Housegroups 

Theme: Christ is our Hope
Series: Faith in a Time of Crisis: Embracing Hope
1 Peter 1:3-9
Malcolm Raby
5 July 2020 

A little background
This letter is widely accepted as having been written by Peter, one of the 12 disciples. In the letter he seeks to reassure Christians in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) as a season of stormy persecution was just beginning ( a storm which continues in many countries today). The letter is generally dated AD 63, written from Rome, shortly before the start of Nero’s persecutions in AD 64.
 
The message is just as relevant for us today as it was then – Peter speaks of present suffering but also of glory to come. The whole letter is about grounding our hope in the reality of what God has done for us through Christ. He is writing predominantly to Gentile Christians, though quotations and allusions abound from the Old Testament.
 
Please read 1 Peter 1:3-9

ICE BREAKER – this is very much a letter of HOPE (verse 3).

How do most people understand the meaning of “HOPE”? is there anything different about Christian hope?

 
Work through the passage …
 
Verse 3. As Christians we have a sure and certain hope which is anchored in the past and so we can confidently look to the future. God has brought about our salvation in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. When Jesus died, it seemed to end all Peter’s hopes, but the resurrection was a life-changing reality. And it can be our reality too!
 
Some translations use the word BLESSED. What do we usually mean when we use the word “blessed” or “blessing”? Here the word is used to bless “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”, tapping into a rich biblical tradition (e.g. Gen 14.20; 1 Kings 1.48)
 
There is another Greek word for blessed (“makarios”) which Jesus used in the Beatitudes (Matt 5.3-12) – used only in the New Testament to speak of the blessings we experience as Christians, not blessings or praises addressed to God.
 
Verses 4-5. Verse 4 is key to this passage. Peter is encouraging Christians to weather adversity, and the key to this encouragement is “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.” Try to tease out the difference between an EARTHLY inheritance and a HEAVENLY one (see Matt 6.19-21).
 
To make us think … Hope into Action is a Christian Charity set up in 2010 when Ed and Rachel Walker, with their church, bought their first home for the homeless. The Charity has now grown to over 70 homes and has won multiple awards. “We, the Church, have billions of pounds of loaves and fish. We have enough to provide every homeless man and woman with a home. We also have something far more precious than that: love. Just imagine what our God could do if we placed even a fraction of these resources in his hands. He would do more than you can imagine.
 
Verse 5 speaks of being guarded/shielded (an interesting word in the context of Covid-19) by God’s power. The word used = a military guard. So the picture is one of God standing guard over us. The opposition may be formidable; we are certainly vulnerable, but if God is for us … What does it matter who is against us if God is for us? What is our part in this? To have faith = to live by the conviction that God is with us.
 
The full unveiling of God’s salvation will be revealed “in the last time”. What do you think this phrase means? The phrase can have several meanings. It could point to the Parousia (Christ’s Second Coming), a future event where God will intervene in history to bring about full salvation to those who believe in him.
 
Verses 6-9. As we reflect on what God has done for us, we should be filled with joy! Is it possible to be “filled with joy” when we face great struggles and difficulties in our lives? Peter then moves dramatically from ecstasy to suffering. Here is the heart of Peter’s concern in writing this letter as he seeks to assure Christians of their hope as they face trials. And he gives four reasons why we can not only endure trials, but also rejoice in the midst of them. Try to work through these four reasons:
 

  1. Our troubles are temporary; our hope in Christ is eternal (see Hb 12.2)
 
  1. Our faith is strengthened as we endure suffering/trials. Such things should not surprise or cause us to doubt God’s faithfulness. We should rejoice in them!! What is the purpose of gold passing through the furnace (7a)? Fire does not destroy gold – it only removes combustible impurities. Yet even gold will eventually vanish. Perhaps Peter is thinking of the words in 1 Timothy 6.7. No matter how much we try to control our wealth; no matter how much we try to control who will get our wealth when we die – we brought nothing into the world and we take nothing out.
 
You might like to reflect on the idea of God testing us by reference to Abraham and Isaac (Gen 22). Peter later in his letter (4.12) tells us not to be surprised should trials come our way.
 
  1. When Jesus comes again he will bring far more than an end to suffering  - he will bring his reward of blessing.   Our present situation (however difficult it may seem) cannot be compared to the glory that is to come.
 
  1. Our tested faith can never earn the glory that is to come. It will fill us with “an inexpressible and glorious joy”.

 
Unlike Peter, the Christians he was writing to never had the privilege of seeing Jesus in person – something Jesus himself was fully aware of – when was this?
(John 20.29). We too have not seen Jesus – but we will! (8)
 
 
PRAYER
 
It may be appropriate to start this time of prayer with a note of joy/thanksgiving. Perhaps you could have a song which people can listen to (not so easy to sing to if you are on Zoom!) – this could be followed by a time of prayers of praise.
 
You might then like to move to a time of prayer for those facing trials right now – perhaps people in the group. We do not have to “grin and bear” our trials so it is very right to bring them before God and seek his presence, and healing. What about our prayer partner for this month? How can you support them in prayer – and perhaps even in practical support too?
 


Malcolm Raby, 26/06/2020