Sermon or Lesson:  1 Peter 1:20-21 (NIV based)
[Lesson Questions included]

TITLE:  Our Faith And Hope - Established On And From The Revealing Of Christ Jesus
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READ:  1 Peter 1:20-21, with vv.17-19 for context

BACKGROUND:
- - In response to the salvation that we true believers have been given from God, we are to change, establish, and orient our thinking and our life in all the ways that God wants for us.  (v.13)
- - In obedience to God, we true believers are to deliberately and diametrically change what we desire, pursue, and conform to.  (v.14)
- - In response to a calling from God, we true believers are to be comprehensively holy in the same way that God who called us is comprehensively holy.  (v.15)
- - Each of us true believers possess a new informed standard for how to live in holiness, which God will hold us accountable to implement, as a temporary foreign resident in this world.  (v.17)
- - The characteristics of finite materials such as silver and gold render them as being not acceptable as payment of the ransom for the punishment of our sins.  (v.18)
- - All human-contrived means cannot and do not fulfill the requirements to achieve payment of the ransom for the punishment of our sins.  (v.18)
- - The "precious blood of Christ" is the only qualified and acceptable payment of the ransom for the punishment of our sins.  (v.19)
- - We true believers are to know, stay aware of, and be motivated by the priceless redemption that we have received through the perfect God-man Jesus Christ.  (vv.18-19)
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v.20 - READ

[Lesson Question:  Describe in an overview the aspects of what God has done, as indicated in this verse 20, with context from verses 18-19.]

SECTION POINT:  For the last approximately 2,000 years of human history, God has made available full information recorded in the New Testament about the redemption through Christ Jesus that He has provided.

- - The redemption (v.18) that God would provide for us sinful humans was planned, decided, established, and "foreknown" by God "before the creation of the world".  (Strong's #4267)
- - A long time before any humans existed, the decision was made that God the Son, Jesus, would be the atoning perfect sacrifice "without blemish or defect" who would suffer and pay the punishment price for the sins of those humans that believe in Him, thereby redeeming them with His "precious blood" through crucifixion on the cross.  (v.19)
- - In His unlimited infinite omniscience or all-knowing even in the future, God precisely planned, knew, and foreordained exactly what would occur to provide this redemption.
- - Before, during, and throughout the creation of the world, the creation of humans, and the millenniums of human existence up through the time surrounding the crucifixion, God had all of the details for accomplishing redemption precisely planned and implemented exactly according to His plan.
- - The crucifixion of Jesus was not an unexpected disaster or tragedy for God - it was all precisely according to His plan.
- - Even though through this expanse of time God meticulously implemented this plan, He disclosed only limited information about what He was planning and doing.  (cf. vv.10-12)
- - The disciples of Jesus and a few other people that were given additional advance information about the redemption just prior to His crucifixion did not gain correct and full understanding of that information until soon after Jesus was resurrected from the dead on the third day.
- - Thereupon and since then, that redemption that has come through Christ Jesus has been "revealed" and explained in fullness within the recorded New Testament of the Bible.
- - For the last approximately 2,000 years, this thorough information contained in the New Testament about that redemption through Christ Jesus has been available to the humans on the earth.
- - God has revealed this information about that redemption through Christ Jesus "for [our] sake", for the benefit of those persons who will listen and believe.
- - Indeed, we true believers have been truly and greatly blessed to be living in this age wherein God has fully revealed His redemption through Christ Jesus so that we can readily and easily believe and acquire that redemption for ourselves.
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v.21 - READ

[Lesson Question:  Describe some of the main aspects of how the revealing (v.20) of redemption through Christ Jesus (vv.18-19) contributes to our "faith and hope in God".]

SECTION POINT:  The information recorded in the New Testament about the redemption provided by Christ Jesus establishes and increases our faith and hope in God.

