Q: What comes to mind when I say the word, “Holy?”
A: Stained Glass Windows, A Pastor, A Church, Christians from 2,000 years ago, Those “really good Christians” who never miss a single service, God?
Dr. Charles Stanley’s Life Principles for 1 Peter 1:13-25
2. Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.
24. To live the Christian life is to allow Jesus to live His life in and through us.
27. No Christian has ever been called to “go it alone” in his or her walk of faith.
30. An eager anticipation of the Lord’s return keeps us living productively.
Q: What are some reasons Christians may give for not living holy?
A: It’s too hard. What will people think of me? I don’t know how. I would have to give up too much. One day, when things settle down.
The truth is, we can live a holy life, not in our own strength, but through God’s strength.
God is holy.
In order to obey God, our Christian conduct must be marked by holy living.
ETB Life Question: What would have to change for me to live a holy life?
Here are four realities that motivate us to grasp biblical holiness and demonstrate it in our daily lives. We can live a holy life…
1. Because God is Holy (1 Pet. 1:13-16)
“Therefore.” We all know any time scripture says, “therefore,” we need to find out what it’s “there for.”
Peter is referring back to what he just said in the preceding verses about who we are in Christ, how we will face very difficult trials in our lives, and how awesome our salvation, living hope in Christ is.
Salvation is so amazing that the O.T. prophets could not fully grasp it. 1:10-11
We are told even angels long to look to see God’s great salvation in our lives. 1:12
Peter says, “prepare your minds for action” (13).
He’s telling us in light of the fact that Christ could return at any moment, we ought to be thinking about that great truth more and more each day.
Warren Wiersbe writes, “Pull your thoughts together! Have a disciplined mind!” The image is that of a robed man, tucking his skirts under the belt, so he can be free to run.
When you center your thoughts on the return of Christ, and live accordingly, you escape the many worldly things that would encumber your mind and hinder your spiritual progress. Peter may have borrowed the idea from the Passover supper, because later in this section he identifies Christ as the Lamb (1 Peter 1:19). The Jews at Passover were supposed to eat the meal in haste, ready to move (Ex. 12:11).
Outlook determines outcome; attitude determines action. A Christian who is looking for the glory of God has a greater motivation for present obedience than a Christian who ignores the Lord’s return.”
“keep sober in spirit” (13b)
Is Peter talking to us about drinking alcohol? No.
However, since you asked my personal conviction is that Christians should abstain totally from alcohol because of what it does to you personally, family, future, witness, effectiveness in your Christian living, etc.
How are we doing in GA with drinking and driving? Not good.
Moultrie -- A 62-year-old husband, father and grandfather is killed after state troopers say he was struck by an underage drunk driver.
DeKalb - A DeKalb County employee was charged with DUI after a county vehicle he was driving swerved head-on into an oncoming car in Walton County on Friday night, police said. (www.doverlawfirm.com)
Reports are in the AJC and news reports daily.
Q: How many of you have ever suffered the loss of a family member or friend from drunk driving?
“sober in spirit” – self control and clarity of mind, thinking clearly; do not get intoxicated with the world’s values and lose sight of who God is.
“fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (13c)
Believers are to look forward to the grace that we will receive when our salvation will be finally complete at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
There is a song we sing that says, “It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus. Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ. One glimpse of his dear face, all sorrows will erase. So bravely run the race till we see Christ.”
Q: How will focusing on the return of Christ motivate believers to live holy lives?
A: The call for struggling Christians is this: set your hope fully on the future coming of Christ. That is what Peter commands us to do. If any of us is to do more than simply outlast life’s exilic weight – if we are to move beyond melancholy endurance and into positive engagement with the world, let alone enjoyment in it, we must become a people who know what it is to comprehend a decided hope in life’s eternal future. – Preaching the Word – 1&2 Peter and Jude
1 Peter 4:7, “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.”
Are you taking care of the basics in your walk with Christ? How do you stay motivated to..
Pray, Fellowship with Christians, Study the Bible, Give, Share Jesus, etc.
1:14 – “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance…”
Every Christian has an AC/BC Testimony. A Christian has a changed life in Christ.
“Obedience.” “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.” – Dr. Charles Stanley
Romans 12:1-2 speaks about being transformed by the renewing of your mind.
As Christians, the way we think about issues such as abortion, cheating, marriage, finances, purpose in life ought to be different than those without Christ.
We are to be set apart and different, not following the ways of the crowd.
Doing the easy thing may make you popular, but doing the right thing is what makes you a follower of Christ.
Have you ever shared Christ with someone who just doesn’t get it? They are lost. The devil has deceived them (2 Cor. 4:4).
When you speak of: Jesus as the only way to heaven, the Bible in the inerrant Word of God, God is the Creator, God’s will, and it seems they have not a clue.
“do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance” (14b).
We all lived “in ignorance” of Christ and His great salvation at one point.
We should spend some time thinking about where we were before Christ and what He has done in our lives to bring us where we are today.
God is compassionate and living. God is commands our obedience to His will and way.
Isn’t the greatest desire for your children, grandchildren the best?
Don’t you love it when they obey you? How much more should we obey God our Heavenly Father by living a holy life.
I’ll say yes, Lord, yes, to your will and to your way. When your Spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart I’ll agree and my answer will be yes, Lord, yes!
15 – “like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;”
Again, what does it look like to live holy in Christ Jesus? No drinking, no dancing, no smoking, no fun???
