Simon Peter was a fisherman that Jesus chose as one of the twelve apostles. He was impulsively in both actions and in speech. As one of the leaders in the early church, his ministry was primarily to Jewish believers though he ministered to Gentile believers as well. 1 Peter is for all Christians since it’s purpose is to encourage us to realize who we are in Christ, what we have in Christ, and where we are headed in Christ so that we live our lives in such a way that will bring Glory and Honor to Christ.
1 Peter 1:1-2
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,
Peter’s letter was written primarily to the Jewish believers who had been dispersed throughout the world as a result of the persecution against the early church in Jerusalem. He addressed believers as “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father”.
The doctrine of election according the foreknowledge of God is impossible to understand because we think of foreknowledge as foretelling, or predicting with certainty. How could God elect (chose) a future event when He also exists in the future? The mind of Christ is far above any wisdom or knowledge of man.
Romans 11:33 “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
We accept the doctrine of “election according the foreknowledge of God” by faith because it is beyond our ability to understand. Bible also teaches that “whosoever will” (free will) shall be saved. How can both doctrines be true? We know both truths are taught, and we know that the two truths seem to contradict one another. It does not seem reasonable (to us humans) that God elects us and also gives us the free will to decide for ourselves which actions we will take. This apparent contradiction has lead to debates throughout the centuries. Most Theologians that attempt to reconcile the two do so by compromising one truth or the other truth. But God is not a Theologian; He declares: “My thoughts are not your thoughts. Neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord” Isaiah 55:8
God has a purpose in creating the earth and human life. We know that he created everything for His good pleasure, (Revelation 4:11) and that His plan was to create man and then redeem the ones that would believe in Him. The plan included the sacrificial death of the perfect man Jesus and the redemption of the faithful. Nothing has ever happened by accident. Everything, that has happened and will happen, works for the completion of His plan of redemption. And when this earth we live on comes to its end, God will have redeemed the faithful and the redeemed will live with Him in a new and wonderful relationship: Redeemed man, who was created by God, will be one with God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. At death, redeemed man sheds his sinful fleshly nature and lives forever filled and made perfect with God’s Holy Spirit.
1 Peter 1:2
in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:
Christians are chosen (election) by God the Father, Sanctified (set apart) by God the Holy Spirit, and cleansed by the blood of God the Son, Jesus. God working in three persons; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
When a Christian is “Born Again” he is Sanctified, set apart, made one with God. However, there is a daily sanctification of the Spirit that takes place in the life of every believer.
Paul tells us in Ephesians that when a person is born of the Spirit, Born Again, the Holy Spirit lives within the person and is a guarantee of redemption and salvation. The Holy Spirit lives within every Christian and continually works a daily work of Sanctification as the person grows and matures Spiritually, setting them apart and transforming them through the process of Sanctification. Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
1 Peter 1:2
Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
The Greek greeting, grace, And the Jewish greeting, peace
This is the life that is available to every Christian. Living in grace is a way of living that constantly recognizes the freely given forgiveness of God and the freedom from guilt that comes with forgiveness. While living in peace is constantly living in the realization that we are no longer enemies of God and peace with God was accomplished for us at the Cross of Jesus. As a result of living in grace and peace, we may experience peace of God that surpasses all understanding. Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
1 Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Peter immediately begins to praise God for the wonderful work He has done for us, in us and through us.
God, because of His great mercy (Ephesians 2:4) has brought us forth through Spiritual birth and made us new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 6:15) and given us a living hope, Jesus. Jesus is alive; therefore, in Him we have a living hope.
Hope is a wonderful thing. It is the motivation of many courageous and valiant efforts. Hope inspires men and women to work diligently and to follow specially prescribed paths. Hope motivates the young student to study hard in school hoping for a job that will reward his efforts. Men and women enter into marriage with the hope of a long and successful marriage with healthy, happy children. Hope inspires and encourages mankind daily.
But hope can disappoint. Not every business venture succeeds, even if it is begun in great hope. Not every marriage lasts. Not every child lives a healthy life. Hope motivates but hope can disappoint. Consider the hope that the young men had when they took control of the airplanes on September 11, 2001 and flew the planes into the tall buildings in New York. The hope was that they were serving God and that God would reward them with multiple virgins in heaven. Although they were moved by hope, the hope they had disappointed.
