1 Pet 1:13-25

Introduction

Good morning! Congratulations to every who made it here, despite spring forward as well as spring break! Pat yourselves on the back.

I know there will be a lot of people out today, so it is going to be a much more intimate class.

The last time I got to teach was 14 years ago.

Gary fell asleep and I feel like my teaching abilities have improved if I keep you all from at least falling asleep.

Because of how they have set this up, we are covering a smaller bank of verses.

1 Peter

Written by Peter

To the churches in Asia

Message of the Book: Being faithful in the midst of persecution

Why is it important for us to keep these concepts at top of mind when studying these verses?

Helps to provide a more accurate interpretation

Helps us to see the verses and how they fit into the overall argument and message that is being made in the book.

13-17 We are to be holy as He is holy

Verse 13 - Be ready for action (We are going to hang out in this verse for a while because of how meaty it is

“Therefore”

Because you have had the mystery of the Gospel given to you.

The things in this verse that we see are action oriented. They are things that we have to make ourselves do.

“prepare your minds for action”

Literally means gird the lions of your mind.

Preparation - when does one prepare for something? Do you prepare in the middle of the difficult situation? No you get yourself ready for action beforehand.

Example: Does anybody have a game plan for when your house alarm wakes you up in the middle of the night?

We are promised trials and difficulties in this life. We should set our minds in a state of readiness knowing that we are going to have to act when difficulties come our way. We need a plan and that plan needs to be made ahead of time.

“keep sober in spirit”

Being balanced or well controlled

What do you think it means to keep sober in spirit? What's the opposite of sober? What does it look like when you say man that guy must be drunk? Out of control, unbalanced.

1 Thessalonians 5:6–8 “So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But since we are of the day, we must stay sober by putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet our hope for salvation.”

Example: So being sober in spirit would mean that we are to be in control and balanced spiritually. How do we do this?

Daily quiet times

Prayer

Involvement in church

Reading your Bible

All of these things will help to keep you unstained by the world and help us to stay balanced and in control spiritually.

“fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

What does it mean to fix your hope? What is hope? Hope is confidence in something future. It is not something present. Why hope for something you already have.

Rom 8:24-26 - For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

What is the something that we should put our confidence in? The grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. I thought we’ve already been given grace? What is grace?

John 3:16 - eternal life

CLIP OF ETERNITY from the movie PAUL

Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

So we have a lot of awesome stuff to look forward to. If we fix your hope on what is to come for us for eternity it really does make the difficulties of this life much more tolerable.

EXAMPLE: I think of Natalie being pregnant when I think about this. Natalie has rough pregnancies...morning sickness for the first half and unable to walk for the second half. What makes the temporary hardship more tolerable is knowing that it is only temporary and their is something awesome waiting on the other side of that difficulty. What if she thought that this was going to last forever? It would make it much more difficult to endure.

Same thing with our walk as a believer. We have to fix our hope on the eternal life that awaits us.

All of these are active and not passive. We must choose to do them

Verse 14 - Obedient children don’t conform to the former lusts

“As obedient children”

Question: For those in here that have children, why do you want them to obey you? Is it because you just have a desire to make their lives miserable and to ruin their fun?

Example: No, it’s for their own good. I tell my son not to go in the street, not because I want to ruin his fun but I know the dangers of it and I don’t want him to get hit by a car.

Same concept with God. He doesn’t want us to live a life where we satisfy the lusts of the flesh, which we used to do before we became believers. Not because he wants to ruin our fun or enjoyment but he knows what the outcome of pursuing those sinful desires will lead to...destruction, damage, death in our lives

“do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance”

I really like this meme I created

James 1:14–15 “But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires. Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death.”

God is acutely aware of the destruction caused by following after our former lusts.

Your child might not have known its not ok to run out in the street because he was ignorant. But now he does know. And we expect our child to obey, knowing what will happen if they disobey.

