Hope and Hostility - 1 Peter 1:13-16

Peter is preparing people to experience hostility.

Equipped, guarded, and joyful

Love, obey, and rejoice in Jesus.

We have all faced an opponent in our life. Someone or something that challenges everything in our identity.

1. Keep Your Mind Focused and Be Ready

“minds ready for action” - The ancient practice of men tucking their long robes into their belt when they needed to move quickly.

Christ’s call is a call to active service.

These Christians understood what it was like to move at any moment. Many were exiled.

“sober” - Lit., being sober.

Not referenced to excess in drinking, but the idea of staying focused on truth.

“set your hope completely on the grace”

Wholly and unchangeably; without doubt.

“revelation” - Focus on what is coming.

When someone cannot beat you, they can only bring distractions.

This gospel of Jesus is our hope and salvation. There is a temptation to let our minds wander to the things of this world.

Learn to tell yourself the truth often. When lies are all we hear, we must focus on the truth to remain on task.

The gospel is not a starting line that one “moves on” from. Keep the good news at the forefront of your mind daily.

2. Remain Obedient

Lit. “children of obedience”

Obedience is their characteristic and ruling nature.

“Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things.” - Ephesians 5:6 is the contrasting message.

“conformed” - Also in Rom 12:2. “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

“Former ignorance” - The practices that men use to fill their life with earthly things as an attempt to cover emptiness.

There are so many “good things” that become unhealthy when misdirected. (Raising children, business, reputation.)

Doing God’s will is the opposite of doing what sin makes us “feel like” doing.

3. Pursue Holiness

1 The LORD spoke to Moses: 2 “Speak to the entire Israelite community and tell them: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy. - Leviticus 19:2.

God is holy, which means, “separate” or “set apart.”

God is distinct. He’s the standard. The angelic beings emphasize that he is “holy, holy, holy.”

“Conduct” - One’s course of life.

As God’s people, Christians are already holy, but they must also seek holiness in their outward walk and behavior.

With God as the foundation of all holiness, all are called to partake in His likeness and seek holiness.

The Holy Spirit makes this possible.

Tye Scogin. Notice who he goes to the moment he succeeds.

God is holy. Apart from him, we are only sinners. We can become so focused on our lack of holiness that we forget the entire message of the gospel.

As hostility mounts, we must focus our attention directly on God’s plan and purpose.

Seeking holiness is meant to take a lifetime. Don’t lose heart.