1 Peter 1:13-21
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Big Idea:
Big Idea:
Jesus loves us so we can lock in and live holy.
Intro:
Intro:
Good morning…
Hey, I you to think about time in your life when everything changed. I got a few moments like that…
The day I decided to follow Jesus with all my heart.
My wedding day.
The birth and supernatural healing of my first born son.
And this week, my life changed again…
I think most of you know that Janelle and I welcomed baby Mairin into the world on Tuesday. She’s our fourth child, but first girl. And she’s a little early…
Janelle’s due date is officially October 1st. She was going to have a C-section on September 26th. But we were at her doctor’s appointment. Janelle had a few symptoms the doctor didn’t like. So, he sent us to the hospital and said, “Today’s the day!”
Mairin Abigain was born about 840pm. And as I was holding her in the operating room, I thanked God. Once again, he had changed my life by His grace. Let me share why I say it that way…
First off, Janelle isn’t supposed to get pregnant. But here we are… 4 babies later. Nothing is impossible for God. But also, I think about how I don’t “deserve” to have children…
Before Jesus became Lord of my life, I lived a life I wasn’t proud of. And part of me felt like I didn’t deserve kids. I didn’t do anything illegal, but just because it’s legal, doesn’t mean it’s right in God’s eyes, amen?
Anyways, when God gave me 3 amazing boys, I fully recognized they were gifts of God’s grace. He didn’t owe me them. I didn’t deserve them. But He gave them to me anyways. And I love my boys with all my heart… but I’ve always wanted a girl.
But I’m getting kinda old. Time is running out. Additionally, I started to think, maybe I can only make boys? And… it’s been almost 10 years since the last time Janelle got pregnant. Maybe we’re officially done?
However, a friend challenged my faith with a story. And afterwards, as I was driving back from New London, I stopped at Target, went into the baby section, and bought a little girl’s swimsuit. In a sense, I was telling God, “I believe You can do all things. I trust You no matter what. Yet, I’m asking, would you give me a daughter? I don’t deserve one. I know I’m kinda old. But I believe You can do all things. So, I’m buying this outfit by faith.”
Before I continue, let me clarify… this is not a magical formula for getting God to do things. Nor am I saying everyone should do. This is just what I did. It’s what it looked like for me to ask for something by faith…
Then… two years passed. Nothing.
One day… Janelle started feeling sick. I’ll spare you the details, but they were not pregnancy symptoms. So, she went to doctor, kinda expecting bad news. It was my day off. So, like a sensitive husband, I took a nap on the couch instead of going with her.
When I woke up, I saw I had 10 missed messages and calls. “Where are you? Why aren’t you picking up!” Uh oh. I called back. “George, I’m pregnant!” We went for an ultrasound two days later (on her 40th birthday) and saw little arms and legs kicking. The technician said, “You’re 3 months pregnant!”
Fast forward to May. I’m in Brazil putting together a 6000 piece chandelier. I get a text: It’s a girl!
God is good.
And as I sat in that room, the following verse came to mind…
We love because he first loved us.
For me, the baby girl I was holding was visible proof that Jesus loves me. And the only proper response was for me to love Him back!
Today, as we continue in our new series going verse-by-verse through first Peter, that’s the theme running through today’s passage: Because Jesus love us, there is a specific way we should respond to Him.
Let’s jump in and read about for ourselves…
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.
Exegesis:
Exegesis:
There’s a cheesy but helpful saying when studying the Bible… “Whene you come to a therefore, ask, ‘What’s the therefore, there for?’” We do this because context is a very important part of understanding the Bible correctly. And I’m sharing this with you, because I want US to become a church full of people who love to read and understand the Bible.
And the “therefore” connects today’s passage, with last week’s message. If you remember, the first 12 verses were about…
How God has inviting us into something special: Salvation in Jesus Christ.
This salvation is apprehended by faith: Trusting and believing in the promises of God.
