SFJ Bible Reading Plan

1 Peter 3

Wives and Husbands

3:1 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you¹ of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Suffering for Righteousness’ Sake

8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For

  “Whoever desires to love life
    and see good days,
  let him keep his tongue from evil
    and his lips from speaking deceit;
11   let him turn away from evil and do good;
    let him seek peace and pursue it.
12   For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
    and his ears are open to their prayer.
  But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

18 For Christ also suffered² once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which³ he went and proclaimed⁴ to the spirits in prison, 20 because⁵ they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Footnotes

[1] 3:7 Some manuscripts since you are joint heirs

[2] 3:18 Some manuscripts died

[3] 3:19 Or the Spirit, in whom

[4] 3:19 Or preached

[5] 3:20 Or when

(ESV)

Going Deeper

Titus 1-3 & 1 Peter 1-2 (6.29.19)

Grab your Bible, and let’s dig into 1 Peter 1:6-7.

1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Let’s first break into verse 6.

1 Peter 1:6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials

“In this …” In what? Peter is saying, “Based on what I just said in 1 Peter 1:3-5.”

1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this living hope that we have because of God’s great mercy and through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

In this living hope that is an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, by God’s power.

1 Peter 1:6 In this you rejoice …

Who is the “you”? We are! We are the elect exiles. In this we rejoice! Peter is saying, “God’s elect exiles are to have joy.” We are to rejoice in these great truths. It is important that our joy is based on these great truths and not on our circumstances, because the rejoicing Peter is telling us to have is in the middle of various trials and suffering.

Look at the rest of the verse.

1 Peter 1:6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials

Peter says here that our exile will mean that we are grieved by various trials, that we will suffer. But he is also saying that in these various trials and suffering, we, the elect exiles who walk in a living hope, will have joy. He says this so clearly later in chapter 4.

1 Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

Like Peter here, Paul speaks of rejoicing in the middle of our suffering again and again.

• … I rejoice in my sufferings … (Colossians 1:24)
• give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
• giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20)
• … rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor … (Acts 5:41)
• … but we rejoice in our sufferings … (Romans 5:3)

So, what does this tell us today? How does this help us today?

Will there be pain, and sorrow and hardship that affects us? Yes!

1 Peter 4:12 So, do not be surprised at the fiery trial … as though something strange were happening to you.

But it also tells us, as we experience these things, it is always on the foundation of joy in Christ—of thanksgiving and praise.

This is how Paul is able to say that he is “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” in 2 Corinthians 6:10.

I plead with you to not dismiss this truth today. Some of you are missing who Christ is, through and through. You claim Christianity. You claim Jesus, but you live your lives like you truly do not know the fullness of who He is to you.

I know many of you are in the middle of hard things, painful stuff. This life, in the here-and-now, is really hard—the death of loved ones, financial stress, wrestling with addictive habits, flesh-driven motivations of a loved one that is ripping your marriage or family apart, broken relationships whereby the other party is content to do nothing to reconcile, your health is really failing you, and so much more.

The fact remains that you will suffer and struggle and experience various trials.

But what else does Peter say here about this? Let’s go back to 1 Peter 1:6. He says, “though now for a little while.” In other words, it’s temporary. Peter says this again later in 1 Peter 5:10: “… after you have suffered a little while …”

Believers can rejoice in suffering in their exile, because they have a living hope that will not last forever. Now, this doesn’t mean the suffering will be brief. It will be brief in comparison to eternity.

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Next, he says, “if necessary.” This means if God decides it is necessary. Peter later makes this clear in 1 Peter 4:19.

1 Peter 4:19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

This is also good news, because our suffering or various trials are not outside of God’s sovereign hand. This is good news for our hearts, because it means we are not forgotten in our struggles and exile. It means what we face is only what God deems is necessary; and since we are His and He is God and He has us eternally in His victorious grip in Christ, we can be assured that what He deems necessary is necessary.

Next, he says, “you have been grieved by various trials.” Notice it says the various trials will grieve us. Trials and suffering are still hard. They still hurt; they still bring tears.

Do you ever feel like, being in a Christian means you can’t say “ouch” or like you have to be strong all the time and show no wear-and-tear? This just is not the case. Christians hurt; they say “ouch.” Exiles mourn and slow down. But the difference between Christian exiles and the world’s citizens is we do it in joy. It is not our end. It doesn’t undo us. There is a hope—a living hope. There is a joy in the midst of the tears that is based on that living hope that rises to the top and carries us through the tears.

So, whether in our highest highs or our lowest lows, Peter is saying here, “There is still rejoicing, even in the midst of our various struggles.” Why? Because of who we are in Christ and because of our living hope in Him.

Fact: You and I will suffer. So, the question today is, when you suffer, will you suffer in a way that is purposeful and for the glory of God? What God’s word tells us time and time again is that we can suffer in a way that is purposeful and not purposeless.

