1 Peter 1:22-25

Peter has been writing to “The Rejected Selected”
Because they had been chosen by God, and had accepted that calling, their lives had been thrown into turmoil.

Persecution was real. They were scattered.
Anytime we face such difficulties,
The temptation is to pull back into our turtle shell,
And begin to focus on and look out for number one.

Our focus can quickly shift from service to survival.
But Peter has written this letter to help these suffering saints steer clear of that pothole.

When obedience causes suffering, we are tempted not to obey.
(1:1-2) “…who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ…”

When God allows suffering, we are tempted to turn on God,
(1:3) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…”

When hardship comes, we are tempted to get depressed.
(1:6) “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,”

When taking a stand fbrings opposition, tempted to get complacent
(1:13) “Therefore prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

When purity brings slander, it is tempting to forsake a little holiness
(1:14-15) “As obedient children; do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior.”

Tonight Peter tackles another massive temptation.
When we suffer, we are tempted to stop focusing on service, And to start focusing on survival.

When people are placed in harms way,
The flesh always wants to look out for your own flesh first.
CHRISTIANS WERE INTENDED TO BE BETTER THAN THAT.

Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;”

Matthew 22:39 “The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’
We are called to love others as ourselves.
We are called to place the needs of others above our own.

Jesus continually reminded us of this truth, first, by example:
Matthew 14:13-14 “Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.”

Secondly through His teaching.
TURN TO: Luke 10:25-37

Suffering can cause us to stop focusing on service,
And only focus on survival.

Peter wants to make sure that if you are in the Christian life, and it is hard,
That you still keep your priorities where they should be.

Philippians 2:4 “do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

#1 ASSUMPTION
1 Peter 1:22a
“Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love for the brethren”

Peter assumes these people have readied themselves for genuine love.

“Since you have in obedience to the truth…”

Peter has the right to assume that since these people call themselves Christians that they are walking in obedience to the truth.

1 John 2:3 “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.”

Peter also has the right to assume that since these people call themselves Christians that they have “purified your souls”

1 John 3:2-3 “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

But there is more to what Peter is saying.
Peter is assuming how they are walking in obedience,
And WHY they have purified their souls.

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

The word “sincere”
Greek word – ANUPOKRITOS
(A = not) (NUPOKRITOS = hypocrite)

Peter says “you have purified your souls for an unhypocritical love for the brethren”

It is a love that really only wants the best for the other guy.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

It is the idea that these people shouldn’t be loving each other for selfish reasons. Their love should be pure in motive.

Luke 6:31-35 “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. “If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. “If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.”

Peter assumes they have prepared themselves
For this type of love
By obediently purifying themselves.

UNDERSTAND,
If you want to love others unhypocritically,
Then you will have to purify yourself too.

There is no room for selfishness in this type of love.
You cannot love self and God.

REMEMBER: The opposite of love is self

In order to truly love,
You must first of all remove self from the equation.
Philippians 2:3-8 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

He assumes they are prepared to unhypocritally love the brethren.

Are you even to a point where you are prepared to do this?
First the assumption
#2 EXPECTATION
1 Peter 1:22b “fervently love one another from the heart”

Peter is asking them to follow through
With what they have prepared themselves to do.
Since they have purified themselves for a sincere love, go ahead and do it.

“FERVENTLY”
EKTENES – strained or stretched
(EK = out) (TEINO = to stretch)

It is the same word used of the disciples prayer for Peter
Acts 12:5 “So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.”

It is the same word used of Jesus praying in the garden.
Luke 22:44 “And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.”

Peter is expecting you to give your love everything you’ve got.

Peter wants these scattered saints to remember to follow through with their calling and love each other even to a point of pain.

This is what a Christian looks like.
1 John 3:14-16 “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

1 John 4:7-12 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.”
1 John 4:19-21 “We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.”

Not only is brotherly love a characteristic of a disciple,
But it is commanded of a disciple as well.

John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 15:12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”

John 15:17 “This I command you, that you love one another.”

There is never a time when we are allowed to look out only for number one.

No matter how hard it is,
There is no circumstance bad enough when a believer
Can stop showing love for other believers.

BUT I’LL BE HONEST
This is hard.

WHERE DO YOU FIND THE STRENGTH DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

Contrary to popular belief, love is not natural.
Lust is natural, love only comes from God.

Where do we find the ability to do this?
HOW CAN PETER ASK US TO DO SUCH A THING?

