For example, they know they can feed their families peanut butter sandwiches every now and then, but if they did this all the time:
• The family would soon dread coming to the table to eat
• They would also suffer nutritionally, because this kind of a diet is not going to supply them the nutrition their bodies need
Likewise, if a pastor feeds God’s sheep only spiritual "peanut butter sandwiches," God's sheep will dread meal time, and they also will not get all the spiritual nutrition that they need to be healthy Christians.
Peter was commanded to feed God's sheep.
After he shows them their "LIVELY HOPE", and "LASTING HOPE" and how they should rejoice in what they have in Christ in verses 1-12, he then feeds them a different course on God's menu.
We not only live in HOPE, but we also-
I. LIVE IN HOLINESS
Look at verses 13-21, we read, "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God."
In these verses of scripture, he not only tells us we should live in HOLINESS, He gives us four motives for living in holiness.
(A) FIRST MOTIVE IS SUCCESS
If we are going to be successful as Christians, there are some things we have to do.
Look at verse 13. We read, "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
The words “Gird up” are not words that we use in our daily conversation. But during the time that Peter lived, this was a very common expression.
WHAT WAS PETER TALKING ABOUT?
Illus: They used the words “Gird up”, because the Orientals wore robes that came to their feet. Often these long robes would get in their way as they tried to carry out the routine of living and working. If they got in a hurry and ran, they would trip over their garments and it would cause them to stumble.
PETER KNEW WHAT IT WAS TO STUMBLE. His spiritual "stumbling" caused him much regret, especially when he denied the Lord three times.
Peter shares a solution with God's people, so that what happened to him does not have to happen to them!
He said, "Gird up”, that is, gather all the loose ends that are in the way of you serving the Lord, and get them under control. If you do not, they will cause you to stumble.
As already stated, we do not use the expression “Gird up” today. We use the expression, "Let’s roll up our sleeves and go to work." Why? Because sometimes when we are working, our sleeves could get caught in the machinery that we work around, and so we roll them up to get them out of the way.
This was the point that Peter wanted to make in this metaphor.
WHAT WERE THEY TO GIRD UP?
Look at verse 11 again, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind….”
We cannot let our minds run loose, it is dangerous!
Illus: We all have seen track meets where the runners were lined up to start the race. They have on the least amount of clothing they can wear, not because of indecency, but they know that heavy or baggy clothing will slow them down when they run. If they are going to win the race they cannot be weighed down with excess weight. We understand the logic in their wearing this kind of clothing.
Peter's message lets us know that if we are going to be SUCCESSFUL AS CHRISTIANS, we must understand that even as the Orientals had to "Gird up", (Gather all the loose ends) we must gather all the loose thoughts and bring them under control.
• Did you know that all the kind deeds that have ever been done began with kind thoughts?
• Did you know that all the unkind deeds that have ever been done were proceeded by unkind thoughts?
• Someone once said, “Be careful of your thoughts. They may break out into words and actions at any time.”
If we are going to be SUCCESSFUL OVER SIN IN OUR LIVES, we must bring under control all the loose thoughts that Satan puts in our minds.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians and said, in 2 Corinthians 10:5, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringeth into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
Notice the words, "Casting down". These are strong words that mean to get rid of something.
Illus: Years ago, a very popular Evangelist, Bob Harrington, gained national recognition. He was funny and he also preached a good Bible sermon most of the time. He was known as the Chaplain of Bourbon Street. But ministers who heard him preach became concerned about some of the things he was saying in his sermons. For example, in one of his sermons he said that some of his enemies sent a very attractive prostitute to seduce him, but he rejected her!
This was good, but what was not good was that he said humorously to her, “If I ever backslide I will look you up.”
This kind of joking troubled a lot of Bible-believers and sent a red flag up that this kind of joking reflected this man’s thoughts were out of control.
You see, before a man can say something, he has to first think it. Several years later, this man who did not have his thoughts under control did what he once jokingly said he would do.
