“Walking In His Steps”
October 2, 2011
1 Peter 2:9-12
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
WOW! What wonderful words to meditate on. YOU are a chosen people! YOU are a royal priesthood. YOU are a holy nation. YOU are God’s special possession!” If that doesn’t ‘float your boat’ and ‘light your fire’ I don’t know what will.
This is Peter talking. He spent over three years walking and talking with Jesus. He had intimate conversations with Jesus. He asked Jesus (God in fleshly form) questions. He sat around campfires listening to Jesus. He sat around a dinner table chatting with Jesus. Peter was in the know. He knew what he was talking about – and he said, “WE” are a royal priesthood – belonging to God.
I think it is important that you get that concept in your mind. It is important that you understand you belong to God. I am so blessed because it was my privilege to baptize my son and daughter and all my grandkids – as well as many of you – in the Lord. They – and YOU belong to God. You are a chosen people – and you have responded to that invitation. You accepted and sealed it with your baptism. The world will tell you that you aren’t important; that you don’t measure up to its standards; that you don’t look right; talk right; know the right people; tall enough; short enough; smart enough. Don’t buy it! You are the King’s kid! You are a prince or a princess. You are part of royalty.
What that means is you have a future – like Peter. Peter talks a little bit about our future. He says,
“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of glory that will never fade away.” 1 Peter 5:4
Don’t ever believe that you are a ‘nobody’. That’s the devil’s lie. You were created for awesome things – and what we will be isn’t known right now. But we do know it will be good. We do know we will be like Jesus.
But how did we get here. We all have a past. Peter had a past. The poor guy forever had to live with his cowardly actions at the crucifixion. That’s pretty rough for anyone to handle. But he was this big, tough, bossy, fisherman. He was a man’s man. And in Jesus’ greatest trial he let him down. He said he was ready to die for Jesus. He even pulled out a sword and turned on the people who came for Jesus. Of course he didn’t whack the ear off a soldier – just a servant – but at least he showed a little fire.
Hey – before you get too hard on Peter – haven’t we all done something similar – something we are ashamed of? We have all sinned – and we have all fallen short. “Once”, Peter says, “you were not a people” (2:10) The fact of the matter is that we all have a past. We have all sinned. We have ALL given into the flesh and willingly rejected Jesus and His ways.
Peter wept with shame at what he had done. Matthew was a despised tax collector, defrauding God holy people. Paul lent a hand in even having some Christians put in jail and killing other. We all have a past – and it isn’t pretty.
There is nothing we can take pride in; nothing we can take credit for in becoming a son or daughter of the King. He pursued us. When we were in the deepest darkest days of our lives – Jesus was there searching for us; protecting us; holding us together.
I don’t think we should ever forget what we once were or the grace that was necessary to save us. I think it would be good for us to remember where we were and what we did. Like Peter, when we look on Jesus, we ought to weep bitterly over what we did. Our sins were so ugly; Our actions so reproachful; our conduct so embarrassing. But here’s the Good News! In spite of our ugliness; in spite of our sin – God loved us so much He sought us and bought us. He paid the penalty for our sin and took us into His arms.
I don’t know about you – but I don’t ever want to sin again. Oh, I know that I am not perfect and I will do dumb things and say stupid stuff – that’s part of being in this fallen flesh. But I don’t ever want to willfully and on purpose disobey my Lord and Savior. I was a rebel. I was a sinner. I was a hater. But I have been forgiven. I want to leave all that in my past.
Peter says, “do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.”
1 Peter 1:14
He says, “…live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.” (1:17)
He says, “rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual mild, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” 1 Peter 2:1-2
I think it is important to understand, realize, and confess, that we have a very ugly past. But the past is past. We must not live in the past. Some people, because of their theology, never get over their past. They claim to be sinners every day – that they sin every day in word, thought and deed. I don’t think most of them do, at least I hope they don’t, according to the Biblical definition of sin – which is willful rebellion. If you are knowingly and willfully living in rebellion with God – you need to stop it. You need to repent -because you aren’t a child of God. You don’t have a part in the inheritance. If you aren’t willfully rebelling – then you are forgiven, saved from the future of the rebel and a part of God’s royalty.
And you have a calling. You were a sinner. You heart has been purified by faith and obedience (1:22) and now God tells us what to do with the present. The past is past. All we live in is the present. Someone said they call it the present because it is a gift from God. And really – it is.
Here is what we are to do with our present.
“Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:11-12
As long as we live in this fallen world in our fallen flesh – we are going to have sinful desires. We are going to suffer temptation. We need to realize that. We need to acknowledge that. We need to prepare for that. Peter says we have sinful desires. Sinful desires don’t make us sinners. We become sinners only if we give in to the desires. Paul says the flesh wars with the spirit.
“For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other…” Galatians 5:17
“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” Romans 8:5
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” Romans 8:12-14
So we have a choice every day – to live in the past or live in the present. Our choice needs to be to choose life; choose to follow the spirit and not the flesh. And it isn’t easy. The Bible says,
“CRAVE pure spiritual milk” 1 Peter 2:2
“Make every effort to add to your faith…” 2 Peter 1:5
“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door…”
Jesus, Luke 13:24
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Romans 14:19
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3
“Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest…” Hebrews 4:11
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14
“But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” 2 Peter 3:13-14
Some immature Christian like to think that the Christian way is an easy way. They teach a cheap grace where God does it all for you – and it doesn’t really matter what you do or how you live. Some teach if you live for the Lord, wealth and riches are the norm. It isn’t. The cross is the norm. Jesus said we have to take up our cross daily. Peter, after telling us we are a part of royalty with a fantastic future says,
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:12-13
We need to remember our past, and we need to anticipate our future –‘cause it’s going to be great! But in the present, we have to contend with fallen flesh, temptations, trials, and suffering. In the present - it takes great effort to live the way God wants us to live. And how is that? The Bible tells us,
“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21
“And we all… are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory” 2 Cor 3:18
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2
In this present age, with all the trials; with all the temptations; with all the pain and struggle; with fallen flesh and fallen world – God is using it all – to make us more like Jesus. Don’t fight it – embrace it. Don’t deny your imperfection and shallowness – confess it and strive to grow in it and over it. The Holy Spirit longs for you to seek His help in the maturing process.
What are you doing to grow in grace? Peter says we are to grow in the knowledge of Jesus and in grace. Growing in knowledge of Jesus is accomplished through studying God’s Word. It is why we have church and Bible studies; and Sunday school. Growing in grace is accomplished through using the grace (God’s enabling power) to overcome the temptations and so on, you encounter every day. The more you use – the more you get.
“I urge you, understanding how merciful God has been to you, to offer your body as a living sacrifice – that is holy and pleasing to God. This is really how you worship God.” (Romans 12:1)
We have a past. It was ugly. We were sinners. Now we have the present – why? To prepare for heaven. Live each day as it were a gift from God – and use it to become more and more like Christ. But never forget – we have a future. It is indescribable – and it will be worth it all. That‘s what we are living for.
You are a royal priesthood. You are a holy people. You are someone who belongs to God. Go – and live like it. And share His love with others – while you are at it.
