To know PRT 1

Main Theme

Our conduct flows from knowing Christ as He was known before the foundations of the earth.

Welcome

Welcome to House of Bethany. My name is Samuel Teka, I serve as the pastor here. 

If it’s your first time, I’m are glad you are here. And if you’re already part of the family, happy to see you guys again. 

Our what and why is very simple here: We create a space for people to encounter Jesus and be transformed. 

Regardless of who are or whatever your beliefs or background is, I believe one encounter with Jesus can change everything.

You don’t have to have it all figured out to have a place here.

My/our hope is that you would experience the love and presence of Jesus in a real way as you keep on coming. 

Main Passage

1 Peter 1:20–21 ESV

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.

Title

To Know

Introduction

Story

Explanation

Activity flows from Identity

Behavior flows from Belief

Conduct flows from Knowing

Doing flows from Being.

Illustration

Application

Context

Historical Background

Author:

Peter, the disciple and apostle of Jesus, is the author of this letter.

Place:

Peter is writing from Rome

Time:

He most likely wrote the letter before or little after 60 AD, just before he was killed in Rome around 64 AD under Emperor Nero.

Audience:

Stated in chapter 1 of verses 1-2, Peter is writing to believers who are dispersed or scattered though out Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, which are regions through out Asia Minor, modern day Turkey.

Background:

The Christians in these regions are marginalized and facing persecution because of their faith in Christ. It wasn’t legal persecution, under Roman government, yet until emperor Nero in 64AD. Instead, it was primarily social and religious persecution.

Purpose:

Peter, with the knowledge that persecution was present and would soon arise, writes this letter to comfort and encourage Christians to face suffering with hope — to see everything and experience the present realities in light of Christ and eternity.

Transitional Sentence

Today, we’re going to discover what Peter wants us to know that transform what we do?

6 truths:

Born again

He who called you is Holy

Redeemed by the Blood

Purified our soul

Born of the Word

The Lord is good

Prayer

In Jesus name, Amen!

Points

1: Born Again

Explanation:

The word ‘therefore’ is a bridge word. It means "for this reason" or "because of this." When you see it, it tells you that what comes next is a result of the truth that was just explained earlier.

Last week we talked about the New Birth and what it produces: (1) Living hope (2) Enduring joy and (3) a message worth sharing.

Everyone who has been born of the Spirit or born again, has been brought into a new reality — a new creation. And this happened at the moment someone put’s their faith in Christ and rece1ives Holy Spirit.

Christ didn’t just die and resurrect for you, He died as you, resurrected as you and ascended as you. Our old self has died and the new has come, this is what it means to be born again. Whatever is true of Christ is true of us.

Therefore… (for this reason, because of this)

1 Peter 1:13 ESV

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.

Prepare (v.13a)

Root: zonnymi - gird

Lemma: anazonnymi - gird up, gird afresh

Sense: to put oneself into a ready state for strenuous thinking.

In the first century, men would wear long robes and just when they were ready to work, go into battle or do some kind of activity, they would what you call then: gird up their loins/robes. Prepare and get ready.

In football, you would see the defenders get into a stance. A posture of preparation when the offence is attacking.

In the same way, Peter is saying prepare your minds/thoughts in that way. Be in a active ready state.

Sober (v.13b)

Root: nepho - be sober; be self-controlled

Lemma: abstain, be discreet, watch

Sense: to curb the controlling influence of inordinate emotions or desires (and therefore become reasonable)

Think about someone who's intoxicated. Alcohol doesn't usually make them into a different person, it removes their ability to think clearly. Their judgment is impaired.

Just as alcohol clouds judgment and begins controlling a person's actions, unchecked emotions and desires can intoxicate the soul.

Peter calls believers to spiritual sobriety, 'Be sober-minded.' Let the Spirit, not your impulses, govern your thinking and actions.

In all of this, Peter is saying: Prepare your mind and stay sober so your hope stays fixed on Jesus.

1 Peter 1:13 ESV

set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Why? Because we are born again to a living hope (v.3). That’s the main point!

Illustration:

Matthew 25:1–13 ESV

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour (1 Thessalonians 5:1-10)

Application:

Will you be surprised? Or will you be prepared when Christ comes back?

Are you sleeping? or are you awake?

To be asleep means to be morally and spiritually disengaged and living without a awareness of the coming day.

Part of the reason why some fall asleep is because of three reasons:

They are intoxicated by the things of this world (1 Thess 5:3)

They believe they have all the time in the world (Psalm 90:12; James 4:14)

They are discouraged and it has led to fatigue (1 Peter 1:6-7)

2: He who called you is Holy

1 Peter 1:14–16 ESV

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 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.”

Explanation

As submitted and surrendered to Christ, Peter says do not be conformed to the passions of your former lusts.

The word conformed means to fashion alike. It’s being or becoming shaped or molded to a certain pattern.

In other words, Peter is saying don’t be shaped or fashioned by patterns of your former life, which was enslaved by sin.

Why? Because “he who called you is holy so you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” (Lev 11:44)

Here is what Peter wants us to know so that it transforms our conduct:

Because God is Holy, you are called to be Holy.

Illustration

C.W Lewis - Mere Christianity

“The command Be ye perfect is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. [God] is going to make us into creatures that can obey that command. … He meant what he said. Those who put themselves in His hands will become perfect, as He is perfect — perfect in love, wisdom, joy, beauty, and immortality.”

Application

God makes us Holy. It’s not that we make ourselves Holy, He makes us Holy.

It’s not that he just makes us “positionally” Holy but he makes us holy “experientially”

Positionally:

Ephesians 1:4 ESV

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

Experientially:

However, being holy e12xperientially requires partnership.

Philippians 2:12–13 ESV

work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

It means discipline in our Word, prayer, dying daily, obedience, community, serving, and etc.

“How little people know who think that holiness is dull. When one meets the real thing, it is irresistible” - C.S Lewis

Holiness is a blessing, it’s a privilege.

3: Redeemed by the Blood

1 Peter 1:17–19 ESV

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, 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.

Explanation

Peter wants us to conduct ourselves in reverence and honor of God while we’re here on earth because He is Father, Judge and the one who ransomed us.

The word ransom is better translated Redeemed:

Lemma: lytroo - release, in use of a captive.

Peter is pulling from the Exodus narrative in chapter 12 of Israel being released from being captive in Egypt.

Application

As the blood (which is life - Lev 17:11) was on the door post, so the life of Jesus is not just on us but in us.

John 1:4 ESV

In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

It’s his life that redeemed (rescued, released) us from sin and death. We are in Him, as the Israelites were in their homes with the life of the lamb on their doorposts. That’s why we are released.

This is what Peter wants to know: We are released from being captive from sin and death.

So what

1 Peter 1:20–21 ESV

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.

Call to Action

Unbeliever: To know this Jesus, give our lives to Jesus, and follow Jesus; and walk in a freedom that can be found in no other but Jesus.

Believer: Let Christ make you Holy: it’s about knowing Him and he changes our conduct.

Galatians 3:1–3 ESV

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

Communion

Matthew 26:27–28 ESV

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Prayer

In Jesus name, amen!

Notes

Peter is going to keep going down that path, however, I want to put emphasis on a truth we talked about last week which is: God causing us to be born again through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3).