We Have an Anchor

Background Scripture: 1 Peter 1
Lesson Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-14

Introduction

A ship’s anchor is thrown into the sea to keep the ship from being driven off the course, by winds or tides, to the port the mariners hope to reach. As the ship is tossed to and fro, the anchor holds until such a time that the weather conditions improve, making it possible to safely enter the harbor and rest securely in port. Our hope is anchored in the resurrected Christ who provides access to God our Father.

Key Verse

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil (Heb. 6:19).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

There were several waves of persecution that troubled the early church. Nero was the Roman emperor at the time of Peter’s epistle, and in order to deflect blame from his careless, licentious living, he falsely accused the Christians of burning the city of Rome. According to history, Nero began his reign in a very gracious and kindhearted way. After several years, his spirit and attitude changed, perhaps because of family conflicts or his immoral, sinful living.

It is recorded in Martyrs Mirror, “After the first five years he became so full of hatred, murder, and bloodshedding, that he seemed to delight in nothing more than in killing, murdering, and fearfully torturing, not only malefactors, but even the saints of God who were praised even among their enemies for their God-fearing walk and conversation . . .

“Tertullian afterwards upbraided the Roman Senate, saying: ‘Read your own histories, and you will find that Nero was the first who raged against this sect (so he calls the Christians), which then flourished the most in Rome’.

“In another place he says, ‘Nero was the first who stained with blood the rising Christian faith at Rome’.

“Shortly after this decree of Nero, a violent and unmerciful persecution of the Christians manifested itself in all the countries which were under the Roman dominion; which persecution lasted until the Emperor’s death. The innocent Christians were accused not only of the burning of Rome, but also of every wickedness imaginable; that they might be tortured and put to death in the most awful manner.” 1

Nero sentenced Peter to death by crucifixion at the age of 70 after he had preached the gospel for 37 years, According to one tradition, Peter was crucified with his head down because he felt unworthy to be crucified like Jesus his Savior. It was said that Nero granted Peter’s request in order to make his death as painful as possible.

This terrible Nero committed suicide at about the age of 32. More details about the history of this first wave of persecution suffered by the early church and the testimonies of those Christians can be found in Martyrs Mirror.

In this setting of tribulation, we find the faithful believers of Peter’s time. Their fiery trial of faith with its manifold temptations is perhaps more than we can comprehend. Apprehension, persecution, and danger of imminent death were their daily experiences. They needed an anchor for their souls and a reminder of the preciousness of the salvation they had received. In the lesson scripture, Peter reminds the believers of the value of the redemption they had experienced. They had received the manifold grace of God unto salvation that had been prophesied for all who would believe on Jesus Christ. This revealed mystery of the ages is of infinitely more value than earthly life and all that pertains to it.

The prophets foretold a suffering Savior who would come to earth as a babe, unnoticed and unattractive in human terms. He would suffer and die, rejected by those He came to save, yet He would establish a kingdom and be its King. He would save mankind by the efficacy of His death and set up His everlasting kingdom by the power of His resurrection. Such mysteries and incomprehensible contrasts of humility and majesty, and suffering and glory, are difficult to fully grasp.

A prevailing theme of Peter’s epistle is that of the believers being willing to suffer for Christ. Peter admonished his readers to “gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Peter encouraged them to be strong until the end in spite of persecution, imprisonment, and death. It would be a tragedy to have been saved and then turn back to one’s former way of life and lose his salvation. Keeping hope to the end held forth a somber note to those Christians who were in various stages of persecution.

This lively hope is made possible by the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and it brings with it the keeping power of God through faith. Followers of Christ are under the continual, watchful care of their heavenly Father. The eternal fullness and fulfillment of God’s promise will be revealed in the last time. What an anchor for the soul!

Practical Truths for Today

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). Though not all Christians have faced physical persecution and death at the hands of evil men, we all face spiritual attacks from Satan. As the present evil age comes to a close, the trials may intensify. Jesus prophesied of the dangers and perils of the last days, including earthquakes, famines, wars, deception, and the angry attacks of Satan. No matter what the trial, we need an anchor to keep us steadfast and safe. We must be anchored in Jesus Christ; there is no other secure foundation. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11). The lesson scripture applies to us in this present age as it did to the early church.

The trials caused by the attacks of evil to destroy us can, on the contrary, serve to strengthen and purify our faith. Because God is in control, we can trust Him with our lives. No matter how desirable the things of earth may appear, our faith is more precious than any earthly possession.

Our resurrected Lord and Savior walks with us in the depths of our deepest valley. We may not always feel His presence in the time of test, but the evidence proves He is there. By a living faith in God, we believe that He is with us even when the conditions of life seem otherwise. Verse 8 of the lesson scripture encourages us to believe in Him. “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”

When we surrender our own thinking and choose to believe in the promises of God, we find Him as an anchor for our souls. In devotional meditation, we walk through the valley with Him and behold His empty tomb. There we contemplate the cost of our salvation. As He gently calls our names, we whisper in awe and adoration, “Master.” He is present, all is well, sadness and fear are gone, the night has turned into day, and our anchor holds!

Questions

1. How can we tell if our anchor is secure enough that we will be able to withstand the storms of life?
2. Perhaps after an experience of repentance, we feel like we have grown in our Christian life. Does failure in our Christian life help us to grow?
3. What are ways to “gird up the loins of [our] mind”?
4. Where do Bible study, prayer, and meditation fit into securing an anchor in life?
5. 1 Martyrs Mirror, 1950 edition, pp. 78-79, 81
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).