We who live this Christian life with a "LIVELY HOPE" and a “LASTING HOPE”, need to be motivated to success by gathering our thoughts and bringing them under control.
(B) THE SECOND MOTIVE IS OBEDIENCE
Look at verses 14-16, “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in Your ignorance. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
Illus: Many times when children are told by their parents not to do certain things, the children will say, "Mrs. Jones, lets her children do this." And we parents say, "Yes, but you do not belong to Mrs. Jones, you belong to us and we do not live like that!"
Often God's children look around and see what the Devil’s children are doing, and we think if so and so is doing this or that, why can’t I do it? The answer to that is, “God does not tolerate such behavior.”
Look at verse 14. Peter says, "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance."
Illus: Very often you will notice that the lost world is setting the fashion trends for Christians.
• Women feel that it is alright to wear mini-skirts and bikinis if that is the fashion.
• Men, walk around with pants with holes that reveal their underclothes.
They forget whose children they are.
If we are going to:
• Look like the lost world
• Dress like the lost world
• Talk like the lost world
• Conduct ourselves like the lost world
Then how will anyone be able to tell that we are born again Christians? They will not see any resemblance to our heavenly Father in our lives.
The world is not to be our role model. Our role model is Christ. Look at verse 15, "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation."
This should be the motivation for those of us who live this "LIVELY HOPE" everyday, to become more like Him.
(C) THE THIRD MOTIVE IS THE JUDGMENT
Look at verse 17, we read, “And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons Judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear….”
Illus: We who have this "LIVELY HOPE”, must recognize that God will deal with our sins in two ways.
(1) He has promised to chasten us.
Look at Revelation 3:19. God says, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”
(2) He has promised to judge our works at the Judgment Seat.
Look at Romans 14:12, it says, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
This is considered to be the most fearful verse in the Bible by most Christians. It tells us clearly that every one of us are going to GIVE ACCOUNT OF OURSELVES TO GOD. We are saved by the grace of God, but at the Judgment Seat of Christ our eternal rewards are going to be evaluated by what God considers to be fair.
Someone said, “The only way to judge the future is by the past, but if some people are judged that way, they won't have any future.”
I remind you that God knows our every thought and our every deed, and when he judges us it will not be on circumstantial evidence, it will be:
• I SAW YOU
• I HEARD YOU
That should motivate everyone of us who has this "lively hope."
(D) THE FOURTH MOTIVE IS REDEMPTION
Look at verses 18-21, we read, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers. But with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without Spot.”
All these motives: SUCCESS, OBEDIENCE, and JUDGMENT, are good motives, but I believe the greatest of all these motives to live a dedicated Christian life, is the tremendous price Christ paid for our sins.
Look at verses 18-21. We read, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”
He was the lamb that was slain before the foundation of the world for our sins.
Illus: We hear of the millions that are spent on diamonds, furs, homes and cars, and the price of these things is beyond our comprehension. As Christians, we know that the greatest price that has ever been paid for anything, is the price Christ paid for our sins. That should motivate every one of us to live a dedicated life for him.
We should LIVE IN HOLINESS. But also, we should-
II. LIVE IN HARMONY
Look at verses 22-25, we read, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”
These verses of scripture reveal that we who have this “LIVELY HOPE”, should live together in harmony.
Why? Because:
(A) We have an “UNFEIGNED LOVE” (V. 22)
(B) We have been “BORN-AGAIN” (V. 23)
(C) We have the “WORD OF GOD” to instruct us (V. 24-25)
Conclusion:
I. LIVE IN HOLINESS (Verses 13-21)
He gives us four motives:
(A) Success
(B) Obedience
(C) Judgment
(D) Redemption
II. LIVE IN HARMONY (Verses 22-25)
He tells us how:
(A) We have an UNFEIGNED LOVE
(B) We have a BORN-AGAIN experience
(C) We have the WORD OF GOD to instruct US
