Bible Study

Bible study is the 2nd and 3rd Sundays of each month instead of a regular service.

This is when we delve deeper in the scriptures, like the Bereans, to better understand what we are reading. Some people think we should not question God, but there are times when those hard questions nag at you like “why did God let the satan attack Job” or when a hard saying of Jesus like “if you call someone a fool you are liable to the fire of gehenna” just gets in the way of your faith. All over the Bible the Psalmists and prophets were constantly asking God some tough questions when they don’t understand what’s happening to them. And so, we, like them should not shy away from asking too. We might not get all the answers we are looking for, but we come away with a better understanding of the passages we are studying and knowing that our God is a big and does not feel threatened by our questioning.

Week 3 – Appreciate Your Salvation
October 4, 2015
Study

The First Letter of Peter: Holy Living in the Midst of Fiery Trials.

Peter tell us that this salvation is so great and wonderful that the Old Testament prophets prophesied about it and wanted to know more about it, and the angels desired to experience it. We, therefore, should treasure/appreciate our salvation and with conscious decision and determination set our hope entirely upon our Lord Jesus, without whom, there would be no eternal life.


Questions
  1. What did the Holy Spirit reveal to the Old Testament prophets about this salvation?
  2. With regard to this great salvation, what does Peter tell us about the angels?
  3. Why do you suppose the angels have this desire?
  4. What is the Christian exhorted to do? **Meaning inspire, encourage, urge, persuade
  5. How is the Believer instructed to carry out this exhortation?

Answers

  1. The Holy Spirit revealed to the Old Testament prophets that this salvation and the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories were not for them themselves but for us through the message of the good news preached to us.
  2. The angels long to look into these things and experience it.
  3. The angels do not have the privilege of sonship/salvation.
  4. We urged to gird up/focus our minds fully on this hope of grace that will be brought about at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
  5. With conscious decision and determination we are to focus our heart and mind upon Christ Jesus.
Selected Scripture Verses
1 Peter 1:10-13

(10) Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, (11) trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. (12) It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

Be Holy
(13) Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.

Open Hands Church