#3 FOUNDATION
1 Peter 1:23-25

Peter here gives us the foundation upon which he asks for selfless love, and why we know we are able to do it.

And of course, that foundation is the word of God.

And there are three characteristics about the word of God
That you will see allow you to selflessly love one another.
1) PENETRATING
(23) “for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.”

This is one of the characteristics that really sets the word of God
Apart from any other word ever spoken.

It has the power to change you.
Maybe other authors have the power to influence you to change,
But God’s word can change you.

You have the ability to go ahead an selflessly love one another
Because “you have been born again”

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

This person isn’t born “of seed which is perishable”
In other words, this person isn’t motivated by worldly lusts.

This person is made up of much better stock.
This person is made up of “imperishable” seed.

You are born again “through the living and enduring word of God.”

This is one of the things that makes the Bible alive.
This is one of the things that makes the Bible so incredible.
IT DOES NOT WORK FROM THE OUTSIDE IN
IT WORKS FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

This is something that God promised long ago.

Jeremiah 31:33-34 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. “They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

Ezekiel 36:25-27 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”

Now these promises have come to pass.

Colossians 1:26-27 “that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

It gets inside of you, and then you reflect His characteristics.
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

This is why Peter can ask you to do something so difficult,
Because God’s word is now in you to guide you from the inside out.

This is why Paul wrote what he did:
Colossians 3:12-16 “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

You can love like this,
Because you were born again through the penetrating word of God.

2) POWERFUL
(24-25a) “For, ‘ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL IT’S GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.”

Now he desires to show you just how powerful this word is.
It is not weak like the human flesh.

Romans 7:14-15 “For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.”

Indeed, “ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL IT’S GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF”

Your strongest attempt is like withering grass,
And your best looking attempt is like a fallen flower.
Not very strong, and not very pretty.

“BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER”

God’s word in you makes you strong enough to love like you should love.
Romans 15:1-6 “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME.” For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Now that text begins asking for the same thing Peter asked for – true love.
And of course Paul asks for it because that is what Jesus did.

WHERE DO WE FIND THE MOTIVATION TO DO THIS?
“the encouragement of the Scriptures”

WHERE DO WE FIND THE STRENGTH?
“the God who gives perseverance…grant you to be of the same mind”

I might not want to love someone.
A voice in my mind says, “and the second is like unto it, love your neighbor as yourself”.

It is the word of God in you with power that allows you to love selflessly.

3) PRESENT
(25b) “And this is the word that was preached to you.”

It is available to us.
We can have it whenever we want it.
Deuteronomy 30:11-14 “For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. “It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘ Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’ “Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’ “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.”

Here is the point thus far.
Peter wants us to go through with our convictions and love each other selflessly.
We have a penetrating power within us that gives us the ability.

BUT THERE IS AN EVEN GREATER APPLICATION HERE.

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW THE BEST WAY TO SHOW LOVE TO OTHERS IS?

Personal Obedience.

1 John 5:1-3 “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.”

CAN YOU SEE HOW CLOSELY RELATED BROTHERLY LOVE AND PERSONAL OBEDIENCE ARE?

Now look back at what Peter said in verse 22.
“Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart.”

There again you see obedience and love thrown together.

You cannot love others if you are not walking in obedience to God.

If you throw holiness out the window,
You will also be throwing love out the window,
And it is vitally important too.

There is no doubt that the Christian life is difficult.
It comes with many temptations to quit.

That is when we must look to the word God has planted in us,
And obey it to the letter, showing love for one another,
And fulfilling what God intends for us.

Philippians 2:3-8 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

 

 

 

1 Peter 1:17-21

Last Sunday night we talked about how we should respond to the great hope that God offered us.

His salvation is for real, we know that because it was long ago predicted by the prophets, it was reiterated by the apostles, and it has always had the angels thumbprints upon it.

It is a real salvation from God.
And last Sunday night Peter told us we should respond accordingly.

We should give God:
Total Commitment – “prepare your minds…keep sober…fix your hope completely”
Total Consecration – “do not be conformed to the former lusts”
Total Conformity – “like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves”

And at the end of our text, Peter makes this statement.
1 Peter 1:16, “because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

What a statement that is!
God expects you to be holy.
God expects, even commands you to be absolutely perfect.

Matthew 5:48
“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

HOW CAN THAT BE?

You see, we often hear that command and simply allow it to role right off our back. We pass it off as impossible and continue down our merry little way.

God said be holy, but surely He didn’t mean be holy.
That’s not possible.

