacles can we anticipate when we pursue holiness? Why is the pursuit of holiness a worthwhile pursuit?”

II. Redeemed (I Peter 1:18-21)

“¹⁸ knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. ²⁰ He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you ²¹ who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

• The redemption is a liberating power whereby God sets unbelievers free from their darkness and idolatry.
• Gospel: The precious blood of Jesus is the only acceptable sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. He was the fulfiller of the law as the spotless, unblemished, pure Lamb of God to be the sacrifice in our behalf (c.f. Hebrews 10:10-18). Jesus’ plan to become our sacrificial Messiah was foreknown before the world began; this was not plan B, but completely His plan A all along.
• The belief in God is complete trust in His full work on the cross, death, burial, and resurrection.
• Glory here means the honor and praise of which he is worthy.

Discussion: Why did Jesus have to die for our sins? Why is it important that the death and resurrection of Jesus were God’s plans even prior to the foundation of the world?

III. Brotherly love (I Peter 1:22-25)

“22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, ²³ since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; ²⁴ for “All flesh is like grass
    and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
    and the flower falls,
²⁵ but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.”

• Peter reminds them that in receiving Jesus as their Lord and Savior, in believing the gospel, they were made pure and clean before God by His grace alone.
• Holiness encompasses our relationships and requires a brotherly love as we are a part of His family (c.f. I John 3:11-18; 4:7-21).
• Being born again is stated here, as we are given new life upon salvation.
• Peter uses the word imperishable to highlight the immortality of our existence; such hope.
• In verses 24-25 he quotes Isaiah 40:6-8 for God’s Word and nature’s eternality, unfading as this world. 

Discussion: How does your relationship with Jesus influence your daily life?

Devotional: “I Peter 1:13-25 & the Benefits of an Eternal Focus in Suffering”

     The believers in Asia Minor were suffering under Roman persecution at the hand of evil Nero in AD 64. Peter reminds them that the suffering they are going through was an opportunity to strengthen their faith and holy walks with God, nit an occasion to throw in the towel. There can be a temptation in the midst of sufferings to doubt God, to doubt His good plan for your life, to doubt that He is caringly watching over you, to doubt that He will ever see you through, to doubt His love, and so on. These are understandable battles of the soul. God assures us in His word through Peter’s letter to these believers that this is an opportunity to press deeper into faith and holiness than ever before in the Christian life.

     We do not always see these circumstances as an opportunity, but let’s be reminded of these scriptural truths that will fortify our worshipful, hope-filled expectant hope in Jesus in the midst of our suffering and pain. Jesus is coming again. It was God’s plan from before we even existed to send Jesus as the suffering Servant Messiah to save us from our sins. Suffering is a result of the Fall. We are not immune from suffering. God hates sin and suffering. God is powerful enough to redeem us from the Fall and all the broken suffering that ripples out of the Fall and use these circumstances for our spiritual good and spiritual growth and His glory.

How to Pray:

• While it’s still hard, help me to have Your perspective on my sufferings.
• Help me to get everything You want for my good and Your glory out of this present suffering.
• Thank You for Jesus Who saved me from the eternal punishment and separation from the Fall in Hell.
• Thank You for Your saving grace.
• Help me to live with Your eternal perspective in the midst of these difficult circumstances.