I Peter 1:13-16
God’s Grace to live a holy life – part 1
Scripture reading –
1Pet.
1Pet.
1Pet.
1Pet.
Pray
Intro
√ Amazing Grace!
In the first 12 verses of Peter we've learned of the amazing Grace that God has given us through faith in Jesus Christ.
Specifically we've learned of the…
• Sufficiency of God's Grace for our lives
• Confidence we have in God’s Grace to save us
• Hope we have in God's Grace to see us through
tough times
• Marvel of God's Grace extended to sinners
With that firm foundation for our hope and faith in God's Grace, Peter moves now to how that knowledge of God's Grace ought to change our lives!
That is, having been saved by Grace, the life of a believer should then begin to reflect the new life, which he/she has been given through that Grace!
A
holy life.
Ap. But, what if you still find yourself tempted to sin?
What if you actually find yourself constantly sinning, then grieving over your sin and finally repenting…
…only to do it all over again in what seems to be an endless cycle of defeat?
That’s what Peter addresses in verses 13 – 21!
He gives us the practical way in which God’s Grace empowers us to live a holy life like Jesus.
√ No magic formula
Rather, God’s work of holiness in our life is a cooperative effort between you and the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit will not violate your free will. Rather, as a Christian you have the choice each moment to work with, or against the Spirit of God as He works to transform you to be like Jesus.
The good news however is that if you will do what Peter tells us to do…
…you’ll find the power to live a holy life!
So, what is Peter’s instruction for holy living?
Prepare your mind – this morning
Consider the price – next week
Practice purity
Let’s look!
Prepare your mind (vs. 13)
1Pet. 1:13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
√ You're in a battle!
"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind"
Ex. KJV & NKJV reads a bit awkward - let me explain what "gird up the loins" means."
In fact, this is one of the places where I prefer the NIV translation because it more accurately communicates Peter’s thoughts.
1Pet. 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
The spiritual application simply means that the Christian is to be prepared for war!
Specifically, the war which is waged every day for our thoughts…
…holy thoughts, or unholy thoughts!
You see, the truth is – what you think about is what you are about.
Ex. If your mind is filled with holy thoughts – you’ll live a holy life! If your mind is filled with unholy thoughts – you’ll life an unholy life!
It’s really that simple.
That’s why both God and the Devil spend so much time and spiritual resources trying to capture our thoughts.
So, step 1 in winning this battle for your thoughts is prepare your mind for action.
1) Prepare your mind for action!
Note how the NIV reads in vs. 13…
"Therefore, prepare your minds for action"
Peter reminds us that Christ-like behavior is the product of obedience, and that…
…obedience is a conscious act of the will!
The point is, if you want your life to be holy, no longer marked by sinful behavior…
…you have to make up your mind that you're going to obey God before you're tempted to sin!
Ex. Fire drills
People have fire drills so that if there's actually ever a fire, they already have their mind prepared as to what they need to do to escape the fire!
Ap. You need to decide every morning what you're going to do the next time you're tempted to sin! That way you'll already have an escape route planned when the fire comes your way!
Ex. The Proverbs are filled with plans to keep you from sin. Set and keep boundaries in your life so that temptation and opportunity never cross paths.
Remember, sin never "just happens".
2) Be self-controlled - vs. 13
"self-controlled" is an interesting word in Greek;
nay'-fo; to abstain from wine (keep sober), i.e. (figuratively) be discreet:-- be sober, watch.
The idea, or picture this word warns against is that of drunkenness brought on by drinking.
Wine is an outside influence. The person who drinks too much of it will lose their self-control and come under the control of the alcohol.
The application, which Peter is communicating here, is that the Christian should be free of every form of mental and spiritual "drunkenness" that would lead us to sin.
Peter’s point is that the Christian is to be directed by the Spirit within them…
…not by the influence (or spirit) of the world outside of them.
Ap. We must practice self-control regarding what we spend our time thinking about.
Ex. If you’re struggling with sexual temptation – make sure that you’re not filling your mind with immoral thoughts.
Movies, magazines, trashy romance novels, worldly music that is either outright suggestive, or that for you brings back memories of things you’ve done.
Next, pray and ask God to take your thoughts captive!
2Cor. 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
2Cor. 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
2Cor. 10:5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
3) Set your hope fully – vs. 13
"rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;"
The NIV reads…
"set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed"
Peter's point, as we prepare our mind to obey God and exercise self-control over our thought life…
…we're to do so with our eye on the future blessings that Jesus will bring to those who have faithfully served Him in this life by their holy living!
Reminds us that the promise of reward is a strong motivator when it comes to changing human behavior.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Thus begins a list of the heroes of faith who resisted sin and temptation because they counted the future blessings of God to be of greater value than what the world could offer.
Ex. Joseph in Egypt
Could have enjoyed the pleasure of a relationship with his master’s wife, but how long would he have actually got to enjoy it?
Caught and executed.
Get away with it and remain a slave.
Instead, he was faithful to God and ended up ruling over his old master and marrying his own wife.
Ap. What can sin offer that God can’t beat?
Ex. Drink or do drugs to “have fun”
In Christ you can have fun without the hangover and liver damage!
Don't be conformed (vs. 14)
1Pet. 1:14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
√ Don’t be conformed
What does it mean to be "conformed"?
"to fashion alike, make to the same pattern"
Ex. Dough mold for Christmas ornaments - the flying dog!
Note Peter’s instructions…
“not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance”
Peter’s instructions…
…don’t go back to the things, which once ran your life!
If the Lord’s freed you from some sin, or some repulsive habit, don’t go back and start doing it again!
His point is that before you were a Christian you had no idea that there was even such a thing as living a holy life – you were ignorant.
However, now you know better because you have the Spirit of Christ living within you Who is grieved whenever you sin.
There’s no one more miserable than a backslidden Christian…
You know too much of the goodness of Christ to still enjoy the sin that once held you.
Ap. Do you really want to be a slave to sin?
Be holy (vs. 15-16)
1Pet. 1:15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
1Pet. 1:16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
The final step in preparing your mind is to follow Jesus’ example.
Peter reminds us to set our minds on the example of Jesus who is holy.
You might be tempted to think…
"Oh yeah, be like Jesus! Of course he was holy, He's the Son of God after all!"
…and use that as an excuse not to even try to live a holy life.
But, you and I have to remember that not only are we called to be holy like Jesus…
…He also gave us the means to be holy!
Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) - the power to be a witness of Jesus Christ.
The example of other people just like us who were able to live a holy life - Peter and Paul.
Ex. Peter
An uncoth fisherman transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit to be a man who's life was marked by holiness.
Close
√ Living a holy life in the Grace of God begins by preparing your mind for the battle for your thoughts.
Ap. Are you involved in sin this morning? Are you riding the edge of temptation?
Don't let the enemy of your soul pull you down into a pit of sin - use these verses this week.
Phil. 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
Phil. 4:9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.