Title: Exiled And Encouraged - Holy Living
Scripture:  1 Peter 1:13-25
Date: 06062021
Bible Version: NKJV

BOTTOM LINE: As followers of Christ, we have an opportunity to practically live out our faith every day.

Vs. 13

Therefore - Anytime we see a therefore in scripture, we must pause, and ask ourselves what is therefore there for.  In the first 12 verses, Peter focused on God’s grace and His goodness as a focal point during times of difficulty.  Considering this, Peter is now going to provide some practical tips to living out our faith in the rest of Chapter 1.

Gird up the loins of your mind- The idea here is similar to rolling up your sleeves to start a job.  As Christians, we need to get rid of our sloppy thinking.  We are to use the Word of God as our guide in order to keep our thoughts under control.

Becoming a Christian is a call to action. —Tony Evans

We need to roll up our sleeves every day and be prepared to get to work as followers of Christ.

Be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace…- We are called to be alert and be sober.

Vs. 14

As obedient children- This is Hebraism. It’s a call for readers of this letter to be children of obedience.

Not conforming yourselves to the former lusts - Peter warns this audience (and us as well) to not return to the former lusts which sprang from ignorance (of the Gospel). When we became believers, we had a spiritual break from our old lifestyle.

If we are going to fulfill God’s call to be ‘obedient children’ then we have to separate ourselves from our former lifestyle, we have to be different.

True devotion to God is expressed in holy living. —D.L. Moody

Vs. 15-16

As He who called you is holy, You also be holy in all your conduct- Peter reminds his audience that God is holy.  This means God is separate or set apart.  He is free of sin, unblemished and righteous.  He calls us to be holy in our conduct.

Holiness is not so much something we possess as it is something that possesses us. —David Guzik

We have to be committed to a life of holiness.  You can live a life that is set apart from this world while still living in this world.

God calls his people to pursue holiness by seeking to please Him in every dimension of their lives. —Tony Evans

Vs. 17

Conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear- Peter reminds us to conduct ourselves in fear, or reverence of God.  He reminds us that if we call on God for help, we must remember that we too will be judged by His word.

If a non-believer can look at your life and see no difference from themselves, then you may be going about your walk with the Lord all wrong.

Vs. 18

You were not redeemed with corruptible things- We have not been redeemed through corruptible things, we were redeemed by the incorruptible blood of Christ.

To redeem is to pay the price to set someone free. —Tony Evans

Since we have been redeemed, we need to pursue holiness in our lives.

As followers of Christ, you are an ambassador.  You have a call on your life to represent Christ.

Vs. 19

But with the precious blood of Christ- Peter reminds us that there was a large price that was paid for us.

The precious blood of Jesus did not save us so that we could then live as if we were garbage. —David Guzik

A lamb without blemish and without spot. - Jesus was the perfect lamb.  If He were not perfect, He would not have been qualified to be our savior.

Vs. 20

He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world- Jesus wasn’t God’s second or third option, Jesus was His only option.  The plan for Jesus to become our savior was preordained before the Earth was created.

We can’t look to the plan of salvation through Jesus Christ as some last minute effort by God to get things sorted out.

Vs. 21

Who through Him believe in God- God’s plan and purpose for Jesus was so that we would believe in God.

Raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory- Peter reminds his audience that Jesus was raised from the dead.

So that your faith and hope are in God- We can know God because we have put our faith and hope in Christ Jesus.

Vs. 22

Love one another fervently with a pure heart- Since we have been given an opportunity to know God through Jesus Christ, we are to live our lives by loving others.  Peter reminds these believers that it’s not all about being born again.  It’s also about loving one another.

You can’t truly love others unconditionally until you know the unconditional love of the Father.

Holy living is not complete if it is not accompanied by love. —David Guzik

Vs. 23

Having been born again…through the word of God which lives and abides forever- Peter reminds us that the Word of God never changes.  We can hang our hat on the word of God.

This is why it’s important that we study the Bible.  This is why it’s important that you read the word of God on your own.

Vs. 24-25

The grass withers, And it’s flowers falls away,…but the word of the LORD endures forever- The word of God has endured changing cultures, critics, doubt and disbelief, and even neglect.  It is unchanging and has stood the test of time.  This is why we can trust it.

God’s Word never dies, God’s Word never changes. —Charles Spurgeon

The problem with most Christians is that even though we are saved, we live a defeated life.

If you don’t want to live a defeated life, you must roll up the sleeves of your mind and focus on Christ. —Tony Evans

God has sparked new life in us who were formally dead.

4 Ways We Should Live Our Lives
1. Live like Jesus lived, not like your old self. (Vs. 13)
2. Pursue Holiness (Vs. 16)
3. Love one another (Vs. 22)
4. Live like you are a new creation (Vs. 23)