Our hope, the Christian hope, is not a hope that disappoints. Our hope is a living hope. Jesus rose from the dead and is alive. He walks with us and talks with us and lives with us as we live in His hope. He is the living hope that does not disappoint because he is The Truth.
1 Peter 1:4
to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
Every earthly inheritance can be corrupted, defiled and can fade away. You may have hope in an earthly inheritance, but there is no certainty in it. Our inheritance in Christ cannot be corrupted, defiled and it cannot fade away. It is eternal and can never change. It will not change. It is reserved in heaven for all believers.
1 Peter 1:5
who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Our inheritance in Christ does not rely upon us, instead it relies completely upon God. We are kept in the love of God by the power of God and not by our own power. If your eternal salvation depended upon you, you would be very insecure and your inheritance would be in peril. It would not be secure. Thank God our salvation does not depend upon what we do, but rather it depends upon what God has done.
Our relationship with God (salvation) is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and we are preserved in Christ as we live by faith in Him.
From our study in James, we remember that James said that faith that does not produce action is not faith at all. Here we find Peter saying that the power of God keeps us through faith for salvation, which will be revealed in the last time. Paul wrote in the book of Ephesians that grace through faith is a gift from God and not of ourselves that we are secure in faith as we abide in Christ.
The application for this study today is to remember that once we came to Jesus through faith we learned that we were chosen by God before He laid the foundations of the world (Ephesians 1). The same Holy Spirit that spoke to our hearts about the truth of the gospel message is the same Holy Spirit that will complete the work of sanctification in us. We can rest in faith in the finished work of Jesus.
PRAYER
Lord, we thank You for Your mercy and love towards us. We confess that we are unable to fully understand the truths You have given us, but we also confess that we accept Your truth by faith in Your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, AMEN.
1 Peter 1:6
In this you greatly rejoice,
In this we rejoice -the fact that our inheritance in Christ is certain, and that it is preserved for us as we continue in faith.
2 Timothy 2:11-13
This is a faithful saying:
For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.
1 Peter 1:6
though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
Here Peter introduces a serious problem for most Christians. Most of us focus our attention upon our own lives in this world and want to believe that our relationship with Jesus will bring us into a heavenly existence on earth. I remember a man telling me that he did not believe in a literal heaven and hell after death, he believed that people experience heaven or hell here on earth as a result of how they live their lives. So, those who lived righteously lived heavenly lives and those who lived un-righteously suffered “hell on earth”. His beliefs were consistent with virtually all religions on earth that deny justification through faith in Jesus Christ. All religious systems have some sort of ritual of code that promises a happy life, hence the question for religious people: “why do bad things happen to good people”. You see, if your religion is true and God is true, then surely he protects good people and punishes evil people. When we studied the book of Job we discovered that when his friends observed the terrible condition he was in, they concluded that he had some undisclosed sin that was the cause of his trouble. However, in the beginning of the book we are told that Job “was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” Yet in one day he lost every thing he had: his seven sons, his three daughters, his seven thousand sheep, his three thousand camels, his five hundred yoke of oxen, his five hundred female donkeys, and several buildings. Then Job was struck with painful bois from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. Isn’t it obvious why God put the book of Job in the Bible? Righteous living does not exempt a person from trouble on earth. In fact God gives us a promise in 2 Timothy 3:12 “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” Jesus was specific when He told those that want to follow Him – John 16:33 “In this world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
OK, Jesus promises that we will have trouble in this world and then He says to cheer up and don’t worry about it because He has overcome this world. This world cannot defeat you as you rest in Christ because He has overcome it. Our promises are not “in this world”, our promises are in Christ in Heaven. Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,” The followers of Jesus in the early church were persecuted for their faith. The Apostles were put to death for their faith. Jesus Christ was crucified as He lived to please God the Father. Why would any of us think that we should be exempt from trouble – in this world—-
Peter began his letter by reminding his readers who they are in Christ, what they have in Christ and where they are heading in Christ. Now how will we live?
