Redemption's Result

"There is nothing new under the sun..." All of the ideas in this sermon are my own that have been arrived at from studying the text as well as consulting several commentaries and other resources including SermonCentral. PLEASE let me know if I owe you credit!!!

“Redemption’s Result” – becoming more Christ-like

Text: I Peter 2:1-3

Objective: Every true born-again believer must naturally become more Christ-Like by following three steps found in our text.

1 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.

Introduction:

You may remember that last week we read trough I Peter 1:22-25 and illustrated that passage with scripture from Song of Solomon chapter 5.

We saw that Peter had commanded all followers of Christ who have been purified by Christ’s redemptive work on the cross to LOVE one another deeply.

We saw that the deep love that Peter was talking about is only possible as a person falls deeply in love with the savior FIRST. Then, and only then, can a true and deep love flow out to others.

Through our study in Song of Solomon, we realized that many of us ignore the gentle knocking of Jesus on our hearts’ doors, and we simply go on with our lives as if He didn’t even exsist.

Well, today, I’d like to give you practical steps that every believer must follow if he desires a deep abiding love with the savior and toward others.

So, last week, we saw the “what” of Peter’s command – the “thou shalt love one another”, and today we will look at the “how”.

Read Text.

Note 1: Peter was clearly writing to true believers in Christ which we know from reading the first two verses of this book.

READ chapter1:1,2

Remember, these were Jewish people from all over upper Asia Minor who were assembled in Jeruselem on the Day of Pentecost and were converted through the preaching of Peter.

Note 2: Why then, would Peter command true believers in Christ to 1. Rid themselves of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander?

2. To crave pure spiritual milk?

3. To taste and see that the Lord is good?

I submit, that, Peter was trying to follow all of the Great Commission.

Peter had preached repentance to these people some time in the past, and they got saved and baptized.

Now, he is trying to fulfill the part of the commission that tells us to “make disciples.”

After all Jesus said in John 8

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

And 2 John 9 tells us:

9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

Remember that Peter is not merely offering his sage advice in this passage.

Peter, who was writing under the inspiration of the H.S. understood how important it is for people to not just repeat the sinner’s prayer but to become true disciples of Christ by experiencing a TRUE REBIRTH!

That is why Peter tells us that there are going to be some changes that will have to be made in our lives if we are truly a born-again child of God.

Let me tell you first hand: CHANGE IS NOT EASY!

In fact, change often hurts.

But, the result when a person truly repents of his sin and accepts Jesus as Lord, he will be changed!

Well, what are the steps that happen in a true believer’s life that bring about this change, anyway?

I. The command to Deal With Sin

Verse 1: Therefore rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.

The Bible is absolutely CLEAR when it deals with sin.

Remember the words that we studied at length from Ephesians 4:20 – 24:

“But that isn’t the way Christ taught you! 21 If you have really heard His voice and learned from Him the truths concerning Himself, 22 then throw off your old evil nature – the old you that was a partner in your evil ways – rotten through and through, full of lust and shame. 23 Now, your attitudes and thoughts must all be constantly CHANGING for the better. 24 Yes, you must be a new and different person, holy and good. Clothe yourselves with this new nature.”

The Bible does not make exceptions or excuses when it comes to sin.

God hates sin and tells us that we should hate it too!