But we talked about this last Sunday night.
2 Peter 1:2-4
“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”

That verse says perfection is possible.
It says we have been given everything we need in order to be holy.

That helps us get to the real truth of the matter.

It’s really not that we think holiness is beyond our reach.
The true just of it is, that we don’t really want complete holiness.

Now none of us wants to be the first to say that.
No one in church wants to get up and announce, “I don’t really want to be holy.”
But in essence that is what it is.

If God really has given us everything we need to be holy, and we aren’t, then the problem is not that we can’t, but that we won’t.

Very simply put, there are still some aspects of sin we find entertaining.
There are still some remnants of the old life we don’t even want to lose.

There is probably a little rich young ruler in all of us.
Matthew 19:21-22
“Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.”

You see the rich young ruler’s problem wasn’t that he couldn’t, it was that he wouldn’t. He didn’t want to be complete.

If he had wanted to be complete (i.e. perfect) Jesus told him how.
But he didn’t want it.

When we get honest, that really seems to be the boat we sit in doesn’t it?
Oh, it’s easier on the conscience to just pass holiness off as unattainable, and so we have excused our sin.

But that ease of mind doesn’t come from God.

The simple fact is that God commands holiness.
God expects holiness.
Holiness is possible.

The issue is: “WILL I CHOOSE TO BE HOLY?”

Peter knew that was the issue, so after he reminds his readers of this important decision, he gives us another section of scripture devoted to persuading us to be holy.

In our text this morning, we see three reasons why you and I should desire holiness.

We see three reasons why, unlike the rich young ruler, we should be willing to pay whatever the cost to be like Jesus.

And this I can promise you.
If these 3 motivations will dictate our lives, we will choose to be holy.
If we don’t choose to be holy, it is because these 3 motivations aren’t dictating our lives.

#1 THE PROMISE OF RECOMPENSE
1 Peter 1:17

Peter very simply reminds us of one of the things God does.
God is the judge.

Peter says He “impartially judges according to each man’s work”

And so let’s take a second and look at Scripture to see that this is indeed the case.

Hebrews 9:27
“And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,”

Romans 2:6-11
[God] “WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
“The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”

This is a fact in Scripture. God is an impartial judge, and God is a thorough judge.

Some day, He will pour out this righteous judgment on the entire unbelieving world.

Revelation 20:11-12
“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.”

And by the way, these books: they are the records of your life.
Let me help you understand.

BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE – God will judge you according to what you know.
Matthew 11:21-22
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. “Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.”

Luke 12:47-48a
“And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few…”

BOOK OF CONSCIENCE – God will reveal when you knew sin was wrong, even though you didn’t necessarily know the command that forbade it.
Romans 2:15-16
“in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.”

BOOK OF HIDDEN THINGS – Things you did that no one knows about.
Luke 8:17
“For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.”

BOOK OF WORKS – things you did in open view.
Matthew 16:27
“For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.”

BOOK OF WORDS – Every word you speak is recorded for judgment
Matthew 12:36-37
“But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

BOOK OF LIFE – what you really did with Jesus.
Revelation 20:15
“And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

God’s judgment will be completely poured out on an unbelieving world, and they will be without excuse, for God has all the facts.

But believers will also stand judgment.
2 Corinthians 5:10
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

Romans 14:10-12
“But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.” So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.”

1 Corinthians 4:5
“Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.”

The simple truth is, judgment is a fact.
God will judge every man.
It will happen.

Everything you have done, every word you have spoken, every thought you thought, every choice you made, whether public or private, will be judged.

And payment will be made.

Peter says this is a fact.
And since this is a fact.
“conduct yourselves in fear, during your time of stay on earth”

Because judgment is real, you should fear.
And let’s talk about fear for a second.

In the New Testament there are 3 root words for fear that are used most often.

1) EULABEIA (yoo-lab-i-ah) – respect the power of; reverence

Hebrews 12:28
“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;”

We ought to respect the power of God.
It is similar to the way these guys at Dickens electric work with electricity. They have a respect for it’s power.

For some people, this is the only fear of God they have. They just kind of steer clear of God. They know He is powerful, they just sort of stay away. They aren’t going to intentionally do something like curse Him, but they don’t allow Him to dictate their lives.

2) DELIA (di-lee-ah) – momentary fright.

John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”

2 Timothy 1:7
“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”

It would be like the fear, you have of a lion. You are afraid of a lion, but not right now, only if a lion is close. It is a momentary fright.