- - When we hear and contemplate substantial information from the New Testament about this redemption that was accomplished through Christ Jesus, we discover and conclude that Jesus had to be more than merely a man in order to accomplish such a feat - we conclude that Jesus had to also be God.
- - Furthermore, when we hear and contemplate substantial information from the Old Testament predicting details of the events that contributed to Christ Jesus accomplishing redemption, we conclude that God had to specifically orchestrate this accomplishing of redemption through Christ Jesus.
- - So, the revealing of this information in the New Testament about the redemption that was provided through Christ Jesus incites us listening and receptive humans to believe in Jesus and to believe in God.
- - The raising of Christ Jesus from the dead on the third day contributes to us establishing our faith in Christ Jesus and in God.
- - The glorifying of Christ Jesus during the crucifixion, severely tortured and raised up on a cross even though He was infinitely pure and holy and innocent, contributes to us establishing our faith in Christ Jesus and in God.  (cf. v.19)
- - The glorifying of Christ Jesus after His resurrection, appearing to hundreds of His disciples and completely restored to life in His body that had been brutalized, contributes to us establishing our faith in Christ Jesus and in God.  (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8)
- - The glorifying of Christ Jesus within the information in the New Testament about how Christ Jesus functions as the only and perfect mediator between us humans and God, contributes to us establishing our faith and hope in Christ Jesus and in God.  (cf. 1 Timothy 2:5)
- - The promises given by Christ Jesus as recorded in the New Testament regarding giving true believers eternal life and resurrection from the dead, contributes to us establishing our faith and hope in Christ Jesus and in God.  (cf. John 6:38-40)
- - In the recorded accounts of Christ Jesus, we see His perfect humanity, which we can easily understand, relate to, and identify with, because we likewise possess humanity and we desire the perfection in our humanity that Christ Jesus has.
- - In the recorded accounts of Christ Jesus, we see His perfect deity, which we take by faith because of the eyewitness accounts that describe His glory of performing numerous miracles by His own power and will.  (cf. John 10:22-26)
- - In the recorded accounts of Christ Jesus, we see the overwhelming, sacrificial, and divine love for us from Christ Jesus and God through this gracious redemption that we do not deserve, the love which we respond to by faith and the love we desire to reciprocate back to Christ Jesus and God through how we henceforth live our life for God.  (cf. Romans 5:8)
- - In the recorded accounts of Christ Jesus, we see how He was 'Called To Endure Unjust Suffering' for the faith, which as believers and imitators of Christ Jesus we are similarly 'Called To Endure Unjust Suffering' for our faith - the theme of the Book of 1 Peter.
- - So, we establish and gain a more accurate understanding of and faith in the redemption of God when we hear the actual eyewitness accounts of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, as recorded in the New Testament.
- - And, we establish and gain a more accurate understanding of and faith in the invisible God through these recorded accounts of the visible manifestation of God Himself in the form of Jesus the perfect God-man.  (cf. Colossians 1:15)
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BIG IDEA:  The revealing of Christ Jesus and how He provided redemption about 2,000 years ago as recorded in the New Testament serves to establish and increase our faith and hope in God.

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IMPLICATIONS AND APPLICATIONS:

- - For those of you who are true believers, as you think about and reflect on how God meticulously planned and implemented all of the aspects of the providing of redemption, starting before the creation of the world, what kind of response wells up in your heart?  (PAUSE - give them a few moments to process this)
- - As you think about and reflect on how God has now revealed this redemption during this time that you live in but He did not reveal it like this to the people living prior to 2,000 years ago, what kind of response wells up in your heart?  (PAUSE)
- - As you think about and reflect on how God has now revealed this redemption to you personally, what kind of response wells up in your heart?  (PAUSE)
- - As you think about and reflect on how God used the recorded information about this redemption to help you personally believe in Christ Jesus for that redemption, what kind of response wells up in your heart?  (PAUSE)
- - As you think about and reflect on how God is actively working to use the recorded information about this redemption to help strengthen and increase your faith so that He can bless you even further for living in a more comprehensive holiness (vv.6-7,15), what kind of response wells up in your heart?  (PAUSE)
- - As you think about and reflect on the suffering and torture that Christ Jesus endured in order to provide redemption for you, what kind of response wells up in your heart?  (PAUSE)
- - As you think about and reflect on the various ways in which Christ Jesus has been glorified because He provided redemption, what kind of response wells up in your heart?  (PAUSE)
- - As you think about and reflect on how the love that God and Christ Jesus have for you has motivated the accomplishing of this redemption for you, what kind of response wells up in your heart?  (PAUSE)
- - As you think about and reflect on the promises of eternal life and resurrection from the dead that await you as some of the results of this redemption that was provided for you, what kind of response wells up in your heart?  (PAUSE)
- - As you think about and reflect on how God has called you as a true believer to imitate Christ Jesus in enduring suffering for the faith, what kind of response wells up in your heart?  (PAUSE)
- - From all of these responses, what distinct actions are you going to take or distinct changes are you going to make as a result of your thinking about and reflecting on these things that God has done for you?  (PAUSE)

