Instructions for Last Days Living from 1 Peter 1

(by Bill Stevenson using the Lockman Foundation’s Amplified Bible)

Directions: Read the Scripture carefully, trying to decide why I formatted it as I did. Why the
indentions? If you were preaching, what would you say about the words in bold
font and the ones underlined? Thoroughly answer the interjected questions. This
is assignment worth 3 units, so write at least 4 quality pages (single spaced lines
and no redundancies).

1 Peter 1
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,
1.) How can you be a special messenger of Jesus Christ?
2.) “Elect” in this context means “specially chosen”. Why do you think it was necessary for
God to cause the new Christians to leave Jerusalem? What would cause you to leave
where you are at and how would you want to serve God elsewhere? See the Parable of the
Sower and its meaning before answering the question-- Matthew 13:3-23.

2 Who were chosen {and} foreknown by God the Father

and consecrated (sanctified, made holy) by the Holy Spirit
to be obedient to Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and
to be sprinkled with [His] blood:

3.) What does being chosen and foreknown by God the Father mean to you?
4.) How does one get consecrated and become holy by the Holy Spirit? See John 16:13 and
Romans 8:1-27 before answering the question.
5.) How can you be obedient to Jesus Christ? And how can you 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].
6.) What are some good examples of grace and peace?
7.) Why would God give such to you in increasing abundance? (See Romans 14:17 and
Philippians 4:6-7 before answering.)
8.) What does “that spiritual peace to be realized in and through Christ, freedom from fears,
agitating passions, and moral conflicts” mean to you? Before answering, read Philippians
4:6-8 and 1 John 4:15-19.

3 Praised (honored, blessed) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
By His boundless mercy
we have been born again
to an ever-living hope
through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 into an inheritance
which is
beyond the reach of change {and} decay [imperishable],
unsullied (undefiled) and unfading,
reserved in Heaven for you,

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 5 which is 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.
9.) Why should you praise God? After listing the reasons from the last 3 verses, look at
Ephesians 1:4-13 to see if there are some other reasons why God should be thanked by
you.
10.)What do God’s “boundless mercy” and “ever living hope” only true Christians can have
mean to you?
11.) What is a true Christian’s inheritance and why is it reserved in Heaven?
12.)What are the three salvations for a true Christian? (Think about justification, sanctification,
and glorification.)
13.)What does verse 5 mean to you? (Read Ephesians 2:1-10 before answering.)

6 [You should] be exceedingly glad on this account,

though now for a little while you may be
distressed by trials {and}
suffer temptations,
7 So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested,
[your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold
which is tested {and} purified by fire.
[This proving of your faith is intended] to result in
[your] praise and glory and honor
when Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed.
14.)Why should you be “exceedingly glad”?
15.)How have you been “distressed by trials” and suffered temptations?
16.)What is genuineness of Christian faith? What are observable signs of such? Why is it so
precious?
17.)Skim Job 1:1-2:10. For what reasons have you praised God for allowing bad things to
happen to you? Why did you do such?
18.)How have 1 Corinthians 10:13 and Romans 8:28 helped you when your faith has been
challenged?

8 Without having seen Him, you love Him;

though you do not [even] now see Him,
you believe in Him and exult {and} thrill
with inexpressible and glorious (triumphant, Heavenly) joy.
9 [At the same time] you receive the result (outcome, consummation) of your
faith,
the Salvation of your souls.
19.)Read John 20:24-31. How did you come to believe in Jesus Christ?
20.)What does exulting “thrill with inexpressible and glorious joy” mean to you? How can you
do such?

10 The prophets, who prophesied of the grace (divine blessing)

which was intended for you,
searched and inquired earnestly about this Salvation.
11 They sought [to find out] to whom or when this was to come
which the Spirit of Christ working within them
was indicating when He predicted
the sufferings of Christ, and
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 the glories that should follow [them].
21.)What are your impressions of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and the other true, 100% right
prophets of God? Why would Peter say that the Holy Spirit was within them when the other
references of the Holy Spirit are upon certain individuals like some of the Tabernacle
artisans?
22.)Find verses in their prophecies which indicate God’s grace for the Jews. There are many
negative warnings, but there are wonderful promises of God too.
23.)Why does Peter praise them? Besides their prophecies, what was different about them than
the other Jews? Before answering, read John 5, Matthew 22-23, and Isaiah 53.
24.)Why did Judas betray Jesus Christ? What part of the messiahship prophesies did he, and
probably the other 11 Disciples ignore?