This is also how some people relate to God. All the fear of God they have is only momentary. They are afraid when they get caught, but other than that, don’t really take God into consideration in their daily choices. They seemingly consider their sin hidden from God.

Isaiah 29:15
“Woe to those who deeply hide their plans from the LORD, And whose deeds are done in a dark place, And they say, ” Who sees us?” or “Who knows us?”

Ezekiel 8:12
“Then He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are committing in the dark, each man in the room of his carved images? For they say, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.'”

(I see this a lot when I show up and people find out I’m a preacher)

Neither of these two types of fear are what Peter is calling for.
Based upon God’s judgment, he doesn’t just ask you to have a respect for His power, and he doesn’t ask you to be afraid when you are standing there.

The word here is different.
3) PHOBOS – it is where we got our word “phobia”.
Phobia – “an irrational, persistent fear of some thing or situation.”

A phobia is a fear that persistently dictates your actions. A person who is arachnophobic won’t even go to a place where they think spiders are.

Their phobia dictates their actions even when the danger isn’t seemingly present.

That is what Peter says we should have.
We should constantly have a view of the judgment of God on sin, and that fear should continually dictate our actions.

It doesn’t mean we are scared of God.
But we treat Him “as Father”.

A boy who is genuinely afraid of his dad’s punishment will act right even when his dad is not around. That boy has a healthy fear of punishment.

He may respect his dad’s power.
And he may have momentary fright when caught in sin.
But he also lives with punishment in the back of his mind, and it dictates his life.

Peter says, because of God’s judgment, you should fear.
That fear will keep you doing right even when you don’t necessarily feel in danger.

This is what Jesus was talking about. Living with a view of judgment.
Matthew 24:42-51
“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. 4″But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. “Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. “Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. “But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’ and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Fear of judgment is a motivator to be holy.
WHY SHOULD I WANT TO BE HOLY?
Fear of judgment.

If you don’t choose to be holy, you obviously don’t have a fear of judgment.

First – The Promise of Recompense
#2 THE PRICE OF REDEMPTION
1 Peter 1:18-19

Peter says this is something else that you should know all the time.
Not only should God’s judgment always be in the back of your mind, but you always ought to know this as well.

The simple truth is.
YOU WERE REDEEMED

You were redeemed “from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers”

You did not redeem yourself.
“you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold”

You didn’t set yourself free. You didn’t pay off your creditors.
Someone else paid your ransom for you.

You were redeemed “with precious blood, as of a Lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”

It would do us good to remember where we were before Jesus.
It can be summed up in three words: SLAVE OF SIN

Ephesians 2:1-3
“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”

We were literally Dead in Spirit, Desiring Sin, and Doomed to Suffer.
That was us.
We had chains, we were in bondage.
We were slaves of sin.
Holiness wasn’t even possible, it was beyond us, we were in prison.
BUT

Jesus came on the scene.
Matthew 1:21
“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Romans 8:1-4
“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Jesus came on the scene, and through His precious blood, redeemed us from sin. He paid our debt, He set us free.

He released us from that which kept us from being holy.
Now, since we have received such a gift, don’t you think we should make full use of it?

Would it not be a slap in the face to Jesus, if we return to the sin He died to release us from?

Romans 6:1-2
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?”

Romans 6:12-14
“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”

Romans 6:20-23
“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 12:1
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”

Holiness wasn’t even possible before Jesus freed us from sin, but now it is.
And because He paid such a high price for our freedom, shouldn’t we honor that by walking in it?

It is the attitude of gratitude.
If we are truly thankful for what Jesus did, then we honor Him by making full use of it.

One of the biggest motivating factors I had for being faithful to speak the truth in Africa, was that so many of you had donated money for me to go, and were giving of your time to pray for me while I was there.

If you were willing to pay such a price, the least I could do was show my appreciation by doing what you sent me to do.

That is a motivator for holiness.
If we don’t want to be holy, we don’t fear judgment, but we also aren’t very thankful for freedom.

First – the promise of recompense
Second – the price of redemption
#3 THE PRESENCE OF A RELATIONSHIP
1 Peter 1:20-21

Notice what Peter said in verse 20.
Jesus didn’t have to come, but He did.
He didn’t have to put on flesh, but He did.
WHY?
“for the sake of you”

Hebrews 2:14-15
“Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”

John 1:1-3
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being…And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Jesus came for you.
And “through Him” something happens.

You “are believers in God.”

