A Key to Living a Holy Life

Introduction

Reminder of last weeks teaching (7 thoughts)

elect (chosen) and exiles (Christians are foreigners in this world)

Chosen by God to be relationship with Him (foreknowledge); through the sanctifying (setting apart) work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus who purchased by His blood

God’s great mercy in giving us a new life and living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Inheritance is kept by God, through faith we are guarded by God’s power until salvation comes (return of Jesus)

Your trials are a testing of your faith to prove its genuineness; result is praise, glory, and honor (worship) at His coming

Although we do not see Him, we love Him and believe in Him and are filled with inexpressible joy for receiving salvation

The prophets spoke about God’s grace (Messiah) pointing to suffering and glory to follow, and the angel long to look into these things

1 Peter 1:13–16 ESV

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. 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.”

What does God say?

“preparing your minds for action” literally means to “having girded up the loins of your mind.” Idiom and it refers to the ancient practice of tucking your garment in your belt when one needed to move quickly.

“Sober-minded”—When some says sober or sobriety, what comes to mind? Here it means to be self-controlled. This is where I want to park for a few minutes. The idea of being self-controlled is being in the right mind to control ones actions. Are Christians really in control? The Bible teaches us the heart (mind) of fallen man is inclined towards evil

Jeremiah 17:9–10 LEB

9 The heart is deceitful more than anything else, and it is disastrous. Who can understand it? 10 I, Yahweh, examine the mind, I test the heart, and give to each one according to his way, according to the fruit of his deeds.

Who is capable of changing the heart of man?

Ezekiel 36:26–27 LEB

26 And I will give a new heart to you, and a new spirit I will give into your inner parts, and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh, and I will give to you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will give my spirit into your inner parts, and I will make it so that you will go in my rules, and my regulations you will remember, and you will do them.

In the OT, there are multiple times where we have read “the Spirit of the LORD came upon” an individual, regardless of character but solely upon God’s choosing for His purpose. God’s Spirit is the life-giving essence of God that gives new life, sets us apart, empowers, and influences our thinking

Romans 8:5–8 LEB

5 For those who are living according to the flesh are intent on the things of the flesh, but those who are living according to the Spirit are intent on the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mindset of the flesh is enmity toward God, for it is not subjected to the law of God, for it is not able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh are not able to please God.

1 Corinthians 2:10 LEB

10 For to us God has revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.

Galatians 5:22–23 LEB

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self control. Against such things there is no law.

We are to set our hope (anticipation of Jesus’ coming) on the grace (salvation) at Jesus coming

Obedient children. One must listen and understand what is commanded, and submit themselves to it.

Conformed (synchronized) to the passions of your former ignorance (living by the flesh). . .

Galatians 5:19–21 LEB

19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are sexual immorality, impurity, licentiousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, things which I am telling you in advance, just as I said before, that the ones who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

He who called (not invitation but brought you out of darkness into light) is holy. Be holy (set apart for service or blameless or without sin) in your conduct

Be holy for He is holy . . . call to be like God.

What do we do?

Desire God

Transform your minds daily . . . produces self-control

Romans 12:1–2 LEB

1 Therefore I exhort you, brothers, through the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may approve what is the good and well-pleasing and perfect will of God.

Philippians 2:12–13 LEB

12 Therefore my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For the one at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure, is God.