12 It was then disclosed to them that the services they were rendering
were not meant for themselves {and} their period of time,
but for you.
[It is these very] things
which have now already been made known plainly to you
by those who preached the good news (the Gospel) to you
by the [same] Holy Spirit sent from Heaven.
Into these things [the very] angels long to look!
25.)What does Matthew 7:7-8 mean to you? Read Hebrews 1, Hebrews 11:35-40,
1 Corinthians 15, and John 3:16-21 before answering.
26.)Why do think that the angels long to look into such things as this passage indicates?
Remember that Jesus Christ returned to them and others from Earth are in Heaven, and
none of them have kept silent.

13 So brace up your minds; be sober (circumspect, morally alert);

set your hope wholly {and} unchangeably on the grace (divine favor)
that is coming to you when Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is revealed.
27.)How can you specifically obey this verse?

14 [Live] as children of obedience [to God];

do not conform yourselves to the evil desires
[that governed you] in your former ignorance
[when you did not know the requirements of the Gospel].
15 But as the One Who called you is holy,
you yourselves also be holy in all your conduct {and} manner of living.
16 For it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
(Leviticus 11:44-45,19:1-2, & 20:7-8)
28.)Why do you think so many times the in the New Testament that believers of Jesus Christ are
referred to as children or sons of God?
29.)How can you specifically obey verses 14-16? Skim 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Philippians 2-3,
Ephesians 4-6, Romans 8 & 12, and Galatians 5-6 before answering this question.

17 And if you call upon Him as [your] Father

Who judges each one impartially
according to what he or she does,
[then] you should conduct yourselves with true reverence
throughout the time of your temporary residence
[on the Earth, whether long or short].
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30.)Read 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, James 1:22-25 & 2:14-26, Ephesians 2:1-10, and Matthew
28:18-20 before answering the following two questions: How does the Second Great
Commandment relate to faith and works in a true Christian’s life? What should be the main
motive of each thing you say or do?

18 You must know (recognize)

that you were redeemed (ransomed) from the useless (fruitless) way of living
inherited by tradition from [your] forefathers,
not with corruptible things [such as] silver and gold,
19 but [you were purchased] with the precious blood of Christ (the Messiah),
like that of a [sacrificial] lamb without blemish or spot.
20 It is true that He was chosen {and} foreordained
(destined and foreknown for it) before the foundation of the world,
but He was brought out to public view (made manifest)
in these last days (at the end of the times) for the sake of you.
21 Through Him you believe in (adhere to, rely on) God,
Who
raised Him up from the dead and
gave Him honor {and} glory,
so that your faith and hope are [centered and rest] in God.
31.)Why do you personally love the Gospel and Jesus Christ?
32.)Which of the facts in verses 18-21 do you agree with and would die for?

22 Since by your obedience to the Truth [with the help of the Holy Spirit]
you have purified your hearts for the sincere affection of other believers,
[see that you] love one another fervently from a {pure} heart.
23 You have been regenerated (born again),
not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm),
but from One that is immortal
by the {ever} living and lasting Word of God.
24 For all flesh (mankind) is like grass,
and all its glory (honor) like [the] flower of grass.
The grass withers and the flower drops off,
25 but the Word of the Lord (divine instruction, the Gospel)
endures forever.
And this Word is the good news which was preached to you.
33.)What was the first time that you realized the full Gospel? What circumstances and how?
34.)Why do you personally love the Bible?
35.)What are the major differences between the New Testament and the Old Testament?
36.)Which of the facts about the Bible would you be willing to die for?
37.)What does verse 22 mean to you? How do you live it?