1 Peter

1 Peter 1: A living hope through Christ

Begin in prayer

Before you hear Peter write about a living hope, please ask the Lord to show your family the great mercy of God. Ask Him to show you the living hope He gives, and the precious blood of Christ that bought His people back.

But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives. In the end, he will stand upon the earth.

Job 19:25

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us Your great mercy, the living hope You give, and the precious blood of Christ. Help us to put our hope in the risen Jesus and to become more like Him. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Peter writes to chosen people living as foreigners across five regions of Asia Minor, the land now called Turkey. Their scattered lives are held by the Father who chose them, the Spirit who sets them apart, and the blood of Jesus. God's mercy has given them new birth and living hope through the risen Christ, with an inheritance reserved in heaven. Trials grieve them and prove their faith, while the salvation the prophets searched for is now announced to them. They must therefore set their hope on Christ's appearing, live in holiness and reverent fear, and love one another from the heart. The blood that redeemed them is precious, and the word that gave them birth outlasts all human glory.

As you read 1 Peter 1, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God gives His people living hope through the risen Jesus Christ.

A foreigner lives away from home, and Peter's greeting tells these scattered believers where their lasting inheritance is kept. Their hope lives because Jesus rose, and God's power guards them through faith until that salvation is revealed. Gold can survive a fire and still perish, while the tested faith of these people will bring praise at Christ's appearing. They therefore rejoice and grieve together, loving a Savior they have never seen. The prophets also waited, searching what the Spirit of Christ revealed about His sufferings and the glories afterward. Hope now gives the readers reason to gather their thoughts for action, as people belt up long clothes before work. They must be holy because the God who calls them is holy, and revere the Father who judges every person's work without favoritism. Christ's blood released them from the useless life handed down by their fathers, so their new life belongs to Him. The gospel gives that life through an enduring word, and those born through it must love one another from the heart.

How does 1 Peter 1 show us that God gives His people living hope through the risen Jesus Christ?

God gave His chosen ones new birth to a living hope.

Peter says God caused them to be born again by His great mercy (verse 3). It was God's doing, and not theirs. Their hope is living through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. They have an inheritance reserved in heaven that does not fade away (verse 4). By the power of God they are guarded through faith (verse 5).

God guards His people, and their tested faith is worth more than gold.

God guards them through faith, even when they are put to grief in various trials (verses 5 and 6). Gold perishes even though fire tests it, but the proof of their faith is more precious (verse 7). Peter says they love Jesus and believe in Him though they do not see Him (verse 8). The prophets searched for this salvation. The Spirit of Christ in them pointed to His sufferings and glories (verses 10 and 11).

Christ's precious blood bought them back.

Redemption means release through a price paid, and Peter names the price as Christ's precious blood. The spotless Lamb was foreknown before the world began and revealed for His people's sake. God raised Him and gave Him glory, so their faith and hope rest in God. They must therefore be holy and live in reverent fear, since the Father judges every person's work without favoritism.

God gave new birth through His word, and it lives forever.

Peter says they have been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible (verse 23). That seed is the word of God, which lives and remains forever. All flesh is like grass, but the Lord's word endures forever (verses 24 and 25). This word is the Good News that was preached to them. Those who are born again love one another from the heart (verse 22).

Memorise

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy caused us to be born again to a living hope

1 Peter 1:3

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, is my hope in the risen Jesus, whose precious blood bought His people?

Silver and gold perish. Peter wrote to believers that they were not redeemed “with silver or gold.” The price of sin is far too high for money, because sin is against the holy God.

The price was “precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish or spot, the blood of Christ.” Jesus is that spotless Lamb. He gave His blood for His people, and the debt they owed to God was paid. The payment is enough, and no one can add to it. God raised Him and gave Him glory.

That is why Peter speaks of a living hope. Hope is alive because Jesus is alive. So come to this Lamb. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Ask the Father, in His great mercy, to give you new birth by His word. Whoever trusts Him receives forgiveness and a hope that does not fade away.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God gave His chosen ones new birth, and that the blood of Christ bought His people back. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Please also show your children that your hope is in Jesus, and not in silver or gold or anything that perishes.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His great mercy, the living hope and the precious blood of Christ, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is.

1 John 3:2

Father, thank You for Your great mercy and for the living hope in Jesus. Thank You that the precious blood of Christ bought Your people back. Please help us to turn from sin and trust Him. Help us to live this week with our hope in Jesus. Amen.