And it’s a faith that endures (even suffering) and willing to surrender to the reality that we will not always understand everything. In fact, that’s what makes it faith. Nevertheless, God is faithful. Everything He promises always comes to pass…
… “THEREFORE… prepare your minds for action…”
Do you guys remember the show The Office? It’s the fake reality TV show that follows around the staff of Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company. Remember, when Jim (one of the main characters) gets transferred to the Stamford office? Originally, he was at the Scranton office - where most of the show takes place - but in season 3 he’s temporarily transferred.
And at the new office, the entire staff plays Call of Duty together (an online war-time video game). But Jim’s never played. And there’s one scene where he shoots someone in the game, and his co-worker (Andy) turns around as yells, “Why did you do that?!? We’re on the same team! Shoot the Germans!” And Jim replies, “Wait, we’re playing teams?”
At home, there are times when I hear very high pitched screaming in the basement. And it’s happening for the same reason. My son is playing Fortnite with his friends. They all have their headsets on. Yelling at each other. Especially, when one of them makes a bad decision like Jim. But they usually yell out, “Come on! LOCK IN!”
That’s the sense of the Greek word translated “prepare” in verse 13. It’s a word used to describe when a man - who in the ancient near east, would be wearing long robes - would gather up all the loose ends of his outfit, tie them together, so he could run. Otherwise, he would trip over his own clothing. In other words, he LOCKED IN.
And that’s what Peter is telling the church. Because of everything Jesus has done for us, we need to LOCK IN…
LOCK IN your minds. Change the way your think! And in this case, get serious about your faith. Stop getting so distracted and drawn away by this world. LOCK IN.
Additionally, be “sober-minded.” This phrase is often connected to drunkenness. And it can refer to that here, but Peter uses it in a broad sense. Just as alcohol can cause a person to lose control, Peter is saying, “Be a person of self-control.” Stop being all over the place. Stop being hypocritical. Be a calm, well-balanced person.
It makes me think of what the apostle Paul told the Galatians…
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. In a way, I believe Peter is telling us, “Be filled with the Holy Spirit, who causes you to be a person of self-control.” Let the Holy Spirit’s power cause you to LOCK IN.
Peter goes onto say, “set your hope FULLY on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ”…
Don’t just LOCK IN, be ALL IN!
Remember the “therefore.” This is ALL building on what Jesus has invited us into. This salvation is special. Therefore, treat it that way. LOCK IN AND BE ALL IN!
Because here’s the thing… one day, Jesus is coming back and we will see that everything God said He will do, He will do.
It’s funny. As I was studying this passage at Hartford Hospital, the commentary I was using referenced this idea of taking your faith seriously because everything God said will happen is going to happen. It’s already on the way. It’s like being at a very special multi-course dinner and you know dessert is coming. It might not be at the table yet, but you know it’s coming.
As I read that, I instantly thought of Christy Olson. You guys know Josh. The guy who discipled me and recently moved his family to Glastonbury to be part of what God is doing out here. As some of you know, he’s extremely gifted at discipleship. What you might not know is his wife Christy is just as gifted at hospitality. And her desserts are AMAZING.
And as I was studying, I thought, “I wonder how I could use Christy’s hospitality as an illustration?” But then I thought, “Nah.”
However, the day we got home with the baby, the Olsons had signed up to bring us dinner that night. As Josh carried in the hot honey chicken with mashed potatoes (bruh), Christy carried in dessert. I jokingly said, “You brought dessert?” She said, “Of course I did.” Now I knew I had to use her as a sermon illustration!
Anyone who knows Christy, knows when she comes to your house, there’s an amazing dessert coming too. Expect it, even if you can’t currently see it.
In the same way, Peter says, “Guys, LOCK IN and BE ALL IN, because Jesus IS coming back. And when He does, everything He promised will happen!”
Dang it. We’re already almost 20 mins in and I’ve only done one verse…
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,
If you were here for last week’s message, you know this letter is written to Christians living in 5 different regions of the Roman Empire. However, there’s also a sense when it’s written to everyone. That being said, this phrase is specifically addressing those who identify as Christians or followers of Jesus.