Verse 15 - Be holy in your behavior

“but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior”

Clearly the Holy One that has called you is God Himself. One of God’s attributes is his holiness. We can do a deep dive into God’s holiness and spend several weeks studying what that means and looks like. He is set apart, pure, and sinless.

Peter uses the phrase “called” multiple times throughout his writings. Why do you think that he puts such an emphasis on being called?

Mark 1:16-20 “As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.

Peter himself was one that was called by God and He knows how special that made him feel. To know that Jesus chose him to be one of His followers out of so many other people had to make him grateful, humble, and confident.

We too have been called by God

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

QUESTION: What does it say that God has done for you at the end of the verse?

QUESTION: How should that make you feel?

Verse 16 - He is holy, so you are to be also

“because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.””

Peter then uses the next verse as His proof text for the concept He is trying to get across to his readers.

The word “Because” introduces the reason or grounds to support the preceding message.

And in case you were wondering if we really needed to study the book of Leviticus, this is your answer.

Leviticus 11:44 “for I am the Lord your God and you are to sanctify yourselves and be holy because I am holy. You must not defile yourselves by any of the swarming things that creep on the ground,”

Leviticus 19:2 ““Speak to the whole congregation of the Israelites and tell them, ‘You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.”

Leviticus 20:7 ““ ‘You must sanctify yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God.”

So what Scriptures did his readers have access to? Did they have access to the New Testament? No, when they write or say “it is written” that are referring back to the Old Testament Scriptures.

Throughout Scripture, the holiness of God is the grounds for his requirement that his people should be holy. We should imitate God’s moral character as he delights in things that reflect his moral character and thus reflect his excellence. Therefore we imitate him and thereby glorify Him.

QUESTION: Is there something you do that you do because your parents did it? Something you say or some kind of behavior?

The father-child theme that Peter uses here helps us to understand that we as God’s children should want to imitate our Father

Verse 17 - Fear the Lord

“If you address as Father”

We as believers address God as our Father

“The One who impartially judges according to each one’s work”

The Father that we adore and respect is also the same One who judges.

What does a judge do?

Holds people accountable for their actions

A judge decides if something is good or bad, legal or illegal, what someone deserves for their actions both good and bad.

What does Scripture say about God the Father as judge?

Judgement seat of Christ

2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.”

Matthew 16:27 “For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.”

Romans 14:10–12 “But you who eat vegetables only—why do you judge your brother or sister? And you who eat everything—why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God.”Therefore, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”

John 5:22 “Furthermore, the Father does not judge anyone, but has assigned all judgment to the Son,”

So is the Bible contradicting itself?

The Father judges through the Son as His delegate, the one He has placed the authority in. It’s the same as when we say that through the Son, the Father made the world.

Acts 17:31 “because he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness, by a man whom he designated, having provided proof to everyone by raising him from the dead.””

Romans 2:5–11 “But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourselves in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed!He will reward each one according to his works:eternal life to those who by perseverance in good works seek glory and honor and immortality, but wrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition and do not obey the truth but follow unrighteousness. There will be affliction and distress on everyone who does evil, on the Jew first and also the Greek,but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, for the Jew first and also the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.”

“conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;”

What is Fear? The product of an intimidating force. When you fear something, you start coming to the realization that this is not a game, we aren't playing around, this is serious. There could be some serious consequences with me not living in fear of God. While our eternal life is not in question, our missing out on eternal rewards as well as negative consequences on earth are all things we should be thinking about when we don't submit to the Lord.

18-21 - We are redeemed

Verse 18 - Our redemption is not from something perishable

“knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers”

“redeemed” the Greek word “Luetrro can best be translated as ransomed meaning “to purchase someone’s freedom by paying a ransom”

So your freedom from sin and its eternal consequences were not paid by anything perishable

“perishable” means something subject to decay or destruction

What are the examples of perishable things that are outlined here.