We learn and grow through trials. Trials are painful and are never enjoyable, however, through the trials we grow in Spiritual faith and strength. 2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
We rejoice when we look at the big picture and consider God. Life has troubles, difficulties and conflicts, none of which are enjoyable. When we look beyond the troubles of today and tomorrow, we can go forward triumphantly in Christ Jesus. He is our hope. Paul said that if our hope was based solely on this world, then we are to be pitied. 1 Corinthians 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
God is our help and our encouragement, especially in times of trouble.
1 Peter 1:7
that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
Faith is strengthened and it grows through difficulties. We learn to rely upon God and to rest in His promises. Our faith in God is the most precious gift we can offer God. Our faith is a testimony of praise, honor and glory to God. It will be fully revealed when Jesus is revealed in His glory.
Christians too often forget who we are and where we are going. When we begin to have our hope in this world (health, relationships, finances, physical enjoyment, etc) we set ourselves up for disappointments. Jesus always understood who He was and where He was headed. This world is not heaven and it cannot satisfy.
Hebrews 11:13-16 “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”
It is so easy to say “I believe” or “I have faith” without the belief or faith being real. We trust in what we believe, so if we don’t trust our lack of trust proves our lack of faith. That is why James writes that faith without works is dead. If I say that I have faith in Jesus that means that I trust Him.
Faith is a noun, it is a concept or idea. Trust is a verb; it is action. Faith is something that represents what you think; Trust is what you do.
Jesus said “If you love me keep my commandments” (John 14:15)
Genuine Faith in Jesus will results in acts of love. Believing in Jesus that you love Jesus. Love means that you prefer the other person before yourself. Love is self-sacrificial. If a man loves his wife, he will prefer her and give her preference over his own needs and wants.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a declaration of love and a call to love.
The genuineness of one’s faith is made manifest through acts of love that are self-sacrificial and costly. My carnal nature and the voice of Satan tell me that when I make a sacrifice I will suffer needlessly, while the Holy Spirit reassures me that I am in God’s hands and that the sacrifice will be rewarded. The reward will be joy and realization that Jesus is glorified through the act of love. One’s faith in Jesus reassures that one’s gift of love is never given in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Peter 1:8
whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
We have not seen Jesus with our physical eyes, however, when we are born again, born Spiritually, we experience (see) Jesus with your Spiritual eyes. We believe and hope in Christ whom we have not seen with our physical eyes.
Romans 8:24″For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?”
1 Peter 1:9
receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
It is extremely important that Christians remember where they are headed. Have you ever been in an airport, a bus depot or a train station where hundreds of people are hoping to get to a distant destination? I have been in situations where I did not have a proper ticket, and I was not sure whether or not I would be able to travel. I made every effort but couldn’t be sure I would be allowed to board. This is how many Christian’s seem to live. They are hoping they will be able to eventually enter into heaven. They are not sure they have a valid “ticket”. The Bible tells me that my transport is guaranteed. Ephesians 1:13-14 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
1 Peter 1:10-12
Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.
The Bible is about Jesus.
Jesus spoke to the two disciples that were traveling to Emmaus:
Luke 24:25-27
Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
The prophets of the Old Testament were making prophecies that they themselves did not understand. We can look back now and see prophecies that seemed to be about a date certain but are not. As an example, consider Isaiah’s prophecy that speaks about the coming of Jesus the Messiah and then about His second coming without giving a hint that there is a gap of thousands of years.
Jesus stood up in the synagogue in Nazareth and read from Isaiah:
Luke 4:18-21
“ The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”
Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Jesus was reading from Isaiah 61:1-2
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
Because the LORD has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
Notice Jesus stopped before reading “And the day of vengeance of our God;”
The passage Jesus read was fulfilled as He stood in Nazareth 2,000 years ago. The next phrase is yet to be fulfilled.
God the Holy Spirit was speaking through Isaiah but there was no way for Isaiah to know there was a 2,000+ year gap between the words “acceptable year of the LORD” and “And the day of vengeance of our God”.
There is much in the Bible that angels do not fully understand. I am certain that there are facts revealed in the Bible that we will not understand until we are with the Lord in Heaven.
The prophets spoke about the gospel of Christ and yet they didn’t fully understand the gospel.
Jeremiah 31:33
But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
The law was written on stone tablets. The gospel of Christ is written on the hearts of all believers.
We make a mistake when we let the cares of this world distract us from rejoicing in Christ.
Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
QUESTIONS
Have you ever been guilty of feeling sorry for yourself due to circumstances?
How should the wealthiest person in the universe act?
Is anyone wealthier than the person who trusts in Jesus?
What should a Christian do when he begins to feel sorry for himself?
PRAYER
Lord, we rejoice in You and in what You have done. We do not comprehend the fullness of Your love and provision for us. You desire to have fellowship with us and we don’t understand why. You went to such great lengths to save us and to give us Spiritual life; we are humbled by such great love. Thank You Father, thank You Jesus, thank You Holy Spirit. Your love is overwhelming. We love You and praise You in Jesus’ name. AMEN.
1 Peter 1:13
Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Having understood who we are in Christ, what we have been given in Christ, and where we are headed in Christ, we now must get serious in our walk with Jesus.
What a great expression. “Gird up the loins of your mind”.
When a man, in those days, prepared to run, he would take his robe and tie it up so that it did not interfere with his running. He would gird up the loins of his legs. Here we are told to gird up the loins of our minds. The expression is an encouragement to “get serious” “put useless stuff aside” “concentrate on what you are doing” etc. The second expression tells you and me what we should do —- rest.
I can’t ever remember a coach or a teacher telling me to get serious about resting. They usually thought I rested too much. They would rather say that I should try harder and make more of an effort. “be diligent” “work hard” “you’ll have plenty of time to rest later” etc. But God the Holy Spirit tells us to “rest”. Aren’t you glad?
It was God who instituted the Sabbath day rest. God said that He created the heavens and earth in six days and then He “rested”. If the work is finished, it is time to rest. You rest in the finished work.
Jesus said: “It is finished” (John 19:30)
Life is full of work and rest.
The dictionary has many synonyms for work: agonize, bleed, distress, disturb, eat grind, heart out, excruciate, harrow, labor, lament, pain, push, squirm, stew over, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, task, toil, travail, trial, trouble, torment, torture, wince, worry, writhe, etc.
And synonyms for Rest: calm, comfort, composure, ease, interlude, leisure, lull, pause, peace, refreshment, relaxation, relief, repose, respite, silence, sleep, slumber, stay, tranquility, etc.
When we walk in the Spirit, by faith in Jesus, our life flows like a river.
When we walk in the flesh, we strive as if travelling up river. Such a life is difficult and does not find rest.
Faith in Jesus gives us rest. He is our rest.
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Hebrews 4:1-11 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:“ So I swore in My wrath,‘ They shall not enter My rest,’although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.”
Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:“ Today, if you will hear His voice,Do not harden your hearts.”
For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.
Peter tells us to gird up the loins of our minds and the writer of Hebrews tells us to be diligent to enter that rest. Why is it necessary to tell us that we should take particular attention to enter into that rest? Because most people never enter into it. If your earthly father was holding you out over a cliff and told you to rest it would be impossible for you to relax. Why? Because you could not be sure that he wouldn’t drop you. If you were absolutely certain, you could relax and rest. The same is true about your relationship with God. Most Christians fail to fully rest in the finished work of Christ. They are glad that Jesus died for their sins, however, they seek to add to their righteousness through their own efforts. They live in fear that they are not living up the minimum standards God has for them. They think that by doing good, they enhance their standing before God. They are not willing to trust Jesus fully.
Peter says that we should make a serious effort to rest in what Jesus HAS done.
rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Put no hope in your own efforts. Put all of your hope in the grace you have received through faith in Jesus.
We will never gain favor with God by attending church frequently, reading our Bible daily, praying constantly, or serving God sacrificially. We are a sinners, we deserve eternal death and punishment; we cannot change that fact. However, by the grace of God we can fellowship with Him and commune with Him in love through the grace we received in Christ. God seeks our fellowship, He desires it and is jealous for it. He wants you and me, not our works. You and I need to always remember to put all of our hope and trust in Jesus and never in our church, our works, or anything else.
1 Peter 1:14
as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
We should rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ just as obedient children rest in the protection and provision of loving parents. As an obedient child, one does not worry about finances or decisions about where one lives or where one goes. As an obedient child, one looks to the father and mother for direction. A disobedient child will ignore his parents and will rebel against them. The disobedient child will be controlled by his impulses, ignorant of what lies ahead. Before we were born again, we were ignorant of the consequences of our actions and we were under the wrath of God.
