The Road to Holiness

ENGAGE

expectations of a new car didn’t meet expectations and disappointed

expectations of an indoor toilet -not what expected but even better

expectations of sliced bread - best thing ever

Here we are Church, just a couple weeks after Easter, and all the stores are just about out of Peeps.

Today, I want to take us back to Easter morning.

The women have gone to the tomb, they have met the angels and found that Jesus wasn't in the tomb, and Peter has been to the tomb to find the grave cloths laying where Jesus’ body was just a few hours earlier.

After Peter found them, he went home marveling at what had happened.

TENSION

It wasn't just Peter who was marveling about what had happened. In fact there were disciples whose world had crashed all around them and they had no clue what they were going to do now. So they were headed home, trying to figure out what to do next.

They were trying to figure out how they could live their lives now that it seemed like the man they had put all their hope in was put to death and all their ideas of the messiah coming in and taking down the Roman empire and freeing the people were going up in smoke.

Turn with me to Luke chapter 24.

TRUTH

Luke 24:13–17

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad.

These two disciples are on their way out of Jerusalem after seeing their hope for a messiah defeated and buried.

They were expecting a messiah who would come in and destroy the Roman empire and release them from Roman rule.

They were very much looking for a physical messiah, a military super power, but that is not what happened at all.

They have lost all hope for a better life.

Luke 24:18–24

18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”

The two disciples tell Jesus all that had happened, and in their story, no one had seen Jesus after his resurrection - of course they didn't know that they were actually with Jesus right then and there, but you can see where they did not have hope for their vision of the messiah, because a dead military leader inst going to do much good against the armies of Rome.

They had no idea that Jesus was more about the spiritual battle going on than the physical one.

Luke 24:25–35

25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Its important to note that this is not a communion service, but rather Jesus and the disciples sharing a meal and the story of God. It wasn't the bread that opened their eyes, but the power of God to give them insight as they develop their fellowship and grown their relationship with Jesus.

These two disciples had their eyes opened to the spiritual world that Jesus came to take over. They had expected a military victory, not a spiritual victory. Jesus came to meet their greatest need, to be saved from sin and death, and most importantly, they once again had hope.

Now we leave these two disciples and lets catch up with Peter in Acts chapter 2, just 50 days after the Passover, the festival that had brought all the Jews to Jerusalem during the time that Jesus was on trial and crucified.

The disciples are gathered in the Upper Room and the Holy Spirit comes on them giving them wisdom and courage to spread the Word of God.

Acts 2:14a

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.

and in verse 36 and 37 he says:

Acts 2:36–37

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Peter reaches out to the very people who had earlier been screaming to crucify Jesus.

His words have a strong impact on them and they want more information on how to proceed and begin their new life in Christ.

Acts 2:38–41

38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Peter tells them about the promise that God made with Abraham, and again with Moses, and on and on down the line until the promise came to Peter himself, and is now being handed out to those who heard him.

That day about three-thousand people made decisions for Christ and were baptised, because Peter had given them a reason that they could put their hope in Jesus.

Some 30 years later, we catch back up with Peter.

He is writing to believers who are in much the same situation as the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They have also lost all hope. They are seeing their world falling around them, figuratively, and also literally.

Emperor Nero had a fire started in Jerusalem and it was destroying the city. He blamed the Christians, which led to widespread persecution of believers, many of whom were brand new to the faith.

1 Peter 1:1–2

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

The “elect exiles of the Dispersion” is a fancy way of saying “you guys who made commitments to Christ and are still living in these broken, fallen bodies living in a broken, fallen world, where everyone else is broken and fallen, and do not follow Christ and live a totally different lifestyle”.

He recognizes that they feel out of place, like they don’t belong.

1 Peter 1:3–5

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Peter wants them to know that God has brought them into this relationship with him, and he is their living hope. He is the one who created them, loves them, saved them, and now communicates with them as they go through their lives.

He is the one who leads them through this life by faith, in expectation of eternal life in the future.