Again, I want you to know how the Greek shows this.
The word for “believe” is PISTOS

It is not a verb, it is an adjective.
It is not talking about what you do, it is talking about what you are.

Because of Jesus, you are a believer.
Because of Jesus, you are a truster.
Because of Jesus, you are a faithful person.

He made you into a believer.
He thrust you into a relationship with God.

“so that your faith and hope are in God.”

Before Jesus, you could not get go God.
Not only were you bound by sin, but you were separated from God.
(THE VEIL)

But Jesus came and not only paid a high price to free you.
He granted you a relationship with God.

Romans 5:1-2
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.”

The motivation here is now we have a relationship with God, and just as in any relationship, we desire to please Him.

Because we have a relationship with God, we should be motivated by love to be holy.

We should want to be holy simply because that is what God wants.

1 Corinthians 13:6
[Love] “does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;”

John 14:15
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

John 14:21
“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”

John 14:23
“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”

It should be our desire to be holy and pleasing to the God we love.
Ephesians 5:1-5
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”

That is just it.
WHY SHOULD I BE HOLY?

You should fear judgment enough to be holy.
You should be grateful to Jesus enough to be holy.
You should love God enough to be holy.

The rich young ruler didn’t.
He didn’t fear judgment, he wasn’t grateful to Jesus, and he didn’t love God.

HOW ABOUT US?
Are we willing to be holy?

Are we willing to allow fear of judgment to push us to perfection?
Are we willing to allow gratitude to Jesus to make us holy?
Are we willing to love God enough to say no to sin?

1 Peter 1:14-16
“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

 

1 Peter 1:13-16

This morning we studied a theological truth.
We learned why we can trust in God’s salvation.

This salvation is a real hope.
It has always been God’s plan.
It was long ago indicated to the prophets,
It was interpreted to the apostles,
It is enjoyed by the angels.

That is a theological fact you can hang your hat on
When things get difficult.

IN OUR TEXT TONIGHT, PETER GOES A STEP FURTHER
You will notice the word, “Therefore”.

You see the fact that God’s salvation is for real…
The fact that our hope is certain…
The fact that we can expect a perfect inheritance…
DEMANDS SOMETHING FROM US.

If we truly believe those things, then it will effect how we live.
TRUE FAITH ALWAYS DOES THIS.

Faith that doesn’t dictate your actions isn’t really faith.
If you truly believe something,
It is always evident by your actions.

So it only stands to reason that if we truly believe that this hope of salvation is certain, then it requires action on our part.
“Therefore”

Tonight we see what God expects of those who have hope.

If you have ever wondered what God expects of a believer, this is it.
3 things.

#1 TOTAL COMMITMENT
1 Peter 1:13

You see, there is nothing in God’s mind that allows
That you owe Him anything other than your very best.

He expects that if you are getting the better part of the deal,
That you will respond with a total commitment.
If He was totally committed to you in providing this salvation,
He expects that you will be totally committed to Him in living for it.

This verse gives us three aspects of how to be totally committed.

1) Proper Preparation
“prepare your minds for action”

I don’t know about you, but of all the battles I lose to the enemy,
I know where 90% of those are lost.

I lose them before I ever even fight them.
I never make up my mind ahead of time.

There will always be tests that catch you unaware.
There will always be instances that you were not ready for.
But that is not always the case.
Often times we know what God would have us do long before hand.

We must ready ourselves for the situation.
A good defensive baseball player.
“If the ball is hit to me, what am I going to do with it?”

A good defensive baseball player will prepare his mind ahead of time.
A good Christian should as well.
We know trials are promised.
We know we will be persecuted.
We know we will be put in difficult situations.
So prepare yourself ahead of time.

Every time someone calls the office to visit with me.
I don’t know if it will be good, or bad.
I always stop what I am doing, pray, and then get in the word.
I want to be prepared for whatever is about to come through my door.

Before we went to Africa, we knew the possibility of danger.
We had to prepare ourselves ahead of time for what we would do.

This is what God expects of you.

Luke 21:12-15 “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. “It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. “So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.”
1 Peter 3:13-17 “Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.”

God has told us we are strangers in the world.
God has promised us persecution,
God has promised us a reward if we pass the test,
So determine ahead of time to pass the test.

Prepare your minds ahead of time.
Paul did.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,”

Part of our total commitment is to be prepared ahead of time.
2) Proper Perseverance
“keep sober in spirit”

In other words be “self controlled”.

After you have prepared what you are going to do,
Then when the opportunity arises, be in control to do it.

