Be Holy in all you do

1 Peter 1:13-2:3

Key verse 15b

“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do”

Introduction: In the previous lesson, apostle Peter praised to God for a living hope. Even angels long to look into the same blessing. Today’s passage began with the word “therefore.” It indicated that we are supposed to make God’s elect valuable in our practical lives. May the Lord help me to imitate God’s holiness by paying attention to apostle Peter’s exhortations or imperatives. 

1. prepare your minds for action, be self-controlled, set your hope (1:13)

2. don't conform to evil desires you had (1:14)

3. be holy (1:15-16)

4. live as strangers in reverent fear (1:17)

5. love one another deeply (1:22)

6. rid yourselves of all malice... (2:1)

7. crave pure spiritual milk (2:2)

Read verses 13-16. What three things does the author encourage his audience to do? (13) What should we do as obedient children? (14,15) Why does the author tell us to be holy? (16) 

1-1) Read verses 13-16. 

“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.”

1-2) What three things does the author encourage his audience to do? (13) 

1. Prepare your minds for action

2. Self-controlled

3. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you

1-3) What should we do as obedient children? (14,15) 

1. Do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance

2. Be holy in all you do.

1-4) Why does the author tell us to be holy? (16)

            Because God is holy.

         

Man was created according to God’s image. One of the most important attributes of our God is holiness. 

Hebrew 12:14b reads, “Without holiness no one will see the Lord.” So we are encouraged to make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy.

Exodus 19:5,6 also shows God’s heart desire to make his chosen people to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. 

Apostle Peter adopted this same concept in 1 Peter 2:9. 

2.  Read verses 17-21.  Why do we live as strangers? (17)  How were we redeemed? (18-19) When did God choose his lamb and reveal it? (20) Why do we put our faith and hope in God? (21)

2-1) Read verses 17-21.  

“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. 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.”

2-2) Why do we live as strangers? (17)  

It is because you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially. 

2-3) How were we redeemed? (18-19) 

It was not with perishable things such as silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

2-4) When did God choose his lamb and reveal it? (20) 

He was chosen before the creation of the world. 

He was revealed in these last times for their (our) sake.

2-5) Why do we put our faith and hope in God? (21)

           God raised Jesus from the dead and glorified him.

3. Read verses 22-25. How are we purified? (22a) What is the purpose of purifying ourselves? (22b) How are we born again? (23) Look at verses 24-25. How is the word of the Lord different from men and their glory? How did we receive the word of the Lord? (25b)

3-1) Read verses 22-25. 

“22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.[b] 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25     but the word of the Lord endures forever. “And this is the word that was preached to you.”

3-2) How are we purified? (22a) 

By obeying the truth.

3-3) What is the purpose of purifying ourselves? (22b) 

To love our brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart

3-4) How are we born again? (23) 

“Not of perishable seed, but of imperishable through the living and enduring word of God.”

3-5)  Look at verses 24-25. How is the word of the Lord different from men and their glory? 

All men are like grass and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall.

But the word of the Lord stands forever.

3-6) How did we receive the word of the Lord? (25b)

Through the preaching of others. “This is the word that was preached to you.”          

4. Read verses 2:1-3. What two things does the author encourage his audience to do then? (1,2) Why does he crave pure spiritual milk? (3) 

4-1) Read verses 2:1-3. 

“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

4-2) What two things does the author encourage his audience to do then? (1,2) 

1. Rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind

2. Crave pure spiritual milk like a new born babies. (to grow up in their salvation)

4-3) Why does he crave pure spiritual milk? (3) 

            Because they tasted that the Lord is good.

      

In conclusion) 

Apostle Peter encouraged us to grow in our salvation by craving spiritual milk like newborn babies. We are blessed to grow in the living word of the Lord. Thankfully the word of the Lord was preached to each of us through someone else. May the Lord bless each of us to contribute in sharing the living word of God so that each person may be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation and grow further in Jesus. Amen. 

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