1 Peter 1:6–7

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

While we are in these broken, fallen bodies, in this broken, fallen world, we can still rejoice in our suffering during our trials and heartaches, because we are being tested, and more than tested, we are being purified like a metal that when heated gets more and more pure until it gets to the point that there is absolutely nothing mixed in with it, just the pure precious metal.

Peter knows that these believers have not been through the same things that he had been. He knows that they still have faith, he was the one who helped them to find that faith in the first place.

1 Peter 1:8–9

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

They have that hope in eternal life, in the salvation that Christ bought for them with his blood. The salvation that came through the predictions of the scriptures from the prophets that looked forward to the suffering messiah.

1 Peter 1:10–12

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

So they have hope now. Just like when the two disciples met with Jesus and got affirmation that even though their idea of what the messiah would do didnt pan out like they thought, he was really so much more than they ever could have dreamed of.

But what do they do now?

Now that Easter is over, and their lives continue on?

Peter goes on to tell them what they must do during their time left on this broken, fallen world.

1 Peter 1:13

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

He lets them know that they need to be prepared, always keeping focused on that hope of the eternal life, that is being held for them, and for us as well.

Until then, we need to act like God’s children though. We cannot just give up and say that we are saved and have eternal life, because we have to keep up our attitudes and our actions in this life or we will be in jeopardy of losing our eternal life.

1 Peter 1:14–16

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

We must be holy. We must separate ourselves from sin. That is what holiness is. The complete and utter separation from sin. God is holy, and he demands that in order for us to remain in his presence, we must be holy as well.

1 Peter 1:17–19

17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

When you pay a lot of money for something, you are always way more careful with it, right? Because we know how valuable it is, and how much was paid for it.

During our time of exile as outsiders, as people who don't fit in to the sin and death of this world, and as one who avoid the things that this world loves, we must conduct ourselves with caution. The price that was paid for our redemption was a price that we could never pay, and there is no way we could ever have found another way. The only price that could be paid was paid with the blood that came from Jesus.

And this price was known from the beginning of time. God didn't come up with a plan B when things with south with Adam and Eve. He knew he would have to send his Son to redeem us from before Genesis 1.

1 Peter 1:20–25

20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Our lives must be holy because God is holy. We have faith in him because he sent his son to pay the price for our sin.

We are called to love God, and to love others from a pure heart, knowing that we have been forgiven because Jesus paid a price that we could never pay.

We can be confident in our hope for eternal life because we have the witness of the first disciples and others recorded in the Bible for us.

God’s word will last forever, it lives inside of each of us, through the Holy Spirit that sanctifies us and allows us to be born again into eternal life.

APPLICATION

Peter is writing to these believers to give them hope in the eternal life of Jesus. To give them a reason to stay in the fight and maintain their connection with Jesus. He is given them reasons to hold on to what they believe in the middle of persecution and chaos. He encourages them to let go of their previous life and the expectations that they carried into their new life in Christ their expectations had gotten in the way of the power of the will of God they needed to focus on HIm and hope only in him

We need to do the same. We need to let go of the things that are keeping Gods power from the church md from our own spiritual lives.

The main reason he gives the early disciples is Jesus himself. His life, death and resurrection were all proofs of the power of God. The disciples and others, including Peter himself, had seen and even talked and eaten with Jesus after his resurrection.

So 30 years later, these new believers can trust in the testimony of the first disciples about the resurrection of Jesus, because they saw him. They talked with him. Their interactions with Jesus are proof that if God can bring Jesus into Eternal Life, he can bring us into eternal life.

And we have that waiting for us.

We just have to life the rest of our time in these broken, fallen bodies for a little bit longer and then we will have that eternal reward.

INSPIRATION/REFLECTION

While we are waiting, Peter tells us that we must live out holy lives, reflecting the creator and sustainer of our lives, the one who gave us the hope of eternal life.

While we are here, we are to make a difference. We change the world in even the smallest way. We may not impact the whole world, but we can definitely do something about one person’s world.

ACTION/NEXT STEPS

Just like Jesus walked with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus telling them the story of God and God’s People, we can come along side others and help them to open their eyes to see who Jesus really is and what he did for us.