This is no time to give way to emotions, or feelings.
You be in control at this point.

BASEBALL PLAYER
It would be foolish for a short stop to determine to ahead of time what to do
If he is not going to stick to his plan once the ball comes his way.

So it is with a Christian.
Not only should you prepare your mind ahead of time for action,
But you should be committed to it when the opportunity arises.

I find it tremendously unfortunate to find people
Who know ahead of time what God would have them do,
Only to see them run in fear at the point of attack
Because they decided to allow their emotions to rule them
Instead of them ruling their emotions.
2 Timothy 4:1-5 “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 “so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.”

1 Peter 5:8 “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

Paul understood the importance of being in control of yourself.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

He expects preparation, and perseverance
3) Proper Perception
“fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Maybe you prepared ahead of time what to do.
Maybe the time came and you stayed in control and are following through.
There is one more important piece to the puzzle.

You must stay focused at all times on why you are doing it.

This is what keeps you going.

BASEBALL PLAYER
There has to be something that will cause a short-stop
To continually place himself in front a baseball
That is randomly bouncing to him at 100 plus miles an hour.

You remember that too.
We don’t prepare ahead of time and persevere through difficulty
Just for the sake of perseverance.

We do it because we know that we have a better hope ahead of us.
Listen to these motivations.
Hebrews 11:24-26 “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.”

Hebrews 11:35-38 “Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.”

Remember why you are paying the price.
This is essential if you desire to be totally committed to God.

Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

God expects you to be totally committed.
If you are to be successful in this,
You must have proper preparation, perseverance, and perception.

Be ready and be committed.
#2 TOTAL CONSECRATION
1 Peter 1:14

In other words, be separate, be different from the world.
DO YOU KNOW WHY THE WORLD LIVES LIKE IT DOES?
Do you know why the world is so eaten up with money, and power, and fame?

Because they don’t have hope of anything better than this life.

To a lost world, this world is all there is,
And they had better get all they can.

BUT YOU SHOULD NOT THINK THIS WAY

God has promised you something better than this world,
And in return, He expects you to separate yourself from it.

Before salvation, you lived for these things too. We all did.
BUT DO YOU KNOW WHY WE DID?

We were ignorant.
“the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance.”

A person who strives to gain the world is ignorant.
They don’t know there is something much better out there.

Ephesians 4:17-19 “So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.”

If you and I both know there is something far better than this world,
Then don’t live ignorant like you don’t.

God expects us to separate ourselves from this worldly mindset.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord. “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.”

Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

God expects total consecration from you.
AND WHY WOULDN’T HE?

He sent His Son to free you from sin,
And to give you a future and a hope
Above and beyond what this world has to offer.

IS HE WRONG TO EXPECT YOU TO LEAVE THIS WORLD IN EXCHANGE?

1 Peter 4:1-3 “Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.”
SEPARATE YOURSELVES FROM THE WORLD
BE DIFFERENT
Matthew 5:38-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’ “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

That leads us to our final point of what God expects.
#3 TOTAL CONFORMITY
1 Peter 1:15-16

Instead of patterning ourselves after the world’s model for a human,
Maybe we should set our sights a little higher.

In fact, God expects that we will.
He expects that we will change to look like Him.

He wants us to be “like the Holy One who called you”

Romans 8:29 “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;”

He expects you to have a passion to be like Him.
Philippians 3:10-11 “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

He says, “be holy yourselves also in all your behavior”

Meaning, He expects holiness from you all the time.
Not just on Sundays.

Isaiah 58:5 “Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it for bowing one’s head like a reed And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the LORD?”

YOU SAY, WELL WHAT RIGHT DOES GOD HAVE TO ASK THAT OF US?
Verse 16, “because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

Because the Bible says so.

Here is the crux of this passage tonight.
God has shown great mercy and given us a hope that we did not deserve.

And with that, He expects something in return.
He expects total commitment He expects total consecration He expects total conformity

DO YOU KNOW WHAT GOD EXPECTS FROM YOU?
He expects you to be just like Jesus (not a suggestion, a command)

You say, well that’s not possible.
2 Peter 1:2-4 “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”

If you have everything you need to be godly,
Then that means godliness is a choice.

Ephesians 4:22-24 “that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”

You have the choice of whether or not to be like Jesus,
And God expects that you will.

It is not wise to be one who disagrees with the doctrine of godliness
1 Timothy 6:3-4a “If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing;”

He expects you to be just like Jesus, and Jesus was:
Totally Committed – never losing focus on the cross.
Totally Consecrated – never seeking to acquire the world.
Totally Conformed – holy in every aspect of life.

Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

1 Peter 1:10-12

We are looking at this letter that Peter has written to
The Rejected Selected.

These people had literally been chosen by God unto salvation,
And because they had accepted this calling,
They had been scattered throughout Asia.
This letter is to encourage them in the midst of their sufferings.

To continue obeying and to continuing enduring.

He reminded them in verse 2 that they were chosen,
“to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood”

Even though it was difficult, they still needed to be obedient.
Hardship is not a reason to not obey.

He reminded them they needed to endure
Because these various trials were tests to reveal their faith.

1 Peter 1:6-7 “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”

If they would continue in obedience, and continue in endurance,
Peter made this promise.

Vs. 9, “obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”

In short, Peter was promising that if you endure
You will have hardship now, but it will be worth it later.
There is a salvation available for those who endure.

Part of our salvation is still future.
Our salvation began when Jesus died on the cross,
It became personal when we gave our lives to Him,
It will be complete when He returns.

Peter is asking his readers to persevere,
And hold on until your salvation becomes complete.

His plea is very similar to that of Jesus.
Matthew 10:22 “You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.”
It isn’t that anyone can save themselves by endurance,
But rather endurance is a characteristic of the saved.
Perseverance doesn’t make you a saint,
But true saints will persevere.

Peter wants these suffering saints to look past the trial
And to hold on to the hope of salvation.
But Peter is no dummy.
Sometimes it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Peter is asking them to place their hope in something that they can’t see.

Remember what he said in verse 8?
“and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him,”

These were a people who hadn’t been able to see the hand of God,
And who didn’t even see it now.

Peter is asking them to look past their trials,
And to place their hope in something they can’t see.

You have to understand the downside to Peter’s request.

Vs. 3-4, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,”

He wants them to trust in this “living hope”.
He wants them to trust that they have an “inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.”

BUT WHAT IF PETER IS WRONG?
What if they determine to stick it out and Peter turns out to be mistaken?
What if this inheritance doesn’t really exist?
What Peter’s hope is a fool’s hope?

Paul put it like this.
1 Corinthians 15:12-19 “Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.”
If you are basing all your actions in this life
On a salvation that does not exist,
Then you “are of all men most to be pitied.”

I mean we know the promises of this salvation.

1 Peter 2:6 “For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”

Matthew 10:21-22 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. “You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.”

John 14:1-3 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”

BUT WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE THEM?

That is why Peter pen’s this section in his letter.

This salvation is not just something he dreamed up.
This salvation is not just a smokescreen trying to get them to continue uselessly.

He wants them to see that this salvation is the plan of God.
That is why he begins verse 10 with the statement, “As to this salvation”

The sole purpose of these three verses
Is to solidify in your mind where this salvation came from.
If you are going to put your life on the line,
Hoping for something better after you die,
Then you need to know where this hope originates.

And there are 3 aspects of this salvation that Peter wants you to see,
To help you see that this salvation is truly from God.
#1 IT WAS INDICATED TO THE PROPHETS
1 Peter 1:10-11

The first thing I want you to understand is this.

The Spirit of Christ revealed to the prophets
That the Christ would suffer and then be glorified.
We know this salvation is true
Based upon the many prophecies of the Old Testament

TURN TO:
Psalm 2
(Verses 1-3) – Cross
(Verses 4-6) – Graveside
(Verses 7-8) – Second Coming

Psalm 22
(Verses 11-18) – Suffering
(Verses 25-31) – Glory

Psalm 118
(Verses 5-7) – Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36)
(Verses 8-9) – Gabbatha (John 19:13)
(Verses 10-14) – Golgotha (John 19:17)
(Verses 15-18) – Graveside
(Verses 19-20) – Glory

Isaiah 42
(Verses 1-4) – Victory

Isaiah 50
(Verses 4-7) – Suffering

Isaiah 52
(Verses 13-15) – Suffering

Isaiah 53
(Verses 1-3) – Rejection
(Verses 4-6) – Retribution
(Verses 7-9) – Redemption
(Verses 10-12) – Reward

Isaiah 61
(Verses 1-3) – Glory

There is no doubt that the Spirit
Was “predicting the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.”

And you can see as these prophets were writing these things down,
They must have been curious.

Peter says the prophets “made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know the person or time…”

The point is, the prophets believed is was true.
That is why they dug so hard to try to find out when it would happen.

