THE ENDURING WORD – THE GOSPEL’S WORD!
1 Peter 1:22-2:10
The Apostle
Peter is the author of just two of the letters that make up the body of the
Doctrine of Christ. His influence; however, as an Apostle, an elder, and as
a servant of Jesus Christ the Lord is felt throughout the first century.
To
Christians of Hebrew descent and scattered throughout Asia Minor (pilgrims
and sojourners), Peter would write concerning his understanding of the
inheritance that the kingdom of God has provided. Just look at
1:3.
·
Peter was
impelled (encouraged) by God’s abundant
mercy!
·
He was
jubilant that a child of God is
begotten
from the same nature of the Parent, from above!
·
And maybe
above all, he was warmed in his heart concerning the
living hope
that he and all Christians share. Better described as
a lively hope,
or
actively alive
towards the confidence of that which will surely come to pass (already
demonstrated in the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord).
After the
foundation of hope and the great responsibility of living in the great
kingdom of God, as dear children – (kingdom
imperatives):
1.
Peter now
describes the power which has created the knowledge of God’s mercy, begotten
us as dear children, and given us this hope!
2.
Then; he
shows the power in the transformation of the construction material of this
great kingdom (from worthless to pure!); you and me, from darkness to
light!!! We look into this in
the Next Lesson!
Read:
1:22-25
Identifying features of Purification (Born of God):
Purified
your souls –
Greek verb,
‘Hagnizo’ to purify or cleanse
from defilement; here referring to the soul (the heart or center of man).
1 John 3:3
Tense –
Have
purified!
Acts 2:38,
and are, in demonstration of love!
Process
– “Obeying
the Truth” – Truth and God’s word are always synonymous!
John 17:17
Demonstration –
Love one
another!
1 John 3:16-18
1 John 1:7,
9,
2:1 – We
must share God’s attitude towards sin!
1 John 2:3-6
– We must keep His commandments!
1 John 2:8-11-
We must demonstrate that we have been born of God by loving our brethren!
Power
behind New Birth:
A Pure
Seed!
Word of Truth
-
James 1:18
Word of the Kingdom
– Matthew 13:19
Saving Word
–
Romans 1:16
Enduring Word
– Trust, confidence, an anchor for the purified soul –
Isaiah 40:6-8.
Isaiah gives hope, just like Peter in the coming of the Messiah and His
kingdom.
The word of
God is like the very character of God (promises too) – It will never fail
in spite of men!
David said
in the Spirit of God (man’s treachery Vs. God’s consistency)
Psalms 12:6-7 “The words of the
Lord
are pure words,
Like silver tried in a furnace of earth,
Purified seven times.
7 You shall keep them, O
Lord,
You shall preserve them from this generation forever.”
This is the Gospel’s word
–
1:25
Summary –
The salvation of the soul, beginning with purification (Acts
26:18), to the maintenance of the soul in fellowship with God and
Jesus Christ our King; is through
The Word!!!
Know the WORD – Know GOD!
Those who long to be with God, long to be like God!
1 John 2:29
Know God – Only Know the Word!
Our attitude has to be the same as God’s towards the given commandments of
God – Sin is lawlessness!
1 John 3:4
Know God – Fellowship the Word Only!!!
By knowledge of the word, anything else must be cast off!
2 John 9