OUR LIVING HOPE
Lesson 8Helmet of Hope
1 Peter 1:1-6 (AMP)1 PETER, AN apostle (a special messenger) of Jesus Christ, [writing] to the elect exiles of the dispersion scattered (sowed) abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Who were chosen and foreknown by God the Father and consecrated (sanctified, made holy) by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and to be sprinkled with [His] blood: May grace (spiritual blessing) and peace be given you in increasing abundance [that spiritual peace to be realized in and through Christ, freedom from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts]. 3 Praised (honored, blessed) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)! By His boundless mercy we have been born again to an ever-living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 [Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay [imperishable], unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are being guarded (garrisoned) by God's power through [your] faith [till you fully inherit that final] salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time. 6 [You should] be exceedingly glad on this account, though now for a little while you may be distressed by trials and suffer temptations].
1. A. Read 1 Peter 1:1-6. Who is Peter writing to? ______
B. Peter was writing to the dispersed Christian Jews, but could you say that today there are many dispersed [scattered in different directions] Christian Christians? Y___ N ___
C. Were you chosen and foreknown by God the Father and consecrated (sanctified, made holy) by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and to be sprinkled with [His] blood? Y___ N ___
D. What benediction did Peter speak over the scattered people? ______
E. How is this spiritual blessing and peace realized? ______
F. What “freedom” [Amp.] does this bring? ______
2. A. According to verse 3, why should God be Praised [honored, blessed]? ______
B. What IS an ever-living hope? ______
C. How is this ever-living hope brought about? ______
3. A. What were we born into according to verse 4? ______
4 [Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay [imperishable], unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you.
B. What is “an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay”? ______
C. Where is, this inheritance held in reserve for you? ______
D. In the meantime, what does it mean that we are being “guarded by God’s power through our faith? ______
A keep (from the Middle English kype) is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility.
E. What do you think are we being guarded from? ______
F. Explain the span between salvation and “full salvation”. ______
G. Could that be called life? Y __ N __ don’t know __ “you’re really stretching it!” __
4. Will we need an ever-living hope once we get to heaven? Y ___ N ___ Why? ______
5. What is the difference between a living hope and the blessed hope mentioned in Titus 2:13? ______
Titus 2:13 (KJV) 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
6.Is the Blessed hope a part of our living hope of 1 Peter 1? Y ___ N ___
7. A. Peter invoked grace to the scattered people. See Syllabus 8. [30 Things Grace can Do] and explain how these graces contribute to our living hope. ______
B. Just for the record what are some things grace can’t do [syllabus 8]. ______
8.Why do you think it is important to review these things? ______
9.Why do you think we need to review these things again? ______
10.Why do you think we need to review these things again and again? ______
11. A. Peter invoked peace (to the people). What did Jesus tell us in John 14:27? ______
John 14:27 (KJV) 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
B. What do we know about Jesus in Isaiah 9:6? ______
Isaiah 9:6 (KJV) 6 for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace.
C. What do we learn about this peace in Isaiah 26:3? ______
Isaiah 26:3 (KJV) 3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusts in thee.
D. Personal Is this the place you wish to abide as you are living out your ever-living hope?
12.Comment on this statement: “The helmet of Salvation protects the head; the helmet of Hope protectsthe mind”. ______
13.Comment on this statement: “Faith is the basis—Hope is the product”. ______
14.O.T. Men needed a place of refuge - they held onto the horns of the altar – today the horns is our hopein Jesus Christ. Why do you think it is necessary to hold on? ______
15.Comment on this statement: “No hope we have no anchor. No anchor we have no Christ. No Christwe have no anchor”. ______
16.“In Christ—our anchor holds”. ______
[What an uplifting and blessed reminder, to stimulate the heart and mind and promote Love and Praise to God our Father and Jesus our True and living HOPE.]
A p.s. to questions 8-10. We need these reminders to refocus on the true issues of life.
Grace Greater than Sin:
SYLLABUS 8
Helmet of Hope
Ultimately, everything in life begins with Jesus Christ and His Great Salvation. If not, it belongs to the old earthy, dark and dreary, lost, and degenerate old [carnal] nature governed by Satan, the liar and the father of lies, also known as the devil. We were all born into the latter. We are all influenced by the latter and we were [or are] about to die in the latter unless we have been reborn into Jesus Christ by faith in His accomplished work on the cross. Salvation is more than a ticket to heaven. Salvation is now. Salvation is complete. Our lives need not become wrecked—not that there won’t be wrecks along the way—but we are talking about LIFE—when the wrecks come our LIFE may remain intact [thanks to Jesus] even if our bodies are carried away. Death holds no terror because by the cross Jesus overcame death and the grave. This is our Living HOPE [1 Peter 1:3]. The following is a collage of our lives.