As “obedient children of God” - as people who find their identity in Christ - Peter writes, do not be conformed…
… “conformed”… in other words, do not be “behaviorally shaped” by the world.
Going back to the Office…
I know… my illustrations are all over the place! Guys, I just had a baby. Sleep is been few and far between. I’m a little loopy. Anyways, remember when Kelly wants Pam (who eventually becomes Jim’s wife) to try on her new clothes during lunch. And she shouts, “Fashion show, fashion show, fashion show at lunch!”
Strangely, this helps us understand what Peter is writing. As children of God, if we thought about how we behaved as the clothes we wear (which is an illustration the NT uses), Peter says, “Don’t take your fashion advice from the world. Dress like you belong to Jesus. Live/behave/be obedient to God. And what does that look like?
but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Church, God calls us to be holy.
Holiness means we take sin seriously. We don’t play around with it. We don’t justify it. Instead, we do what pleases God, even at great sacrifice and suffering. With all our being, we strive to honor God.
Holiness means people can tell we follow Jesus, because we respond to the world around us radically different.
Which gives us an opportunity to stop and ask…
Am I holy?
Do I live obediently to God’s word?
Do I stay away from sin?
Can people tell I’m different? After all, holiness also means to “be separate”?
And if not, here’s the encouragement: LOCK IN. Furthermore…
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,
If you say you belong to God, and if you believe that He is who He says He is… your Father in Heaven, the One who knows all things… then LOCK IN. Why? Because He’s God. Why we acting like He doesn’t see and know everything.
Some of the language used in this verse paints the picture of God seeing behind the mask we try to put on, as if that fools God. He knows what happens. He knows the motives. He sees the heart. So stop trippin.
Live like you believe that God sees everything you do, because He does. Stop messing around. Stop trying to hide and cover up your sin. You aren’t fooling God. LOCK IN and LIVE HOLY.
Or, as Peter puts its, “conduct yourselves with fear…”
What does fear mean? Is Peter saying we should be afraid of God? Well, yes and no. I mean, God is God. He’s holy. He’s the Eternal King. Remember your place. We’re just dust. So, in the sense of “awe,” yes, fear God.
But in a another way, fearing God means to LOCK IN and live like you understand your life matters. That it has great purpose. Because it does. How do we know this?
Look at verse 18, “knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers…”
This speaks to the curse of sin we inherited from Adam, our first forefather, but then was passed down through every father, so it also includes our biological one.
Sin causes us to live unholy lives and separates us from our One True Father, God in Heaven. It causes us to live worthless lives that do not please God. That’s what Peter means by futile. Lives that make us passionately pursue things and relationships that never satisfy us. They give no real hope. And they quickly fade away.
But there’s also a specific New England application. I come from California. Where anything goes. Just chill. Go with the flow. That’s not New England.
Btw, I love New England more. I never want to go back to California. I want to die in Connecticut. Some day, I’m going to buy a grave plot in Glastonbury to prove it!
But in New England. Ya’ll LOVE tradition. This is where America was born. You guys have a way of doing things and that’s just how it is. We’ve done it that way for 400 years. Why change?
Hey, that’s not evil. Tradition is not inherently bad. It can honestly be healthy sometimes. But here’s the thing… just because a tradition is healthy, doesn’t mean it’s holy.
And a lot of stuff we hold onto as tradition has nothing to do with the Kingdom of God. It’s just useless stuff we inherited from our forefathers. And now that Jesus is inviting us into His family, we need to let those sinful, worthless traditions go…
It goes onto say…
knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
Here’s what we’re looking for… How do you know your life matters, that it has great value and purpose?
Because Jesus shed His precious blood on the cross to save you. That’s how much God loves you. That’s how much you mean to God. That’s how much value you have to God. That’s how great your God-given purpose is.
You mean so much to God, that even though you willingly chose to rebel against Him, He STILL sent His one and only Beloved Son to die for you - the Perfect Lamb - so He could save you and bring you back into His family, where you were meant to be all along.
