"Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming. As obedient children, 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; for it is written, 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" (1 Peter 1:13-16) It could be said that at one time the Gentiles committed sins in ignorance. They did not have the laws and commandments. They didn't know the one true God or His standards for living. They no longer have this excuse, and they can no longer blend in with the world and do the things the world does. In Christ the believing Gentiles are sanctified and set apart from the world; they must conduct themselves as the sons and daughters of God.
"Since you call on a Father who judges each person's work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear." (1 Peter 1:17) He cautions his readers, "Always keep in mind that you will have to give an account of your lives before God. It doesn't matter what status you hold in this world, since God doesn't show partiality to the wealthy or the famous or the gifted. Remember that since you are in Christ you are no longer of the world; you are foreigners here. You must live according to the customs of your homeland which is heaven."
"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, and so your faith and hope are in God." (1 Peter 1:18-21) Here we find Peter comparing Jesus with the Passover lamb. This lamb was to be carefully chosen four days before it was going to be sacrificed. It could not have any spots or blemishes, and it had to remain in the close care of the family for four days so that if it did have any afflictions they would become apparent during that time. The lamb had to be the best of the best. So when God chose a Lamb who would be perfect enough to save us all from sin, He chose the best of the best: His Son. God chose Him before the world was ever created, before man ever fell from grace. No spot or blemish or defect was ever present in in Son, not while He was in heaven with the Father and not while He walked the earth.
Peter says, "Keep in mind what redeemed you. You weren't bought from the slavery of sin with money which will perish with the world. You were bought from the slavery of sin with the precious blood of the Lamb. Live in a way that reflects this." We redeemed by the best of the best. Let's not disrespect our Redeemer by living in our old ways and in our old habits.
"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, 'All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.' And this is the word that was preached to you." (1 Peter 1:22-25) Peter quotes from Isaiah 40, a chapter which proclaims the coming of the Messiah and the good news of the gospel. God kept His word concerning the promised Messiah, and now Peter and the other apostles are obeying God's word by proclaiming the good news. The Gentiles to whom this letter is addressed have heard the good news and have believed the word of God. They are now purified by it, because through it they came to faith in the One who redeems them by His own blood, by the One who is literally the "word" of God. (See John 1:1-14)
I'm going to close with this example and then with a link to a song about the precious blood of our Redeemer. Peter tells us to remember who we are and to live like those who are the children of God. My late father was a well-respected man in the community. He was a very talented brick mason, block mason, and carpenter who had a reputation for his honesty and for exceptional craftsmanship. To tell someone I was the daughter of Carson Tipton was to be treated with instant respect. There were things that the daughter of Carson Tipton was not expected to ever do because the community knew I had been raised to behave like a lady. I was brought up to respect myself and to live in a way that wouldn't shame my family. I didn't always obey my father perfectly, but there was a sense of guilt and shame when I didn't, even when he didn't know I'd done wrong. I knew that better things were expected of me. This is what Peter is saying to us as the sons and daughters of the living God. The world may not always grant us instant respect for our relationship to the Lord, but we ought to think of ourselves with respect. There are things that the sons and daughters of God should not do, for we know better. We know what our Father expects of us. Let's not shame our Father by living in ways that don't honor Him. Let's not sink down to the level of a world that doesn't know Him.
Below is a song link for today. Many of you know it is one of my favorites. It has gotten me through some tough times by reminding me what my Redeemer sacrificed for me. If He was willing to give His life for me, He's certainly willing to help me make it through this life here on earth.
No comments:
Post a Comment