So the most precious things the world has to offer, like silver and gold

The line “from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers” is not descriptive of the perishable things but descriptive of what we were redeemed from.

So another way it could be read is knowing that you were not redeemed from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers not by perishable things like silver or gold.

The most precious things the world has to offer cannot pay the price for the life of sin that we lived and the guilt that we have.

This is where all other religions fall short. The majority of people want to get back in good standing with God, but they are trying to do it with perishable things. Time, effort, money, devotion, blood are all offered up to God to get in good standing with Him.

God says I’m sorry but the price is an infinite eternal one.

Verse 19 - The blood of Christ redeems us

“but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”

We weren’t redeemed by perishable things but with the precious blood of Christ.

John 3:16 “For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

God gave that which is most precious to Him, the blood of His Son, to pay the price.

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””

QUESTION: Why couldn’t there be a monetary value we have to pay or some kind of works we do to pay the price for our sin?

Deuteronomy 32:4 “As for the Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are just. He is a reliable God who is never unjust, he is fair and upright.”

So God is just. When we talk about justice, what do we mean. Theres an offense and a punishment that satisfies the offense.

if I stole $100 from Reed and I was caught, what would it mean for justice to be served?

You should at least have to pay back the $100

What if I stole a million dollars from Reed?

The price that has to be paid for my guilt is equal to the offense.

QUESTION: When I sin, I have an offense against an infinite, eternal God. It is literally an infinite, eternal offense. So then what is the price. Is it $100? One million dollars? The price is eternal.

And God in His love, given us freedom of choice says that we can choose to pay it on our own. The problem is that the price is eternal and its going to be pretty hot, pretty uncomfortable, for an eternal amount of time.

The only price that could be paid to satisfy the justice of God is for something eternal, non-perishable to be paid. God knowing this, said the only eternal option is send my eternal Son to offer his blood as an eternal sacrifice paying for an eternal offense and satisfying the justice of God.

That is the good news, the Gospel that we have

Verse 20 - Christ revealed for our redemption

“For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world”

“Foreknown”

Means known or chosen beforehand, predestined

Acts 2:23 “this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles.”

Isaiah 46:10 “who announces the end from the beginning and reveals beforehand what has not yet occurred, who says, ‘My plan will be realized, I will accomplish what I desire,’”

QUESTION: So when was Jesus Christ chosen for this work of redemption? Before the world was created.

Before God made the world and us as His free image bearers, He knew that we would choose to disobey and that He would need to be the One to pay our ransom. This was the chosen plan of God. Before creating us, He knew that He would have to humble himself, take on flesh, and be cursed at, spit on, beaten, mocked, tortured, and rejected by His very own creation.

This is the ultimate display of love.

So we see in this verse, the eternality of Christ and when He was chosen to accomplish this plan.

“but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you

It was at this time in history, that God decided it was time to enact his redemptive plan through Christ, where the chosen One was revealed for your sake and, as we read in Mark 10:45 offered up His life as a ransom for many.

God did this for you and for me.

Verse 21 - Christ risen and given glory

“who through Him are believers in God”

The who here is the you from the previous verse.

Through Him Galatians 3:26 “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.”

QUESTION: What does it mean to be a believer?

It means to put your faith and trust in God

We are the people who put our faith and trust in God

“who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory”

QUESTION: who is the “who” in this part of the verse? The Father

Romans 6:4 “Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life.”

Galatians 1:1 “From Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor by human agency, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead)”

So the Son was placed in a tomb and on the third day was raised to life by the work of the Father

QUESTION: what glory was He given?

Romans 8:34 “Who is the one who will condemn? Christ is the one who died (and more than that, he was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us.”

Philippians 2:9–11 “As a result God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow —in heaven and on earth and under the earth— and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”

Jesus was exalted by God the Father, given a name above every name, given authority, and seated at the right hand of the Father

“so that your faith and hope are in God”

This phrase brings us to a conclusion and the main point of verse 20 and 21.

