Walking In Holiness Series

Last week,

1st section, Peter, as a result of salvation, emphasized WALKING IN HOPE. Remember that "walking in hope" describes a "conviction of faith" - an anticipation of something to come - in this case the hope of our salvation.

Today:

Now Peter changes his emphasis to WALKING IN HOLINESS. Because we walk in hope, we are able to walk in holiness – OR RATHER -- we should walk in holiness.

The TWO go together - 1 jn 3.3 "every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."

Q: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO “WALK IN HOLINESS”?

Peter encourages us to live in this world and maintain a holy walk. The anti-God atmosphere around us that the Bible calls "the world" is always pressing against us, trying to force us to conform to ways of the world. Peter presented to his readers several spiritual incentives to encourage them to maintain a different lifestyle, a holy walk in a polluted world.

STUDY: 1 PETER 1:13-25

1Pe 1:13

’therefore’

Goes back to the excitement mentioned in verses 3-4

1. 3- ‘new birth into a living hope’ thru resurrection of Jesus

2. 3- ‘an inheritance that will never perish, spoil, or fade’

‘therefore’ -- On account of all God has done to reconcile us to Himself

... 3 THINGS…

1. ’prepare your minds for action’ ‘gird the loins of your mind’

- be sober, be morally alert. Brace up your minds for action. …they needed to work to restrain from becoming as one of the world.

2. ’be self controlled’ - be sober

- to discipline yourselves- - keep possession of minds -- not be enticed away from God.

1Pe 4:7b …Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

3. ’set your hope fully on grace to be given when Jesus is revealed’

- to look forward to the coming of Jesus

- Set your desires on “what is to come” and NOT “what is”.

1Pe 1:14 THROUGH 1Pe 1:16

--14--

’obedient children’ (uses comparison of child to his parent)

as a child with his parent, a parent’s desire of his child is that one …

a) be obedient

b) live in a manner of respect

We are to live in obedience to our HOLY FATHER.

’do not conform’

2 thoughts here:

1. should be a change in life after grace compared to life before grace.

2. That change should include a continual process.

--15--

‘as He is holy, so you be holy’

Going back to the opening verses, as a Chosen, set apart, Child of God, we are to be…

1. devoted & dedicated to God,

2. set aside for His use, and

3. set apart from sin and its influence.

A process of becoming conformed to God’s standards.

--16

Quote from Leviticus 11:44-45 (NIV)

44 I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about on the ground.

45 I am the Lord who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

(SUMMARIZE SECTION OF 14-16) Just as a child is respectful to and wants to please his father, so WE are to be respectful and obedient to please our Holy Father. Why? Because of all he has done for us through Jesus Christ.

Transition to 17

As a child depends on his father, so we are to depend on our heavenly father. And while our father always desires our fellowship, we always remember just who he is! As a parent influences their child, so God will influence our lives & we must remember who He IS!

1Pe 1:17

"If" or “since” … “each man’s work impartially”

1. A father we can call on – The Holy Father desires our fellowship?

2. A Father disciplines those he loves. While God is a loving Father, he is also a disciplinarian and desires that we live under a certain set of standards! (see next phrase)

’strangers in reverent fear’ --

a) live as though we don’t belong to this neighborhood. (don’t be part of ‘peer pressure’)

b) What IS this Fear? Not the fear of a slave to a ruthless master, but a child to his father.

APPLICATON:

God is the judge of all the earth and we dare not ignore him -OR- treat him casually. Our privileged status as God’s children does NOT gives us the freedom as a spoiled child to do whatever one wants.

TRANSITION INTO VERSES 18-19:

As a child growing up should respect and appreciate what his parents sacrificed to see that their needs were met, so we, as God’s Children, should remember the sacrifice of our future (Vs. 18-19) and live respectfully.