- - For those of you who are not true believers, you may think that you are indeed a true believer because you believe in God.
- - Well, your belief in God is nice, but in verse 21 God is saying that is not enough for you to acquire redemption and salvation.
- - "Through Christ" you are to believe in God, in other words you need to place your faith in the perfect God-man Christ Jesus to pay the punishment ransom for your sins.  (v.21)
- - In Romans 3:23, the Word of God says "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God", meaning merely believing in God is not enough to get rid of your sins because they cause you to fall short and keep you out of heaven.
- - But, the moment that you believe in Christ Jesus, who is God Himself in human form paying the punishment ransom for your sins through His torture and death on the cross followed by His resurrection on the third day, then God applies that redemption provided by Christ Jesus to you and your sins, by which and through which you then instantaneously receive salvation or eternal life in heaven.
- - As the Word of God says in Acts 16:31, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved".  It does not say to merely 'Believe in God, and you will be saved'.
- - Are you ready to place your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?  Now?
- - If so, you can express that right now to God by sincerely praying this prayer to Him:
(PAUSE after each phrase as indicated in each line below to allow them time to repeat the words in phrases to God)

Dear God, 
     I see and believe that you have planned, 
that you have meticulously implemented, 
and that you have accomplished 
the providing of redemption 
about 2,000 years ago.  
     I believe that you came to the earth
in the form of the perfect God-man Christ Jesus 
to suffer and die on the cross 
to pay the punishment ransom for my sins, 
followed by raising from the dead 
on the third day.  
     Through this faith that I now have in Christ Jesus, 
I believe in you, God, 
and ask you to apply that redemption to me 
and grant me salvation - 
eternal life in heaven.  
     Thank you.  Amen.

- - If you have sincerely placed your faith in Christ Jesus to pay the punishment ransom for your sins, then the Word of God says in Acts 16:31 that you have now been saved - you have eternal life in heaven.
- - Now in response and gratitude for the salvation that God has just given you through the horrific suffering and death that Christ Jesus endured for you, God wants you to live your life in holiness and service to Him.  (vv.15,17)
- - So, continue to come to each of these meetings, wherein we will be studying more about what God wants us to learn and do as true believers.
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[Additional Lesson Questions to ponder (optional, if time allows):
- - When God formulated His plan for the world before He created it and all its inhabitants, how much did Jesus know at that time about His future excruciating torture and death on the cross for the payment of sins?
- - Being deity and omniscient (all-knowing), to what extent did Jesus know what the pain would be and how it would feel?
- - And being deity, omniscient, and transcendent from time ("existing above and independent of" time), did Jesus retain this knowledge all of the millennia of time up to and into the very day He was crucified (AHD - 'transcend')?  In detail?
- - And being deity, omniscient, and transcendent from time, does Jesus retain this knowledge all of the way into and henceforth throughout eternity future?  In detail? ]
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Works Cited:
The American Heritage Dictionary (AHD). 3rd ed., ver. 3.6a (CD-ROM). Cambridge, MA: SoftKey International Inc., 1994.

Bible. “The Holy Bible: New International Version.” The Bible Library CD-ROM. Oklahoma City, OK: Ellis Enterprises, 1988.

“Strong's Greek Dictionary.” The Bible Library CD-ROM. Oklahoma City, OK: Ellis Enterprises, 1988.
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File name:  1Peter1_20-21-SermonOrLesson.___ (.htm, .rtf, .doc, .pdf)
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