Ephesians 2:1-3
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
This is what disobedient children do. They rebel and disobey.
God is glorified through your obedience.
1 Samuel 15:22-23a So Samuel said:
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
The greatest gift you can give God is the gift of obedience. Obedience proves your faith in Him and your willingness to submit to His Lordship. Interestingly, this is also the greatest gift that a child can offer his parents. Obedience to God and his word is the ultimate expression of love. Jesus wants you and me to be like Him. We are incapable of being completely like Him, but as we submit to Him and humble ourselves we grow Spiritually and are transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1). In the fullness of time, as we abide in Christ, we will mature.
Joining together to study and learn from the word of God is a very important element in our growth.
Ephesians 4:11-13 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
The ultimate goal that God has for you is that you “come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;”
1 Peter 1:15-16 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
This is Holiness: Obedience through faith. God is perfect in Holiness; God never does anything that is less than perfect. Our duty is to grow in holiness though our obedience in faith.
Ephesians 4:14-16 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
The child that loves his parents and wants to please his parents will not act in such a way that he knows will hurt his parents. He sins because he believes he isn’t hurting those that love him. He is wrong because he doesn’t know better. The child of God has no excuse. God has made His will known and has proven His love. God, through His word, entreats us to live holy lives.
Ephesians 4:1-3
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
1 Peter 1:16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
Leviticus 19:2 “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.
Leviticus 20:7-8 Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God. 8 And you shall keep My statutes, and perform them: I am the LORD who sanctifies you.
It makes me feel really great when I see our sons and daughters telling their children that there are standards that we all accept and live by. They do not tell their children to live in a way that they themselves are not willing to live. They tell their children that as a member of their family they live differently than some other people live.
All Christians have been born into a family that lives by the standards set by the Father. Jesus said “I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”(John 5:30)
QUESTIONS
Are you being conformed to the world by the books you read, the movies and TV shows you watch, and the company you keep?
Are there changes that you need to make in order to live a more holy life?
Are you willing to make changes?
Will you humble yourself, asking God for help in changing, and then commit to make your best efforts to change?
Wouldn’t you rather be transformed by the “renewing” of your mind through the word of God?
PRAYER
Lord I need Your help. You know my frame, that I am but dust and there is no good thing that dwells in me except You. I am guilty of falling for the seductions of the world and I ask that You forgive me and give me strength and wisdom through Your Holy Spirit to resist the temptations of the world that I may live a Holy life that will bring You joy and glory. I thank You for giving me this letter from Peter, and for Your encouragement towards holy living. In Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN.
1 Peter 1:17-19
And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;
Fear – Greek transliteration “phobos”
Translated fear and terror.
In both the New Testament and the Old Testament we are told to regard God the Father with fear. I have heard many well meaning Christians say that you have no reason to fear God to whom you can call out “Abba, Father”; God loves you and has promised to forgive you and protect you in Christ Jesus, therefore, you have no cause for fear. I agree with the argument until the conclusion is drawn that we have no reason to fear. The problem is that we are told to fear God. The Old Testament is full of admonishments to fear God. How about the New Testament?
Matthew 10:28
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Luke 1:50
And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
Acts 9:31
Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
Don’t you find it interesting that the early churches walked:
- In the fear of the Lord
- In the comfort of the Holy Spirit
These are not mutually exclusive. As you walk in the fear of the Lord, you also walk in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:15
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
The bondage of fear is much different than the fear of the Lord. The bondage of fear is the bondage the unbeliever lives in as he faces death and the wrath of God.
The Bible teaches Christians:
Romans 11:20
Do not be haughty, but fear.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Ephesians 5:21
submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Philippians 2:12-13
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
1 Timothy 5:20
Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.
Hebrews 12:28
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
In the second chapter of 1 Peter, Peter simply says “fear God”. (1 Peter 2:17)
Regardless of how people are offended by the word “fear”, the Bible is very clear that Christians should fear God.
In the second chapter of 1 Peter, Peter simply says “fear God”. (1 Peter 2:17)
Regardless of how people are offended by the word “fear”, the Bible is very clear that Christians should fear God.