SYLLABUS 8 – SUPPLIMENT
Thirty Things that Grace Can Do:
1. Grace can save the world (Gen. 6:8; Eph. 2:8-9).
2. Grace can give one all good things (Ps. 84:11).
3. Grace can bring men to repentance (Zech. 12:10).
4. Grace can impart great blessings (Acts 4:33).
5. Grace can bring salvation (Tit. 2:11-12; Eph. 2).
6. Grace can impart faith (Acts 18:27).
7. Grace can justify (Rom. 3:24-25; Tit. 3:7).
8. Grace can overcome sin (Rom. 5:20).
9. Grace can reign in life if permitted (Rom. 5:21).
10. Grace can make one God's elect (Rom. 11:5-6).
11. Grace can give boldness (Rom. 15:15).
12. Grace can make partaker of Christ (1Cor. 10:30).
13. Grace can give power (1Cor. 15:10).
14. Grace can inspire liberality (2Cor. 8:1-2,6-9; 9:8).
15. Grace can give endurance (2Cor. 12:9).
16. Grace can call people to the ministry (Gal. 1:15).
17. Grace can impart riches (Eph. 2:7).
18. Grace can inspire singing (Col. 3:16).
19. Grace can give seasoning to speech (Col. 4:6).
20. Grace can give strength (2Tim. 2:1).
21. Grace can teach (Tit. 2:11-12).
22. Grace can give aid in suffering (Heb. 2:9).
23. Grace can help in time of need (Heb. 4:16).
24. Grace can give stability (Heb. 13:9).
25. Grace can give life (1Pet. 3:7).
26. Grace can help render true service (Heb. 12:28).
27. Grace can become abundant (1Tim. 1:14).
28. Grace can bring hope (2Th. 2:16).
29. Grace can give the ability to preach (Eph. 3:8).
30. Grace can change lives (1Cor. 15:10).
Dake's Annotated Reference Bible: Containing the Old and New Testaments of the Authorized or King James Version Text.
Grace Greater than Sin:
Thirty Things that Grace Cannot Do:
1. Set aside forever all condemnation for future sins (Jn. 5:14; 8:34; Rom. 6:1-23; 8:12-13; Gal. 5:21; 2Cor. 5:10)
2. Set aside failure of saved men to meet the many conditions of salvation (1Jn. 1:7; Rom. 6:1-23; 8:1-13; Jas. 5:19-20; Gal. 5:19-21; Col. 1:23; 2:6-7)
3. Cancel free moral agency (Col. 1:23; 1Jn. 1:7; Rom. 6:16-23; Rev. 22:17)
4. Keep men saved when they sin (Rom. 8:12-13; 1Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21; 6:7-8; Jas. 5:19-20; Heb. 6:4-6; 10:26-29; 2Pet. 2:20-21)
5. Cancel the death penalty when saved men break the law (Rom. 6:16-23; 8:12-13; Heb. 10:26-29; Jas. 5:19-20; Ezek. 18:4,20-24; 33:12-13,18)
6. Make God a liar who said every man that sins must die (Ezek. 18:4; Rom. 6:16-23; 8:12-13; Gal. 5:19-21; 6:7-8; 1Cor. 6:9-11; Rev. 21:8)
7. Cancel the law of confession of sins before they are forgiven (1Jn. 1:7,9; Rev. 2:5,16; 3:19; Lk. 13:1-5; Acts 2:38)
8. Forgive future sins, for transgression and confession are necessary before forgiveness (1Jn. 1:9; Rev. 2:5,16,22; 3:19; Lk. 13:1-5; Acts 2:38; Mk. 6:12; Rom. 2:4-6; 2Cor. 7:10)
9. Cancel responsibility of saved men concerning sin (Rom. 14:10; 2Cor. 5:10; Gal. 5:19-21; 6:7-8; Rom. 14:12)
10. Be responsible should saved men backslide (1Tim. 2:4; 2Pet. 3:9; Rev. 2:5; 3:2; Jas. 5:19-20; Gal. 5:19-21)
11. Free saved men from condemnation for future sins unless confessed (1Jn. 1:7,9; Rev. 2:5,22; 3:2; Jas. 5:19-20)
12. Permit God to forgive unconfessed sin (2Chr. 7:14; 2Cor. 7:9-10; 1Jn. 1:9; 2Tim. 2:25; Rev. 2:5; 3:2)