Luke 2:25-26 “And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”

Isaiah 6:11 “Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered, “Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant, Houses are without people And the land is utterly desolate,”

Matthew 13:16-17 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. “For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

John 8:56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”

This salvation you hope for puts you in good company.
You aren’t the first to lay down your life in hope for it.

This salvation was indicated by the Spirit
This salvation was investigated by the prophets

This salvation is not some new concept.

#2 IT WAS INTERPRETED TO THE APOSTLES
1 Peter 1:12a

Now Peter says here that the prophets figured out
That they weren’t writing those prophecies for their own sake.
They learned that they were writing those prophecies for your sake.

What use was Isaiah 53 to them?

The purpose of their writing those predictive prophecies was for you.
So when it came to pass, you would know it was God’s plan.

But even at that, God didn’t just leave it for you to figure out.
He sent His Spirit once again to interpret it to men
Who would point out these truths to you.
These men were called apostles.

Luke 24:45 “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,”

John 20:21-23 “So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. “If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”
These were the men who had the authority of the Holy Spirit
To declare Scripture to you.

And they did this in two main ways.

One way they did this was to look at the life of Jesus and then show you how He fulfilled Old Testament prophecies.

For example:
Matthew 8:14-17 “When Jesus came into Peter’s home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him. When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.” (Isaiah 53)

Matthew 12:14-21 “But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him. But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all, and warned them not to tell who He was. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM IHAVE CHOSEN; MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL is WELL-PLEASED; I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, AND HE SHALL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES. “HE WILL NOT QUARREL, NOR CRY OUT; NOR WILL ANYONE HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS. “A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF, AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY. “AND IN HIS NAME THE GENTILES WILL HOPE.” (Isaiah 42)

Matthew 21:1-5 “When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. “If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, ‘BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY, EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.'” (Zechariah 9:9)

After their minds were opened to understand the Scriptures,
They looked at Jesus and saw that He was the One
The Old Testament prophets had searched for.

The other way they revealed truth to us,
Was by taking the Old Testament Scriptures and preaching them to show us that they referred to Jesus.

TURN TO:
Acts 2:22-36 (Psalm 16)
Acts 8:26-35 (Isaiah 53)

Of course the that is all the writer of Hebrews does.
Preaching Jesus from 28 O.T. passages and 12 different books.
The point here to be made is simple.
God was again pointing out His truth.

If His Spirit hadn’t opened the mind of the apostles,
If He hadn’t revealed these truths to them,
They might never have seen them.

This is not some salvation hope
Based upon something Peter had dreamed up.
God has been proclaiming this hope for centuries.

Indicated by the Spirit
Investigated by the Prophets
Interpreted by the Spirit
Identified by the Apostles
#3 IT IS ENJOYED THE ANGELS
1 Peter 1:12b

As Jerry Vines put it.
The Prophets set the stage
The Apostles script the story
The Angels see the show

The point is this.
Aside from the Spirit of God revealing to all,
They are your link from past to present.

They plaid a part in the prophets receiving the message,
And they plaid a part in Jesus fulfilling the message.

We see them when many of the prophets received their visions
(Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel)

We also see them throughout the fulfillment of the prophecies.
Announced the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:8-14)
Ministered after the temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:11)
Ministered to Jesus in the garden (Luke 22:42-43)
Their eyes were fixed upon the cross (Matthew 26:51-53)
They were at the tomb of Jesus (Matthew 28:1-7)
They were at the ascension of Jesus (Acts 1:8-11)

And not only that,
But the angels will play an active role in the glorification of Jesus
As they help reign out judgment upon the earth.

The angels love to watch the story of salvation unfold.

Revelation 5:8-14 “When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.”

The point is, the continued presence of these servants of God
Reveal that God’s hand is all over this salvation

The point to Peter’s text is simple.
The Christian life is hard,
The only reason you have for continued obedience and endurance
Is the hope that you have an inheritance awaiting you.

He wants you to know without a doubt this salvation is legitimate.
It is legitimate because it was revealed long ago to the prophets.
It is legitimate because it was fulfilled in Jesus.
It is legitimate because the servants of God are devoted to it.

So if you are one of the Rejected Selected.
DON’T STOP

This salvation is the real deal.
And it has always been the real deal.

And I don’t care how bad the Christian life gets.
I don’t care how much obedience costs you.
I don’t care how long you have to suffer for Jesus.
IT WILL BE WORTH IT ALL!

2 Timothy 1:8-12 “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”