1 Peter 5 - Lesson

Today’s lesson focuses on three topics that are key to our salvation:

1. Grace,
2. Pride,
3. And humility.

Our focus scripture is taken from Peter’s first epistle:

• “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” – 1 Peter 5:5.

We will begin today’s lesson by defining grace, pride, and humility:

GRACE

• “In Christian terms, grace can be generally defined as ‘God’s favor toward the unworthy’ or ‘God’s benevolence on the undeserving.’” (Source: christianity.com) 

PRIDE

• “The belief that you are better or more important than other people.” (Source: dictionary.cambridge.org)

HUMILITY

• “True humility is to see ourselves as we actually are, fallen in sin and helpless without God.” (Source: christianity.com)

Other definitions of the word humility include the following:

• “Godly humility is being comfortable with who you are in the Lord and therefore putting others first.” (Source: dougbrittonbooks.com)
• Humility means, “Meekness, lowliness, and absence of self.” (Source: gotquestions.org)

GOD’S GRACE

None of us are worthy of going to Heaven on our own merit. 

We are all sinners who fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  

And yet, the Bible shows us that there is a clear path to get to Heaven that is made possible by two things:

1. The sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross,
2. The grace of God.

Our focus verse for today’s lesson teaches us that:

• “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” – 1 Peter 5:5.

Therefore, if we want to receive God’s grace, we need to be humble and not proud. 

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HUMBLE

1. Humble people take the focus off themselves, and take an interest in others,
2. Humble people do not think too highly of themselves,
3. Humble people understand that they need Jesus,
4. Humble people serve others,
5. Humble people build others up,
6. Humble people are pleasing to God,
7. Humble people will be exalted! (Mathew 23:12)

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROUD

1. Prideful people make it about themselves,
2. Prideful people think they are better than others.  They often compare themselves to others and flaunt their accomplishments,
3. Prideful people think they can “go it alone,” and that they do not need Jesus,
4. Prideful people serve themselves and their selfish ambitions,
5. Prideful people put others down to try and elevate their own status,
6. Prideful people are an abomination to the Lord and will be punished (Proverbs 16:5) ,
7. Prideful people will be humbled! (Mathew 23:12)

BIBLE VERSES ABOUT PRIDE AND HUMILITY

The Bible is full of scriptures that warn us about pride and encourage us to be humble. 

For today’s lesson, we have highlighted the following five:

1. “When  pridecomes, then comes dishonor, but with the humbleis wisdom .” - Proverbs 11:2,
2. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty (arrogant) spirit before stumbling.” - Proverbs 16:18,
3. “Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.” - Proverbs 29:23,
4. “God is opposed to the proudbut gives grace to the humble.” - James 4:6,
5. “Everyone who is proudin heart is an abomination to the Lord; assuredly, he will not be unpunished.” - Proverbs 16:5.

TAKING THE FOCUS OFF OURSELVES AND PUTTING IT ON OTHERS

God wants us to take the focus off ourselves and find ways to serve others.

When Jesus was asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” He responded:

1. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the great and foremost commandment.” –   Mathew 22:37,
2. “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” –   Mathew 22:38-40.

In other words, God wants us to do exactly what His Son did:

1. Follow His commandments,
2. Serve others!

When we focus our energy on doing these two things, we are being humble. 

This pleases God and will result in our being exalted at the proper time. 

However, if we allow ourselves to be driven by sinful pride, we become an abomination to the Lord and will feel God’s wrath on Judgment Day. 

CONCLUSION

Salvation would not be possible without:

1. The sacrifice of Jesus,
2. The grace of God.

It is only by the grace of God that we can be saved.

The Apostle Paul wrote about this in his letter to the Ephesians:

• “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” -Ephesians 2:8-9.

The more we study the Bible, the more we will realize that God’s grace is an amazing gift that we need to accept.

If we want to receive God’s grace and go to Heaven, our focus needs to be on serving others, not ourselves. 

To please God, we need to practice humility and put others' needs ahead of our own.

We will end today’s lesson with the following scripture taken from Peter’s first epistle:

• “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”-1 Peter 5:6-7.