Digging Deeper Days
Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
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The Questions
1) What is a “living hope?”
2) What does it mean to be guarded by God’s power?
3) When does salvation occur?
1 Peter 1:3-9
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. 5 You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials 7 so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Original Intent
1) What is a “living hope?”
A living hope is active, vital, and infused with confidence of certain fulfillment. The believers’ living hope is that of eternal life with God Our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ in heaven. Plus, Jesus has specifically stated that we will have a place in heaven (John 14:1-3). Peter would have remembered hearing Jesus tell this to himself and the other disciples.
2) What does it mean to be guarded by God’s power?
Because of the believers’ faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, God – through His faithfulness – keeps each of us from destruction both in everyday life as we follow His design and for eternity by keeping us safe from separation from Him. His peace guards our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7). For the persecuted believers to whom Peter wrote, this was extra encouragement to continue to persevere.
3) When does salvation occur?
This passage may seem confusing, but Peter is actually speaking of two truths. In verse 3, our “new birth” is salvation through our faith in Christ’s work on the cross on our behalf. In verse 5, Peter describes our glorification upon entering heaven when he uses the phrase “salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” So, the two truths here are this: as a Christian, you have experienced salvation and you are in Christ, who is in heaven. But as a human being, you are on a journey through life that will eventually lead to glorification in heaven. H. A. Ironside put it this way: “As to our standing we are in Christ in the heavenlies; as to our state we are pilgrims marching on to glory.”
Everyday Application
1) What is a “living hope?”
We have a living hope because we have a living God! Jesus is alive, risen from the grave, hallelujah! Because of this, we know that, as His followers, we also will not experience decay. We will rise again just as He did. This hope of eternal life gives us confidence in our everyday lives while also, joyfully, reminding us that physical death is not the end.
2) What does it mean to be guarded by God’s power?
Persecution for believing in Jesus Christ has largely been marginalized to third-world nations over the past few centuries. Now, as political issues develop on the global stage, people are becoming more divided at an ever-increasing rate. Expect that to continue to the point of religious persecution in North America. But don’t give up hope! God will guard your minds and hearts with peace, and will also simultaneously guard your heavenly inheritance.
3) When does salvation occur?
Salvation is an immediate transaction when a person puts their faith in Jesus Christ. For all who have done that, I am overjoyed to call you my sisters in Christ. If you are reading this and haven’t yet been convinced that God loves you and sent Jesus to pay the price for your sin, now is a good time to take care of it. Consider talking with a pastor or a Christian friend, or check out http://www.gracefullytruthful.com/misunderstood-day-15-were-all-gods-children/
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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!
1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!
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Why Dig Deeper?
Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.
In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!
Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.
Study Tools
We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.
Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!
Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))
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