1 Peter 1:17-21 Time to Be Holy (part 2)

Introduction:

Over the past months a great deal of turmoil has come upon us. We are a strange people who forget what we should have just learned and often forget what keeps it all together as we move from one situation or crisis to the next. Consider that in April-May we were making heroes out of anyone whose jobs were considered essential, who had to be out in public places amid the pandemic. Yet in a matter of days a movement began to defund, that is eliminate, many police departments, people who were celebrated as heroes. What happened to Mr. Floyd was totally unacceptable, but you cannot project that crime upon all police officers, many of whom are heroes as they stand in harm’s way to protect, serve and maintain order so that things don’t degrade into anarchy. Racism is sin. Hating anyone based upon the color of their skin is wrong; we were all created in God’s image. Likewise, hating someone just because they wear a badge is sin also. We’ve lost the big picture.

Over the past decades, I believe we’ve become so focused on particulars, that we’ve forgotten the big picture of the Bible as well. There are an endless number of books, articles, seminars and videos that discuss things relating to the Bible. We spend much time, effort and money on studying those things and relatively little time meditating on the Bible itself. Denominations dig-in deep on some interpretation or opinion and find themselves separating from each other, and non-denominational groups do the same thing. In the process we neglect the big picture. God is the One True God who is the Creator, sustainer and Redeemer of sinful mankind. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to be the sacrificial lamb who paid the penalty of sin for all who believe. Jesus rose again to give us new life in unity with Him and gives all who believe the guarantee of the Holy Spirit. As Spirit indwelt believers, we are to live for Him who redeemed us to Himself and that means being holy, like Him, no matter what situations come and go in this life. Part of being holy like Jesus means trusting, loving and obeying the Father according to His example and the Spirit’s leading. Jesus came to bring peace between Almighty God and rebellious mankind; He showed patience, kindness and love even to those who hated Him so that we could be united to Him, and through Him united to each other. Unity with Him is the only way we can expect any kind of unity with each other.

We’ve been working through 1 Peter 1 for several weeks now and when we take a passage in small sections as we are we can easily loose sight of the big picture. The big picture in 1 Peter 1 is, “but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (1:15).

Your Redeemer

Please begin by reading 1 Peter 1:1-21. According to 1 Peter 1:17 part of our motivation for holiness is fear. This is the Holy Spirit’s command through Peter, “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.” I talked about that last week so let’s move on to the other motivation to holiness.

In 1 Peter 1:18-21 the Spirit reminds us of what our Redeemer did for us. It should give us a sense of awe as we consider how God the Son humbled Himself so that we could be forgiven and united to the Father. The Spirit says, “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. 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.” Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Jesus (John 14:6). The Spirit spoke of Jesus’ redemption of us this way through Paul, “being in the form of God, [Jesus] did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 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; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:5-13). That passage then continues as 1 Peter does by then saying our proper response is holiness, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain” (Philippians 2:14-18).

In both 1 Peter and Philippians we are motivated to holiness through a realization of who God is and what He has done. It is through fear and awe. The Holy Spirit encourages and strengthens us, reminding us how God has lavished blessings upon us through Christ Jesus. Christ was preordained for His atoning work. He removed the enmity we created between us and God by our sin. It is through Christ alone we have faith and hope in God. It is God who determined our salvation, accomplished it, and in Him is all our future hope. That is awe inspiring. He is the One that then says, “Be holy.”

Being holy means being like Him which we can do by yielding to the Spirit’s work in our lives, minds and hearts. He changes us. We cannot make ourselves to be like Jesus. Please, He is God and we are dust. The only way we can be like Him is His changing us. The Spirit’s changes are radical, producing in us the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5) so we will speak and think like Jesus did. The Spirit also produces the works of Christ in us; Jesus said to His disciples, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” John 14:12).

Conclusion

Being holy, like Jesus, as we yield to the Spirit is the only way we will have unity as God intended it. You can attend all the classes you want, read all the books available, and spend your whole life trying to change your heart, your attitudes, and your actions, but you will never have unity with the Father and selfless love for other people unless you trust in Christ as your Redeemer and yield your life to the Holy Spirit.

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Mark