God was the one who redeemed us from sin at such a great cost, the precious blood of His Son.

God was the one who planned our redemption in the counsels of eternity.

God is the one who we call Father and are to fear as judge

God is the one who sent forth His Son for our sakes

God is the one who raised Christ from the dead and glorified Him

And God is the one in who we can place all of our trust and hope.

22-25 - We are to love one another

Verse 22 - Because of our redemption we are to love one another

“Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren”

When we became believers, there was a purification process that began to take place in our hearts and lives. This purification is us becoming more like Christ. This is a process that both God and us have a part in.

God’s Part - Philippians 1:6 “For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Our Part - James 4:8 “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded.”

We have a responsibility to keep our hearts pure. When we are obedient to His Word, our hearts will be open and willing to fulfill the commandment that God has given us to love one another.

“fervently love one another from the heart”

QUESTION: What do you think is meant by fervently?

The Word here means eagerly, constantly, persevering. It’s the idea that we should be constantly eager to show love to one another. And God wants us to show love from the heart.

QUESTION: Is that hard to do? You betcha! What is the definition of love we use? Self sacrifice for someone else’s gain.

Because of what Christ has done for us, we need to actively allow Christ to work on purifying our hearts with the fruit of that purification being eagerness to sacrifice ourselves so that someone else might be better off.

If we don’t feel this eagerness to love our fellow brothers and sisters, then we need to see what sin, what attitudes are dirtying up our hearts

Verse 23 - We are born of the Word

Now He gets back into reminding us who we are and how we were changed.

“for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable”

Born again is one of those phrases that sounds like Christian-ese. But its actually a phrase that Christ used when speaking with Nicodemus.

John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

1 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

We have spiritually been born a second time, the first time we were still-born spiritually. Dead in our sins and trespasses. But God has given us a new birth into a living hope through the redemptive work of Christ.

“that is, through the living and enduring word of God”

The imperishable seed is the living and enduring Word of God.

QUESTION: Does He mean that the Scriptures, the Old Testament is the imperishable seed?

John 1:1–5 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. The Word was with God in the beginning. All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.”

John 1:14 “Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.”

Jesus Christ is the living and enduring Word of God that came into the world. While the process of this is not explained here in these verses, the important thing is that this imperishable seed was in the beginning with the Father, created all things, and is the only light for mankind. The unseeable God became visible, taking on flesh, and literally living among His creation.

Because Christ is eternal and not perishable, He is reliable.

Verse 24 - Our glory is fleeting

For, “ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,

He then references Isaiah 40:6–8 “A voice says, “Cry out!” Another asks, “What should I cry out?” The first voice responds: “All people are like grass, and all their promises are like the flowers in the field. The grass dries up, the flowers wither, when the wind sent by the Lord blows on them. Surely humanity is like grass. The grass dries up, the flowers wither, but the decree of our God is forever reliable.””

This verse reminds us of our place. Our lives are like the grass of the field and like a flower. Flowers are beautiful and they smell good. But they don’t last very long. Just as quick as they come up, they are gone. I know we all have felt this. It turned 40 last year. I’ve never had a birthday hit me like that before. When you turn 30, you think I still have my whole life ahead of me. But something was different with 40. I started realizing that time has flown by. I’m starting to get some grays, I can’t do things like I used to without my body rebelling against me. Our time here is short.

Verse 25 - The Word is forever

“But the Word of the Lord endures forever, And this is the Word which was preached to you”

God’s Word is reliable and true. The Word that became flesh paid the eternal price required for your sin. Because of this, you should be holy just like your Father is holy. And when we live lives that are marked by holiness and purity, we can love our brothers and sisters like God has commanded us to. And eagerly look to sacrifice ourselves so that someone else’s life would be better.

There’s no more time for being passive as Christians we need to be ready and prepared to obey God and love one another sincerely.

LETS PRAY