BE HOLY IN ALL YOU DO
1 Peter 1:13-21
Key Verse 1:15
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do
Introduction: Peter reminded the believers that God who is holy had a holy purpose for them. They could be holy when they set their mind on the hope of God, and obeyed their Heavenly Father through what they did and the way they lived. When they believed in God’s coming judgment through Jesus Christ they could live as foreigners on earth and in reverent fear of God. They should not worship idols, because God redeemed them through the precious blood of Jesus, and gave them faith and hope in God.
Read verses 13-16. What hope do the believers have? (13) How could they be on this hope? How could they keep from conforming to evil desires? (14) How could the believers be holy? (15-16)
13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
The believers had the hope of God’s grace when Jesus Christ is revealed at his second coming. According to Peter, when Jesus comes again he will bring grace with him. This grace is on top of the grace believers have already received, which sustains and strengthens them to work and to grow in the image of God. The grace when Jesus comes again might be summed up through the words of Apostle John, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). Through God’s grace the believers had already been growing in the image of Jesus, but when Jesus appears God’s grace would be completed with glory, and they would be just like Jesus Christ.
The believers could set their minds on the hope by being alert and fully sober. Setting their minds on this hope would not come naturally, but would require a spiritual struggle to discipline their thought world. They should keep an alert and fully sober mindset in order to be ready for Jesus’ second coming. To be alert means to be spiritually awake and prayerful, being attentive to God’s presence through the word of God and Holy Spirit. To be fully sober means to be serious and self-controlled in thought in anticipation of the hope to be revealed. They should not be casual or become complacent about the hope of Jesus’ second coming. This reminds us of what Jesus said to his disciples just before going to the cross, “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.” and “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 13:35, 14:38).
The believers could keep from conforming to evil desires by living as obedient children and not living in ignorance.
First, the believers could keep from conforming to evil desires by living as obedient children. When they believed in Jesus, they were born of God and became children of God. As God’s children, they are called to obey their Heavenly Father. If they love their Father, they should not do the things that their Father hates. Obeying God is not only to do the things that God likes, but also to stop doing the things that God hates.
Second, the believers could keep from conforming to evil desires by not living in ignorance. They used to live in ignorance of God, but now they received the truth of God, they should not live in ignorance any longer. Once one knows the truth, it is foolish to ignore it; and then try to live as they did before--it is to live a lie before God.
The believers could be holy when they remember that God who called them is holy and by doing what is holy.
First, they could be holy when they remember that God who called them is holy. God said, “Be holy because I am holy.” God is Holy. He called his children to be like him; to be transformed into his image. So, God’s children are called to be holy. Believers should adopt God’s holy purpose for their lives and not resist the work of the Holy Spirit. To be holy as God is holy means to imitate God’s holiness to be more like God.
Second they could be holy by doing what is holy. Peter told the believers to be holy in all they do. Holiness is not measured by how we feel, but by what we do in a practical way. According to the apostle Paul, holiness involves giving our body and mind to God. He said, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2). Holiness involves giving our body and minds to God, However, holiness is ultimately measured by what we do. When we give our body and mind to God it should result in moral deeds and a moral lifestyle. This is what Jesus will judge our holiness on when he comes again.
Read verses 17-19. How does God, the Father judge each person’s work? (17) How should believers live out their time on earth? In what respect was their previous way of life empty? (18) How did God redeem them from this empty way of life? (19a)
17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
God judges each person’s work impartiality. No one will receive any special treatment from God as far as God’s judgement is concerned. This is also why it is important that holiness is measured by what we do. Since God judges what we do, he is able to judge impartially. There are many Bible verses that emphasize God’s impartial judgment through judging what we do; such as “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done”, “God will repay each person according to what they have done.” 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger” and “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life” (Mat 16:27, Rom 2:6-8 and Gal 6:7-8)” God is fair and will judge justly without exception or excuse.
Believers should live out their time on earth as foreigners and in reverent fear.
First, believers should live out their time as foreigners on earth. Believers have to live in this world, but do not have to live according to the principles of this world. They belong to God, and not to this world. They should not become attached to or take root in the things of this world. This world is under God’s judgment and Jesus will come again to judge this world and each person according to what they have done. So, believers should live as foreigners in this world; as God’s people and citizens of God’s kingdom
Second, believers should live out their time on earth in reverent fear. Reverent fear means profound or awesome respect. It means to fear God as God—the one with absolute authority to judge. Again, Jesus will come again to judge this world. Believers should live in fear of God and God’s coming judgment. Philippians 2:12-13 reads, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
Their previous way of life was empty because it was without God. As a result, they had no fulfillment outside of perishable things. These perishable things could not truly satisfy, nor give lasting meaning or purpose to their lives. The life that lives for perishable things was the same empty way of life of their ancestors and of all those who live without God. The issue of living for perishable things is idol worship. Peter spoke of perishable things “... such as silver or gold”, which were materials commonly used to make the idols, or false gods worshiped by pagans. These days, idol worship can be described through various isms; such as humanism, materialism or hedonism, but they all boil down to the worship of perishable things.
God redeemed them from an empty way of life through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Note that God did not redeem them with perishable things. Perishable things could not redeem them from what was perishable into what is eternal. They needed redemption from above; from a higher or eternal dimension. God redeemed them with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Through shedding his blood (through his death) Jesus paid for their sins. He redeemed them (purchased them back) from slavery to sin. He redeemed them from the empty way of life of endlessly seeking after perishable things that could not satisfy them. Jesus’ blood is precious because it has real value for salvation and eternal life. Jesus died to redeem believers free from idol worship to the holy life that worships the Living God.
Read verses 19-21. When was Jesus chosen as the lamb without blemish or defect? (19b-20a) When and why was he revealed? (20b) How could the believers come to believe in God? (21) In what respect was their faith and hope in God?
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
Jesus was chosen as the lamb without blemish or defect before the creation of the world. This is a very mysterious truth. Apostle John said, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God 2 He was with God in the beginning” (John 1:1-2). Jesus was there before creation--before time, space and matter. He is eternal--without beginning or end. But more than this, Jesus was predetermined to be the lamb without blemish or defect before creation. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross wasn't improvised in response to the unfolding events of history. Jesus existed in eternity as the one whose blood would cover the sins of all who believe. His birth, life, death, resurrection, and return to the Father were always God's plan to save us. He was the answer to the questions asked by the prophets and the angels investigating what the Holy Spirit's Old Testament prophecies were pointing to; knowing in advance that such a precious and painful sacrifice would be necessary.
Jesus was revealed in these last times for the sake of believers. This mystery of God’s plan of salvation was revealed in these last times for our sake. These last times are the time of God’s favor and salvation through Jesus Christ; as Paul says, “For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2Cor 6:2). Moreover, this revelation is for the sake of believers. It is for the salvation of believers.
The believers could come to believe in God through Jesus. Paul said, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word” (Heb 1:3). They could believe God through Jesus because Jesus perfectly revealed God.
Their faith and hope are in God because God raised Jesus from the dead and glorified him. The Lord Jesus was raised back to life and ascended into heaven to take back the glory He set aside when He came to earth as the promised Messiah and redeemer of the world. Through Jesus’ resurrection we have the hope of eternal life.
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