Here is a tip: When you suffer, don’t waste it. Do you allow room in your suffering for God to do great things in you and through you? Or are you all-consumed in you and, therefore, useless to the eternal movement of the good news of Jesus Christ?

I am begging you not to waste your suffering and not to waste hardship as something all-for-naught when it can, and should, be used as something all for God’s eternal glory.

Let me ask you this: When others see you struggling in various trials and hardships, do they grow in their faith? Do they become bolder?

Our suffering is meant to be purposeful and not wasted!

Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Hear this today: Neither the Old Testament nor the New Testament promises that believers will escape affliction in this life, for God, in His sovereignty, uses suffering to do eternal things in the lives of people and ultimately carries out His purposes for His glory. This is good news. This is the view that Peter is trying to give the elect exiles. We need this truth.

Now, you might ask, “Why is it God’s plan that we experience various trials in our exile?” That’s a fair question. Not that we are deserving to know if our sovereign Lord deems it necessary, but Peter answers in verse 7 at least part of the reason essentially telling us that suffering proves to be the perfect crucible for faith to abound.

1 Peter 1:7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

What this is saying is our faith is proven by the testing of struggles. The refining fire of God will sanctify, purifying the gold of true faith. True faith will endure, but fake faith will not endure. The refining fire of trials and suffering will consume fake faith. For those whose faith is not of God but is just a temporary, religious, man-made experience, trials will cause them to run, to flee, to abandon ship. God’s elect exiles will be refined by the struggles and will endure unto praise and glory and honor at the end-times coming of Jesus. When Peter contrasts faith with gold, he is showing that purified faith is more precious and valuable than purified gold, because gold still perishes. But true faith is lasting, lasting unto the imperishable inheritance that Jesus brings at the revelation of Christ.

Consider this: True faith turns sound doctrine (sound understanding of God) into sound practice or testimony. This is one of the main reasons God ordains our struggles in this exile we are in. He wants us to experience the refining fire of God.

Look back to the Old Testament in Malachi 3:2-3.

Malachi 3:2-3 … For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.  He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.

The Hebrew word here for “refiner” expresses the melting, testing, and refining of something—mostly metals and especially precious metals such as gold and silver.

In the ancient world, crude metal was re-melted to remove impurities and to make metal castings (tools, weapons, images, etc.). The metal was heated in pottery crucibles (Proverbs 17:3; 27:21) which were ovens or hearths, with bellows often being used to provide a draught to create intense heat.

The Scriptures speak of God as the master-refiner, seeking the pure metal by trying and testing the heart of man. This is good news, because God’s intention is not only to save His people but to purify His people from sin as with the removal of dross and alloy. So here in 1 Peter 1:7, the refining of gold is used as a metaphor for the stronger faith that emerges after persecution. A refiner’s fire’s purpose is to purify something of value. It purifies by removing the impurities so that its value is greater to the owner as it becomes a more righteous treasure.

God’s purpose is to purify His people by His refining fire so that we are a vessel of worship made more and more into Christlikeness that is pleasing to God.

2 Cor 2:15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God …

Make it personal for you today:

1. How are you navigating this exile’s hardships?
2. Are you wasting your hardships and simply wishing them away, or are you stewarding them as an opportunity to be refined by God, to become more dependent on Him and not on your circumstances?
3. Is your joy in God? Is your living hope found only in Christ, or is it in your circumstances?

I needed this study from Peter this week, and I pray you see your need for it, too. Maybe not right now, because you aren’t experiencing the various trials at this moment, but you will, and it is oh-so-important that we are properly grounded in God’s truth so that we see and savor these things for His glory and not our own.

Romans 5: 1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

By His grace and for His glory,

-Shepherd

Soldiers for Jesus MC

1 Peter 2

A Living Stone and a Holy People

2:1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:

  “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
    a cornerstone chosen and precious,
  and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

  “The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone,”¹

8 and

  “A stone of stumbling,
    and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Submission to Authority

13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution,² whether it be to the emperor³ as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants⁴ of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Footnotes

[1] 2:7 Greek the head of the corner

[2] 2:13 Or every institution ordained for people

[3] 2:13 Or king; also verse 17

[4] 2:16 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface

(ESV)

1 Peter 1

Greeting

1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Born Again to a Living Hope

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time¹ the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Called to Be Holy

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action,² and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for

  “All flesh is like grass
    and all its glory like the flower of grass.
  The grass withers,
    and the flower falls,
25   but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Footnotes

[1] 1:11 Or what time or circumstances

[2] 1:13 Greek girding up the loins of your mind

(ESV)

Titus 3

Be Ready for Every Good Work

3:1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. 9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Final Instructions and Greetings

12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. 14 And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.

15 All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.

Grace be with you all.

(ESV)