Do you see how special that is? That’s why Peter’s like, “Bro, LOCK IN and be ALL IN! Jesus died for us. And He’s inviting us into God’s family. That’s crazy special. And it’s better than we can imagine. So LOCK IN and LIVE HOLY. Live like you belong to God’s family. Live like Jesus!”
He finishes up by saying…
He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 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.
It’s crazy… There’s a lot of unintentionally deep stuff said here by this regular fisherman transformed by the power of Jesus. Remember, Peter is not a professional priest writing theology from his ivory tower. This is your friend and neighbor. And yet, these verses talk about deep things like…
How Jesus is God. He is not created being. He has always existed. Deep.
Additionally, Jesus - the lamb of God - which is a title that speaks of God’s plan to save us from our sin, also existed from before creation. Mysteriously, God knew Jesus would save us before we ever needed salvation. Deep.
Also, this gives us a snapshot of what God has been doing throughout history. What it is all about? God is bringing people back into His family. He’s always been doing this… it’s just become clearer through Jesus. He created humans to love them as part of His family. Sin ruined that. Yet, God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to fix it (at the cross), so we could come back into the family. Deep.
Finally, this gives us hope no matter the present circumstances…
Last week, I mentioned that Nero was the emperor of Rome when Peter wrote this. Nero was killing Christians because he was crazy. And it’s possible that Peter is writing because some people - as they faced possibly dying by fire - were considering leaving the faith. Actually, some may have already gave up on their faith.
And yet, Peter writes to encourage them in two ways:
Don’t give up on your faith because of suffering. Endure. Lock in. Because we have a God who raises people from the dead. And even if we die, we WILL rise again to eternal life.
If you’ve already given up, it’s not too late. Repent. Turn back to God. If you’re alive, there’s still time. There is always hope in God, if you will simply put your faith in Him. So, LOCK IN.
Response:
Response:
As we close (and the worship team comes up), I believe Peter is writing from a very personal place.
He knows what it’s like to not be locked in.
He knows what it’s like to not live holy.
He even knows what it’s like to give up on your faith in Jesus.
Remember in the garden, when Jesus was about to go to the cross, Peter was filled with so much fear, that he denied even knowing Jesus. And as Jesus poured out His precious blood on the cross to save Peter (and the rest of us), the shame that filled Peter’s heart must’ve been overwhelming.
But then, Jesus rose again from the dead. Just like He promised He would. And, He never gave up on Peter, even when Peter gave up on himself…
In John 21, we kinda see this. I’ll let you read it on your own time. But In verse 3, Peter says, “I am going fishing.” In a sense, I give up. I’m going back to my old life.
But then Jesus comes and meets him. And Peter (full of shame) struggles with the idea that he could live out the holy calling God planned for him. Yet, Jesus encourages by telling him, 3 times, “ Feed my sheep.” Or, as we’ve been saying it, LOCK IN and LIVE HOLY. And at that moment, everything changed for Peter. And he responded to Jesus’s love with locked-in love. And his life was never the same.
And now, Peter encourages the church to do the same. And let’s not hear it with a tone of, “Lock in you idiots!” Rather, Peter says it from a heart that’s been radically transformed by the grace of God. He says it from personal experience. Maybe with a tone of, “Lock in my beloved friends. Endure. Hope in God. Live holy. Like you belong in God’s family. Let Jesus change your life. Respond by living fully for Him. Because dessert is coming. And when it does, it’ll be all worth it.
Today, do you need to LOCK IN and LIVE HOLY?
Are you out of control and need to be filled with the Holy Spirit instead?
Do you need to stop being shaped by the world and put on the Lord Jesus?
Do you need to remember how much God loves you by considering the price He paid for your salvation?
Do you need to properly respond by loving Him with all your heart because He loved you first?
If so, then do it. Let’s pray…
Father, you know where we are at today. Maybe nobody else sees it. But you see it. Today, help us to lock in and live holy. To be all in. To stop playing with sin, to stop being shaped by the world, but rather be filled with the Holy Spirit. Help us to live like your children. We throw away the useless traditions we’ve held onto, and we choose to be part of Your family. In Jesus name, amen.