“To be holy is to be morally blameless. It is to be separated from sin and, therefore, consecrated to God. The word signifies separation to God, and the conduct befitting those so separated.” Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness
Quick Source: How is it possible for a Christian to become holy in “all your conduct?”
Answer: If we try to become holy in our conduct without God’s help, we will surely fail. If we ask Him for guidance and depend on Him daily, He will show us the way, though we will never do it perfectly.
16 – “because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”
See Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7
“After God had delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, He led them to Mount Sinai to receive His laws. God wanted His people to obey these laws and separate themselves from the pagan practices around them. As they obeyed God’s laws they revealed themselves to be His people. Peter used the OT example of the Israelites to encourage NT believers to separate themselves from their former sinful practices and demonstrate their new life of righteousness in obedience to the Father.” ETB, Fall 2012
“The Holy Place” Ex. 26:33; Priest entered once per year to make atonement for his sins and sins of the people.
Jesus Christ is the substitute for sinners, through His death on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn in two offering direct access to our Holy God (Lk. 23:45).
KEY DOCTRINE: GOD THE FATHER
God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history. He is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all mankind (Gen. 1:1; Ps.19; John 14:8-11; Gal. 4:6-7).
2. Because God is Judge (1:17)
Q: Do you believe God judges people based on their actions?
Q: To what extent is your daily lifestyle influenced by a healthy fear that God will one day judge your actions? 1:17, ETB, Personal Study Guide
Sometimes we think God’s judgment is for the “Bad People” only.
Those who steal, murder, commit adultery, homosexuality, etc.
See 1 Peter 4:17
A loving parent loves their child enough to discipline them. If they didn’t discipline them, it would prove they did not truly love them.
See Hebrews 12:5-11 & 1 Corinthians 3:10-15
Stewardship of life; if we obey God and offer Him a life of fruitful service, we will be rewarded.
If we waste our lives, time, talent, treasures on selfish and sinful living, we will suffer loss.
God’s judgment is fair. His standard for Christians is holiness.
God will examine our works to make His judgment about our holiness.
Should we fear God as an unjust, cruel task master? No, rather we should fear God because He loves us so much and we do not want to disappoint Him or face His discipline for disobedience.
A healthy respect (fear) of God means we will not deliberately sin, but that we will earnestly seek to allow Christ’s Spirit to control all of actions and attitudes.
3. Because of Our Redemption
(18) – “redeemed”
We were held in slavery to sin, but Jesus paid the price to set us free.
We could not pay the price for our deliverance from sin, but God could and He did by sending the Lord Jesus Christ.
How we need to grasp that it was Christ’s sacrificial death that freed us from the grip of sin.
What was the cost? How much money would it take to see you set free?
No amount we could pay. Jesus paid it all through His blood on the cross.
Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.
(19) – “precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.”
O.T. – priest would offer lamb w/o spot or blemish (Lev. 4:32)
The lamb’s blood shed on the altar pointed to God’s forgiveness of His people’s sins.
Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God (John 1:29, 2 Cor. 5:21).
Question: What do you appreciate most about being redeemed by Christ?
Revelation 5:9 & 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
We are not redeemed to live in sin, but to love and serve our Redeemer.
(20 & 21) – “He was chosen before the foundation of the world; revealed at the end times for you…” “raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”
Jesus Christ stepped out of His privileged position in the throne room of heaven to take on a body of flesh so he could shed His precious blood on Calvary to redeem us from the penalty of our sin. – Tommy Higle
Because Jesus lives, we too, shall live (John 11:15-26)
Aren’t you thankful that there is more to life than just living and dying?
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, all fear is gone, I know He holds the future, life is worth the living, just because He lives.
4. Because of Our Purification
The real test of holy living is demonstrated through how we love one another.
When you see Jesus face to face, do you think He’ll be impressed with you because you attend a certain church? Read a certain version of the Bible? Wear a certain label of clothes? Can quote a thousand scriptures?
What matters is that our faith is working through love (Galatians 5).
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, etc.
1 Corinthians 13 – unselfish, patient, kind, not easily angered, etc.
The gospel of Jesus Christ brings true transformation to our lives. (Isaiah 40:6-8)
All our glory is nothing compared to the glory of God and the truth of His Word that endures forever.
100 out of 100 die.
God’s will, God’s work, God’s Word are permanent.
What are we living for? The world? The flesh? Our glory? It’s here today and gone tomorrow. James 4:14
Living in holiness before God our Father
Living in the power of Christ’s redeeming grace
Living to love and serve the body of Christ – this is an incredible life.
Self and sinful live is the empty way of life we used to live in before Christ.
Allowing Christ to live through us and expressing that life to others is the holy way.
How can you make living holy your top priority this week?
What Now? My Mission…
1. Reflect on what Gods’ being holy means to you personally.
2. Examine your life for unconfessed attitudes and/or actions that you wouldn’t want to admit in standing before God.
3. Let the precious blood of Christ achieved on believers’ behalf guide your daily living.
4. Pray for God to make you a pure vessel for His indwelling Spirit.
Note: These are my Sunday school lesson notes in teaching the Explore the Bible lessons from Lifeway. I rely heavily on the Bible and the ETB commentary for my notes. Also, I like to use Josh Hunt’s Good Questions Have Groups Talking and you’ll see some of his questions throughout my notes. May the Lord bless you and your congregation as you teach His Word and shepherd His flock day by day.