13. Bind men so that they cannot sin if they choose to do so (Rom. 6:16-23; 8:1-13; 1Jn. 1:7; Heb. 6:4-9; 10:26-29)
14. Guarantee any man eternal life if he refuses to obey (Jas. 5:19-20; 1Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19-20; 9:27; Ezek. 33:12-20)
15. Force obedience (Rev. 22:17; Jn. 3:16-20; Rom. 6:16-23; 8:1-13; Gal. 1:6-8; 5:4; 6:7-8; 1Jn. 1:7)
16. Make any man a child of God in the sense Jesus was (Jn. 1:14,18; 3:16)
17. Force God to continue blessing any man who sins (Ezek. 18:4; Rom. 6:16-23; 8:1-13; Gal. 5:19-21; Jas. 5:19-20)
18. Make the sins of the saved different from the sins of the unsaved (Rom. 6:16-23; 8:12-13; 2Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21; Col. 1:5-10; 2Pet. 2:20-22)
19. Condemn sinners and excuse saints who commit the same sins (Rom. 6:16-23; 8:12-13; 14:10-12; Gal. 5:19-21; 6:7-8; Ezek. 18:4,24-28; 33:12-16; Rev. 2:5,16,22; 3:2)
20. Operate in the life of a free moral agent without his consent (Jn. 3:16-20; 7:17; 8:34; 2Pet. 3:9; Rev. 22:17)
21. Impart eternal life to men who serve sin and Satan (Mt. 6:24; Rom. 6:16-23; 8:1-13; Gal. 5:19-21; 6:7-8; 1Jn. 3:8)
22. Keep man from moral falls if they willfully sin (Rom. 6:16-23; 8:1-13; Heb. 6:4-9; 10:26-29; Ezek. 33:12-20)
23. Force God to go contrary to His own program of grace (Rom. 1:16; 1Jn. 1:7; Heb. 3:6,12-14; 10:26-29)
24. Cancel the law of sowing and reaping (Gal. 6:7-8; Rom. 6:16-23; 8:12-13; Ezek. 18:4,24-28; 33:12-16; Rev. 2:5-22)
25. Guarantee unconditional favor to anyone (2Cor. 6:1; Gal. 1:6-8; 2:21; 5:4; Heb. 12:15; Jas. 5:19-20)
26. Guarantee unforfeitable life without conditions being met (Rom. 6:16-23; 8:12-13; Gal. 5:19-21; 6:7-8; Jas. 5:19-20; Heb. 10:26-29; note, Jn. 6:27)
27. Guarantee sinlessness to men unless conditions are met (1Cor. 3:16-17; Rom. 6:16-23; 8:12-13; Gal. 5:16-26; 6:7-8; Heb. 6:1-9; 10:26-29; 12:14-15)
28. Encourage anarchy in God's government (Gen. 2:17; Rom. 6:16-23; 8:12-13; 1Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21; 6:7-8)
29. Force God to be lenient with rebels (Ezek. 18:4; Rom. 6:23; 8:12-13; Gal. 6:7-8)
30. Give any man a pardon that guarantees him salvation and eternal life regardless of how he lives in sin and rebellion (Ex. 32:32-33; Ezek. 18:4; 33:10-20; Rom. 6:16-23; 8:12-13; Gal. 5:19-21; 6:7-8)
It is true that grace cannot be withheld from man because of demerit, lessened by demerit, or be mixed with the law of works; but this does not prove that there are no conditions men must meet in order to get the benefits of grace. Not one scripture teaches unconditional grace, or that God gives grace to men who disobey the gospel. If so, then God is under obligation to save all, even sinners who disobey if He saves even one (Rom. 2:11). God is under obligation to saints only when they walk in the light and remain true to the gospel (1Jn. 1:7). He is not under obligation to sinners until they come to full obedience of the gospel. Grace teaches men to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly, righteously, and godly here and now (Tit. 2:11-12). If people do not obey its teaching grace can go no further. Dake's Annotated Reference Bible
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