Christians should never fear God in the way those who reject Jesus fear. Hebrew 10:27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
Because of the Love of God, Christians have no need to fear death and Judgment.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
QUESTIONS
Can a God fearing person have a casual attitude towards God?
Can a God fearing person ignore the word of God?
Can a God fearing person sin willfully?
PRAYER
Lord, we thank You that we can cry out to You and know that we are safe in Your loving arms. Teach us what it means to fear You and draw us ever closer to You through Your grace and love. We know that perfect love casts out all fear and that in Your love we have no fear of death and no longer fear the wrath of God that will be poured out on all sin. Thank You Lord for Your great salvation in Jesus’ name. AMEN.
1 Peter 1:20-21
He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
These are amazing statements and each of us should take time to fully understand them.
- Jesus was foreordained before the earth was created
- Jesus was made manifest in Israel 2,000 years ago
- You are the reason Jesus came to the earth and suffered and died. You, who through Jesus believe in God.
- God raised Jesus from the dead.
- God has glorified Jesus.
- When we put our hope in Jesus we are putting our hope in God. Jesus is God.
1 Jesus was foreordained before the earth was created.
This is an important point that many Christians overlook. There is a modern misconception that God created the heavens, the earth, and man to be in perfect harmony but when man fell from grace God had to come up with a plan to restore the garden of Eden. That is not how it happened. Jesus did not die to restore the garden; he died to create new creatures in Christ, Redeemed man, Christians.
God’s intent in creating man included the plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, and He provided for the plan before He created the world. In Ephesians we learn that He chose you and me (Christians) in Christ before He created the world. (Ephesians 1:4-6)
In the garden of Eden man and woman had fellowship with God but they were not indwelled by the Holy Spirit. They had free will and were without sin. When temptation came they yielded to it and sinned.
Redeemed man is quite different. Redeemed man in indwelled by the Holy Spirit and is seen sinless in Christ. Once this world has come to an end and a new heaven and new earth are created (Revelation 21), Satan, all demons, and those not born again will be cast into outer darkness and there will be no more sin. We will not be like God in the fullness of who He is, however, we will be one with God in a way that Adam and Eve could not.
The plan of redemption and Jesus’ role through his sacrificial death were preordained before the world was created.
- Jesus was made manifest in Israel 2,000 years ago
God’s timing is often hard to understand, but it is always perfect. When the time was right, Jesus was born.
- You are the reason Jesus came to the earth and suffered and died. You, who through Jesus believe in God.
Jesus came to earth to redeem those who were chosen before God laid the foundation of the world. He came that you might have everlasting life and enjoy fellowship with Him forever. You are a new creature in Christ; even the angels are amazed and anxious to understand the full meaning of redemption and redeemed man. 1 Peter 1:12
- God raised Jesus from the dead.
- God has glorified Jesus.
- When we put our hope in Jesus we are putting our hope in God. Jesus is God.
This was all God’s doing. He planned everything and carried out everything.
Why didn’t God just begin by creating a man and woman with Spiritual life and thus indwelled by the Holy Spirit? A long time ago I heard Pastor Chuck Smith say that when we begin a question about God with the words “why did God”, we are in a lot of trouble.
The fear of God restrains me from questioning His motives and purposes. The fear of God moves me to praise Him and thank Him for what He has done, thanking Him that I have been given such wonderful blessings, all of which I do not deserve and could never earn. I am blessed by His grace and humbled by His majesty.
The Bible says that Jesus went to the cross for the joy that was set before Him. Hebrews 12:2
who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
That joy is redeemed man.
1 Peter 1:22-24
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because
“ All flesh is as grass,
And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers,
And its flower falls away,
But the word of the LORD endures forever.”
Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.
22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit
I can remember the day I obeyed the truth concerning Jesus Christ. It was around 8:30 am on Friday, December 23, 1983. There was much I did not understand, but that was when I came to understand the Jesus Christ is God and that He died for my sins, rose from the dead, and now lives and reigns. Jesus was with me on December 23, 1983 and He has never left me. The Spirit of God spoke to my heart and as I believed the truth, I was born again, a new creature in Christ and my soul was purified.
obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
When we realize how much God loves us we naturally respond to Him in love. John wrote that “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
How can a Christian demonstrate his love for God? By loving one another.
1 John 3:14
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.
John 15:9-17
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another.